Steven Libman is a nationally recognized performing arts leader known for producing dance, theatre and multi-disciplinary performing arts series. His career spans more than three decades and he has previously managed the Pittsburgh Ballet, La Jolla Playhouse and The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. He is also an author, public speaker and is the co-host and co-founder of "The Voice of the Performing Arts," a weekly public radio show devoted to the importance of arts education. Currently, Libman is the Chief Advancement Officer for Atlanta Ballet, and the President of The Libman Group, a consulting firm that works exclusively in the performing and visual arts arena.
Early life
Steven Libman was born on October 5, 1959 in Providence, RI. He is the son of Marilyn and Herman Libman. He has a brother Scott. Libman grew up in Rhode Island and the family moved to Harrisburg, PA when he was in the sixth grade where they stayed for three years. Libman then moved back to Rhode Island, went to high school and then Rhode Island College where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Performing Arts Management in 1981.
Career
Early in Libman's career, he served as Managing Director of the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and the Fulton Opera House before being named Managing Director of the Pittsburgh Ballet, where he spent 17 years. While with the Pittsburgh Ballet, Libman broke new ground in funder relations, raising more than $50 million. He developed ground breaking ballets set to jazz and the music of Paul Simon, Pete Seeger, Sting and Bruce Springsteen. Libman also established tours to Taiwan, Wolf Trap, The Hollywood Bowl and The Joyce Theatre in New York City. When he left the ballet, he was the longest-serving arts executive in the city and one of the two longest-serving managing directors of major ballet companies in North America. From 2005 to 2008, Libman served as Managing Director and the chief administrative officer at the Tony Award winning La Jolla Playhouse. He ran a four venue complex that produced over 300 performances per season, and produced 28 plays, including ten world premiers. Libman was the founding President and CEO of The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, IN from 2009 to 2011. While there, he successfully planned and launched the first few seasons and produced two major opening night festival galas with: Michael Feinstein, Chris Botti, Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick, David Hyde Pierce and dancers from American Ballet Theatre. He also produced a PBS special with Michael Feinstein seen by 11 million viewers. The special titled "Michael Feinstein: The Sinatra Project" was nominated for Outstanding Music Direction at the 64th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Libman has taught graduate courses in fundraising, leadership, and arts administration at the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, University of California, San Diego and Syracuse University. Libman is the Chief Advancement Officer for Atlanta Ballet, the President of The Libman Group, a consulting practice specializing in the Performing Arts and co-host of "The Voice of the Performing Arts" radio show. The Voice of the Performing Arts ran from 2013 - 2016, interviewed over 500 guests through 160 shows for a weekly audience of up to 10,000. The show aired weekly on public radio stationWICR 88.7 at the University of Indianapolis and was podcast in iTunes.
