THEATRE OFF JACKSON ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

(Seattle, WA | Jan 10, 2024)

Theatre Off Jackson (TOJ) is pleased to announce the hiring of Pamala Mijatov as their new Executive Director, following the retirement of founding Executive Director Patti West.

Mijatov has over 15 years’ experience producing theater, dance, and contemporary performances in Seattle, most notably with Annex Theatre, the Seattle Fringe Festival, and The 14/48 Projects. Prior to coming to Theatre Off Jackson she spent five years at On the Boards, serving as the Director of Audience Services for dozens of productions by local, national, and international artists. Mijatov began her new position at TOJ in the first week of January.

Mijatov says, “I’m thrilled to be joining Theatre Off Jackson. TOJ is an essential resource for Seattle’s theater, music, dance, and burlesque artists, and TOJ walks the walk on empowering diverse artists to tell unique and vital stories and build community around sharing art. Seattle can be a challenging ecosystem for emerging artists, but TOJ is an anchor, a beacon, and a home.”

She adds, “I have tremendous respect for Patti and the incredible staff who have built and sustained TOJ, and I have great appreciation for TOJ’s knowledgeable and supportive Board. It’s an honor to be part of this community and I look forward to immersing myself with TOJ’s artists, producing partners, audiences, supporters, and donors.”

TOJ’s Board of Directors conducted a thoughtful, community-oriented hiring process, recruiting a search committee that included TOJ staff, community members, and artists from TOJ’s past, present, and future. Board Co-Presidents Kristi Barnhill and Meggan Davis say:

Pamala is the perfect fit for this moment in TOJ’s evolution. TOJ is ready to move beyond the Founders model, and Pamala has years of history with TOJ and many other Seattle theater companies, as well as lots of new ideas to energize and grow the company. She really understands the challenges of maintaining small theaters and other cultural spaces so we’re confident that she can help TOJ thrive as an arts hub for Seattle’s performance community.

Board Vice-President David Center adds:

Alongside hiring Pamala as our new executive director, this year has also seen TOJ make big investments in growing our staff as we prepare to embark on TOJ’s next chapter. As we grow, we are looking to our community to support this investment in TOJ’s future, and we invite them to attend our upcoming Big Damn Fundraising Shindig on the Lunar New Year, Saturday, February 10th. The Shindig will be an evening of performances by TOJ artists, as well as an opportunity to celebrate our past as we look forward to the future and hear from our new executive director in person.

Patti West will remain involved with TOJ as a senior executive advisor. West has led TOJ since its founding in 2005, shepherding the organization through momentous growth and change. She oversaw TOJ’s expansion into the street-level space vacated by the Wing Luke Museum in 2009; established a Curatorial Committee programming model with staff, Board, and community members; and kept TOJ afloat throughout COVID-19 closures and upheaval in the Chinatown-International District. Of her time at TOJ, West says:

I’m proud of how far TOJ has come over the past 18 years, growing from an all volunteer organization to one with multiple paid staff members and a sustainable model that should keep us thriving for years to come. It has been a privilege and an honor to lead this organization. We would not be where we are without the amazing efforts of my fabulous co-founders Frank Phillips and Amanda Slepski, our amazing staff and board, and our many co-producers, patrons, volunteers, and supporters.

I am beyond excited to welcome Pamala as our new executive director. I am confident she will lead the organization to new heights and I cannot wait to see where we go from here!

ABOUT THEATRE OFF JACKSON

Theatre Off Jackson is a performance venue located in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, with a 140-seat theater downstairs and a flexible event and performance space upstairs. TOJ’s mission is to help maintain a vital and diverse arts culture in Seattle, by offering and operating an affordable, sustainable venue dedicated to performance, art, and community. TOJ amplifies the voices of Seattle’s diverse artistic community by supporting new and established artists through the production process, and assisting them in achieving their unique vision on our stages.

CONTACT

Email: info@theatreoffjackson.org

(206) 340-1049

Theatre Off Jackson

409 7th Ave S

Seattle, WA 98104