Mary Bensel, Executive Director
Mary Bensel came to the Van Wezel in December of 2007 and is entering her eighteenth season at the theatre. Prior to this, she was Director of Touring and Sales for Troika Entertainment, a Broadway touring company, where she directed the booking of such Broadway tours as: CATS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, MOVIN’ OUT, CHICAGO and EVITA. Before that, Mary spent ten years as General Manager of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers. Before coming to Florida, Mary spent fifteen years in Philadelphia as General Manager for the Walnut Street Theatre and the Merriam (former Shubert) Theatre.
She received her BA from Mansfield University in Speech, Theatre and English and her MA from the University of Pittsburgh in Acting and Directing. Mary was a founding member of the Pittsburgh Public Theatre and served as Marketing Director/Press Agent for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Arizona Theatre Company and Stage West.