Our Founding Executive Producer
An accomplished leader, Mitch Nugent infuses the organization and its creations with beauty and vitality.
“Creating beauty, on stage or in life, demands intention and moxie. Despite the challenges, it’s the awe and wonder of beauty itself that makes life worth living.
Sharing beauty with the people who matter to us makes every effort and every struggle worth the journey.”
Mitch Nugent
Mitch Nugent is an award-winning performing arts executive recognized for his visionary leadership in arts administration, cultural development, and community engagement. As the Founding Executive Producer of Prima Theatre, he has played a pivotal role in transforming Lancaster’s arts scene, elevating the region’s cultural profile and generating a multimillion-dollar economic impact through innovative programming and job creation. Stroll Magazine recently described Prima as "Pennsylvania's premier boutique theater."
Under Mitch’s leadership, Prima has gained national recognition, attracting Broadway luminaries such as Stephen Schwartz, Billy Porter, and Shoshana Bean. His forward-thinking approach has cultivated a dynamic audience, with Prima’s patrons averaging 20 years younger than the national theater demographic, helping to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for the performing arts in Lancaster.
Marquis Lupton of NPR aptly notes, “What sets Mitch apart is not just his theatrical prowess but his commitment to transforming the cultural landscape of Lancaster.” Mitch has built strategic partnerships with community-focused organizations, championing accessibility and inclusion in the arts. His leadership earned him recognition as a member of the Lancaster County Community Foundation’s inaugural DEI cohort and the Steinman Foundation’s Pursuit of Equity Award.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitch steered Prima toward community service, earning the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s Non-Profit Leadership Excellence Award and the Jefferson Foundation’s One In A Million recognition. A former member of Lancaster’s Public Art Advisory Board and a Baldwin Leadership Fellow, Mitch remains committed to producing bold and beautiful experiences that invigorate lives — inspiring connection, wonder, and joy.
Beyond Prima, his impact extends further as a keynote speaker at Queens University of Charlotte, Leadership Lancaster, and the Lancaster County Chamber, as well as a consultant in arts leadership, brand messaging, and special event programming. His charisma and compelling communication skills have also made him the voice of national campaigns for companies including Adobe and Pfizer.
He lives in Lancaster City with his wife, Diana, and their two sons, Aiden and Sutter.
