Pittsburgh Public Theater has grown its team with “significant additions,” including Sarah Ashley Cain as Associate Artistic Director and Toby Guinn as its first Chief Development Officer. The Public also has announced the appointment of Dominique Briggs as Senior Manager of Partnerships and Public Works, as the organization expands through the upcoming Public Works initiative.
“These critical additions to our staff reflect one of The Public’s core values of attracting and retaining talent,” Managing Director Shaunda McDill said. “Retention is an organizational and regional imperative. We are eager to welcome these incredible people from Baltimore, Florida, and our own backyard, all who will increase our capacity and productivity while positively informing our culture and serving The Public’s mission.”
Dominique Briggs, Sarah Ashley Cain and Toby Guinn.
Cain joins The Public for its 50th anniversary season in 2024-25 from their immediate past role as the director of artistic producing at Baltimore Center Stage. She also has been an active participant in the League of Regional Theaters, the organization that sets best practices for regional theaters across the country, and regularly travels to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to produce artistic work and elevate emerging artists.
“I talk about myself as a values-based producer, and I like to use budgets as a way of aligning with my values,” Cain said. “Not everyone thinks of budgeting as a creative, artistic process, but I truly believe it can be and should be. Your budget is a literal representation of what you resource and what you pay attention to.”
“Cain’s expertise and passion will ensure the commitment to equity and excellence The Public presents on stage is supported by transparent, equitable, and excellent processes, contractual agreements, and systems within the organization,” the announcement stated.
“I don’t necessarily believe that a single piece of theater will change the world,” Cain said, “but I do believe that it will change peoples’ minds, and those people will go on to change the world. Being a true public theater is about putting the work out there that connects with and entertains people, and hoping it sparks within them something meaningful.”
At Pittsburgh Public Theater, Cain will make contributions to season planning, artistic producing, community programming such as Public Works, artistic staffing, and artist orientation.
“Sarah comes to us with an exceptional breadth of producing and artistic experience from her work with Baltimore Center Stage, Yale Repertory Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, and the Virgina Film Festival,” Pittsburgh Public Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski said. “In our co-producing process for The Importance of Being Earnest, I had the opportunity to work with Sarah directly and experience firsthand the expertise, kindness and innovation she brings to a collaboration.”
Chief Development Officer Guinn was previously the director of development for Sarasota Opera, where he also previously performed on stage under the name Scott Guinn. He performed leading and supporting roles for the New York City Opera, among many others, and began his career in arts administration. He previously worked in development at Asolo Repertory Theatre and as development director at Knoxville Opera.
“It was time to leave Florida behind,” Guinn said of his move to Pittsburgh. “My husband and I wanted to find a place where we felt welcomed, could find a community. When I came across the listing for this position, I was immediately drawn to the vision of the company and the deliberate and strategic approach to adjust to new realities, and to grow into the next 50 years. So, this move works not only for my professional goals but also for my family.”
Guinn credits McDill and Kaminski for the transparency shown during the interview process in discussing the challenges the organization faces.
“Philanthropy has a major role to play in the future of The Public. While foundation support is impressively strong, we need to be clear that increasing support from individuals is crucial to the future of the company,” Guinn said.
The Public also announced the appointment of accomplished regional artist, children’s book author and theater worker Briggs in a new role intended to expand The Public’s ability to share its resources with the community through meaningful and impactful partnerships, like those in the company’s upcoming Public Works production of Twelfth Night. Briggs, who can soon be seen in Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company’s Radio Golf, served as assistant director for Season 49’s production of The Coffin Maker. As senior manager of partnerships, she will lead vital programming such as Pittsburgh Public’s annual production of Veterans Story Night.
“I love The Public and I’m excited to join the Pittsburgh Public Theater family,” Briggs said. “Having the opportunity to share this amazing place and my love of the arts with the Pittsburgh community is a dream come true for me.”
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