Children's Musical Theater Names Miller to Managing Director Post

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Musical Theater San Jose has named Michael Miller its new Managing Director. A veteran of the performing arts and musical theater in particular, Miller joins the organization March 1, transitioning from his post as executive director at San Jose Jazz where he will join the board of directors.

The oldest performing arts organization in the region, CMT welcomes Miller at the height of a season that will next feature Legally Blonde, opening March 2 and running through the 11th, and 9 to 5, opening April 13 and running through the 22nd. "I'm thrilled to be joining Children's Musical Theater, and excited about jumping in as Legally Blonde opens and 9 to 5 goes into rehearsal," Miller said. "CMT has an extraordinary record for its fantastic productions featuring performers of all ages."

Miller started his career in the entertainment industry twenty-five years ago. With his own company Spotlight Entertainment he developed shows for Holland America Cruise Line and corporate events locally and internationally.  After three seasons with AMTSJ as Production Manager in the '90s, Michael moved east and spent four seasons as the Director of Production for Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ. He returned to AMTSJ in 2002 as Director of Production and General Manager of Miss Saigon, a co-production he coordinated with Paper Mill and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera. In 2003 Miller managed a short tour of Dreamgirls and in 2010 a four-city tour of Miss Saigon and many other theatrical collaborations. In 2004 Miller was appointed CEO and Executive Producer by the Board of Directors of the American Musical Theatre of San Jose, which closed four years later due to economic challenges. He has stayed active in the community working with 1stACT Silicon Valley and most recently as Executive Director of San Jose Jazz where he will now join the Board. Miller has served as Chair of the Arts Round Table, Arts Board Chair at Team San Jose, Chair of the Theatre Preservation Board and board member of Teatro Vision, sjDanceCo and committee member with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

"From a strong group of candidates, Michael emerged as the one with an operational background that is best suited for CMT and the partnership with our artistic director, Kevin Hauge," said Mary Curtis, president of CMT's board of directors. "He is well-versed in the production side and he knows the community, the foundations who support us and the base of donors who support the arts locally and regionally."

About CMT:

Children's Musical Theater celebrates its 45th anniversary as the longest thriving performing arts organization in San Jose. For the past eight years successively, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded CMT grants in recognition of artistic excellence. One of the nation's leading theater companies for youth, CMT presents ten full-scale productions each season and provides training and performance opportunities for children and young adults. Ongoing support from individual donors, local organizations and the NEA strengthen the company's ability to mount productions and serve the regional community.

SOURCE Children's Musical Theater San Jose