Augsburg alumnus Brett Batterson 鈥�80 had big shoes to fill when he took the job as President and CEO of聽Orpheum Theatre Group in Memphis, Tennessee.聽Prior to his arrival,the聽theatre聽had聽been聽recognized聽at聽the聽Tony Awards on three different occasions. Under Batterson鈥檚 leadership,聽as part of the聽Independent Presenters Network, the Orpheum Theatre Group聽can聽now claim聽a share of the聽2018聽Tony Award for Best Musical! The Independent Presenters Network is an above-the-title producer of the 10-award winning show,聽The Band鈥檚 Visit.
In high school, Batterson was an actor in his school鈥檚 theatre productions. When he came to Augsburg, one of his theatre professors, Michael Beery, showed Batterson his potential to create the scenes on the stage itself as a set designer.
鈥淚 had wonderful professors at Augsburg including Julie Driver and Ailene Cole, but聽Michael聽Beery had the most profound effect on my career.鈥� says Batterson.
Beery helped guide Batterson onto a path where he could find great success.聽He did perform in one show at Augsburg, but spent the rest of his time behind the scenes creating and designing sets
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While still a student at Augsburg, Batterson had the opportunity to work at聽The Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Jazz Dance Company and聽Minnesota Opera Company.聽Following Augsburg, he took the skills he learned and advice from Professor Beery and obtained his M.F.A. in set design from Tulane University. For 15 years he continued his stage design career until he discovered another passion聽鈥� arts management. Batterson spent 10 years at Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit as the company鈥檚 Chief Operating Officer. Then another 11 years as the Executive Director of the national historic landmark Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. He has been in his current position as President and CEO of Orpheum Theatre Group in Memphis since 2016.
“Theatre education, like I had at Augsburg,聽builds better people,” said Batterson, “Whether they go into theatre or not, they will go into the world better prepared聽to succeed.”