CCAC’s New Executive & Artistic Director

“Art is intrinsic to the health and happiness of a place.”

Meet Matthew Glassman, Chocolate Church’s new Executive & Artistic Director.
He’s an artist, performer, father, and community organizer. In the past 25 years, you could have met him while he performed in the air on bungees, led a parade of children through the woods at his Wilder Imagination Camp, organized donors for a multi-million dollar arts campaign, or listened to his favorite Bob Dylan track over a shared coffee. 

The Chocolate Church Arts Center Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Glassman as its new Executive & Artistic Director. Glassman is a well-respected artist, leader, and organizer in the American Theater. He began on January 2, 2024, following Lauren O’Reilly, who held the helm for nearly two years. “Lauren kept the Chocolate in a position of stability throughout tumultuous post-Covid years. The CCAC Board and Community thank her for her tremendous work.”

Glassman was appointed to this position following an inclusive search process that involved members of the Chocolate Church Board, staff, and community, led by CCAC Board President, Emily Ruger. “Matthew is a visionary leader with an extensive background in fundraising and financial management,” says Ruger, the former head of Economic and Community Development for the City of Bath, “and, at his core, Matthew is an artist. He will undoubtedly bring artistic magic to our stage and beyond.”

Before coming to the CCAC, from 2000-2022, Glassman was Co-Artistic Director and Ensemble Member of the acclaimed Double Edge Theatre, and its rural, international center, The Farm, located in the hill towns of western MA. During that time, he co-created and performed in performances that toured internationally to major art centers (Kennedy Center, A.R.T. La MaMa ETC, Meyerhold Center) and place-based spectacles in urban and rural communities around the world.

In leadership roles over twenty years, including Executive Director and Co-Artistic Director, he contributed to the transformation of a 100-acre former dairy farm into a vibrant rural/ international art center, garnering highly coveted grants from ArtPlace America, the NEA, and the National Theater Project Award. His tenure at Double Edge culminated with the successful completion of a 5-year, $ 6.5 million dollar comprehensive “Harvest” campaign which he led.

“Working as an artist in and with a rural community for over twenty years has been formative. The farmers, the tradespeople, the indigenous community, the artists, the librarians, the children, and the natural world–they have all truly shaped me and taught me it’s all about relationships,” Glassman wrote.

Former VP of Maine Public Broadcasting, Rus Peotter, who worked with Glassman on the Double Edge Board writes, “Having been around when Jack Doepp developed The Chocolate Church in the 70s, I was excited to learn that Matthew was exploring this role. For more than 15 years, I’ve witnessed Matthew’s powerful combination of experience and skills in performance, writing, fundraising, and collaboration. He will be a great asset to guide the Chocolate Church to become an even more wonderful institution.”

Ruger, concurs, “Matthew’s commitment to community building and relationships is what made him the candidate of choice. I’m thrilled to be part of this next part in CCAC’s history.”