CommercialArt,
I cannot offer advice as someone who sought a designer, but I can offer advice as a designer who has been sought.
Unfortunately in the fast pace, high-tech world today, forums, job
boards, and randomly searching the web for impressive websites of a
designer's work are the ways to go. Word of mouth is also a way but you
already know this as you had mentioned it in your first post.
In order to avoid this, as you wish to do, and to get the in person
interview that you are hunting for, I can only suggest the following.
• Offer open casting calls for freelance graphic designers only in your
area just as you would with your theatrical performers. Require that
they bring samples of their work (portfolio), letters of recommendation
(testimonies) and 3-5 conceptual ideas for your company. You would of
course have to provide them with your company information as well as
your vision before your meeting.
• Look into the designers of playbooks and fliers you have found
impressive in other theatre companies or any other business brochure.
• Contact a design staffing and recruiting agency. This of course will
cost money but with details given to the agency, you will find exactly
what you need.
P.S.
No offense taken to your comment but rather taken as a quality critique.
Good luck in finding what you need.
Signed,
getgraphic
"with great ideas come great designs"