Harlequin Welcomes Corey McDaniel as Director of Development

Harlequin Productions is pleased to announce that Corey McDaniel, a frequent guest director for Harlequin and the Founder and Producing Artistic Director of Seattle’s Theatre22, has joined the staff as Director of Development. In this role, which focuses on fundraising, events, underwriting, and grants, Mr. McDaniel will take on many of the responsibilities previously held by Hap Clemons, who departed in December 2022.

Says Producing Artistic Director Aaron Lamb, “Corey comes to us with over two decades of experience in both theatre production and non-profit arts development, as well as a long history of event management. He’s become available to us after closing his Seattle-based theatre company, Theatre22, which was in operation for the past decade. I am personally very excited to welcome him aboard, and trust that you will see the positive impact of his work almost immediately.”

Among Mr. McDaniel’s professional accomplishments, per his CV:

• Founded, launched, and managed a niche nonprofit performing arts theatre—Theatre22, increasing ticket sales 30% YoY, and expanding the budget 700%, with 60% in contributing and 40% earned income over a ten-year period.
• Spearheaded the first production of the newly created musical theatre department at Cornish College of the Arts, creating the systems and processes for a musical theatre training program, and earning highly positive recognition.
• Started up, launched, and led a bar-only service for a catering and events company—Lavish—driving 400k in annual revenues, hiring, training, and retaining 50+ bartenders, leading business development and marketing activities, and managing the planning and execution of up to eight events in one day during peak season.
• Played an important leadership role in driving $1M+ in funding for nonprofit, Hope for Heroism, talking to and connecting people to the mission and value of the organization, and planning and executing global fundraising events.

Says McDaniel, “Harlequin has held a very special place in my heart and has been a creative home for me since my first production here in 2018. The staff and resident artists have become family to me, and it has been a treasured experience to be welcomed so warmly and beautifully by the community of Olympia. I am deeply grateful to be given the opportunity to step into such a vital role for the success and future of the organization and all who support Harlequin. If we haven’t met already, I look very forward to meeting you soon.”

McDaniel joins the staff with the full support of Harlequin’s Board. Board member and former Board President Jeffrey Trinin reflects, “Corey is an excellent addition to our staff. His experience and talent will be a big benefit to our company.”

Patrons should expect to meet Corey in person at many performances and all future Harlequin events!

Corey McDaniel’s directorial work has been seen on the Harlequin stage with Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (2023), Murder for Two (2022), Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical (2021), Noises Off (2020) and I Ought to be in Pictures (2019), and he was seen on-stage in Harlequin’s productions of A Christmas Carol (2022) and the one-man show I Am My Own Wife (2018). Corey was the founder and producing artistic director of Seattle’s Theatre22 during their ten years. As an actor, he has worked throughout the US and internationally and his performance credits have placed him in such reputable arenas as the Fox Theatres, the Hollywood Bowl, Theatro Sistina in Rome, and the Metropolitan Opera House of NYC. Some of Corey’s more recent director credits include Nonsense and Beauty, White, Burn This, The Pride, Wizzer Pizzer, and The Hours of Life for Theatre22, The Merry Wives of Windsor with Wooden O/Seattle Shakespeare Company, Treasure Island with Book-It Repertory Theatre, Sister Act the Musical, Bonnie and Clyde, and Good Kids at Cornish College of the Arts, Julius Caesar with Island Shakespeare Festival and The Wild Party for Sound Theatre Company (Gregory Award for Best Musical).