Hendersonville Performing Arts Company is a non-profit theatre governed by a Board of Directors. Over our more than 25 years in operation in the community, we have strived to provide a safe and welcoming environment for the performing arts to flourish. In that time, hundreds of local citizens have participated at HPAC in a variety of roles to carry out our mission. We are collectively devastated by former HPAC Director and Board member Robert Pitt's actions that violated our mission, our policies, and the trust of many. We stand with his victims, and offer our support as a community. Robert Pitt has not had any association with HPAC since his expulsion in February 2018. While the Board was made aware of his explosive and threatening behavior at that time and elected to remove him, we were not aware of the extent or sexual nature of his abusive behavior until more recently, beginning with his 2020 arrest and culminating in his guilty plea. The information that we have received in the last several weeks has shaken our organization and we are thankful for those that have been brave enough to speak about their experiences with Mr. Pitt within our organization. If you were a victim of Mr. Pitt during his time at HPAC, we ask you to contact the Hendersonville Police Department to aid in their investigation.

As a Board, we pledge to conduct a full review of our policies and procedures, our training of leadership and volunteers, and our Board’s governance structure. Beginning with new leadership, we are sincerely committed to moving forward in a new era to foster a culture of vision, inclusion, transparency, and accountability to earn the trust of our community and stakeholders.

Hendersonville Performing Arts Company Board of Directors

From HPD: Anyone with information on these cases or anyone with information on the existence of other potential victims is urged to call and report that information to the Hendersonville Police Criminal Investigation Division at (615)264-5303 or the Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at (615)594-4113.