Expanded Leadership Model with CEO Craig Hassall Aligns Vision and Execution for Premier Theater District’s Continued Growth
Playhouse Square Board Chair Brent Ballard and CEO Craig Hassall today announced the promotion of Chief Operating Officer Laura Smith to President of the globally recognized arts district. The title reflects Smith’s significant impact since joining Playhouse Square and formalizes an expanded leadership structure designed to support the organization’s growth and complexity.
Under this shared leadership model, Chief Executive Officer Hassall will continue to lead Playhouse Square’s long-term vision, strategic direction, and fundraising efforts. In her role as President, Smith will oversee business operations, governance, legal, finance and human resources, ensuring alignment between strategy and execution across the enterprise.
“Laura has been a tremendous asset to Playhouse Square since joining the team in 2024,” said Board Chair Brent Ballard. “The Board is energized by this model, which brings together Craig’s visionary leadership and Laura’s mastery of operational matters in a complementary way, strengthening our ability to deliver on both long-term strategy and day-to-day execution.
“This approach, which takes a page from corporate America, reflects the scale and complexity of Playhouse Square,” Ballard added. “As one of the nation’s most significant theater districts, with bold ambitions for the future, we are intentionally aligning leadership in a way that amplifies expertise and best positions us for continued success.”
With more than 400 employees, Playhouse Square currently operates 12 venues that host 1,100 events annually, welcoming more than a million ticketed guests and generating an economic impact of nearly $360 million each year.
“Elevating Laura to President is a natural progression for our leadership team,” said CEO Craig Hassall. “Her expertise in organizational strategy, operational oversight and project management are critical as we continue to grow in scale and impact. This enhanced leadership structure amplifies our distinct and highly, complementary skills strengthen our ability to advance Playhouse Square’s mission.”
“I am deeply grateful to be part of the Playhouse Square team and to call Cleveland home,” said President Laura Smith.
“Having served in and around nonprofits my entire career, Playhouse Square’s professional team and Board are among the very best. Craig’s leadership and vision for Playhouse Square are inspiring, and our partnership has been seamless from the start,” Smith continued. “I’m honored to work alongside Craig and the team in this expanded role as we continue to make extraordinary things happen for our guests and beloved Cleveland community.”
Since coming to Cleveland, Smith has joined the Boards of Global Cleveland and University Circle. Most recently, she participated in Leadership Cleveland’s 2026 class.