Studio Tenn Names National Theatre Leader Mark Fleischer as Executive Director
Fleischer Brings 25 Years of Experience to Nonprofit Professional Theatre Company
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (March 12, 2026) – Studio Tenn has named Mark Fleischer as Executive Director as part of an intentional expansion of the organization’s leadership structure during a period of sustained artistic and organizational growth.
Studio Tenn’s Board of Directors created the Executive Director position to support the company’s next chapter of development. As Williamson County continues to experience significant growth, Studio Tenn is positioning itself to deepen its artistic impact, expand education initiatives, strengthen fundraising capacity and build the infrastructure required for long-term sustainability.
“Studio Tenn has reached a moment where expanded executive leadership is essential,” said Tony McAlister, Board Chair of Studio Tenn. “We created this role with high expectations. Mark brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in professional theatre, and I’m excited to see how Mark and Artistic Director Patrick Cassidy will work together to lead the company and build on the strong artistic foundation already in place.”
Fleischer currently serves as Executive Producer of Pittsburgh CLO, one of the nation’s largest regional producers of musical theatre. During his tenure, he guided the organization through the COVID-19 shutdown and recovery, strengthened community partnerships, expanded arts education access and advanced new musical development efforts. He has also held senior leadership roles at Adirondack Theatre Festival in New York and Plano Repertory Theatre in Texas, consistently pairing artistic ambition with operational discipline and civic engagement.
Fleischer will conclude 12 years of leadership at Pittsburgh CLO following the company’s 80th Anniversary season. The transition has been structured and mutually agreed upon by the Board of Directors of both companies to ensure continuity and stability for both organizations. He will remain engaged at Pittsburgh CLO through its summer season while beginning strategic engagement in Franklin in preparation for Studio Tenn’s 2026-27 season, which takes the Turner Theater stage in October.
Under Studio Tenn’s leadership model, Fleischer as Executive Director and Artistic Director Patrick Cassidy will serve as equal collaborative partners, each reporting directly to the Board of Directors. Cassidy will continue to lead artistic vision and programming, while Fleischer’s role will focus on strategic planning, financial stewardship, fundraising growth, community engagement and aligning artistic ambition with sustainable organizational development.
“Studio Tenn’s artistic ambitions continue to expand,” said Cassidy. “What excites me about partnering with Mark is that he understands both the artistic process and the operational framework required to sustain it. Together, we are focused on elevating Studio Tenn’s regional and national profile while remaining deeply rooted in the community we serve.”
Members of the Franklin community will have the opportunity to meet Fleischer when he arrives in Franklin the week of March 16 for his first meetings with Studio Tenn’s Board, staff, artists and community stakeholders, as well as to attend the opening night of Studio Tenn’s next show, “Boeing Boeing” on Thursday, March 19. In the months ahead, he and his wife, Holly, will transition from Pittsburgh to Franklin full-time, establishing their home in Williamson County as he prepares Studio Tenn for its 2026-27 season and beyond.
“Studio Tenn is at an exciting inflection point,” said Fleischer. “My first priority is listening. I want to understand the values, aspirations and identity of this incredible theatre company and the community it serves. Theatre thrives when artistic excellence, operational rigor and civic connection advance together. I am honored to join Studio Tenn at this pivotal moment and to help build a professional theatre that reflects both the ambition and spirit of this region.”
With the addition of an accomplished Executive Director, Studio Tenn positions itself not simply for growth, but for lasting institutional impact by strengthening its role as a leading professional theatre serving Middle Tennessee.
ABOUT MARK FLEISCHER: Mark Fleischer is a nationally respected theatre executive and stage director with more than 25 years of leadership experience guiding professional nonprofit theatre organizations through periods of artistic growth, structural change, and long-term sustainability planning.
He currently serves as Executive Producer of Pittsburgh CLO, one of the nation’s largest regional producers of musical theatre. Over a 12-year tenure with the organization, Fleischer advanced through successive leadership roles — beginning as Associate Artistic Director, then serving as Producing Director and a member of the Senior Leadership Team before being appointed Executive Producer in 2020.
Since his appointment, he has overseen CLO’s artistic and producing operations across its large-scale summer season, year-round programming, holiday productions, and new work development initiatives. He led the organization through the COVID-19 shutdown and recovery, implementing broadcast partnerships, streaming productions, and large-scale outdoor performances that sustained employment for artists and maintained audience engagement during a time of national disruption.
Throughout his career, Fleischer has consistently paired artistic ambition with institutional infrastructure building. He strengthened civic partnerships, expanded arts education initiatives, and launched the SPARK Festival to support new musical development, contributing to the creation and premiere of more than fifteen new works.
Prior to Pittsburgh, Fleischer served as Producing Artistic Director of Adirondack Theatre Festival (2007–2014), where he guided the organization through the Great Recession and was named Region’s Best Artistic Director by Metroland (2009). Earlier, as Managing Artistic Director of Plano Repertory Theatre (1993–2002), he transformed an all-volunteer company into a fully professional producing organization, expanded subscriptions from 150 to more than 5,000 annually, and helped establish a permanent performance home that contributed to downtown Plano’s arts revitalization.
In addition to his executive leadership, Fleischer maintains an active career as a stage director. He serves on the Board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and is an associate member of The Broadway League. He holds a BA in English Literature and Communication Arts from Austin College and an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Across his career, Fleischer’s leadership has been defined by a core belief that professional theatre thrives when artistic excellence, operational rigor, and civic connection advance together.
ABOUT THE STUDIO TENN THEATRE COMPANY: Studio Tenn Theatre Company is a professional regional theatre company and a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Middle Tennessee that exists to captivate and inspire with Broadway-quality musicals, plays, and concerts while educating the next generation to create and delight in the experience of live theatre. Learn more at studiotenn.com or by searching for Studio Tenn on Instagram and Facebook.
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