The 5th Avenue Theatre Expands its Board of Directors
Welcomes Peter F. Donnelly, Mark Levine and Llewelyn G. Pritchard
SEATTLE — The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to expand its Board of Directors with the appointment of three prominent arts advocates: Peter F. Donnelly, Mark Levine and Llewelyn G. Pritchard. At present there are 27 board members and this number is expected to reach 30 by the close of 2006.
The 5th Avenue’s growing board represents the Theatre’s current role in the Seattle arts community. As a non-profit arts organization, The 5th Avenue relies on its board to play an active role in advocacy, fundraising and stewardship. The strength of the current 5th Avenue board is vital to the Theatre’s continued success.
Peter F. Donnelly, recently recognized by The Seattle Times as “the single most influential figure in the Seattle arts scene,” began his arts career in the Northwest in 1964 as a Ford Foundation management intern with the newly formed Seattle Repertory Theatre. He then became general manager and ultimately producing director of the theater during a tenure that lasted 21 years. It was during this time that the new Bagley Wright Theatre was built and the company grew to one of the largest in the country.
For the last sixteen years, Mr. Donnelly served as president and CEO of ArtsFund. The organization is recognized as an integral part of the arts in the Northwest and is known for its integrity and innovation by its hundreds of corporate, foundation and individual contributors and by its 70+ beneficiary arts groups. During the past 15 years, the fund has more than doubled its annual distributions and raised more than $10 million in endowments.
A Boston native, Mr. Donnelly is a graduate of Boston University's School of Fine Arts. He serves as co-chair for Americans for the Arts and is a former board member of the Theatre Communications Group. He served on the Visiting Committee of the Master of Not-for-Profit Leadership program at Seattle University and currently serves on the boards of Classical KING-FM 98.1, the U.S. Bank Washington State Advisory Board, the Frye Art Museum, the Kreielsheimer Remainder Foundation, the University of Washington School of Drama Advisory Board and the Seattle Art Museum’s Board of Trustees.
Mark Levine is a graduate of Washington State University and is currently the chairman of the board at K & L Distributors. He is the founder and past president of Distillers Representatives Association of Washington and was the president and chairman of the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America Association for an unprecedented two-year term. Mr. Levine was instrumental in creating WSWA's Council for Leadership Development, a training and networking group for young executives. He was appointed by the Governor to be a Washington State Wine Commissioner.
Mr. Levine is also active in a number of Pacific Northwest organizations including Rotary International and ArtsFund. He was past chairman of the Seattle Arts Commission, past president of PONCHO and has served on the boards of the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Cornish College of the Arts and Temple De Hirsch Sinai. He is currently serving his second year as chairman of the University of Washington School of Drama Advisory Board.
Llewelyn G. Pritchard, a graduate of Drew University and Duke Law School, is an attorney with the Seattle firm of Helsell Fetterman. He specializes in Family Law and has practiced in King County for more than 40 years. He is an extremely active member of our community. Mr. Pritchard currently serves as the president of the Allied Arts Foundation and is a trustee of the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. He is also a member of the Betty Bowen Committee at the Seattle Art Museum and has been the president of the Seattle Symphony Board of Trustees and PONCHO.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s premier showplace for musical theater. The 2005-2006 Season marks the 25th anniversary of the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre which, in 1980, began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 24,000 and an annual attendance of more than 200,000. It ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected musical theater companies. The Theatre is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, The Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy. Visit www.5thavenue.org
Board member photos are available upon request. Please contact Jennifer Rice, public relations manager, with any questions at 206-625-1418.