Diane Claussen

Most recently, Diane was the Managing Director of the Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts at Northwestern University, and an Adjunct Lecturer for the Department of Theatre where she co-created and co-led the Theatre Management Module. Prior to Northwestern, Diane spent close to 20 years as a professional regional theatre Executive/Managing Director at Paper Mill Playhouse and George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, Philadelphia Theatre Company, and the Court Theatre in residence at the University of Chicago. Diane and Court Theatre received the ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence from the Arts & Business Council of Chicago.

Diane has also worked at the Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre, as Managing Director/Assistant Professor and head of the undergraduate Theatre Management Program at Ithaca College, and she has taught arts marketing at Chicago’s Roosevelt University. Diane is also co-editor of the American Journal of Arts Management and co-president of the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE) . She received a B.A. in Drama and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington, and a M.B.A. and a M.A. in Arts Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Diane is a passionate advocate for the national, not-for-profit theatre industry, and as a theatre leader, manager, and educator she has been a champion and producer of new work, and committed to supporting women and culturally diverse artists and administrators. She is also a strong advocate for arts administration education and training programs, management resources and standards of conduct. Beyond theatre, Diane is interested in advancing local and global women’s issues, including leadership, education, equal access and pay, and health care. She is a Past Foundation President of the Rotary Club of Evanston and a Past President of the League of Chicago Theatres.​