The Laguna Playhouse Announces New Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham

The Laguna Playhouse welcomes 30-year theatre producing veteran Ann E. Wareham as Artistic Director.

"We are very fortunate to continue our partnership with Ann as she advances from Associate Producer to Artistic Director. Her extraordinary talent, experience and passion for the collaborative process of theatre are already serving The Laguna Playhouse and community well. We are very excited to deepen our cultural partnership with Ann." Says Executve Director, Karen Wood. Board President, Henry Mayhew cites "Ann brings a rich history and aesthetic sensibility
to our organization. We are pleased to welcome her to the leadership of The Laguna
Playhouse."

Ann comes to The Laguna Playhouse after 27 years as a producing partner with Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, and has produced such plays as Ain't Misbehavin', Pippin, Spring Awakening, No Child..., Sweeney Todd, Distracted, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, Edward Scissorhands, In the Continuum, Pyrenees, The Black Rider, Without Walls, Stuff Happens, Like Jazz, The Talking Cure, A Perfect Wedding and Putting It Together. She served as Producing Associate to Gordon Davidson during his historic and award-winning leadership tenure as Artistic Director of CTG. Davidson fondly remarks "Annie makes it her business to know everything about the work at hand. She is known and respected in the field nationally and I believe she will make an extraordinary contribution to the reputation of The Laguna Playhouse." In 2010, Ann supported the Pasadena Playhouse as the Associate Producer for the West Coast premiere of Dangerous Beauty. She has also produced plays at the Victory Theatre, the CAST Theatre and the Met, in Los Angeles. Ann is excited to be a new resident of Laguna Beach and enjoys spending time with her daughter Tessa, a full-time student in Los Angeles.

Wareham states "I am thrilled to join Karen Wood in the leadership of this great theatre and look forward to being a part of the rich and vibrant arts community that is Laguna Beach. I am eager to roll up my sleeves in servIce To our patrons and in support of our partners, board of trustees, staff and friends. The Playhouse has an extraordinary artistic history and I am pleased and proud to be here."

ABOUT Laguna Playhouse
Founded in 1920 and celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2011-2012, The Laguna Playhouse is
one of the oldest continuously-operating theatres on the West Coast. In January 2011, The
Laguna Playhouse was honored at the Laguna Spirit Awards and received The Laguna Beach
Chamber of Commerce Premiere Business of the Year award.

More than 100,000 theatergoers annually attend performances at the Laguna Playhouse. Its
continued artistic excellence, audience popularity and critical acclaim have helped make The
Playhouse one of Southern California's most important nonprofit theatre companies. The
Playhouse has produced national tours of The Belle of Amherst (with Julie Harris) and
Copenhagen, and has presented many world, national and regional premieres.

Over the years, the Laguna Playhouse has garnered numerous awards from LA Drama Critics
Circle, NAACP, Backstage, OC Weekly, and many more, and was named Best Arts
Organization by ArtsOC. Notable performers that have performed at The Laguna Playhouse
include Bette Davis, Harrison Ford, Charles Durning, Marlo Thomas, Roddy McDowell, Rita
Rudner, Cloris Leachman, and Sally Struthers.

The Laguna Playhouse is noted for its Youth Theater Education and Outreach programs. In
1989, its Youth Theater was recognized as "Outstanding Children's Theatre" by the American
Alliance for Theatre and Education. The theater's touring production, TheatreReach, brings
books to life on stage for elementary school children throughout southern California.

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