Cori Stevenson

General Manager, Houston Shakespeare Festival

Cori Stevenson serves as the General Manager of the Houston Shakespeare Festival (HSF), where she is an advocate for bringing professional free performances of Shakespeare’s work for the cultural enrichment of Houston’s diverse communities. Since joining UH, Cori has led over 120 Shakespeare workshops through the Houston Public Library's Camp STREAM initiative, fostering a love for Shakespeare among young learners. She also spearheaded the development of a community membership program that provides essential annual financial support for HSF’s free summer performances, giving over 15,000 Houstonians the opportunity to experience live Shakespeare each year.

With over 25 years of experience in the professional theatre industry, Cori has held a variety of roles, including Arts Administrator, Executive Producer, Voice Over Artist, Grant Writer, NPR local host, Performer, Membership Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Educational Director, Teaching Artist, and Stage Director. Her diverse skill set has allowed her to work for and collaborate with numerous organizations, such as the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre Under the Stars, Broadway Across America, Shakespeare Dallas, Memphis Arts Council, Globe of the Great Southwest, Midland Community Theatre, Deep Ellum Opera Theatre, Queensbury Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, and Germantown Community Theatre.

Cori holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Sam Houston State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Memphis. Committed to the belief that the arts are a powerful tool for community building, Cori continues to create meaningful connections through accessible theatre, community outreach, and arts education.