Bedford Playhouse Announces New Leadership Team

The Board of Directors of the Bedford Playhouse announced today that Bedford resident Donald Greenwald has been elected as the nonprofit’s chairman of the board, replacing Sarah Long, whose term expired on March 31st. Ms. Long will continue as an active member of the Board’s executive committee. Greenwald, who has served on the board for the past eight years, has been actively involved with the organization since its inception in 2015. A business executive and investor, he is the former president and CEO of LANSCO Colors, and now serves the managing partner of INSIGHT Operations LLC. Greenwald will serve a three-year term as chairman of the board of the Bedford Playhouse, one of northern Westchester’s most vibrant cultural hubs, providing first run and classic films, authors’ talks, live music, educational offerings, notable speakers, and other special arts-related events.

The board also announced that Bedford resident Marie-Louise Scanlan, who had been serving as the Playhouse’s senior director of finance since March, 2022, has been appointed as CEO, effective May 1st. Scanlan, a former marketing and management executive with IBM and Pepsi-Cola, with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, replaces Michael Hoagland who left at the end of 2022. As CEO of the Bedford Playhouse, she will oversee all of its operations, financial and marketing management, and work closely with its board of directors as the Playhouse continues to expand its community programming.

Greenwald said: “I am honored and excited about my new role,” said Greenwald who added that he believes the Playhouse is well-positioned now to offer a wide variety of programming. “On the heels of a hugely successful gala that honored Sarah Long and Clive Davis, two of our important benefactors, we will ride the momentum and continue to create of the region’s most important cultural hubs. More than a movie theater, we bring the community together to listen to directors speak about their films and authors talk about their books, and we give folks a chance to drop in and have a drink with friends. My goal is to fully integrate the Playhouse into the entire community’s consciousness.”

Scanlan echoed his sentiments. “Our programming incorporates a hybrid strategy of arts and film that touch topics that capture the public’s interest,” she said. “And I think that our physical space enables us to do just that. We have various sized theaters, surround sound, intimate spaces for conversations about serious topics Iike mental health and climate change, all of which enables us to offer an amazing diversity of experience.” She noted that being a local resident gave her a front seat to view the transformation that has taken place at the Playhouse in recent years. “It’s been a joy,” she said. As for next steps, Scanlan said she’d like to spur collaboration and partnerships with other organizations and develop more youth and educational programming. “We have the ability to serve many demographics and interests., which is what we will do.”

Outgoing Board chair Sarah Long said she was thrilled about the new leadership and direction, commenting: “These individuals possess the expertise, commitment, and energy that will help the Playhouse continue to be the vibrant cultural and social destination we’ve always imagined.”

About Donald Greenwald

Born in New York City, Greenwald was raised in Chappaqua, then attended New York University where he majored in economics and philosophy. His first job was with LANSCO Colors, a global chemical manufacturing and distribution company that produces pigments for paints and cosmetics, where he remained for 40 years, expanding its international markets and becoming its president/CEO. Over the years, he bought and sold several companies, and in 2018, founded INSIGHT Operations LLC, a business consulting company that services the chemical and other industries. Asked how being a philosophy major in college was helpful in business, he replied: “I think about business ethics and logic all the time. That education was transformational.” Greenwald has served on the boards of Bedford Playhouse and Marsh Sanctuary and was president of Mount Kisco Country Club as well as chairman of the Annual Fund at Rippowam Cisqua School.

About Marie-Louise Scanlan

Business and finance, strategic planning, product marketing and brand management have been in Scanlan’s wheelhouse for years. She holds a BS in finance and international business from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Kellogg School, Northwestern University. She brought her formidable skills to Price Waterhouse, Ford Motor Company, Pepsi-Cola Company, and IBM Corporation where she was the senior marketing manager for IBM corporate marketing and marketing manager for IBM Global Services. Her experience in the non-profit sector includes founder and chair of the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools, president of the Auxiliary Northern Westchester Hospital, and board member of the New England Dance Theater. Her local volunteer leadership includes being former PTA president/Bedford Central School District, and membership in the Bedford Chowder & Marching Club and the Junior League of Northern Westchester.