Hartford Stage Names Hana Sharif As Associate Artistic Director

Hana Sharif has been named associate artistic director of Hartford Stage, the Hartford Courant's Behind the Curtain blog reports.  Sharif will succeed Jeremy B. Cohen, who is to become producing director of Minneapolis's The Playwrights Center, on August 9.

Sharif first came to Hartford Stage seven years ago and has previously served as Hartford Stage's artistic producer (for three years) and the Aetna New Voices Playwright in Residence (from 2009 to 2010).  She directed GEE'S BEND this past season and will direct the upcoming GEM OF THE OCEAN.

Hartford Stage says, "Hartford Stage is an award-winning non-profit professional theatre. We produce six major theatrical productions and one to two summer productions annually. Our shows range from the classics...like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Tartuffe...to provocative new works...like Necessary Targets, I Ain't Your Uncle, and Spunk.

Over the years, our productions have been recognized by the Tony Awards, the OBIEs, and the New York Critics Circle Awards. And, many highly acclaimed performers have graced our stage...like Jean Stapleton, Andrew McCarthy, Jesse L. Martin, Bradley Whitford, Ellen Burstyn, Angela Bassett, Ed O'Neill and Calista Flockhart."