Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (OTSL) has announced the renewal of general director Andrew Jorgensen’s contract for another five years.
Jorgensen, who has served at the helm of the organization since 2018, will extend his tenure through June 30, 2028, which will mark his 10th year with OTSL.
In addition, Opera Theatre revealed that its 2022 fiscal year ended with a considerable increase in new audiences and philanthropic support.
The preliminary results from the fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, will be made official following a comprehensive audit that will be completed in February.
Several factors contributed to OTSL’s success as the organization navigated the challenges brought on by the pandemic. Last year, the organization triumphantly staged its 2021 Festival Season outdoors instead of its usual venue at the Loretto-Hilton Center; this year, it presented two solid world premieres, including the new performing edition of “Harvey Milk” and “Awakenings.”
In the past year, Opera Theatre had its highest-ever rate of new audience acquisition, with 1,640 new households, compared to 1,384 in 2019. A new free ticket initiative called Phyllis’ Seats made available more than 1,800 seats to the community in 2022 – approximately 51% of those seats were audiences new to OTSL. Total ticket sales for the 2022 Festival Season reached more than $1.2 million.
