New Executive Director

Theatre Off Jackson Names Acclaimed Artist and Leader Susan Lieu as Permanent Executive Director

Following a transformative year as Interim ED, author and performer Susan Lieu takes the helm to lead the historic Chinatown-International District arts hub into a 20-year era of growth, capital modernization, and neighborhood revitalization.

SEATTLE, WA — August 24, 2026 — Theatre Off Jackson (TOJ), the venerable multidisciplinary performance venue in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (C-ID), today announced the appointment of acclaimed artist, author, and cultural leader Susan Lieu as its permanent Executive Director.

Lieu’s appointment marks the culmination of a deeply rooted, multi-chapter relationship with TOJ. Her journey with the organization began as an emerging artist and co-producer when TOJ’s community curatorial model provided the launchpad for her hit solo show, 140 LBS: How Beauty Killed My Mother. That sold-out world premiere catalyzed a 10-city national tour, secured a major book deal, and led to her celebrated memoir, The Manicurist’s Daughter (named a Best Book of the Year by NPR and The Smithsonian). Lieu went on to serve as TOJ’s Board President and, most recently, completed a pivotal one-year tenure as Interim Executive Director.

During her interim leadership, Lieu resolved 16 years of month-to-month tenancy across four prior failed negotiations by securing a landmark 20-year lease (10+10), permanently anchoring TOJ’s 15,000-square-foot cultural facility at the heart of the Chinatown-International District.

“After premiering her wildly successful solo show on our stage in 2019, which launched her meteoric rise as one of Seattle’s most internationally recognized literary and performing artists, we could not be more thrilled to have Susan on our staff full-time as Executive Director. Susan combines bold, visionary thinking that centers artists and their work, which she knows from personal experience, combined with the clear-eyed grit and tenacity this role requires, as proven by her success in securing our new lease. Personally, it’s a high honor to work closely with her. Susan and TOJ are on the rise, and will only continue to accelerate.” From Josef Krebs, Board President of Theatre Off Jackson.

With its long-term home secured, TOJ is embarking on a comprehensive 5-year transformation plan to move the organization from sustenance-level survival to long-term sustainability. Key priorities under Lieu’s leadership include:

• Staff Expansion & Operational Health: Transitioning from a two-person skeleton crew to a robust, fully supported team equipped to handle year-round programming, artist management, and strategic growth.
• Artist Economic Freedom: Expanding subsidized venue access, technical mastery, and production resources so multidisciplinary creators—centering marginalized voices in theater, burlesque, cabaret, and performance art—can take bold artistic risks and build viable careers.
• Facility Modernization & Community Revitalization: Upgrading production technology, improving safety and accessibility, and executing major capital improvements across the historic multi-level venue to serve as an economic and cultural beacon for the surrounding neighborhood.

“TOJ changed the trajectory of my life because it was one of the few spaces that took a chance on an unproven voice,” said Susan Lieu, Executive Director. “Now, our charge is to ensure this institution stands strong, safe, and fully resourced for the next generation of visionary creators. As we invest in TOJ, we are directly investing in the cultural heartbeat and economic vitality of the Chinatown-International District.”
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Celebrate and Support at the Annual Fundraiser: Big Damn Party on October 3rd

The community is invited to celebrate this new chapter and support TOJ’s revitalization efforts at its signature annual fundraiser, the Big Damn Party: Building TOJ’s Future, taking place on Saturday, October 3rd at Theatre Off Jackson (409 7th Ave S, Seattle).

Proceeds from the evening will directly benefit TOJ’s Capacity & Capital Fund, supporting essential staff expansion, facility upgrades, and artist subsidy programs. Attendees can expect an evening of boundary-pushing performances, community celebration, and an exclusive preview of TOJ’s 20-year vision for neighborhood-rooted arts.

Tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and donation details for the Big Damn Party are available at HERE.