Olney Theatre Center Says Farewell to Longtime Artistic Director Jim Petosa

Olney Theater Center, a 73-year-old professional, award-winning, year round Theatre, announces today that the 2012 season will be Artistic Director, Jim Petosa's, last season with Olney Theatre Center, effective January 2013 at the conclusion of Cinderella.

"Olney Theatre Center is currently in the best economic position it has enjoyed in many years. Because of this, I have decided that the end of 2012 would be the right time to step aside as Artistic Director," said Jim Petosa, who also serves as the Director of Boston University's School of Theatre. "Olney Theatre Center will always have a place in my heart and it is ready for a new artistic director to continue its commitment for high quality theatre."

Jim Petosa has been Olney Theatre Center's artistic director since 1993 and has directed dynamic plays that have earned him and Olney Theatre Center local, regional and national recognition and awards throughout the years. In 1995, Petosa won the prestigious Helen Hayes award for his direction on the musical Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. He accomplished this just three short years after taking over the position of Artistic Director at Olney Theatre Center and turning it into a year-round theatre center. Always looking for way to expand Olney Theatre Center's reach as a theatre institution, Petosa has nurtured artists and audiences for more than 20 years and was instrumental in expanding the Olney Theatre Center Campus.

"Everyone at Olney Theatre Center appreciates Mr. Petosa's unprecedented commitment and artistic leadership and I have been so honored to be his partner and to work with him for the last four years," said Managing Director, Amy Marshall.

Olney Theatre Center has taken this time to strategically reflect on the past years and has compiled a list of requirements and attributions to look for while searching for a new artistic director. Olney Theatre Center has begun to conduct a national search for new artistic director who has favorable characteristics, strong leadership skills, and a deep commitment to artistic excellence.

About Olney Theatre Center
Olney Theatre Center, located in Olney, Maryland, is a 73-year-old professional, award-winning, nonprofit Equity theater whose mission is to inspire and nurture artists, students, technicians, administrators, and its audience members through its diverse array of theatrical and musical productions year-round. Located in arts-rich Montgomery County, Olney Theatre Center is easily accessible from Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. For more information, please visit www.olneytheatre.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.