Bonnie Metzgar To Step Down as AFT Artistic Director

The Board of Directors of About Face Theatre Company has announced that Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar will be stepping down at the end of the theatre's 2012/13 Season.

During her five seasons at About Face, Metzgar produced award winning artistic productions including The Kid Thing, Rent and Immediate Family and directed The Homosexuals by Philip Dawkins, Stupid Kids by John C. Russell and The Young Ladies Of… by Taylor Mac. Metzgar's final season at AFT will include the premiere of We Three Lizas this November/December at The Steppenwolf Garage, a remount of About Face Youth Theatre's popular What's the T? and a soon-to-be-announced spring/summer production at Victory Garden's Richard Christiansen Theater, which she will direct.

"I came to About Face with three goals-to create financial stability in uncertain economic times, build a vibrant core of Artistic Associates and lead the organization through a strategic plan to develop a 3-5 year vision for the company. I am so proud that during my tenure at the helm of this important artistic institution that I accomplished these goals," comments Metzgar. " With a terrific Board of Directors, artistic associates and staff, About Face is positioned perfectly for ongoing success in one of the greatest theater cities in the world," added Metzgar.

The About Face Theatre Board of Directors has formed a Search Committee to lead to national search for AFT's next Artistic Director, as well as a Transition Committee to oversee the artistic leadership transition.

In a joint statement, the About Face Board of Directors said:

"This month marks the start of our 2012/13 Season during which we will celebrate the incredible contributions Bonnie Metzgar has made through her five-year tenure as Artistic Director. We are grateful for all that Bonnie has done for About Face and the many artists that we work with. Under her leadership, About Face has supported the development of spectacular new work and created a strategic plan embraced by the collective organization. Thanks to Bonnie's commitment and vision, we are in a stronger position than when she arrived in 2008. We wish her well as she continues her spectacular career.

As Bonnie prepares to step down, About Face Theatre prepares for an exciting new phase which will allow us to continue to thrive and create exceptional, innovative and adventurous plays to advance the dialogue on gender andsexual identify-and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the nation and around the world. During this time, AFT will appoint a new Artistic Director and launch a strategic plan that leverages our success and guides us toward greater relevance and community connectedness.

Since its founding in 1995, About Face Theatre has developed and produced over 50 new productions, including 45 worldpremiers by emerging and nationally recognized theater artists. AFT has also received numerous awards, including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, 13 Joseph Jefferson Awards and 14 After Dark Awards.

Thanks to our strengthening donor base and our community supporters, About Face Theatre is one of the nation's largest, not-for-profit Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer and Ally (LGBTQA) missioned theaters.

Under the leadership and extraordinary vision ofArtistic Director Bonnie Metzgar it took less than five years to fullyevolve and stabilize AFT. Today, About Face Theatre is a more visible leader within the LGBTQA community and Uptown neighborhood, has a reimagined mainstage and programming season, is nationally known for premiering artists such as David Cromer, Sylvan Oswald, Adam Bock and Taylor Mac, and recognized for showcasing some of Chicago's most celebrated emerging artists including Phillip Dawkins, Sarah Gubbins, Patricia Kane and Paul Oakley Stovall. When Bonnie Metzgar steps down later this season she will also leave behind the award-winning About Face Youth Theatre, one of Chicago's most important performing groups, and a nationally recognized outreach and education program."