Ep. 8 | Arts, Access, and Community with Casey Reitz
The arts play a powerful role in how young people see themselves and the world around them.Casey Reitz, President and CEO of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, joins FutureCurrent for a conversation about the importance of arts access, youth engagement, and community partnerships. The discussion explores how meaningful arts experiences support creativity, confidence, and connection for students across Orange County.This episode invites listeners to reflect on why the arts matter, how schools and community organizations can work together, and what becomes possible when creative expression is treated as essential, not extra.
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts: https://www.scfta.org/
About Our Guest:
Casey Reitz is the President and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Orange County’s premier multi-disciplinary nonprofit arts organization, and a leader in innovation and community engagement. Since joining the Center in December 2019—just before the onset of the global pandemic, Casey’s steady leadership and clear vision guided the organization through unprecedented challenges. His commitment to transparent communication and financial stewardship ensured the Center’s resilience, allowing it to safely welcome audiences back to live performances and continue serving as a cultural cornerstone for the region. Driven by a lifelong passion for the performing arts, Casey has championed initiatives that deepen the Center’s impact and accessibility. Under his leadership, Segerstrom Center secured American Ballet Theatre as its Official Dance Company and launched dynamic new programs such as the Headliners and Speaker Series, broadening the Center’s reach and relevance. Casey’s vision is rooted in building a vibrant, inclusive arts community—one where everyone feels welcomed and inspired. Before his tenure at Segerstrom Center, Casey served as Executive Director of New York City’s acclaimed Second Stage Theater, where he led the historic acquisition and revitalization of Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater. This transformative project not only expanded Second Stage’s footprint to Broadway, making it one of only four nonprofits with a permanent Broadway home, but also set new standards for accessibility, sustainability, and design. Under his guidance, Second Stage experienced significant growth, tripling its annual budget and eliminating its accumulated deficit, while hosting celebrated productions including Tony Award® winner The Humans and Tony nominee What the Constitution Means to Me. Casey’s extensive experience also includes leadership roles at The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Actor’s Express in Atlanta, and Webb Management Services. He has contributed his expertise as an Associate Consultant at the DeVos Institute of Arts Management and as a guest lecturer at leading universities including Yale, Columbia, NYU, and the University of Alabama. A three-time Tony Award® nominee and winner for Best Musical Producer of Dear Evan Hansen, Casey is an active member of the Broadway League, the Performing Arts Center Consortium, and serves as a Tony Awards voter. His influence has been recognized by the Orange County Business Journal’s OC500, Riviera OC Magazine’s Top 50 Power Players, and his recent appointment to the PBS SoCal Board of Directors. Casey holds an MFA in Theater Management from Yale University and a BA in Theatre from the University of Alabama. Beyond his professional achievements, his work is deeply personal: “The arts changed my life by giving me direction, purpose, and a greater capacity for happiness. I hope to bring the transformative power of the arts into the lives of our friends and neighbors, enriching our community with joy, meaning, and connection. He lives by the motto: “Take the work seriously, but not yourself.”
