Nicholas Martin is New Williamstown Fest Artistic Director

Nicholas Martin has been named Artistic Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF), effective November 1, 2007, it was announced by WTF Board President Matt Harris.  After a successful and productive three year tenure as the Artistic Director of the WTF, Roger Rees will step down to move on to other opportunities.

Currently the Artistic Director of the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Nicholas Martin has served in that capacity since 2000. He will continue his association with that company through Spring, 2008.  Martin's association with Williamstown Theatre Festival spans more than a decade, and for two years he served as WTF's resident director under then Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

During his tenure at the WTF, Mr. Rees presented some of the most acclaimed productions in the WTF's recent history, including Autumn Garden and The Corn Is Green (directed by Martin) from the 2007 season.  In addition, he spearheaded continued innovation in the WTF's education programs, most notably the leapFROG program, which offers young writers, directors and actors a chance to write and workshop a new play and a new musical each summer.

Nestled in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, the Williamstown Theatre Festival is a celebration of theater that brings together a vast array of artists and offers audiences varied cultural experiences.  Every summer, WTF presents classic and new plays on its Main, Nikos and Center Stages, Free Theatre, Late-Night Cabaret, readings, workshops and other special events including a program for youngsters in North Adams called the Greylock Theatre Project.  Of equal importance, WTF's many training programs offer nearly two hundred aspiring theater artists and managers an opportunity to study acting or serve as interns with professional designers, directors and administrators.

As a director, Nicholas Martin is represented by the following: On Broadway - Butley (with Nathan Lane), Match (with Frank Langella and Ray Liotta), Hedda Gabler (with Kate Burton), Off Broadway – Fully Committed (Vineyard and Cherry Lane), Full Gallop (Manhattan Theatre Club and West Side Arts), The Rehearsal and You Can Never Tell (Roundabout), Observe the Sons of Ulster… (Drama Desk nom.), The Time of the Cuckoo, and Chaucer in Rome (Lincoln Center Theater), Betty's Summer Vacation (Obie Award, Drama Desk nom.) and Sophistry (Playwrights Horizons), Bosoms and Neglect (Signature Theatre).  Many regional, including Dead End at the Ahmanson and Macbeth at the Old Globe, and the West Coast and London productions of Full Gallop.  Williamstown Theatre Festival: The Corn is Green, Where's Charley?, Camino Real, Dead End, The Royal Family, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dreading Thekla, Mother of Invention, among other plays.  For Huntington Theatre Company: Love's Labour's Lost, The Sister's Rosensweig, Laughing Wild, The Rivals, Sonia Flew, Betty's Summer Vacation, The Rose Tattoo, The Cherry Orchard and Present Laughter (with Victor Garber).  He will also be directing the world premiere of Paul Rudnick's play, The New Century, at Lincoln Center Theater in April of next year.