Drew Kowalkowski Named Executive Director of Nantucket Performing Arts Center

The new Nantucket Performing Arts Center (NPAC), the nonprofit that recently purchased The White Heron Theatre property, has named Drew Kowalkowski as its executive director.

Kowalkowski will lead both the Nantucket Performing Arts Center and its resident professional theatre company, ACKarts Theatre Company.

Kowalkowski brings more than 15 years of experience spanning nonprofit and commercial theatre - from Broadway to regional and community stages across the country. NPAC described him as a "dynamic arts leader, producer, and changemaker" whose career "reflects a deep commitment to innovation, collaboration, and the transformative power of the performing arts."

After early work as a stage manager and a lighting and sound designer, Kowalkowski shifted his focus to management and producing, building experience in marketing, operations, ticketing, technology, and finance at nonprofit theatres in the Denver and Boston areas. He later transitioned to commercial theatre, serving as operations manager of New York’s Westside Theatre, and then as Chief Operating Officer of Thompson Turner Productions, the general management firm behind the Broadway productions of The Book of Mormon, Mean Girls, Company, Leopoldstadt, and Merrily We Roll Along.

Kowalkowski then headed back west - making it as far as Indianapolis - where he became associate managing director of Indiana Repertory Theatre, the state’s flagship producing theatre. He holds an MFA in Theatre Management and Producing from Columbia University and most recently served as an adjunct faculty member at Gonzaga University.

“We are thrilled to welcome Drew to Nantucket,” said Chris Bierly, NPAC founding member and board chair. “His entrepreneurial spirit, passion for the arts, commitment to excellence, and forward-thinking approach make him the perfect leader to help guide the Nantucket Performing Arts Center and ACKarts Theatre Company into an exciting new era.”

In his new role, Kowalkowski will oversee all aspects of NPAC’s operations, programming, and strategic growth. He will also lead ACKarts Theatre Company as it prepares to launch its inaugural summer season, bringing Broadway-caliber productions and educational initiatives to Nantucket’s year-round and seasonal communities.

“I’m honored to join the incredible team at the Nantucket Performing Arts Center and ACKarts Theatre Company,” said Kowalkowski. “This island has long been a haven for creativity and connection, and I look forward to building on that legacy—creating unforgettable experiences for audiences, empowering artists, and ensuring the performing arts thrive here for generations to come.”

For more information about the Nantucket Performing Arts Center and upcoming events, visit www.nantucketperformingarts.org.