Charlotte St. Martin is stepping down as president of the Broadway League

In a surprise announcement Tuesday, Charlotte St. Martin, who has been president of the Broadway League since 2006, said she will leave her current position next month.

As leader of the league, a trade association representing producers and theater owners as well as presenters from across the country, Martin has held one of the most crucial positions in the theater industry. The league plays an important role in promoting Broadway, conducts labor negotiations with the many unions that represent theater workers on Broadway and on tour, and collects and disseminates data on Broadway's economic health and audience demographics.

The League, in addition to the American Theater Wing, also presents the Tony Awards, the annual ceremony honoring the best shows and performances on Broadway.

St. Martin's retirement, effective Feb. 16, comes as Broadway — which consists of 41 theaters concentrated in and around Times Square — continues to struggle to recover from the pandemic's prolonged shutdown. Broadway's economics have become increasingly challenging as production costs have risen while audience levels remain lower than before the pandemic.

The league said in a statement that St. Martin would continue to advise the organization through this year's Tony Awards, scheduled for June 16. Jason Laks, the league's executive vice president and general counsel, will lead the organization on a day-to-day basis until St. Martin's replacement is chosen; The competition is overseen by a board chaired by Kristin Caskey, an executive vice president of the Ambassador Theater Group.