Managing Director Bateman Leaving A Noise Within Theater

After nine years, Managing Director Michael Bateman will be leaving A Noise Within, the theater announced earlier this week.

“I feel tremendous gratitude for the opportunity I have had to contribute to A Noise Within’s meaningful and deeply impactful mission,” Bateman says. “After almost a decade of wonderful partnership with Geoff and Julia, artists, staff, board, teaching artists and our community, it was a sad but healthy decision for me to leave the organization as I look forward to digging deeper into some of my other passions. ANW is an extraordinary community that produces stunning plays, introduces new generations to theater, and is rigorously accountable to a vision of a more equitable and inclusive field; I am proud to have helped lead the company and am pleased to be leaving it in a strong and stable position coming out of the pandemic. I’ll be watching what comes next for ANW, and with the incredible leadership of the producing artistic directors; the guidance of a dedicated board; and the talent and collaborative spirit of staff, artists and teaching artists, I have no doubt that it will be spectacular.” 

Maryellen Gleason, who previously worked with A Noise Within as the interim director of development, will serve as the interim managing director while a national search is conducted for Bateman’s successor. 

The details of the search will be announced in the coming weeks. 

During Bateman’s tenure, A Noise Within experienced a period of tremendous growth. While expanding the theater from a budget of $1.6 million to over $3.7 million in the 2022-23 season, Bateman ensured the organization’s financial stability through growing cash reserves, retiring its debt, navigating pandemic relief programs, and establishing an endowment for the organization’s expansive education program. 

Bateman helped produce over 60 mainstage productions and dozens of additional community events, including playing a central role in envisioning and establishing ANW’s ground-breaking Noise Now program, which expanded programming to include dance, music, art installations, non-traditional theater and beyond. 

“We are unbelievably fortunate to have had Michael by our side for the past nine years,” said producing artistic directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott in a joint statement. “He has been an invaluable asset to the organization and a great thought partner to the two of us. His commitment to creating theater that centers the art, and all who participate in making it both onstage and off, has been a gift to us. We are a better organization because of his contribution and now look forward to ANWs next phase.”