In recent weeks, North Texas Performing Arts (NTPA) announced the promotion of two new managing directors for Frisco and Dallas operations. Kerry Murdock was promoted to Frisco managing director on August 4, according to a blog post from the nonprofit organization. On June 30, Cheryl Lowber was promoted to Dallas managing director.
Murdock has been living in the City of Frisco for several years and has developed deep ties in the community. She has spent two years working as a North Texas Performing Arts staff member.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to take on this exciting new role and bring my passion for education and the arts to Frisco,” Murdock shared in the August 3 announcement. “Frisco has so much youth talent, and my job is to give every one of these young stars the opportunity to experience the profound impact of performing on stage.”
As the operations manager for the Frisco theatre, she will be responsible for building on classes offered, shows performed, and community members served.
Murdock received an elementary education Bachelor’s degree from East Central University in Oklahoma, the announcement states. She received a Master’s in education in multicultural literature at Xavier University in Ohio.
For 25 years, she has worked with children, and one of her most recent jobs was leading the Core Learning Experience for The Conservatory at NTPA Academy.
NTPA Chief Executive Officer Darrell Rodenbaugh shared excitement for Murdock’s new position in the announcement. “Kerry has proven to be a strong leader and an excellent educator, and we are thrilled to have her take on this significant leadership role for us. We believe this exciting move puts us on a whole new trajectory of impact and value as we expand our offerings in Frisco.”
NTPA Frisco will host a “welcome” reception for Kerry between performances of “Grease” at Willow Bend Center of the Arts on Saturday, August 27. Guests were invited to meet Kerry and “enjoy a treat,” the blog shares.
On June 30, NTPA announced Lowber as the new Dallas managing director, followed by a “Cheryl Day” held on July 24. Lowber was also the director for the summer production of “Legally Blonde” and will direct the upcoming show of “Mary Poppins.”
Lowber became part of NTPA in 2018; in 2019, she became a resident director. Lowber directed “some of NTPA’s biggest shows” and taught advanced acting classes in the NTPA Academy.
She also served as the head of acting for the NTPA Academy, coordinating and overseeing “the full sequence of acting curriculum for Academy students,” the blog states. In addition, Lowber organizes the annual NTPA Invitational Theatre and Speech Tournament for middle schoolers.
Upcoming Frisco performances include “Grease” from August 25 to August 28 and “Descendants: The Musical” from September 15 to September 18.
