The Hub Theatre Names Matt Bassett New Artistic Director

The Hub Theatre announced today that Matt Bassett, Hub's former Associate Artistic Director, will be stepping into the role of Artistic Director as they move into their 11th season.

Bassett joined the Hub Company of Artists in 2011 and was named Associate Artistic Director in 2014. In his time at The Hub, Bassett has been integral to season selection, directing some of Hub's most challenging work, Associate Producing the New Play fest and Emerging Writers festival and acting as Hub's Casting Director. "The Hub was the first theatre in the Washington, DC area to hire me and has remained an essential artistic home ever since," Bassett said. "It has redefined my values in craft, storytelling and connectivity in art. I am honored to take the reins from my dear friend and valued collaborator, Helen Murray, and I look forward to continuing The Hub's mission of telling bold, honest stories that connect our audiences to themselves and each other. I am thrilled to work with the board to grow The Hub's dedication to new plays, new artists and new directions, expanding our circle of story, art, and community."

Said Anne DeVaughn, Hub's current Board Chair. "The Board was inundated with amazing applicants for the Artistic Director position. Matt was one of many applicants. And though we saw a vast array of extremely qualified candidates, it was Matt's stellar track record at The Hub, the outstanding shows that he has directed, the way we have seen him work with artists, and the hard work and love he has for The Hub that made him the perfect choice. We are excited about Hub's next chapter and thrilled to be working with Matt to continue to realize Hub's mission of doing work that celebrates our common humanity."

Matt Bassett served as Associate Artistic Director since 2014, directing DC-area premieres of The Happiest Place on Earth,in a word, The Typographer's Dream, Failure: A Love Story(6 HHA nominations) and many table and staged readings as part of The Hub's new play development. Most recently, Bassett appeared as "Peter" in The Pavilion. Before joining the company, he appeared as "Pierre" in 2011's The Clockmaker. Bassett's DC-area directing work includes Arts on the Horizon, Flying V Theatre, The Catholic University of America, Montgomery College, Montgomery College's Summer Dinner Theatre, Compass Rose Theater, Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre and Imagination Stage's Education Department. Local performance appearances include Ford's Theatre, Arts on the Horizon, The Bay Theatre, Lean & Hungry Theater, Washington Stage Guild and short films/industrials. Bassett's work as a playwright/creator has been seen at Flying V Theatre and Arts on the Horizon. Bassett serves as Theatre Chair for Metropolitan School of the Arts and on the faculties of Montgomery College, the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and Imagination Stage. Training: MFA in Acting from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Bassett will immediately begin season selection for the 2018-2019 season during the next two months in consultation with Hub's outgoing Artistic Director, Helen R. Murray. July 1, 2018 is Bassett's official start date.

"In an industry where too often we don't promote from within, it gives me such joy to hand the reins to Matt. Over the years he has become a most trusted colleague, whose artistic eye is impeccable and one on which I have relied. Besides being a phenomenal artist, he's just the kindest of people. I have always sought to create a safe and inspiring place for artists to work. Having Matt take over fills me with peace, knowing that I am leaving The Hub with him. I can't wait to see what he does!" said Helen R. Murray, Hub's founding Artistic Director

The Hub Theatre is a professional, 501c3 nonprofit theatre organization, member of Theatre Washington, and is generously supported by the Arts Council of Fairfax, Microsoft, Friends of Lake Anne, The Kennedy Center's Keenan Fellowship, Fairfax City Commission on the Arts, Virginia Commission for the Arts, Integrity Applications, and Silverwood Associates.

Photo by DJ Corey Photography