Executive Director

---

Executive Director	Mr. Ernie Nolan
E-mail	enolan@nashvillechildrenstheatre.org
Term Start	January 2017
Ernie's Experience: Ernie Nolan is an award-winning playwright, director, and choreographer. He received the Illinois Theatre Association's 2014 award for Excellence in Theatre for Young Audiences. As former Artistic Director of Emerald City Theatre, he helped create The Little Theatre, the nation's first performance space dedicated exclusively to interactive and immersive theatrical experiences for early theatre goers ages five and under. Nolan's work as a playwright has been featured both nationally and internationally. He has adapted and directed such favorites as If You Give a Cat a Cupcake, If You Take a Mouse to School, Mo Willems' Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, and The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle. His work at The Broadway Playhouse includes A Charlie Brown Christmas, Fancy Nancy The Musical, Pinkalicious, The Cat in the Hat, Cinderella, Charlotte's Web, and the world premiere of Hansel and Gretel: A Wickedly Delicious Musical Treat, written with GRAMMY nominated recording artist Justin Roberts. As resident artist of The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, MO, Nolan has directed and choreographed world premieres by such Tony-nominated artists as Willy and Rob Reale, Stephen Schwartz, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and Bill Russell and Henry Krieger. For Chicago Playworks he has directed The BFG, The Giver, The Witches, A Wrinkle in Time, Number the Stars, The Day John Henry Came to School, Peter Pan and Wendy, and The Kid Who Ran for President. In March 2012, Ernie made his Off-Broadway debut as a choreographer with Lucky Duck at the New Victory Theatre. Nolan is currently the International Representative for TYA USA to ASSITEJ, a global theatre for young audiences service organization. With his appointment at NCT, he leaves his position as Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies at The Theatre School. He is a graduate of both the University of Michigan Musical Theatre Program (BFA Musical Theatre) and The Theatre School at DePaul University (MFA Directing).

Senior Staff

---

Name	Title
Mr. Colin Peterson	Education Director
Mrs. Michelle Taylor	Director of Business Services
Ms. Rachael Silverman	Director of Production

Staff

Full Time Staff	6
Part Time Staff	0
Volunteers	0
Contractors	0
Retention Rate	88%

Plans & Policies

Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan?	Yes
Does your organization have a Strategic Plan?	Yes
Years Strategic Plan Considers	3
When was the Strategic Plan adopted?	July 2021
Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan?	Yes
Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan?	Yes
Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy?	Yes
Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy?	Yes

Evaluation

Is there a formal evaluation for...		Frequency (if applicable)
CEO/Executive Director	Yes	Annually
Senior Management	Yes	Annually
Non-Management	Yes	Annually

Affiliations

Affiliation	Year
Actor's Equity Association	1998
ANE (Association of Nonprofit Executives)	2001
ASSITEJ International (International Assn of Theatre for Children and Young People)	1964
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Member	2008
Association of Junior Leagues International	1931
Center for Nonprofit Management Excellence Network	1999
Hands On Network	2007
Metro Arts Commission	1989
Nashville Area Association for Young Children (NAAYC)	2006
Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce	2004
Nashville Arts Coalition	1994
Nashville Chamber of Commerce	1996
Tennesseans for the Arts	1990
The National Association for Professional Theatres for Young Audiences (TYA/USA)	1990

Awards

---

Award / Recognition	Organization	Year
2009 - No. 1 Performing Arts Organization - Ranked by number of performances	Nashville Business Journal	2009
Arts & Culture 12th Awards Winner	12th & Broad	2016
Best Live Performance	Nashville Parent	2010
Best Local Theater Company	Nashville Scene	2010
Best Local Theatre Company	The Tennessean's Toast of Music City	2015
Best Professional Theatre	Broadway World Nashville	2018
Four of NCT's 2009 Productions were ranked in NBJ's 2009 Top 25 Musical Theater/events	Nashville Business Journal	2009
Ranked # 2 Performing Arts Organization based on attendance totals	Nashville Business Journal	2014
Ranked #1 & #2 Top Attended Performing Arts Events in Nashville	Nashville Business Journal	2016
Ranked #2 Performing Arts Organization Based on Attendance	Nashville Business Journal	2017
Ranked #2 Performing Arts Organization Based on Attendance	Nashville Business Journal	2018
Ranked #2 Performing Arts Organization based on attendance totals	Nashville Business Journal	2015
Ranked #2 Performing Arts Organization in Nashville by total attendance	Nashville Business Journal	2013
Ranked #3 Performing Arts Organization based on attendance totals	Nashville Business Journal	2016
Ranked #4 & #5 Top Attended Music/Theatre events in Nashville	Nashville Business Journal	2013
Ranked Fourth Best Children's Theatre in Nation	TIME Magazine	2004
Ranked Top Ten Entertainment and Performance Venues in Nashville based on attendance totals	Nashville Business Journal	2016
Theaterati of the Year - Ernie Nolan	Midwinter's First Night	2018

CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments

---

In June 2019, the Board of Trustees eliminated the role of Managing Director, placing many of the role's responsibilities with the Executive Artistic Director. While plans were put on hold during the pandemic to hire a new position, Director of Finance, the goal is to hire the new position within the next year. During the pandemic, a reduction of work force was required. The theatre continues to operate with a small full time staff and many contract and part time employees. As audiences return to the building, plans are in place to bring back positions as needed.