After an extensive search, the Performing Arts Center Authority today announced the appointment of Ty Sutton as President and CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Sutton will succeed Kelly Shanley on December 1, 2024, who announced in September 2023 that she would be resigning.
“Ty aligns with our mission to engage and inspire the community through the arts and has an impressive career path with extensive experience in management, finance, theater and education,” said Bonnie Barnett, chair of the Performing Arts Center Authority. “Ty is a creative thinker and has the vision, passion and leadership experience to build on the incredible success we have achieved at the Broward Center. I look forward to working with him as we continue to plan for the future.”
Sutton is an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the performing arts. He came to the Broward Center from Dayton Live in Dayton, Ohio, where he has served as president and CEO since 2018.Dayton Live, the region’s home for arts, culture and entertainment, is a nonprofit organization that owns and operates five performing venues, including the Benjamin and Marianne Schuster Center for the Performing Arts and the meticulously restored Victoria Theatre, which annually attracts more than 400,000 visitors annually. Sutton has been instrumental in transforming the cultural fabric of downtown.
As CEO of the Broward Center, Sutton will also oversee the Broward Center’s affiliated venues, including Fort Lauderdale’s iconic Parker Theatre, which was fully restored in 2021, the Ross and Alfred Miniaci Center for the Performing Arts on Nova Southeastern University’s campus, and the Aventura Center for Arts and Culture in Miami-Dade County.
“I am honored to have been selected by the Performing Arts Center Authority to lead the Broward Center and build on its success,” Sutton said. “My philosophy has always been that the arts bring people together, and the Broward Center has been a true leader in building community through the arts. I know I will be leading a talented team under the guidance of a group of visionary leaders who are committed to providing exceptional arts experiences in one of the most vibrant and diverse areas of the country. My family eagerly anticipates our move to South Florida to be a part of this organization and community.”
Among Dayton Live’s accomplishments, Sutton has implemented several initiatives that have strengthened the organization’s regional presence. He opened a new venue, the PNC Arts Annex, orchestrated a radical rebranding and programming model change, and led a significant increase in the variety and frequency of the organization’s performances, resulting in record numbers of Broadway subscribers and ticket sales.
Sutton is passionate about bringing arts experiences to the community at large and promoting arts education, initiatives that are the focus of the Broward Center and its affiliated venues.2021 Sutton opened the Dayton Institute for Live Creativity, whose mission is to increase participation and education in the performing arts, especially for young people. Much like the educational programs at the Broward Center’s Rose Miniacci Center for Arts Education, the Dayton Live Academy is now open year-round, offering classes and performance opportunities for all ages.
“Throughout his career, Ty played a key role in the success of various performing arts venues,” said Charles L. Palmer, chair of the selection committee and long-serving member of the Performing Arts Center Authority (PACA). “He is a versatile, innovative and entrepreneurial executive with an outstanding track record who will help take the Broward Center to the next level. I am confident that we have chosen a leader who understands our mission, the complexity of our business and the opportunities ahead, and who will lead the organization to continued growth and development.”
Sutton is a member of the Broadway League, a Tony Award voter, and serves on the League’s intra-industry committee. He was honored for his experience in managing multiple venues in the sports and entertainment sector with the
