MIDLAND, Mich, OCT 10, 2024 – Midland Center for the Arts is excited to announce the hiring of Willie E. Jones III as the new Manager of Produced Theatre and Theatre Education. With a distinguished background in both performance and arts leadership, Jones brings a fresh perspective to the Center’s community theatre and youth theatre education programming.

Jones graduated from the prestigious University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theatre BFA Actor Training Program and trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His performance career has taken him to renowned stages, including The Globe and Morsani Hall. As a playwright, Jones’s works have been showcased in workshops and readings at esteemed venues such as The Lorraine Hansberry Theater and Millsap College.

Jones's leadership experience is equally impressive. He previously served as the interim Co-Director of Theatre at CFCArts and as the Artistic Director of Stage Door Theatre. In his role as Executive Producer of the “Blackness Is…” Theatre Arts Festival, he collaborated with The Guthrie Theater to highlight and celebrate Black artistry. He is also a co-founder of the MN Black Theatre Circle and the Quarantine Bakeoff Playwriting Competition.

"I'm excited to join Midland Center for the Arts and contribute to its mission of serving the community with quality education and entertainment," said Jones. "Our goal for Center Stage Theatre is to deliver audience-focused, impactful storytelling that makes the region proud. In education, we will continue fostering creativity, confidence, and character in students while expanding opportunities for all."

In this role, Jones will oversee the productions of Center Stage Theatre, working closely with the Center’s talented volunteers and technicians to deliver high-quality theatrical experiences. In addition, he will manage the Center’s theatre education programs, fostering a new generation of young artists and expanding the reach of the Center’s educational initiatives.

ABOUT MIDLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Midland Center for the Arts is a cultural hub for the Great Lakes Bay Region and State of Michigan. Imagine a place where you can experience the best of art, science, history, music, theatre, dance, and film, all under one stunning roof. This vibrant and unique institution, housed within an architecturally significant building, is a haven for artists, students, historians, and audiences alike. With its impressive 1,500-seat auditorium, 400-seat theater, interactive museum of science and art, Midland Symphony Orchestra, Center Stage Theatre, Midland County Historical Society, and Studio School art studios, the possibilities for entertainment and enrichment are endless. Ready to explore? Visit midlandcenter.org.

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