About
Newport Performing Arts Center
The restoration of the Newport Performing Arts Center will bring year-round performing arts to downtown Newport – dance, music, theater, comedy, speakers, educational programming and much more – and revitalize an architectural treasure in historic Washington Square.
GET TO KNOW US
Board of Directors
John Cratin
Chair
Business Management Consultant with over 30 years of experience, Former Co-Chairman of the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Hayden Bates
Vice-Chair
Serves on the Board of Directors of the Charles Ives Performing Arts Center in Danbury, CT. Holds an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Phil Bender
Treasurer
Founded Sea Captain Coaching after serving as a Managing Partner in a Fortune 100 firm in the New York City metro area. Holds a B.S from the University of Missouri.
Jerry McIntyre
Secretary
Managing Partner, McIntyre – Tate LLP. Former President of Jamestown Town Council, Commodore of Conanicut Yacht Club. Graduate of Columbia College, AB, and Fordham School of Law, JD.
Dominique Alfandre
Founding Executive Director of the Newport Contemporary Ballet. Was a 2005 RI Foundation Fellow and received the Arts & Business Council’s Arts Advocate.
Christopher Bicho
President and Founder of Landings Real Estate Group. Holds an MBA from The Carroll School of Management at Boston College and Finance degree from the University of Rhode Island.
Arthur Chapman
Broker with William Raveis Chapman Enston. Been in the real estate business since 1989 when he started with Peter J Sharp & Co. in Manhattan. Has been assisting buyers and sellers in RI since 1995.
Liz Drayton
Newport resident since 1980 In addition to her continued service to NPAC, Liz is currently Board Chair of the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, RI. Graduate Trinity College.
Ed Henry
Former President and CEO of the Doris Duke Foundation. Currently Chair of United States Artists. Holds a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin.
Jack Murphy
President and CEO of BankNewport. Prior to joining BankNewport, Jack was President of Business Banking at Citizen’s Bank and has over 30 years’ experience in the banking industry.
Kylie McCollough
Luxury real estate Realtor in RI with over 10 years’ experience serving on volunteer fundraising committees including C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta. Graduate of Wheaton College.
Liz Reilly
Regional Vice President for Ameritas Financial, NYC. President of The Newport Society Club. Holds an MBA from The University of Hartford, and a Finance degree from The University of Connecticut.
Donald Sanders
Renowned director, presenter and producer. Executive Artistic Director, Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts, Director of Theatrical Production for NYC’s Ensemble for the Romantic Century. Holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
John Shehan
Interior/Architectural Designer; Color Consultant; Historic Restoration Specialist, Founder of Shehan & Estabrook Decorative Arts Former Chair of Newport’s Historic District Commission.
Alison Vareika
Co-Owner, William Vareika Fine Arts Gallery. Aquidneck Land Trust, President 2003-05; Newport Art Museum 2001-2006; Chair; Newport Art Museum Special Events Committee 1998-2005; Trinity Repertory Company 2011-present; Appointed by Governor Lincoln Chafee to Rhode Island State Council on the Arts 2011-present.
Key Staff
Melissa Quinn
Managing Director
NPAC staff since 2016, Melissa is a graduate of The Boston Conservatory [at Berklee]. Melissa has called Aquidneck Island home for over 30 years and, in addition to her management & administrative career, has performed as both Principal Clarinet and concert soloist for over 20 years with regional orchestras and ensembles.
Susan Palmer
Development, President of Palmer Westport Group
Susan Palmer founded the Palmer Westport Group (PWG) in 2005 after a distinguished career leading historic theaters from start-up phases to successful award-winning venues. In previous leadership positions, Susan was a co-founder of Barrington Stage Company, a producing theater company that won two Tony awards for The Putnam County Spelling Bee; managing director of The Berkshire Theater Festival; Information Systems Manager at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; and Director of Major Gifts at WGBY Public Television. Susan has been a program presenter at the League of Historic American Theaters at their national and regional conferences in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Minneapolis, Nashville, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Schenectady, NY, and has been on the faculty of the Association for Performing Arts Presenters. Susan has also taught workshops for the Center for Nonprofit Success, an approved training and educational provider for the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) program.