Brandon Ivie Named Associate Artistic Director at Village Theatre

New York/Seattle-based director Brandon Ivie (Jasper in Deadland, Lizard Boy) has been named as the new Associate Artistic Director of Village Theatre. Ivie's main role will be as creative lead on new musical development through the company's Village Originals program, beginning July 1.

"We are thrilled to have Brandon Ivie, who has been a valuable creative voice at Village Theatre through the years, joining our team as the Associate Artistic Director," says artistic director Steve Tomkins. "Ivie brings with him an incredible amount of insight and expertise regarding the development of new musicals, and we are confident that his passion and energy will carry our Village Originals program to new heights."

Ivie, the first in this position since Tony Award-winner Brian Yorkey, will split his time between New York and Seattle. His first duty will be producing the theatre's annual Festival of New Musicals, and will also focus on additional readings, workshops, and developmental productions. Village's new musicals program has shepherded such shows as the Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal as well as earlier development of Broadway shows Million Dollar Quartet and It Shoulda Been You.

"I'm so thrilled to make it back to one of my first creative homes and to be in a true dream job," Ivie says. "I've been working in new musicals since I was 15 years old thanks to Village Theatre, and I can't wait to collaborate with an organization so committed to the art form and its future."

Ivie has been active in both the New York and Seattle theatre communities. In 2014, he made his Off-Broadway directorial debut with Jasper in Deadland by Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster, and last winter he directed A Christmas Story at Paper Mill Playhouse. On Broadway, Ivie has served as dramaturg on Next to Normal and Catch Me If You Can, and Associate Director on A Christmas Story and First Date, as well as pre-Broadway productions of Gigi and Scandalous. Other New York directing credits include new work at The Public Theater/Joe's Pub, HERE Arts Center, Prospect Theater Company, New York Musical Theatre Festival, National Alliance for Musical Theatre, The Drama League, 54 Below, and more. Regional directing credits include Paper Mill Playhouse, Barrington Stage Company, Signature Theatre, Ford's Theatre, and The Kennedy Center. Ivie is a Drama League Directing Fellow, recipient of the Charles Abbott Directing Fellowship, and is a member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab.

In the Pacific Northwest, Ivie's work has been dedicated largely to the development of new musicals. Most recently, he directed the World Premiere musical Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas at Seattle Repertory Theatre and The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond at Village Theatre, and created the popular New Voices concert series, giving the Northwest its first taste of some of the best up-and-coming musical theatre songwriters. Ivie has also served on the artistic staff at The 5th Avenue Theatre for four seasons as Casting Director and Artistic Projects Manager, working on pre-Broadway productions of Disney's Aladdin, Shrek The Musical, Memphis, A Christmas Story, and Catch Me If You Can.

Photo by Matthew Murphy