Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse has announced a major restructuring in staff and leadership.

Managing Director Anne Clark and Artistic Director Jared Sakren will leave their positions at the end of May. Clark has been Managing Director of the Playhouse since 2020 but recently made the decison to join the team at Mill Valley’s 142 Throckmorton Theatre as Development Director. Sakren joined the Playhouse in 2015 as Executive Director and took on the Artistic Director’s duties upon Craig Miller’s departure in 2018. Sakren’s plans are unknown.

A press release states that the restructuring is being done “to align with current economic realities and to ensure their ability to maintain their steadfast commitment to deliver exceptional live theatre and educational programming to Sonoma County.”

This restructuring will result in an 30% reduction of the theatre’s current staff, driving a reduction in operating expenses. “Budget pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the recent AB5 compensation law has more than tripled the cost of presenting live theatre,” said Dorothy Beattie, 6th Street’s executive board president. “We can no longer sustain three executive positions and must shift our model.”

The theatre will seek a new executive leader to navigate both the artistic and business aspects of running a theatre. During the transition, Director of Education Aja Gianola-Norris will serve as interim executive director.

Replacing Gianola-Norris as 6th Street Director of Education is Jonathen Blue, who begins his new role on June 1st. Blue has previously been a teacher and performer at 6th Street.