CLAREMONT — A theater artist and performer with extensive experience in New Hampshire will take over the Claremont Opera House as executive artistic director in January, the nonprofit said in a news release on Monday.
Andrew Pinard, a Bradford, N.H., resident, was named to the post by the opera house board of directors, replacing Louanne Lewit, who resigned in September after 15 years as executive director.
Pinard most recently was the founder and operator of Hatbox Theatre in Concord, and has worked for almost 30 years as an actor, director and scene and lighting designer, the release said.
Pinard has also written and adapted several plays for family audiences and taught theater for five years at Pembroke Academy.
“Our Board went through an extensive search process to staff the right person to lead us through 2021 and beyond, with a focus on new revenue generating opportunities, expanded programming and theatre maintenance,” Felicia Brych Dalke, the opera house board president, said in the release. “We talked to a lot of talented arts leaders across New Hampshire, but Andrew’s ideas for our future are why we selected him.”
Pinard is also expected to strengthen the opera house’s ties to West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts, which is building a new facility next to the opera house.
Pinard has also worked as a magician and has served for 12 years as a member of the Kearsarge Regional School District board, according to his LinkedIn profile.