Fellowship for Performing Arts Announces Michael Tarwater as New Managing Director
Nationally-recognized Non-profit Executive Brings Decades of Organizational Leadership Experience to Faith-based Creative Arts
NEW YORK, July 1, 2025 – Fellowship for Performing Arts (FPA), known for its acclaimed theatrical adaptations of C.S. Lewis and other literary greats, is excited to announce that Michael Tarwater has joined the non-profit theatre company as Managing Director.
Tarwater’s executive managerial and organizational experience, including leading one of America’s largest healthcare systems, made him FPA’s first choice for this new position of Managing Director, created as the ministry has experienced much growth in recent years. He is a longtime patron of and donor to FPA and has been a board member for ten years.
“Michael is the perfect fit to be FPA’s first ever Managing Director, and we’re thrilled to have him on the FPA team in this capacity,” said FPA Founder and Artistic Director Max McLean. “As the implementer of our mission at the strategic and organizational level, Michael’s faith has guided him throughout his career, and he is uniquely gifted as a manager and leader.”
In his new role, Tarwater will be responsible for managing the wide-ranging activities required by FPA’s day-to-day operations. This includes strategic planning, financial efficiency, organizational management as well as overseeing the internal team and external partners in the areas of theatrical and film production, philanthropy, audience engagement, operations, communications and more.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to step into this new role with FPA, as I wholeheartedly support the ministry’s vision and want to help further its growth,” Tarwater said. “My wife Ann and I are both huge fans, and it’s an honor to now be part of the team that gets to bring that vision to life.”
The creation of a managing director position is a direct result of FPA’s expanding roster of projects, including two nationally-touring stage shows – C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert and C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In. Additionally, the ministry continues to tour its popular stage production of The Screwtape Letters.
FPA also moved into film production in recent years with its first project in that genre, The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis. The movie became a surprise international hit after its 2021 premiere and is still performing well on major streaming platforms. A DVD and streaming version was also just released of C.S. Lewis On Stage: Further Up & Further In, now available at https://fpatheatre.com/csl2-video/. Work has started on a second film on Lewis’ mid-life, and FPA announced last month it had acquired rights to develop a feature film version of The Screwtape Letters.
Prior to joining FPA, Tarwater held a senior executive position with a philanthropic foundation assisting underserved communities in the Carolinas. He came out of retirement to fill that role, having previously led Carolinas Healthcare System (now Atrium Health), a 66,000-employee health care system with hospitals and clinics throughout North and South Carolina.
About Fellowship for Performing Arts
Fellowship for Performing Arts is a New York City-based nonprofit producing theatre and film from a Christian worldview to engage a diverse audience. Founded by actor and playwright Max McLean, FPA’s productions have toured major cities nationally and internationally and include The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert, Further Up & Further In, the award-winning Mark’s Gospel, the first New York revival of the Tony-nominated Shadowlands, A Man For All Seasons, and the world premieres of Martin Luther on Trial and a modern adaptation of Paradise Lost.
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