Kimberly Motes, the executive director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater since 2023, is leaving her position in mid-November to become president and CEO of Hennepin Arts in Minneapolis.
The news was first reported Wednesday morning by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Chicago Shakespeare Theater did not publicly announce Motes’ departure, although the announcements of such changes involving top executives generally are coordinated by the two institutions involved.
Hennepin Arts is a nonprofit presenter of Broadway tours and other shows and attractions. It owns and operates such theaters as the Orpheum, Pantages and State in the Minneapolis arts district. Motes, the Star-Tribune reported, starts in her new role on Nov. 30.
A Chicago Shakespeare spokesperson referred to a statement from the theater’s board of directors chair, Ray Whitacre, praising Motes’ accomplishments during her brief tenure — “while we will miss her greatly, we wish her well in her new role” — and saying that artistic director Edward Hall and the board would manage the theater in the interim until a search is completed for a replacement. “Our priority is a smooth transition as we celebrate our 40th anniversary season,” Whitacre’s statement said.
Motes was only the second executive director in CST’s history; she followed the long tenure of Criss Henderson. Motes is from the Minneapolis area and worked in the arts scene there for more than 20 years. She has not yet responded to the Tribune’s request for a comment.
This story is updating.
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic