{"id":47772,"date":"2025-11-21T20:27:16","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/47772\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T20:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:27:16","slug":"queens-theatre-announces-taryn-sacramone-is-stepping-down-appoints-julia-del-palacio-as-new-executive-director-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/47772\/","title":{"rendered":"Queens Theatre announces Taryn Sacramone is stepping down, appoints Julia del Palacio as new executive director \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in Queens<\/a> for more local events \u2014 or submit your own<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Queens Theatre<\/a> announced the appointment of cultural leader, educator and arts strategist Julia del Palacio, as its new executive director.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Del Palacio succeeds longtime Executive Director Taryn Sacramone, a beloved figure at the theater who served in the role since 2013.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

According to a news release from the theater, Sacramone expanded the theater\u2019s mission-driven programming, community engagement and national leadership in accessibility with programming such as the Theatre For All initiative to advance the inclusion of disabled artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cLeading Queens Theatre has been an honor and one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,\u201d Sacramone said in a statement emailed to QNS.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Sacramone said Queens Theatre matters deeply to people across the five boroughs and serves as an anchor institution, holding a unique place in the city\u2019s cultural landscape. She added that she is profoundly proud of the work both she and the staff accomplished in partnership with a dedicated board of directors over the course of her tenure.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether it be the artists the theater presents, Sacramone wrote, the writers and new plays it champions, the students who find confidence and creativity on its stages, or the countless families, seniors, and audience members from every corner of Queens who discover connection and joy through its programming, she will always support the theater\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy admiration and gratitude for Queens Theatre run deep, and I will continue cheering it on \u2014 now and always \u2014 as it enters its next inspiring chapter,\u201d Sacramone wrote.<\/p>\n

\"\"Julia del Palacio, the new executive director of Queens Theatre, plans on continuing the theater\u2019s mission and building upon Taryn Sacramone\u2019s legacy. QNS file photo<\/p>\n

Del Palacio said she was shocked to hear Sacramone was stepping down from the position. \u201cI was like my goodness, it\u2019s the end of an era,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, someone from the theater approached her and asked her if she\u2019d like to be considered for the position. While she wasn\u2019t sure at first, she said she realized what a great opportunity it would be for her to continue doing work she\u2019d already been doing at the theater.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was doing some really interesting things there,\u201d del Palacio said. \u201cI\u2019ve been there so many times as an audience member, but also as a performer. I was like, it\u2019s such an amazing, fun, interesting place that, yeah, I want to throw my hat in the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n

A visionary in New York City\u2019s arts and higher education sectors, the news release said, del Palacio brings more than 15 years of experience in fundraising, performing arts programming, strategic partnerships and community-centered cultural development.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Mexico City, del Palacio moved to New York to pursue graduate study, ultimately earning her Ph.D. in Latin American History from Columbia University. She said she was originally planning to be a history professor, but after graduating, something \u201cclicked\u201d in her that made her realize she wanted to work in the arts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been so ingrained in academia,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI was very excited to still be working with academic departments and students, but also work with artists directly.\u201d<\/p>\n

A professional performer of Mexican folk dance and co-founder of the acclaimed ensemble Radio Jarocho, the news release continued, she has toured internationally, led large-scale cultural events, curated festivals, and represented New York City\u2019s creative communities across multiple platforms.<\/p>\n

Del Palacio most recently served as associate dean of the School of Arts at Queens College<\/a> and director of strategic partnerships and development at the Kupferberg Center for the Arts<\/a>. In these roles, she designed and implemented new academic and professional development initiatives, expanded internship pipelines for students, cultivated local and global partnerships, and helped secure more than $1.4 million annually in contributed income.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bring that sort of wealth of experience,\u201d del Palacio said. \u201cThe very deep historical thinking and respect for legacy and history, together with artistry and experience as a practicing artist and arts administrator for the past 12 years or so.\u201d<\/p>\n

Del Palacio\u2019s work has centered on nurturing emerging artists, elevating diverse cultural traditions and expanding access to the arts \u2014 all values that align with Queens Theatre\u2019s mission to present world-class, community-rooted programming for the world\u2019s borough, according to the news release.<\/p>\n

Jon Yanofsky, director of the Kupferberg Center for the Arts, said he is sad to see del Palacio leave the performing arts hub, but he and the team are tremendously grateful for her contributions to the center\u2019s identity, growth and impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish her all the success in her new position at Queens Theatre, and know that she will bring the same passion for the arts and business acumen there, as she demonstrated here at KCA,\u201d Yanofsky said.<\/p>\n

Simone Yearwood, dean of faculty at the School of Arts and Humanities at Queens College, echoed Yanofsky\u2019s sentiment. Since Yearwood began working with del Palacio in 2023, del Palacio has played a central role in advancing major initiatives that have grown the department.<\/p>\n

\u201cJulia del Palacio has been an extraordinary leader whose impact on Queens College and the School of Arts will be felt for years to come,\u201d Yearwood said. \u201cBecause of her exceptional leadership, I have been able to take on additional initiatives while she guided the School of Arts to new levels of visibility and excellence. I am deeply grateful for Julia\u2019s contributions and proud of all she has accomplished.<\/p>\n

Del Palacio said her plan is to grow the theater\u2019s mission and raise as many funds as she can to support its programming. Del Palacio will be working closely with staff, sponsors, stage crews and tech crews, which she said keep the theater\u2019s shows running smoothly.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re kind of like the captain of the ship,\u201d del Palacio said. \u201cYou oversee that programming and make sure that it\u2019s serving the communities that you want to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gary Kesner, board president of Queens Theatre, said he and the board are thrilled to welcome del Palacio to the team.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cJulia brings an extraordinary blend of artistic vision, strategic expertise, and deep commitment to Queens\u2019 cultural ecosystem,\u201d Kesner said. \u201cHer leadership across higher education, the nonprofit arts sector, and community partnership-building is exactly what Queens Theatre needs in this next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Del Palacio said she loved the work Sacramone did for Queens Theatre, and she also plans to build on the former executive director\u2019s legacy while bringing a bit of her own ideas to the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cQueens is having such a moment right now with a new mayor,\u201d del Palacio said. \u201cI think there\u2019s a lot more eyes on Queens, so it\u2019s exciting to be at Queens Theatre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Del Palacio said upcoming shows include a stage reading of \u201cChicken & Biscuits<\/a>,\u201d a show that originated at the theater five years ago, on Nov. 24 at 7 p.m., as well as Parson\u2019s Dance<\/a>, a dance company that tours worldwide, on Dec. 6.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Search our comprehensive guide to things to do in Queens for more local events \u2014 or submit your…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":47773,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[310,27046,9,24,63,122,124,123,2112,27047],"class_list":["post-47772","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-queens","tag-daily-newsletter","tag-julia-del-palacio","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-queens","tag-queens-headlines","tag-queens-news","tag-queens-theatre","tag-taryn-sacramone"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47772\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47772"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}