David Hudson and Lori Wolter Hudson to step down from The New Harmony Project

After leading The New Harmony Project, one of the nation’s leading incubators of scripts and new works, through a five-year period of exceptional growth and transformation, David Hudson and Lori Wolter Hudson will step down from their respective roles as Executive Director and Artistic Director in June 2023, following NHP’s 36th annual conference.
 
“David and Lori have been the heart and soul of The New Harmony Project for the past five years, and we will miss them dearly as they leave their roles,” said Loui Lord Nelson and Ron Gifford, co-chairs of the board of directors.  “However, our sadness is tempered by tremendous gratitude for their incredible stewardship of The New Harmony Project over the past five years. Because of their dedication, vision, and passion, NHP is as strong and vibrant as it has ever been, and the organization is well-positioned to successfully transition with new leadership into an exciting next phase.”
 
The New Harmony Project Board of Directors has retained Artistic Logistics to conduct a national search, led by Lisa Mount and Tabitha Montgomery. Building on its strategic plan, NHP has reimagined its leadership structure and will be seeking one person to lead the organization as the Executive Artistic Director. The position profile for the Executive Artistic Director and other application information can be found at www.newharmonyproject.org/transition; applications are now being accepted. The Board expects to announce a successor by June 2023.

When David and Lori joined The New Harmony Project five years ago, they brought a combined 33 years of experience in other roles with NHP. “The New Harmony Project shaped my understanding of the creative process,” Lori stated. “I started with NHP as a college intern in 2002 and those early years were so formative to my experience as a young theatre professional. I learned the importance of a supportive, inspiring, creative environment centered on community to anchor the development of new work.” David added, “We grew up with New Harmony, and truly believe in NHP’s mission and in the notion that great writing can change the world, so making this transition is the definition of bittersweet. But as The Project moves to the next phase of implementing its new strategic plan, Lori and I are confident that new leadership will continue NHP’s journey to a bigger, brighter future.”

Under David and Lori’s leadership, The New Harmony Project increased the number of writers and artists it supports, grew annual revenues by 160% to sustain that support, and adopted an equity-centered strategic plan that committed the organization to being an antiracist institution that centers artists at the heart of new program development.
 
Since 2018, writers who have attended the annual conference in New Harmony have had their works produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Goodman Theatre, Writer’s Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, on Broadway, the West End, and at theaters across the country. Writers are also developing and producing feature films, working in writers’ rooms for award-winning television shows, and have received major accolades including the Princess Grace Award, Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and Steinberg Playwright Awards. During this time, NHP has also established meaningful partnerships with arts organizations in Central Indiana, and with national partners including Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
 
Vichet Chum, an award-winning playwright who is also an NHP alumnus and a member of the NHP board of directors, noted that while David and Lori’s formal relationship to The New Harmony Project may be changing, their long-standing commitment to its mission is not. “I’ve known David and Lori for nearly two decades and I know how deeply they care for The New Harmony Project and its mission to nurture writers in the development of new works that interrogate the complexity of hope,” Chum noted. “They will continue to be champions and ambassadors for NHP even as they take on new roles elsewhere.”
 
David is stepping down to take a senior leadership position with Brass Jar Productions, producer of the critically-acclaimed Drunk Shakespeare, the show that David co-created with Scott Griffin, Lori Wolter Hudson and Beth Gardiner. A New York Times Critic’s Pick, Drunk Shakespeare has been running off-Broadway in New York since 2014, and has now expanded to Chicago, Washington D.C., Phoenix, and Houston. At Brass Jar Productions, David will oversee creative direction in addition to strategy and content development.
 
Lori plans to return to her personal creative work with directing and writing projects, and to continue shepherding new work as a director, dramaturg, producer and consultant. “This job has been the dream of my lifetime” she said. “As difficult as it is to step back, it’s been an incredible journey. Every parent-artist with young kids knows that with a full-time position like this there is only so much time to devote to outside projects. I’m excited to work on scripts I have in development and to spend more time in the rehearsal room again.”
 
The couple will continue to reside in Indianapolis with their two daughters, Isabel (7) and Bridget (4).
 
The New Harmony Project is a national arts organization whose mission is to nurture writers in the development of scripts and new works that interrogate the complexity of hope. Through artist-centered programming, we care for writers so they can change the world. To learn more visit www.newharmonyproject.org.