Announcements
Virginia Samford Theatre announces Philip Mann as Executive Director
The Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama is pleased to announce Philip Mann as the theatre’s new Executive Director. He will assume his duties on February 8th and succeeds Cathy Gilmore following her 20 years of dedicated service.
Mr. Mann, a native of Birmingham, was raised in and around the Birmingham theatre community and has worked as a performer, director and producer at the Virginia Samford Theatre, Town and Gown, Birmingham Festival Theatre and Birmingham Children’s Theatre. He began his professional career in not for profit arts administration at two of the nation’s most prominent theatres: The Alabama Shakespeare Festival and The Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. He went on to become an Agent with the Booking Group in New York City where he represented several national touring companies including RENT, The Producers, Annie and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Mr. Mann was hired by Louisiana Economic Development as the Division Director of Live Performance and Music Industry Development where he spent 10 years in state government. He managed the State’s tax credit and developmental participation in more than 20 renovated and new infrastructure projects in post-Katrina New Orleans including The Saenger Theatre, The Orpheum Theatre, The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in the 9th Ward, The Joy Theatre, The Civic Theatre, and The Stage Door Canteen at the World War 2 Museum. These projects accounted for over $250 million in investments and the creation of over 500 jobs in the State of Louisiana. He also worked with industry leaders Cirque du Soleil, AEG, Live Nation, Broadway Across America and The Solomon Group to re-establish Louisiana as a top destination for live entertainment in North America. His program provided tax credit finance for the origination of numerous touring productions in Louisiana including Taylor Swift’s 1989 Tour, six Cirque du Soleil tours accounting for more than 17 million in investment and the creation of 350 Louisiana resident jobs, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Soul2oul Tour, and the pre-Broadway engagement of Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville. While in Louisiana, Mr. Mann served on the Legislative Affairs Council of The Broadway League.
Mr. Mann spent the last five years serving as the Executive Director of External Affairs and Foundation Trustee of the Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur, AL. He majored in Theater and Philosophy at Birmingham Southern College and The University of Alabama in Birmingham and is a Graduate of the Oxford University Executive Leadership Programme. He is married to former Broadway actress and Jewel of Havana jewelry designer Ana Maria Andricain.
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“It’s a great honor to be entrusted with the responsibility of preserving the rich cultural heritage of the Virginia Samford Theatre and ensuring a bright future for this storied venue. The VST family will strive to create programming and educational opportunities that reflect the growth and diversity of Birmingham and our surrounding communities. We plan to work closely with Birmingham city government as well as the corporate and philanthropic communities to tell the story of the VST as a leading cultural and economic driver of our great City. The theatre will turn 100 in a few years, and our collective goal will be to lay the foundation for 100 more. For the moment though, I’m really excited about chilling out with our next production of Jimmy Buffet’s Escape to Margaritaville which opens February 9th. It features all of Jimmy Buffet’s greatest hits, and yes, we will be selling margaritas! In true Parrothead form, we strongly encourage sandals (yeah you can wear socks if it’s too cold) and your favorite Hawaiian shirts. Grab your tickets at the link below, and tell your friends to come hang out with us at The Virginia Samford Theatre.”
––Philip Mann
