(she/her/hers)
Cynthia Rider became OSF’s third executive director in 2013. Highlights of her first five years at OSF include the completion of a new Long Range Plan for OSF; the Access for All campaign, which renovated the Bricks and added an elevator and wheelchair seating to the Bowmer Theatre; the opening of the new Hay-Patton Rehearsal Center; each summer’s “swan song” performance at OSF’s summer seminar for high school juniors; and the privilege of working with a Board of Directors of incomparable dedication to OSF and its audience.
Prior to joining OSF, Cynthia spent nine years at Kansas City Repertory Theatre as managing director and, earlier, as associate director for advancement and administration.
Cynthia’s experience also includes six years as executive director of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. She served as associate director, later promoted to acting director, of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Partnership, which worked to strengthen small- and medium-sized manufacturers across the state.
Cynthia’s theatre experience also includes time spent on the stage. She started her theatre career as a resident company member, guest artist and young company actor at the Alley Theatre in Houston. Her favorite work in Kansas City included the plays she appeared in by Kyle Hatley at the KC Fringe Festival, as well as Bed Among the Lentils by Alan Bennett at Kansas City Actors Theatre, for which she was named “Best Actress” by The Pitch.
Cynthia graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Boston University.