After a nationwide search, the Ashland Theatre Foundation has named Douglas Love as its new president and chief executive officer. The art deco Ashland Theater at 205 England St. celebrates its 70th year in fall of 2018.

“Douglas Love has created IP businesses for some of the largest film, television, publishing and digital companies in the world. As an acclaimed non-profit arts administrator, executive, producer, author and director, he has advanced the convergence of entertainment and education around the globe,” said Meredith Handakas, Founding Principal of Virginia Non-Profit Associates in a press release.

A little biographical info on Love from the release:

Formerly the CEO of Walden Family Playhouse, a live entertainment venture of Anschutz Film
Group (Walden Media Film Studios), Love recently worked to raise millions to build a Children’s Museum in Western New York as a catalyst for economic development, social equity and new concepts in education.

He is the Creator of World Book Encyclopedia’s Dramatic Learning, the most popular online arts education program in the world with 11 million paid subscribers in 23 countries. Love is also the Creator and Executive Producer of Disney’s top rated daytime television series, Out of the Box, winning three Parents’ Choice Awards and an Emmy nomination, as well as the animated series, Jammin’ Animals, for HBO.

A published author of over 30 works for HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Disney Press and others, Love is a widely noted expert on educational programming, curriculum and arts education. He has served as the Creativity Expert for ABC News and Lifetime television, and has taught for the University of Miami Professional Theater Conservatory.

Love arrives at a good time: the Ashland Theatre has just been awarded a $150,000 matching grant from the Cabell Foundation to help with construction. The board has committed to raising an additional $1.5 million for additional state of the art cinema, live music, theatre equipment and new comfortable seats” according to the release.

“We were searching for a star leader to launch our soon-to-be renovated world-class facility in the “Center of the Universe” (Ashland, VA),” said Clark Mercer, President of Ashland Theatre Foundation’s Board of Directors, in the release. “He is not only going to be a visionary leader for Ashland Theatre Foundation, but also a tremendous asset for Richmond and the entire region.”