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originally published: 02/02/2023

New Jersey Theatre Alliance (“the Alliance”), one of the nation’s largest arts service organizations for professional theatre, has announced new members to their board of trustees, Diane L. Parker and Alec Stoll.

"I couldn't be more pleased to offer my knowledge in diversity, equity, inclusion and human resources, as well as my passion for the arts, in support of the mission and goals of The Alliance, an organization making a significant difference in the lives of both artists and patrons," says Parker, the head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at PGIM Fixed Income, where she is responsible for developing and implementing a global DEI strategy specific to PGIM Fixed Income and its 998 employees around the world.

Stoll, a partner at Stages Consultants, is internationally respected as a theatre planner and designer, and has worked as a theatre consultant for more than 20 years. “It is truly a privilege to serve on the Board of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance. Stages has been a long time supporter of The Alliance and we have worked with many of its members throughout those years. The Alliance has so many programs and services to help our theatres, not only survive in these trying times, but THRIVE! I look forward to supporting the alliance and its members, in any way I can, to ensure that New Jersey’s performing arts industry continues to grow, learn, collaborate, engage, educate, and especially entertain our communities,” says Alec.

Diane L. Parker is the Vice President and the Global Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at PGIM Fixed Income, Prudential’s investment management division, headquartered in Newark, NJ.  

Previously, Diane served as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Dotdash Meredith, the number one magazine publisher in the U.S. with iconic brands such as PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, InStyle and many more. Also, for two decades, she worked for the Associated Press as the Director of Staffing and Global DEI. 

Diane received her master’s degree in human resource management and a B.A. in mass communications from Lindenwood University in Missouri. In addition, she completed the DEI certification program at Cornell University and is a proud alumnus of the Stella Adler/Billie Holiday Theatre Black Arts Institute.

With a strong passion for the arts, Diane co-founded the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative (NJCAC), is a board member of the American Theatre Group (ATG), serves on the advisory committee for Art Pride New Jersey and is a member of the acting company for the New Jersey Play Lab.  In addition, she has worked as an actor and director with numerous NJ theatre companies such as Luna Stage, The Theater Project, Phoenix Productions, Premiere Stages, Vanguard Theater and others.

She is responsible for developing and implementing a global DEI strategy and advising the organization on best-in-class DEI practices.

Alec Stoll is internationally respected as a theatre planner and designer and has worked as a theatre consultant for more than 20 years. Alec has played integral roles in the programming, planning, design, and construction of well over 250 academic, professional and community venues as well as historic renovation and restoration projects.

Alec’s current projects in design include a new performing arts complex at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL; a living room mixing chamber at the Oakridge Mall in Vancouver, BC; and the renovation of the Polsky Arts Center at the University of Akron. He is consulting on historic renovations to the Colonial Theatre in Keene, NH; the Tivoli Theatre in Chattanooga, TN; and the Town Hall Theatre in Woodstock, VT; among others. Among Alec’s projects under construction are Knight Recital Hall at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL; a new performing arts center at the University of Dayton, and the newly opened Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA.

Prior to founding Stages Consultants with Damian Doria, Alec served for 10 years as a senior project manager and designer for Fisher Dachs Associates. Alec led their efforts on the new Mariinsky Opera House in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Lotte Tower Concert Hall in Seoul, Korea, and many other theatre projects in the US and abroad.

Previously, Alec was a Senior Consultant for 3 years at Charles Cosler Theatre Design, and before that an Adjunct Professor at Pace University’s Department of Theater in New York City and St. Norbert College in Green Bay, WI. Alec serves as a guest lecturer at several Schools of Architecture including the University of Miami, The New School of Design, Georgia Institute of Technology and City Technical College in Brooklyn. In addition, Alec also has 15 years’ experience working backstage nationwide.

Alec is an alumnus of the Boards of Directors of the American Society of Theatre Consultants and the League of Historic American Theatres. Alec holds an MFA in Theater Production Management from Brandeis University and a BFA in Technical Theatre from Emerson College.

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“We are thrilled to welcome Diane and Alec to the Board of Trustees,” says John McEwen, Executive Director of the Alliance. “Their impressive backgrounds, expertise and passion for the theatre and the arts  will be an asset  to strengthening our programs and mission and be an invaluable resource to our member theatres.” New Jersey Theatre Alliance serves 42 professional theatres in New Jersey and the region, representing fifteen of the state’s twenty-one counties as well as Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1981, New Jersey Theatre Alliance was the first statewide service organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre companies in the United States, and is a leader in developing model programs that unite, promote, strengthen, and cultivate professional theatre in New Jersey. Funding for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance, a not-for-profit organization, is provided in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation, and contributions from numerous individuals, corporations, and foundations including Amazon, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Grunin Foundation, MidAtlanic Arts Foundation, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, Bank of America, City National Bank, The Shubert Foundation, The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, The Hyde and Watson Foundation, The F.M. Kirby Foundation, E.J. Grassmann Trust, The Union Foundation, and OceanFirst Foundation

 

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