Perry stepping down from Englert Theatre leadership

After more than a year full of changes, leadership is changing at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City.

Andre Perry, executive director for 11 years, has resigned to pursue new projects. His final day is Sept. 13, but he will help finalize fall and spring programming already underway, and will continue as executive director for the upcoming Witching Hour festival and Mission Creek festival in 2022.

Marketing Director John Schickedanz has been named interim executive director while the Englert board of directors launches a national search to fill the position. The rest of the senior leadership team will stay on board, with Jessica Egli, Sarah Shonrock and Katie Roche overseeing events, operations and fundraising, respectively.

Perry also will assist the search for a new senior programming manager.

“The most important step I took as a leader was knowing when to move on and make space for a new visionary voice,” Perry said in announcing his departure. “I am so excited to see where John takes this organization with the essential support of Jess, Katie and Sarah.”

Perry has led the nonprofit arts presenter through growing from an $800,000 budget in 2010 to a $1.9 million budget in 2019. He helped secure grants that sustained the organization through the pandemic, including the most recent award of $550,868 through the federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, announced in July.

He also expanded the Englert’s reach in the region, through partnerships with venues with Gabe’s and The Mill in Iowa City and the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, and events like the recent Iowa City Downtown Block Party. He also founded Mission Creek and Witching Hour festivals, showcasing high-profile and emerging artists, as well as local musicians, authors, poets and creators.

And he served as executive director and collaborator for the Strengthen Grow Evolve project that has raised $5.5 million to bolster renovations at the Englert and expansion of FilmScene’s footprint in downtown Iowa City.

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