Tania Castroverde Moskalenko wants The Auditorium Theatre to hold a special place in the hearts and minds of all Chicagoans. The theatre’s new CEO recently unveiled the tagline “The Theatre for the People,” which captures not only her vision for the venue’s future, but that of the theatre’s original developers, Dankmar Adler, Louis Sullivan and Ferdinand Peck.

Castroverde Moskalenko also recently announced the theatre’s upcoming 2017-18 season, which includes performances such as Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Shen Wei Dance Arts and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater tour. The theatre will also host Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Sedaris, and Ken Burns and Lynn Novick previewing their new documentary series.

Since joining the Auditorium Theatre in October 2016, Castroverde Moskalenko has already presented Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba — a fitting first performance, as her family arrived from the Caribbean country as political refugees — as well as Alvin Ailey, the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra with Bernadette Peters, and more.

As CEO, Castroverde Moskalenko oversees a number of different areas, including programming, development, marketing, operations, artistic vision and strategic direction. She has made it known that she plans to expand and diversify programming, strengthening its creative engagement initiatives, including the theatre’s new ADMIT ONE program.

Formerly president and CEO of the Center for the Performing Arts and the Great American Songbook Foundation in Carmel, Indiana, as well as a former dancer who ran her own company, Castroverde Moskalenko spoke about how she hopes to use her extensive experience in the arts in her new position at the Auditorium Theatre.

Q:  What are some of your goals for the Auditorium Theatre?

A:  I have a big vision for the Auditorium Theatre, which includes ensuring that this remarkable national historic landmark is in the hearts and minds of everyone in Chicagoland and beyond. We have some work to do to accomplish this, and the first step is to strengthen our programming. We are widely known for international dance, and we will continue to present the greatest dance companies from around the globe. I am also excited to let you know that we will be expanding our musical offerings with a broad range of artists.

Q:  What do your daily responsibilities consist of?

A:  First, I will say that I absolutely love the work that I do. I am a firm believer in the transformational power of the arts and its ability to create bridges across cultures and communities. My day-to-day work focuses on fulfilling the mission of the theatre, which supports my passion and commitment to the arts. I don’t have a daily routine because each day is completely different. I oversee programming, marketing, fundraising and development, finance and operations, so I spend a lot of time in meetings moving around the giant puzzle pieces that make the organization work.

“I am a firm believer in the transformational power of the arts and its ability to create bridges across cultures and communities.”
– Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO, Auditorium Theatre

Q:  What is ADMIT ONE and how can it benefit Chicagoland?

A:  ADMIT ONE is a new program funded by theatre patrons. It gives communities and their members from all over Chicagoland the opportunity to come for free to a theatre show or program. Our patrons have the option of donating to ADMIT ONE each time they purchase tickets. We then use the donations to accommodate those who might not otherwise be able to visit the theatre and see a show.

Q:  What led you to choose a career path dedicated to the arts?

A:  My family came to the United States as political refugees from Cuba when I was 6 years old. Two years after we arrived, when I was 8 years old, a truck full of furniture arrived at our newly purchased home. The first item off the truck was a white spinet piano, and my mother sat down to play it as soon as the truck was unloaded. She played the music of Ernesto Lecuona, Cuba’s greatest composer, and she began to weep. All of her emotions came to the surface when she played this music. At that moment, my love for the arts was born.

Q:  How did you express your passion for the arts early on?  Why have you remained dedicated?

A:  As newly arrived immigrants, my family was not financially able to participate in the arts, so for many years I checked books out of the library to learn about music and dance, and listened to classical music on the radio. I loved the music of classical ballets like Swan Lake. I pestered my parents long enough to convince them to enroll me in ballet lessons, which was a true luxury. That privilege was not lost on me, and it set the course for my life and career. To this day, I am completely committed to ensuring that the arts are accessible for everyone.

Q:  What appeals to you about the theatre and CEO position?        

A:  When I first saw the theatre, its amazing architecture took my breath away. I became captivated by the history and architecture of the Auditorium Theatre and feel equally inspired by the mission, vision and values of this national historic landmark, which is why I introduced “The Theatre for the People” label. I feel it is an honor and a privilege to lead this institution into its next chapter. There is much work to do in restoring this 127-year-old facility to its original glory and splendor, and I feel like I am someone who is able to wrap my arms around all that needs to be done and all that we aspire to achieve.

“ I became captivated by the history and architecture of the Auditorium Theatre and feel equally inspired by the mission, vision and values of this national historic landmark, which is why I introduced ‘The Theatre for the People’ label.”
– Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, CEO, Auditorium Theatre

Q:  Tell us about your experiences in Chicago.

A:  I moved to the city with my husband, Alexei Moskalenko, who is a former Bolshoi Ballet dancer and current associate artistic director for the Youth America Grand Prix, and our 8-year-old twins. We live downtown with an amazing view of the lake, the park and the skyline, and I have fallen in love with the city. I have read all about the “lake effect,” but after living here for five months, I think the true “lake effect” is the magic that the lake has on one’s psyche and soul.

Q:  What are some of your favorite things to do when you are not working?

A:  I love to travel, attend arts and cultural events, eat out and read. I recently finished The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream by Thomas Dyja, which is about the history of the city and Chicago’s culture. I am also working on a master’s degree in philanthropic studies from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.