York Theatre Company Welcomes Michael Unger as New Associate Artistic Director

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, welcomes Michael Unger in his new role as Associate Artistic Director. He joins James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director, and Andrew Levine, Executive Director, in carrying out The York's mission.

Among other duties in his new position, Mr. Unger will oversee the education program at The York, including the launch of the York Musical Theatre Training Program, set to begin this summer. The training program will be taught by working professionals from Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theaters. All classes will culminate with a showcase performance at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Producing Artistic Director James Morgan stated, "I am delighted to welcome Michael in this position, which has been vacant for several years. He is a great collaborator, wonderful director and a good friend. He brings a wealth of experience to us that will be extremely valuable in the coming years as we expand and look in new directions."

Michael Unger had this to say, "I am thrilled to join The York Theatre as Associate Artistic Director. Over the years, I have had the privilege of directing a range of projects on the York stage with wonderful collaborators." He went on to add, "I have great respect for Producing Artistic Director James Morgan and all who have worked at the York, past and present. They have created one of very few theaters in the nation that creates opportunities for new writers and new works, while preserving the history of the Musical Theatre, in equal measure." In closing he said, "I am excited to be able to contribute my ideas, energy and vision to a future for The York Theatre that is worthy of this impressive legacy."

Michael Unger is a theatre and opera director whose work has been seen on stages from Los Angeles, to New York, to Yekaterinburg, Russia - and many places in between. He is the Artistic Director of the 12.14 Foundation (www.1214foundation.org) which brings high-level performing arts education and programming to the inspiring and resilient community of Newtown, CT. For the 12.14 Foundation, Michael produced and directed Seussical: The Musical starring John Tartaglia, the world premiere of A ROCKIN' Midsummer Night's Dream (co-adapted - available on CD) and The 101 Dalmatians Musical (featuring 107 Newtown kids - co-adapted with Dennis DeYoung of Styx). Michael also directed From Broadway With Love: A benefit concert for Sandy Hook, which was televised on PBS (available on CD/DVD).

Recent directing credits include A Christmas Carol (McCarter Theatre - 17 seasons), Period of Adjustment (Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre and The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival), Two Point Oh (59E59 Theatres - New York Times Critics' Pick), Rigoletto (Opera Idaho), the opera, Susannah (St. Petersburg Opera - soon to be available on DVD) and the musical Big (York Theatre - Mufti - starring John Tartaglia, Kerry Butler and lyricist, Richard Maltby, Jr.)

World premieres include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barrington Stage), Caligula (NYMF - Audience Favorite Award), Retribution (Off Bway - Lambs Theatre) and Haven (University of Judaism). Michael also produced the Richard Rodgers award-winning musical, Whatnot (Musical Theatre Works). Other directing credits include Deaf West Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Signature Theatre, St. Louis MUNY, Theatre Aspen, Prince Music Theatre, Cape Playhouse, Weston Playhouse and 54 Below. Michael has directed operas at Sarasota Opera, Opera New Jersey, Vertical Player Repertory and the Sverdlovsk Academic Theatre of Musical Comedy in Russia. Michael teaches acting classes in New York City and has guest directed at Juilliard, Asolo Conservatory, Ohio Northern University, University of Utah, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and AMDA.

At Steppenwolf Theatre, in his hometown of Chicago, Michael assistant directed Buried Child for Gary Sinise (also on Broadway) and A Clockwork Orange for Terry Kinney. Other Broadway assisting credits include Steel Pier, King David and A Christmas Carol. Michael directed many of the Great Evenings at the Great Hall, celebrating The Cooper Union's sesquicentennial. He is married to actress, Janet Metz and is the proud father of twins, Phoebe and Nathaniel. www.ungerdirect.com