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Elaine Williams takes charge at Miller Auditorium

Sept. 18, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Elaine M. Williams, a 19-year veteran at Miller Auditorium, has been named director of the 3,500-seat theater at Western Michigan University.

Williams served as interim director at Miller for seven months prior to her Aug. 6 appointment to the permanent position, which was confirmed Sept. 17 by vote of the WMU Board of Trustees. She succeeds William Biddle, who resigned in January to accept a similar post in Virginia. Williams is the sixth director and first woman to hold the top position at James W. Miller Auditorium, which opened in 1968 and is the third largest theater in Michigan.

Since joining the Miller staff in 1985, Williams has served as ticket office manager, business manager and, for the past 10 years, associate director, with responsibilities in operations, rentals and performance contract negotiations.

Williams served for three years on the Performing Arts Committee of the International Association of Assembly Managers. She also sits on the board of the Michigan Non-Profit Presenters and on the board of directors of the Wellspring/Corey Terry Dancers.

A 23-year resident of the Kalamazoo area, Williams earned a bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in arts management from WMU.

For more information about Miller Auditorium, visit <www.millerauditorium.com>.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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