About Josh
Joshua Borenstein (he/him) founded Odyssey Associates in 2019. Since that time, he has worked on cultural projects with many different kinds of organizations such as producing theatres, presenting organizations, orchestras, municipalities, neighborhood associations, community schools for the arts, and foundations. He is a Lecturer in Theater Management at the Yale School of Drama, and Josh also manages a small group of artists.
Prior to Odyssey Associates, Josh served at Long Wharf Theatre for 13 years and guided the organization through three different leadership transitions. During Josh's eight years as its Managing Director, Long Wharf celebrated its 50th anniversary season; transferred numerous productions to New York; completed an award-winning renovation of the Claire Tow Stage at the C. Newton Schenck III Theatre; established a new endowment to fund new play development; expanded its community engagement initiatives with nationally recognized programs; and doubled the size of its education department. Josh also worked at Long Wharf for five years in various general management capacities.
In previous work, Josh was a project manager at AMS Planning & Research, a consulting practice devoted exclusively to arts and culture clients. At AMS, he led or supported over 50 consulting projects for a wide variety of cultural organizations, including children's museums, various service organizations and public agencies, and presenting organizations. Josh also held various positions at Yale Repertory Theatre and Trinity Repertory Company. He was at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston through Theatre Communication Group’s “New Generations” program.
In addition to his teaching at Yale, Josh has also guest lectured at Quinnipiac University, Wesleyan University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Boston University. He has served as a grant panelist for the NEA/ArtsMidwest, the Greater Hartford Arts Council, and the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Josh has served as a trustee on several boards, and he currently serves on the Endowment Committee for Congregation Mishkan Israel. He was recognized in Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40: Class of 2014.” Josh is a graduate of Wesleyan University and the Yale School of Drama.
He resides in the Greater New Haven area with his wife, attorney Kate Hagmann-Borenstein (aka the blogger Boater Girl) with their children. In addition to the arts, his interests include all kinds of cooking (especially Slow Food projects such as bread baking, barbecue, and pickling), hiking, and boating on Long Island Sound.
"At a pivotal time in White Heron’s lifecycle, Josh provided leadership and partnership –– evidenced in his willingness to think big with us and then map those lofty ideals to realistic possibilities and executable plans. As a Managing Director he has proven himself to be equally strong as an organizational leader, strategic thinker and a marketer.
"We hired Josh to help us transition from start-up mode to growth and sustainability while keeping the entrepreneurial spirit of a small arts organization dedicated to promoting dialogue with our community. On day one, literally, I asked Josh to sit in on a Board meeting without any expectations. But he had done his homework. He jumped from the 5-meter platform and immediately engaged the Board as if he were a tenured staffer. His ability to quickly immerse himself in the business kept us moving forward with purposeful speed.
"In a few short months as Managing Director, Josh had helped the leadership team to move the organization forward and prepare a solid foundation for our future. And then… global pandemic. During the COVID-19 crisis, Josh ratcheted up to another gear to help us do the right thing, the right way – being responsible for the organization while putting the community first.
"We are lucky to have Josh as a key part of our leadership team. He is a seasoned veteran who listens, thinks, solves, and leads. He is first and foremost a responsible partner with a personal stake in the outcome. But at the end of the day, his values-driven character stands above all. To work with Josh is to work with family (the kind you love)." - Robert Doran, Board Chair, White Heron Theatre Company