After an extensive search and interview process, the Utah Shakespeare Festival recently announced the hiring of Zachary Murray as its new general manager.
As general manager, Murray will serve in a senior leadership role, working with executive director R. Scott Phillips and artistic directors David Ivers and Brian Vaughn to support the goals, vision, and mission of the festival. This is accomplished by overseeing all of the financial strategies and business operations. Murray will assist in protecting the artistic integrity of the festival through long-term financial planning and stability.
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| Zachary Murray |
“We spent a great deal of time and care in our general manager search, as this will be a key position to the future of the festival,” Phillips said. “I think Zachary will be a great addition to our company; he’s uniquely qualified because of his experience working in the financial arena and passion for the arts. Coming from an accounting background with Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Zachary will be able to assist me in making financially viable choices for the growth and expansion of the festival for years to come.”
Murray brings a wealth of knowledge and professional experience to the position. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUU, he continued to work in the field, obtaining quality accounting practice. He then opened his own business and returned to SUU to obtain a dual master’s degree in business administration and accounting. After a few years away, SUU offered Murray a newly created position in the Student Services Division. He developed the position and became an asset to student services, and the financial services areas.
He was then presented with the opportunity to work directly for the controller’s office as the plant and auxiliary accountant, where he prepared financial reports, helped with budget projections, and provided support to multiple departments on campus. His time with SUU has given him a solid foundation in merging business with higher education practices; now, he plans to incorporate his expertise into supporting and enhancing the performing arts.
“I am very excited at this new challenge in my career. It’s important to work for an organization where you believe in the mission, and I think the festival brings a lot of educational awareness and artistic value to the community, region, and thousands of stakeholders. I’m looking forward to working with a team where together, we can analyze and evaluate the information, which will then influence strategic long-range plans and organizational goals of the festival,” Murray said. “Accounting is the art of examining what an organization looks like financially, and I can’t wait to provide timely, efficient, and useful reports, policies, and procedures that will help improve the financial health and longevity of the festival.”
About the Utah Shakespeare Festival
The Utah Shakespeare Festival is a 53-year-old Tony Award-winning company that annually employs over 300 individuals. It has a current operating budget of $7 million and is just completing a $35 million capital campaign for the new Beverley Taylor Sorenson Center for the Arts. This venue will include a new outdoor theatre, a 200-seat studio theatre, production facilities, a rehearsal hall, educational classrooms, and administrative offices.
