The Garden Theater in Frankfort has hired a new executive director, who will start in the position June 1.

Katie Jones will be relocating to Frankfort with her family from Nashville to assume the helm of the nonprofit theater. Jones has a "four-generation connection to the Frankfort area," according to a release from theater owners The Friends of the Garden Theater, and has a background in theater, writing, and film production. Jones was the co-writer and played a starring role in The Cold and the Quiet, winning Best Actress & Best Cinematography at the Midwest Independent Film Festival and Best Directing, Best Editing and Best Narrative Feature at the Women’s Independent Film Festival. She was also a producer on An Acceptable Loss, a 2019 feature film starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

"I am beyond thrilled to be joining The Garden Theater team," Jones said in a statement. “Having a prior career in film production, I was looking for that next step that would require me to travel less and provide more stability for my family. This position blends so many of my passions: film and all other forms of art, community, and my favorite place on earth: Frankfort, Michigan."

The Friends of The Garden Theater bought the theater in December 2020 in order to "protect, preserve and grow its impact within the community," according to the release. Efforts to date have focused on a $2 million capital campaign to restore the building, firm up the foundation, replace the roof, create ADA accessible bathrooms and facilities, expand the stage, and restore the marquee. Jones says she is "looking forward to being a part of bringing music, art, theater, community events, and more to Frankfort. I hope The Garden will be a space for people of all ages to gather and find something that enriches their lives."