Ballet Memphis announced that president and CEO Gretchen Wollert McLennon will step down following the conclusion of its 38th season after five years under her leadership.
McLennon, herself a former student of the school and dancer in the junior company, succeeded founding artistic director Dororthy Gunther Pugh. In her role as president and CEO, she led Ballet Memphis through the challenges brought on by the pandemic, while leading year-over-year growth in main-stage ticket sales, garnering support from the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission, guiding the creation of new productions like Dracula and the company’s newly reimagined Nutcracker, and more.
A national search, led by the Nashville-based executive search firm ThinkingAhead, is already underway to find Ballet Memphis’ next leader as it prepares for its 39th season.
Season 38 concludes with its production of Angels in the Architecture to be performed on April 25th to 27th at Germantown Performing Arts Center. Ballet Memphis fans can also look forward to its Winter Mix, February 21st to 23rd, at Playhouse on the Square.
