Segerstrom Center for the Arts

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Mr. Casey Reitz

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Casey Reitz is President of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the largest, innovative, and renowned multi-disciplinary nonprofit arts organization in Orange County. He joined the Center in December 2019, a few months before the world went into lockdown facing a pandemic like no other. Despite the challenges throughout these tumultuous times, his steadfast leadership saw the Center safely and securely through the pandemic. His effective communication and determination maintained a solid financial footing keeping the Center running and reopening; welcoming patrons safely back to enjoy live performances. His forward-thinking secured ABT as the Official Dance Company of Segerstrom Center for the Arts and launched the Headliners and Speaker series. His life-long love of the performing arts drives his vision to build an inclusive, creative, and impactful arts community where everyone is welcome. Prior to Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Reitz served as the Executive Director of Second Stage Theater, one of the leading non-profit theater companies in New York City dedicated to the production of adventurous contemporary plays and musicals. Reitz was responsible for all administrative, marketing, fundraising, and financial efforts. During his nine years at Second Stage, he successfully led the acquisition, renovation, and re-opening of Broadway's Helen Hayes Theater. With the launching of the Hayes, Second Stage became only the 4th non-profit with a permanent home on Broadway. The designs by David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group for the 106-year-old landmarked theater featured extraordinary improvements to ADA access, usability, and comfort for artists and patrons as well as an innovative visual style. The project achieved LEED Gold status. He not only expanded the company to Broadway but also oversaw its significant growth, tripling the company’s annual budget while retiring its accumulated deficit. During his tenure at Second Stage, the Hayes Theater was the proud home of the commercial runs of Tony winner The Humans by Stephen Karam and Tony nominee What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck. Before coming to Second Stage, Reitz was the Director of Development at The Public Theater. He was responsible for all contributed support representing 70% of the Public's annual revenue, which sustained all activities at its landmark five-theater downtown venue that includes Joe's Pub and the world-famous Free Shakespeare in Central Park. Other positions have included the Director of Individual Giving at the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Director of Development at Actor's Express in Atlanta, Georgia, and Consultant for Webb Management Services, an Arts Management Consulting Firm in New York. Reitz has also served as an Associate Consultant at the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland and has been a guest lecturer at Yale University, Columbia University, Brooklyn College, New York University, and the University of Alabama. A three-time nominee, Reitz won a Tony Award® for Best Musical Producer of Dear Evan Hansen. Previously he was a member of the League of Resident Theatres. Currently, he is a member of the Broadway League, a member of the Performing Arts Center Consortium and is a Tony Awards voter. In 2021, he was named one of the most influential individuals in Orange County Business Journal’s OC500. In May 2022, Riviera OC Magazine named him one of the Top 50 Power Players in Orange County. Reitz holds an MFA in Theater Management from Yale University and a BA in Theatre from the University of Alabama. When he is away from the Center, he can be found spending time exploring the many adventures sunny Southern California has to offer.

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