Staff & Board

Courtney O’Connor (Producing Artistic Director) 

This year, Lyric Stage suffered two significant losses to our family.

Polly Hogan, Lyric Stage co-founder, passed away on April 15, 2023. Polly was fierce and fearless. Countless Boston theatrical artists trace their first professional opportunity back to Polly and Lyric Stage.

Polly was essential in the creation of NEAT (New England Area Theatres), a collective of 12 theatre companies who share a contract with Actors Equity Association. Polly also helped create the Theatre Community Benevolent Fund (TCBF), a resource for artists in crisis. During the first year of the pandemic, TCBF distributed over $250,000 to unemployed artists.

The creation of Lyric Stage predated the Huntington Theatre Company and the American Repertory Theatre by almost a decade. After her retirement from the company in 1998, Polly continued to check in on the Lyric Stage as a proud parent.

Ron Ritchell, Polly’s husband and Lyric Stage co-founder, is planning a celebration of her life at Lyric Stage this fall.

On November 2, 2022, former Lyric Stage Board President Steven Wasser passed away surrounded by family at his home in the Hudson Valley. His leadership was a perfect fit for a company that prizes local talent. His own company, Verne Q. Powell Flutes, locally manufactured the Stradivarius of the flute world. A guided tour of the factory with Steven revealed an obvious joy and passion for music.

We’ll miss you, Polly. We’ll miss you, Steven.

We are committed to a Board that reflects the diversity of our communities and welcomes your inquiries. If you have a passion for the Lyric Stage, would like to make an investment in our future, and are interested in learning about becoming a member of The Lyric Stage Company of Boston’s Board of Directors, contact the Board President.