August 27th 2025

Cow Head, NL – This spring longtime employee Denise Dolliver announced her retirement from TNL after 25 seasons of working for the company as a production manager, company manager, and most recently general manager. This summer TNL formed a hiring committee, comprising the board’s executive and the current senior management team, tasked with finding the organization’s next general manager.

After a competitive process, we are ready to share the results of our search with our staff, artists and patrons. The results will see TNL welcome two members of our company to new senior management positions.

“We are reimagining  the current general manager position,” said TNL Board Chair Pamela Gill. “For years the general manager position has been a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of one person. This new model will ensure that specific areas of responsibility are apportioned to qualified persons in those areas.”

This fall Dawn Payne will step into the role of director of finance and operations and Dana Pittman will step into the role of director of development and communications. Together, Dawn, Dana, and TNL’s current artistic producer Nicholas Leno will form TNL’s senior management team.

Dawn Payne, a longtime resident of Cow Head, comes to the position after working for the Gros Morne Theatre Festival for 19 years, most recently as the box office and patrons service manager. Dawn’s long history with the theatre will be an asset to TNL moving forward.  “Having knowledge of how the Gros Morne Theatre Festival has grown over the years and the people who have contributed along the way will be something that will always keep me going back to why we exist and how the people and partnerships are so important to who we are,” Dawn said.  

Dana Pittman, born and raised in Rocky Harbour now a resident of Daniel’s Harbour, is also a current TNL employee,  the manager of marketing and fund development. Dana’s knowledge of the local area and her strong interest in recognizing the assets that we have, will help her as she takes on the exciting task of finding ways to share TNL’s state-of-the-art facility with new users both at home and away.  “Knowing that we have such pride in where we live and work, is our foundation to enticing others to see the many reasons they should utilize what we have to offer – as a region and as a facility.  The Nurse Myra Bennett Centre for the Performing Arts is ours to share and ours to be proud of and I look forward to doing that with”, said Dana.

Both Dawn and Dana look forward to working with Nicholas as a senior management team of three.  While they each come with different areas of knowledge and skills, their collective passion will benefit TNL .“I feel very lucky to be leading this organization alongside a team of two brilliant women, from right here on this coast,” said TNL’s Artistic Producer Nicholas Leno. With like-minded ideas and goals, this trio is excited for what is to come.

Dana and Dawn also recognize that the contributions Denise Dolliver has made to TNL have been priceless.  The dedication and determination with which Denise has approached her most recent role has been recognized by all who have had the pleasure of being in her company.  Dana is extremely appreciative of the structure Denise has created for TNL, while Dawn is so grateful for the passion Denise has put into everything she has done, most especially the role she has played with local youth. “Denise has been willing to give of herself year after year when it comes to the young people in our community,” Dawn explains.  “Since my own children were little, she instilled a sense of creativity and belonging in the students.  Now as grown men, my sons still come to the theatre every trip home and it’s not just to see their mom, it’s because she helped them know there is always a place for them at the theatre.”

“I couldn’t be happier to have Dana Pittman and Dawn Payne step into these leadership roles,” said Denise. “I count them as respected colleagues. Their many years of experience working with TNL, their passion for this company and its staff, and their knowledge and love of our communities and the people, are just what I have wished for in my replacement. I know that Nick, Dana, and Dawn will do amazing things together for TNL. I retire from the GM position knowing that TNL will be in very capable and loving hands!”

Dawn and Dana will officially step into their roles this fall, and outgoing GM Denise Dolliver will stay on until the end of the calendar year to support the new management team.