California Shakespeare Theater Board President Jean Simpson today announced that Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone has decided to step down from his position in August 2015, after 15 years with the company. Moscone will conclude his tenure with his production of Charles Ludlam's The Mystery of Irma Vep, August 12-September 6, which will be his 22nd production for Cal Shakes. Moscone has accepted a position as the Chief of Civic Engagement with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, and also plans to continue directing plays around the country. The Board has formed a committee to lead a nation-wide search to identify Moscone's successor, working with Gregory Kandel with Management Consultants for the Arts, Inc. as search consultants.
"Cal Shakes has experienced tremendous growth and success under Jon's visionary leadership," commented Simpson. "Over the past fifteen years, Cal Shakes has evolved from a summer Shakespeare festival to an organization renowned for its artistry, ambition, educational programs, and community impact. The entire Board of Directors joins me in thanking Jon for the work he has done, knowing that, due to his efforts, we are well positioned to find our next great artistic leader."
Managing Director Susie Falk added, "I couldn't have asked for a greater partner, mentor, and friend than I've had in Jon over the past decade that we've worked together. I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had first working for him, and then with him. Jon's creativity is endless, his energy boundless, and his dedication and passion for using the tools of theater to make our world better are inspiring. I will miss working with him every day, but know that he will leave a permanent imprint on this organization, for which we are all the better. With the stewardship of an exemplary and passionate board, I know Cal Shakes will continue to thrive as we embark on this exciting process of identifying the next individual to join me in leading this dynamic organization.
"Leaving Cal Shakes was a very difficult decision, but the company is so strong that I have no doubt the Board will be able to attract some of the country's most talented artists to lead the Theater in the 21st century," added Moscone. "And I remain devoted to everyone here as an ardent fan and supporter as I move across the Bay to work as part of the leadership team of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. As the Chief of Civic Engagement, I hope to build on my work at Cal Shakes, developing new methodologies and partnerships for the arts to matter more deeply to more people. This move goes beyond a career move for me; it is my passion to bring civic engagement and art together, and I am ready to put my passion to work. My heart will always deeply be attached to the people who made Cal Shakes what it is, from the Board to the staff, the artists, the donors, community members, partners, and the most loyal, intelligent and risk-taking subscribers in the country."
Moscone's accomplishments at Cal Shakes are significant. Under his tenure, the organization has grown from a $2.1 million to a $5 million annual budget. He has expanded the company's programming to include works by classic writers such as Shaw, Chekhov, and Wilde, as well as contemporary playwrights like
Octavio Solis,
Amy Freed, and
Richard Montoya. Moscone created the Artistic Learning program, serving 5,000 students annually from diverse populations throughout the Bay Area and, more recently, built the company's research and development wing, the Triangle Lab, in collaboration with Intersection for the Arts, exploring new ways for a broader diversity of communities to participate in the arts. As a director, he has received numerous awards and critical acclaim; his productions are consistently among Cal Shakes' top-grossing productions, and he was the inaugural recipient of the prestigious Zelda Fichandler Award in 2009, given by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation for "transforming the American theatre through his unique and creative work." He has consistently supported and championed artists at Cal Shakes; the Green Room at the Bruns was named after Moscone, as a testament to his efforts throughout our capital campaign to improve conditions for artists working at Cal Shakes. Additionally, last year the Board launched the Moscone Permanent Endowment fund, to ensure that Cal Shakes' work will continue for generations to come.
Moscone has also strengthened relationships between Bay Area theaters, and has directed for A.C.T., Berkeley Rep, the Magic, and Intersection for the Arts. He has participated in national conversations on the arts, both through his work on the Theatre Communications Group (T.C.G.) board, as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts, and through participation in the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program. Most recently, Moscone has served as a strong advocate for Diversity and Inclusion in the American theater, notably through Cal Shakes' own Diversity and Inclusion initiative, and through participation in TCG's Diversity and Inclusion Institute.
Moscone's accomplishments will be celebrated at Cal Shakes' annual gala, Play It Forward, on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco.
