Out of Hand Theater is proud to announce that Adria Kitchens, the organization’s interim managing director and director of equity and activism, has been named a 2025 Presidential Leadership Scholar, and artistic director Ariel Fristoe won the Emory Entrepreneur Award, the Research Impact Award from the Society of Arts Entrepreneurship Education and has been recognized as one of Atlanta’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders by Atlanta Magazine as well.

Adria Kitchens joins the prestigious 10th annual class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS), a program that brings together 57 accomplished leaders to collaborate and drive change. The PLS initiative is a partnership among the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson, offering participants the opportunity to study leadership through the lens of these presidents' experiences.

“It is an incredible honor to be selected as a Presidential Leadership Scholar,” said Kitchens. “I look forward to leveraging this opportunity to further Out of Hand Theater’s mission of using art and activism to create meaningful social impact in Atlanta and beyond.”

During the six-month program, Kitchens will develop a leadership initiative aimed at fostering equitable arts access and engagement within underserved communities. Through collaboration with fellow Scholars and guidance from influential civic and business leaders, she will work to expand Out of Hand’s innovative programming to address critical social challenges.

“Adria’s leadership and dedication to equity and activism make her an outstanding choice for this prestigious program,” said Ariel Fristoe, artistic director of Out of Hand Theater. “Her work is vital to our mission, and we are thrilled to see her receive this well-deserved recognition.”

In addition, Atlanta Magazine has named Fristoe to its 2025 list of Atlanta’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders, an annual recognition of individuals who shape the city’s future through their influence in business, government, arts and nonprofit sectors. As Artistic Director of Out of Hand Theater, Fristoe has spearheaded groundbreaking projects that use theater as a tool for civic engagement and social change, cementing the company’s role as a leader in arts activism. Most recently her leadership has earned her the Emory Entrepreneur Awards, which recognizes innovative alumni who have founded businesses that have grown and achieved influence in a range of industries, and the Society for Arts Entrepreneurship Education Research Impact Award for her presentation on Arts-Based Community Engagement Model in Practice.

“This recognition is a testament to the power of theater to inspire change,” said Fristoe. “I am honored to be included among so many remarkable leaders working to make Atlanta a better place for all.”

Out of Hand Theater continues to be at the forefront of innovative storytelling and community engagement, using the arts to address critical social issues and foster meaningful dialogue.

For more information about the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, visit www.presidentialleadershipscholars.org.