St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University announced today it has named Irene Green to serve as Executive Director of The OāShaughnessy. Green, a 20-year veteran of arts administration, will assume her role on July 5, 2022.
āIrene brings with her a deep love of the arts, business savvy, and a commitment to expressing the mission and values of St “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University through offerings at our beloved OāShaughnessy Auditorium,ā said Beth Halloran, executive vice president and Chief Advancement Officer at St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University. āHer talents will build on our 50-year history of excellence and take us to the next level.ā
Green is currently the managing director of Northern Stage located in White River Junction, Vermont. She led the effort to be the first League of Resident Theatres member theater to reopen after the COVID-mandated shutdown, and was a champion of program access for all, creating programs for low-cost and free tickets, and creating sensory friendly performances. She first joined Northern Stage in 2013 as director of sales and marketing before rising to the role of associate managing director in early 2018. Prior to that, she was box office manager at Commonweal Theatre Company in Lanesboro, Minnesota.
āIt is an honor to join the St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University faculty, staff, and administrators in their mission-based work,ā said Green. āI am so looking forward to discovering together how the OāShaughnessy can best serve the St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ “ŗÓźÖ±²„s, local community and the Twin Cities in 2022 and beyond. With the Universityās vision and values to guide programming, Iām confident the experiences we share at the OāShaughnessy will build upon the venueās robust legacy as a significant cultural touchstone for the region.ā
The OāShaughnessy is an anchor on campus for the broader community to convene and understand the mission, vision, and values of St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University through the expression of revolutionary ideas. The stage at The OāShaughnessy offers neutral space for communities to engage and explore critical topics that address the issues of the day, support women innovators, and promote diversity and inclusion in the performing arts. Since opening more than 50 years ago, The OāShaughnessy has been an important cultural center not only for the St. Kateās community, but also for the Twin Cities and surrounding region. It has been the home to the Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; it is a significant center for professional dance companies including Ananya Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, TU Dance, and many more; and has provided a high-profile venue for community groups like CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Ballet Minnesota, Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Balloon Bookshop, Temple of Aaron, and Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy.
The OāShaughnessy is well-known for its long-running Women of Substance series which has featured lectures and performances by the likes of Dr. Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Tori Amos, and Toshi Reagon. Reagonās folk opera performance in 2019 of Octavia E. Butlerās Parable of the Sower initiated a model of collaboration between campus at the community that opened new partnerships with the East Side Freedom Library, Free Black Dirt, and the Million Artists Movement.
Green holds a Master of Arts with Distinction from the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
“ŗÓźÖ±²„ The OāShaughnessy
Located on the scenic St. Paul campus of St. “ŗÓźÖ±²„ University, The OāShaughnessy is one of the Twin Citiesā premiere venues for showcasing the arts. Since opening in 1970, The OāShaughnessy has presented a dazzling array of both local and national performing arts companies, including the Minnesota Orchestra, The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Ananya Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, TU Dance, Toshi Reagon, Rhiannon Giddens, and countless others. In addition, the venue hosts public events, “ŗÓźÖ±²„ and community performances and features multicultural programming with an emphasis on dance, music and theater. Known for its dedication to artistic development and collaboration, the venue has premiered over 400 new works by local and national artists. The OāShaughnessy is the home of the Women of Substance series, which showcases the artistry and innovative work of women, both prominent and emerging in their fields, whose voices need to be heard.