LAByrinth Theatre Co. Announces New Artistic Leadership

LAByrinth Theater Company has announced that Artistic Directors John Ortiz, Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Gould Rubin pass their voluntary positions of service into the hands of fellow artists and LAB members Stephen Adly Guirgis, Mimi O'Donnell and Yul Vázquez. The three new Artistic Directors are joined by Marieke Gaboury, who fills the position of Producing Director.

"In Stephen, Mimi and Yul, we, along with the Company and Board, have chosen a new leadership that truly comes from the heart of LAB. All three are long time, dedicated members and gifted artists, who have stepped up to this position of service out of love and respect for this Company - this family. We look forward to working with them as members of the Company that it has been our honor to lead. Passing this torch to them feels exactly right," said John Ortiz and Philip Seymour Hoffman in a joint statement, explaining that with growing career and family responsibilities, they have come to the conclusion that the time to step down has come.

"When we took over as Artistic Directors, it was always going to be a temporary thing. Now we‘re at this exciting time for the Company, and we have total confidence in this transition. And we're not going anywhere: we'll be very involved in the Company as Board Members and continually available to the new leadership as advisors. Most of all, we're excited to get to be Members again, as the Members are the real heart and motor of LAByrinth Theater Company."

Yul Vázquez steps into this new role as one of the original 13 Company Members and Stephen Adly Guirgis has penned many of the Company‘s most memorable and award winning productions. Any long-time LAB theatergoer has seen Mimi O‘Donnell‘s name in many programs as one of the most active Costume Designers in New York City, and in the long LAByrinth tradition of encouraging multi-disciplinary artistry, she has recently begun to explore the role of director. LAByrinth‘s 2005 production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot saw the three collaborate as playwright, designer and actor. They will likewise bring their intelligence, talents and passion to their new roles. In uncertain economic times, the new leaders are excited to tackle the challenges of finding more opportunities for Company Members to work, to develop an ever growing and successful education program, and expand into new revenue-generating territories.

LAByrinth is united in its enthusiasm for the new energy and opportunity that this change in leadership brings. John Ortiz , co-Founder of LAByrinth in 1992, first led the Company as part of a small Artistic Board. Philip Seymour Hoffman joined the Company in 1995, later going on to join John Ortiz as the Company's first official Co-Artistic Directors. In recognition of this contribution, and ongoing commitment to LAB, the two will hence forth retain the titles Co-Founding Artistic Directors.

John Gould Rubin, who steps down with Hoffman and Ortiz in order to create a clear path for new leadership, has been a Company Member since 1998, and became Co-Artistic Director and Executive Director in 2007.

About the new leadership of the Company, John Gould Rubin and Board Chairman Jeffrey Horwitz commented:

John Gould Rubin -Serving the cause of Art is the most gratifying I can imagine any occupation to be; service on behalf of LAByrinth is as good as it gets, and I am thrilled that we are now to be led by my friends Stephen, Mimi and Yul."

Jeffrey Horwitz, Board Chairman -There would be no LAB but for the spirit and soul of John and Phil. Creating in a way that allows others to create is the highest form of collaboration, and so it is not surprising they have led such a successful transition. We appreciate the efforts of John Rubin in helping make this change and are very excited about Stephen, Mimi and Yul working with Marieke."

LAByrinth Theater Company was founded in 1992 by a group of actors who wanted to push their artistic limits, hone their craft, and create new plays that truly reflected their heritage and experience. Today, LAByrinth is comprised of 117 established and emerging theater artists from a wide array of cultural perspectives. The inclusive, multicultural ensemble encourages all members to write, act, direct, and design, and supports multidisciplinary growth and exploration in the creation of daring new work that celebrates the diversity of its New York City home.

The 2008-09 Season marks LAByrinth Theater Company's sixth season in residence at The Public Theater. LAByrinth and the Sydney Theatre Company are Associate Companies of Trafalgar Studios in London (Ambassador Theatre Group), who aim to produce and exchange work on a regular basis, and to give LAByrinth's writers and actors a stage in London.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.