Following an extensive national search, The New Harmony Project has named Jenni Werner to be its new Executive Artistic Director.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jenni as the next leader of the Project,” said Loui Lord Nelson and Ron Gifford, co-chairs of The New Harmony Project board of directors. “The depth of her experience and her passion for the development of new work made her the perfect candidate for this position. She also knows The Project well as an alum, having been a participant in the writers’ conference in 2017.”
Werner comes to The New Harmony Project after serving twelve years as the Director of Literary and Artistic Development Programs at Geva Theatre Center, in Rochester, NY. In that role, she served as an artistic producer; developed and produced Geva’s commissioning work, the Rochester Stories program; and shepherded new plays from idea to production. Werner led the development of more than 45 new plays during her tenure at Geva. She also served as dramaturg on more than 30 productions, including classics and world premieres.
Previously Werner served as the Director of Programming at Theatre Communications Group, the national service organization for the non-profit theatre field, where she produced the largest gatherings of theatre leaders in the U.S. She currently serves on the board of the National New Play Network, where she is co-chair of the Membership Committee.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to build upon The Project’s incredible legacy and to continue to center and uplift the work of writers who are creating stories that help us interrogate the complexity of hope – a critical endeavor during this time of divisiveness in our country,” Werner said. “I’m eager to continue the mission of supporting artists in this very vulnerable act of creation, and to create opportunities to amplify voices who haven’t yet been heard.”
Werner has taught playwriting and text analysis courses at New York University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Nazareth College of Rochester, and the State Universities of New York at Geneseo and Brockport. She previously served on the board of ImageOut, Rochester’s LGBTQ film festival. Werner has an M.F.A. in dramaturgy from UMASS Amherst and a B.A. in theatre and history from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.
Werner will assume her position in June, when David Hudson and Lori Wolter Hudson will step down from their respective roles as Executive Director and Artistic Director following five-years of exceptional growth and transformation. “Thanks to David and Lori’s dedication, vision, and passion, The Project is well-positioned to successfully grow under Jenni’s leadership into an exciting next phase,” said board co-chairs Nelson and Gifford.
Building off its new strategic plan, The Project board reimagined its leadership structure and developed the position of Executive Artistic Director to lead the organization. A newly created position, Associate Artistic Director, will report to Werner and will work with her to support The Project’s programming. Hiring for that position will take place later this summer.
“We’d also like to express our deep gratitude to Artistic Logistics, under the leadership of Lisa Mount and Tabitha Montgomery, who helped lead the search process that resulted in a nationally diverse and incredible group of candidates,” said Gifford, who chaired the board’s transition task force. “It was extremely moving to meet so many amazing folks during that process who wanted to support the Project’s vision and mission.”