Anderson steps down as executive director of Bluff City Theater, Brown named artistic director

HANNIBAL, Mo. — After 11 years and 10 seasons, Joe Anderson has stepped down as executive director for Bluff City Theater. He will assume a board role and continue to focus on fundraising and grant writing.

Jayme Brown, who has served as production manager since 2021, took on the title of artistic director effective July 1. Brown has been programming shows for the last two seasons and will now assume full responsibility for all aspects of the theater management.

Brown holds an undergraduate degree in theater management from Stephens College and a masters degree in arts management from Kansas State. 

Anderson and Wesley Yargus founded the theater in 2013, piloted it through 10 seasons and gained an audience and national recognition in the process. The step was taken in 2021 to suspend paid ticketing to remove the financial barrier to attendance, relying instead on private donations, corporate sponsorships, grants and other fundraising activities.