MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Park Square Theatre: Leadership Update and Our Continued Path Forward

SAINT PAUL, MN - Park Square Theatre shares an important leadership update as the organization navigates its next chapter and plans for the future.

Stephen DiMenna’s tenure as Artistic Director concluded on October 31, 2026. Dawn Bentley, who began serving as Managing Director on October 1, will oversee the theatre as the board considers its longer-term leadership structure.

Dawn brings experience in arts leadership, organizational management, fundraising, and community engagement. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Minnesota Fringe, where she worked with artists, audiences, and community partners to support and grow the organization. We welcome her leadership as Park Square Theatre moves forward.

Stephen joined Park Square Theatre in 2023 at an important moment in the organization's rebuilding and contributed to its artistic programming and efforts to advance the theatre. We are grateful for his service to the organization and wish him well in his next endeavors.

With the support of our board, staff, artists, donors, institutional funders, and community partners, Park Square Theatre has taken important steps to address immediate financial pressures while developing a stronger long-term strategy. The work has not been easy, and it is not finished. The organization continues to assess its current programming and determine what will be feasible moving forward.

As the board, staff, and key stakeholders work together to evaluate the organization's needs and establish the best path forward, Park Square Theatre will share additional updates as decisions are made.

We remain committed to building on Park Square Theatre's 50-year legacy of producing exceptional live performances, providing meaningful arts education opportunities, supporting artists, and remaining an important part of the cultural hub in downtown Saint Paul.

Park Square Theatre is grateful to the audiences, subscribers, artists, students, families, donors, sponsors, institutional funders, volunteers, and community partners whose continued support has helped sustain the organization. Their trust, generosity, creativity, and participation are essential to the theatre's history and its future.

While there is still work ahead, Park Square Theatre remains committed to its role as a place where artists, audiences, and the community can come together through the shared experience of theatre arts.

Park Square Theatre
Saint Paul, Minnesota

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About Dawn Bentley - Managing Director Effective October 1, 2026

Dawn Bentley is a nonprofit arts leader, strategist, and educator with extensive experience in organizational leadership, financial management, fundraising, and community engagement. Before joining Park Square Theatre as Managing Director in October 2026, she served for ten years as Executive Director of Minnesota Fringe, where she strengthened the organization’s financial sustainability, expanded year-round programming, increased fundraising, and developed initiatives to support artists and broaden community participation.

Previously, Bentley served as Executive Director of Art Shanty Projects and led business development for Northern Spark at NorthernLights.mn. Since 2003, she has also operated Girl Friday, her consulting practice advising organizations on strategic planning, financial management, and business development.

A dedicated arts educator, Bentley has taught Nonprofit Financial Management as adjunct faculty at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University, Mankato, since 2015. She holds a BA in Microbiology from Hamline University, as well as a Master's in Nonprofit Management and an MBA in International Marketing from Hamline, where she was a Holt Fellow. Her career began in microbiology, with positions at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

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Media Availability

Dawn Bentley is happy to take questions and speak with the press about Park Square Theatre and its future, on screen, by phone, or in person. To coordinate an interview or for headshots and additional materials, please contact: Matt Connolly | Director of Marketing and Development | connolly@parksquaretheatre.org