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Casey Reitz (/rɪts/, born November 22, 1975) is an American businessman in the performing arts industry. He currently serves as president and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in California. Reitz has earned accolades in his career, including a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen.
Early life and education
Reitz was born 1975 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He grew up doing theater at JJ Daniell Middle School before going to Sprayberry High School where he continued his theater education and was awarded a scholarship for his pursuit of an acting career. He attended the University of Alabama from 1994 to 1998 and received a BA in theater. He also attended the Yale School of Drama from 2000 to 2003 and received a MFA in theater management.
Career
Reitz worked for the Manhattan Theatre Club from 2004 to 2006. He served as the Director of Individual Giving at the Manhattan Theater Club after his fellowship with the organization in 2002. During his tenure, he oversaw a capital campaign that secured $35 million for the renovation of the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway.
Reitz worked as the director of development for The Public Theater from 2006 to 2010, Reitz managed all fundraising efforts including corporate sponsorships, individual giving, The Partners Program, major gifts and more. He also managed a $35 million capital campaign to renovate their headquarters at 425 Lafayette St.
From 2010 to 2019, he served as the executive director of Second Stage Theater. During his tenure, Second Stage acquired and renovated the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway, which made second stage the fourth non-profit operating permanently on Broadway. David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group renovated the 106-year-old theater and the project achieved LEED Gold Status. While Reitz served as executive director, Hayes Theater held commercial runs of Tony winner The Humans by Stephen Karam and Tony nominee What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck. Reitz and Second Stage Theater won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 2017 for Dear Evan Hansen.
After leaving Second Stage Theater in 2019, he became the president and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. His tenure at the center began during the COVID-19 pandemic which saw the closure of live theater events for two years. After reopening began in 2021, Reitz secured American Ballet Theatre (ABT) as the Official Dance Company of the Center and launched the Headliners and Speaker series. In 2023, Reitz was promoted CEO by the Board of Directors,. During his tenure the center has premiered 3 ABT works including Like Water for Chocolate and Woolf Works. They have also commissioned their first musical from Ireland-based theater group Cahoots that will premiere in 2025.
