Topics
Arts and Humanities
Date October 29, 2026
Media Contact
Lynda Curtis
[email protected]
401-863-6183
All News

Staff Spotlight

Talented, innovative employees who work in academic and administrative units across Brown are making an impact through their wide-ranging skills, passions and contributions within the University community and beyond.

Staff Spotlight: From cue to curtain call, Becca Kittredge creates welcoming arts experiences at Brown

A lifelong love of theater led to a career in audience services at the Brown Arts Institute, where Kittredge creates memorable experiences for thousands of Brown and Providence community members each year.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Long before audiences take their seats at Brown University’s Lindemann Performing Arts Center and other venues across the University’s Perelman Arts District, work is underway behind the scenes to ensure visitors have a welcoming and enjoyable experience. 

Cue Becca Kittredge.  

As audience services manager for the Brown Arts Institute (BAI), she oversees everything from ticketing and event logistics to the ushers, house managers and other staff who help run dozens of performances, exhibitions and events each year. 

For Kittredge, a Cranston, Rhode Island native who fell in love with theater at age 12, the role is a natural fit. After studying acting and directing at the University of Rhode Island, she held roles in theater operations and audience services, including more than six years at Boston Lyric Opera. She joined Brown in August 2023, just two months before The Lindemann opened, and said no two days have been the same since. 

“We get to be part of so many unique and exciting events and experiences, and there’s always something new happening,” Kittredge said. 

two college students perform a play on stage at the University of Rhode Island.
At the University of Rhode Island, Becca Kittredge performs in a production of “Laundry and Bourbon.” Photo courtesy of Becca Kittredge.

Beyond welcoming patrons from Brown and the surrounding communities, she also helps prepare the next generation of arts professionals through ArtsCrew, an arts workforce training program BAI launched in 2024. As a manager, she trains and mentors Brown students and local residents in part-time roles that offer hands-on opportunities to develop artistic, administrative and technical skills, all while filling positions in the box office, visitor services, exhibition support and more.

In this Q&A, Kittredge shares how a childhood love of theater shaped her career, why she wants everyone to feel at home in Brown’s art spaces and what she finds most rewarding about mentoring the next generation of arts professionals. 

Q: What did you do before you came to Brown?

I’ve been a theater kid since I was about 12. I performed in theater in high school and with small community theater groups and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Rhode Island. I started out loving acting, but over time, I discovered that I really enjoyed the creative process behind the scenes, too. After college, I worked in a variety of customer service and box office roles. I spent a short time in New York City, where I did some ushering, which was fun, but ultimately decided to come back to the area. I then spent more than six years at Boston Lyric Opera as the audience services manager.

Becca Kittredge checks tickets
1 of 4

At the Brown Arts Institute, Kittredge oversees everything from ticketing and event logistics to the ushers, house managers and other staff who help run dozens of performances, exhibitions and events each year.

an orchestra on the stage at the Lindemann
2 of 4

Events, including those at Brown's Lindemann Performing Arts Center welcome thousands from the Brown and Providence communities each year.

becca kittredge directs guests to seats
3 of 4

Kittredge joined Brown in 2023, just months before The Lindemann opened, and said no two days have been the same since. “We get to be part of so many unique and exciting events and experiences, and there’s always something new happening,” Kittredge said.

Becca kittredge holds a staff meeting behind the stage
4 of 4

As part of her role, Kittredge also trains and mentors Brown students and local residents in part-time roles through the ArtsCrew program.

Q: What drew you to this position?

When COVID happened, I moved back to Rhode Island and was working remotely, doing research and survey analysis for nonprofits and performing arts organizations — but I really missed being in theater spaces. When I saw the audience services manager position at BAI, I was excited, especially knowing they were opening a new performing arts building.

I’d spent a lot of time around College Hill as a teenager, so when I came for my interview, I was amazed by how much the area had changed and grown. I got a tour of the new space, and it reminded me how much I missed working in a theater.

What also drew me to the Brown Arts Institute was the incredible range of programming. Here, it’s not just plays and musicals — there’s dance, film, visual arts, exhibitions and conversations with artists, playwrights and directors. We’re bringing in so many different types of artists, and that’s exciting because I get to discover their work and experience new forms of art, too. 

Brown employees learn about visitor services in a team training led by Becca Kittredge.
As part of the ArtsCrew program, Becca Kittredge leads a visitor services team training. Photo by Jamil Jorge/Brown University. 

Q: What are the key responsibilities in your role? 

My job involves everything about the public’s experience at BAI, from buying tickets and being greeted by ushers to finding their seats and receiving a post-show survey. It’s all about making sure people have a positive experience and want to come back.

Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about this concept of radical hospitality — making sure everyone who walks through our doors feels welcome, whether they’re attending an event or just curious about what’s happening inside. I think people can sometimes feel intimidated walking into a space like The Lindemann, and we want to encourage that curiosity. Even something as simple as greeting someone or asking if they need help can make a difference. Our events are open to the public, and we want BAI to be a place where anyone feels comfortable coming in, exploring the space and experiencing the arts at Brown. 

Q: What do you do as a trainer and mentor with ArtsCrew?

I oversee the ushers, house managers and student ambassadors who help create a welcoming experience for our audiences. Ushering is a great introduction to customer service, from greeting visitors and checking tickets to helping people find their seats. House managers take on additional responsibilities, coordinating ushers and working with backstage teams to ensure performances run smoothly.

What I love about ArtsCrew is that it brings together students from such a wide range of interests and academic backgrounds. Some of our house managers are concentrating in engineering or pursuing pre-med. You don’t have to be involved in music or theater to participate — ArtsCrew offers opportunities for anyone who is curious, eager to learn and willing to put in the work.

Q: What do you like most about supporting the ArtsCrew team?

It’s especially rewarding to watch people grow in these roles. Some arrive feeling shy or unsure of themselves, but after gaining experience as ushers, they may decide to train as house managers or explore other areas, like lighting. You can see their confidence develop as they take on new responsibilities. Knowing they’re building skills they can carry into whatever they pursue next is one of the most fulfilling parts of my job. We’re working to expand ArtsCrew opportunities for students at Brown and beyond, including local high school students.

Staff Spotlight

This Q&A series showcases Brown’s talented, innovative employees who are working across schools and departments to make an impact through their wide-ranging skills, passions and contributions.

Follow along

 

Q: What do you like most about working at Brown?

I think it’s the opportunity to work with students, whether it’s through ArtsCrew or supporting student groups. I love being able to provide resources and support and then seeing what they create. We have groups performing in the Fishman Studio every semester, and I’m always excited to hear what they’re working on. Sometimes I’ll walk through the building and see students practicing or rehearsing, and it’s just something I really love to see.

Q: What has working at Brown meant to you, both professionally and personally?

Working at Brown has brought so much joy into my life. I’m fortunate to work with wonderful colleagues who genuinely support one another. Whether we’re collaborating in meetings, working together at events or simply catching up in passing, there’s a real sense of camaraderie. We’re an adaptable team, and everyone is always willing to jump in and help wherever needed.

One of the things I love most is that no two days are ever the same. That variety keeps the work interesting and rewarding. I never quite know what each day will bring, and that’s what makes coming to work so enjoyable.

Tags
Brown and Providence Brown Arts Institute Faculty and Staff Q-and-A Staff Spotlight

Related news:

Staff Spotlight

Talented, innovative employees who work in academic and administrative units across Brown are making an impact through their wide-ranging skills, passions and contributions within the University community and beyond.