BY KAREN BOSSICK

The director of The Artists’ Lab in Los Angeles will step into a new role as executive/artistic director of The Liberty Theatre Company on July 1.

Emily Meister will succeed Naomi McDougall Jones, who will transition into a new role as executive/artistic advisor.

Meister brings more than 14 years of experience from AMDA College of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where she currently serves as the Director of The Artists’ Lab and the BFA Performing Arts Content Creation Program. Her tenure at AMDA has been marked by innovation, most notably through the creation and leadership of their groundbreaking BFA Content Creation Program--a first-of-its-kind initiative that has redefined how performing artists are trained for the evolving demands of the industry.

She has been a multi-media dance theatre artist, creator and choreographer, performer, director producer and healing arts practitioner, specializing in Reiki Energy and sound healing. She also founded the Wonder House, an experiential artist and productive collective.

She says she draws inspiration from environmental landscapes and human animal behavior—both the hauntingly dark and the eerily beautiful.

“We are absolutely over the moon to welcome Emily to The Liberty Theatre Company and to the Wood River Valley,” said Naomi McDougall Jones. “Only in my wildest dreams did I imagine we’d find someone as spectacular as Emily to lead this organization into its next chapter.

“From the first round of interviews, it was clear that she was not only an extremely qualified candidate--she was a visionary, a dynamic leader, and a truly gifted artist. The future of TLTC is bright under her leadership.”

Members of The Liberty Theatre Company say that Meister’s work at the intersection of performance, education, and content development aligns with their mission to produce groundbreaking, inclusive theatre while deepening its connection with the Wood River Valley community and beyond.

Meister will move to Hailey with her husband and son.

“I’m honored and so excited to join The Liberty Theatre Company,” said Meister. “This company has already made a bold and inspiring mark, and I’m deeply moved by the opportunity to help shape its future. My family and I are eager to become part of this vibrant community, and I look forward to building on the incredible foundation that the TLTC team has already created.”