Actors Theatre of Louisville's Artistic Director Marc Masterson Departs After 11 Seasons

Marc Masterson today announced he will step down as Artistic Director after 11 seasons at the helm of the Tony-Award-Winning theatre, Actors Theatre of Louisville. Masterson will depart in fall 2011 to take up the role of Artistic Director at South Coast Repertory, Costa Mesa, California.

Marc Masterson said today, "Actors Theatre has been my artistic home for the last 11 seasons. I have been able to explore new artistic possibilities and challenge the audiences, both locally and nationally. I have had the privilege of programming the most well-respected new play festival in the world with the Humana Festival of New American Plays. Becoming the artistic director at South Coast Repertory will present a whole new range of challenges for me, and I am very excited to join another institution as well respected as Actors Theatre."

Board President Mike Keyes said, "The Board of Director at Actors Theatre has been privileged to work with such a fantastic leader as Marc Masterson for the past decade plus, and we wish him well in his new appointment. We are in an inevitable position as national leaders in our field and are optimistic that we have one of the best opportunities in regional theatre. We are committed to finding a leader who will continue the evolution of Actors Theatre and keep us at the forefront of new play development through the Humana Festival. We are moving ahead quickly with this process in forming a committee to begin the search."

Jennifer Bielstein, Managing Director added, "Marc Masterson has truly made an impact on the Louisville community, and the national field of theatre during his tenure at Actors Theatre. He has introduced numerous playwrights to the world; created alternative streams of programming for the theatre, including expansion of our education programs; and has changed the way Actors Theatre produces, improving the quality of production and variety of experiences. We will truly miss him and we are grateful for all he has done for Actors Theatre."

During Masterson's time with the company, he has directed such plays as The Kite Runner, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, a bluegrass-themed As You Like It, The Tempest, which featured members of the Rachels and an impressive array of World premieres in the Humana Festival of New American Plays including: Ground, Wild Blessings: A Celebration of Wendell Berry (co-adapted with Adrien-Alice Hansel), The Unseen, Natural Selection, The Shaker Chair, After Ashley, Tallgrass Gothic, The Second Death of Priscilla, Limonade Tous les Jours and Wonderful World.

Under his artistic leadership, the Humana Festival of New American Plays has continued to thrive with 85% of the work that premiered during his time at the Theatre having subsequent productions, and 50% of the work premiered has been by women writers. Actors Theatre has also developed The Actors Theatre Education Program - a model for the state - that has expanded in his tenure to provide more than 30,000 arts experience to students annually, including student matinee performances of professional productions, the state-wide New Voices Young Playwrights Program and Festival, professional development for teachers, among other community-based programs.

Programming for Actors Theatre's 2011-2012 Season has been completed and the full lineup will be announced in March, 2011.

A national search for his successor will commence shortly.