William Ivey Long Named Chair of the American Theatre Wing

by BWW News Desk Jun. 27, 2012

Five-time Tony® Award-winning Costume Designer William Ivey Long has been elected Chair of the American Theatre Wing. Having joined the board of the American Theatre Wing last year, Long will succeed current Chair Ted Chapin, who concludes his four-year term this year (the maximum number of consecutive years permitted). Chapin will maintain an active role in The Wing as he takes on the responsibilities as Co-Vice Chair.

Long will serve as Chair of the Wing's Board of Directors, which also welcomes three new appointees: Pamela Zilly, Pamela Bell, and Mark Abrahams. ATW officers include Co-Vice Chairs Ted Chapin and Peter Schneider, Treasurer Michael Price and Secretary Enid Nemy. The Wing’s Executive Director Heather Hitchens recently completed her first full year in that role.

“I am honored to lead the board of the American Theatre Wing,” said Long. “Having worked for thirty-eight years in professional theatre designing sixty-three Broadway productions, I am very proud to be part of an organization that celebrates artistic excellence in the theatre.”

“I have had four remarkable years as Chair during a period of growth,” Chapin said. “And while I am not intending to venture too far away, I think William is an inspired choice. I look forward to working with him and with our amazing Executive Director, Heather Hitchens, as the Wing continues to strengthen and blossom.”

The American Theatre Wing (William Ivey Long, Chair, Board of Directors; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) is a not-for-profit organization best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards®, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to “Downstage Center,” “Working in the Theatre” and a host of other online resources, The Wing sponsors many activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre. Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can listen to, watch or download from ATW’s extensive media collection, and learn more about all of its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences who want to learn more about the making of theatre. Follow ATW on Facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatreWing and Twitter.com/TheWing.

William Ivey Long is a five-time Tony® Award-winning costume designer. He recently designed Don’t Dress For Dinner, for which he received his twelfth Tony® nomination. Other credits include Chicago, now in its 16th year, Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway, Pal Joey, Curtains; Grey Gardens, The Frogs, The Boy From Oz, Hairspray, The Producers, The Music Man, Contact, Cabaret, Steel Pier, Smokey Joe’s Café, Madison Square Garden’s A Christmas Carol, Guys And Dolls, Crazy For You, Six Degrees Of Separation, Lend Me A Tenor, Nine. William received a BA in history from The College of William and Mary, was a Kress Fellow in Art History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received an MFA in stage design from the Yale School of Drama. He joined United Scenic Artists in 1974, and designed his first Broadway show, The Inspector General, in 1978. During a career that spans 38 years and 63 Broadway productions, he has won four Hewes Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, and four Outer Critics Circle Awards. He was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in January 2006.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.