The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has named Deanna Haas as Chief Development Officer, it was announced today. Haas will oversee both ongoing philanthropic efforts as well as a new capital campaign when she begins on Feb. 21.

Haas comes to the DCPA from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she most recently served as Assistant Dean for Advancement for the College of Media, Communication and Information. She held previous fundraising positions at Rocky Mountain PBS and the Mile High Chapter of the Red Cross.

Haas will lead an eight-person team that focuses on individual donor relations, sponsorship procurement and foundation grants to support the $55 million organization — the nation’s largest nonprofit theatre organization, which welcomes 1.2 million individuals and educates 105,000 students each year. Additionally, Haas and the Development team will launch a major capital campaign in 2017 to renovate the nearly 40-year-old Stage and Ricketson theatres, which are home to the Tony-winning DCPA Theatre Company.

“Live theatre fills you with experiences, whether you are transported to another land by the story or feel the hardship or joy a character is experiencing,” said Haas. “As an audience member, you can be moved to tears or doubled over in laughter — the bottom line is you always leave feeling something. I have had that unforgettable experience as an engaged audience member and am eager to share my enthusiasm with patrons. By joining the Denver Center’s Development team, I hope we can build on the organization’s successful history to reach the widest possible audience, inspire future generations to appreciate live theatre as an art form and ensure that the DCPA is a meaningful part of our community for years to come.”

DCPA President and CEO Janice Sinden said Haas’ “obvious passion for live theatre coupled with her years of service in higher education make her the perfect candidate as we work to expand our education programs and develop programming that is reflective of our increasingly diverse community.”

The DCPA’s Executive Leadership team consists of Sinden, Clay Courter (Vice President of  Facilities and Event Services), John Ekeberg (Executive Director, Broadway), Vicky Miles (Chief Financial Officer), Jennifer Nealson (Chief Marketing Officer), Kent Thompson (Producing Artistic Director, Theatre Company), Charles Varin (Managing Director, Theatre Company) and Allison Watrous (Director of Education).