It is with deep gratitude that we announce that our longtime Executive Director, Andi Lyons, will conclude her tenure with The Glimmerglass Festival at the end of this month.
Andi’s nearly 30-year journey at Glimmerglass began as a Stage Operations intern (today we call them Apprentices). She came to Glimmerglass as a college student without a clear path, like so many of us at that age. After that first summer, Andi returned to the Festival as an intern the following year, then again as a seasonal staff member in the Stage Management office the summer she graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York. She credits Glimmerglass with helping her define her values and with giving her the confidence and knowledge to carve out her professional and personal path.
“Glimmerglass changed my life. I still think back on my time here as an intern as some of the best summers of my life,” Andi shared. Those early years led her to a career spanning respected theaters and opera companies across the country, including the Hartford Stage Company, Minnesota Opera, the Glens Falls Project, and the Charles Wood Theater. She also earned her Master’s degree in Arts Administration. Ultimately, she came back home to Cooperstown in 2006 — thanks to a call from her longtime colleague and friend, Glimmerglass Director of Production Abby Rodd.
Andi has served Glimmerglass with extraordinary dedication through many title changes, but with one constant purpose: to give back to the place she feels “indebted” to for shaping her personally and professionally. Her steady leadership, deep integrity, and unfailing care for her colleagues have defined the modern Glimmerglass. Whether sharing a quiet word of support for a colleague, guiding a complex budget discussion, maintaining an encyclopedic knowledge of the Festival’s infrastructure, or welcoming patrons to campus, Andi has ensured that the work behind the scenes flows with the same artistry as the work onstage.
“It is impossible to quantify the impact Andi has had on Glimmerglass. She has been our source of calm and clarity, our advocate for equity and wellbeing, and the person who quietly ensures that everything — from payroll to power and heat — happens as it should. She has fought and advocated first and foremost for our employees — for their time, wellbeing, safety, success, and physical and mental health — as well as for the good of the company and all its other constituents. Hers is an impossible job, with entirely contradictory priorities being a daily reality. Glimmerglass is stronger, more compassionate, and more resilient because of her leadership and selfless care. We will miss her terribly, but her legacy lives in every corner of this company,” shared Artistic & General Director Rob Ainsley.
Andi’s decision to step away is rooted in personal considerations after years of extraordinary service. Reflecting on her upcoming departure, Andi shared:
“I feel incredibly grateful for the years I’ve spent at Glimmerglass and for the people who have shaped my life here. This is a place where we value each other for who we are and work together toward something bigger than ourselves. This community has supported me, challenged me, and inspired me in ways I will always carry with me, and while it’s bittersweet to step away, I’m excited for the chance to rest, reflect, and discover what comes next.”
Change is never easy, especially when it involves someone whose presence is woven so deeply into the fabric of our community. But Glimmerglass remains guided by the same values Andi helped nurture — collaboration, compassion, artistry, and a commitment to people first. We invite you to join us in expressing heartfelt thanks to Andi for her exceptional leadership, devoted service, and countless contributions to the Glimmerglass family. She has shaped the Festival in immeasurable ways, and we are profoundly grateful for her many years of dedication.