Michael Thomas Newberry New Executive Director @ ATC

 

 
ATC takes another leap forward in growth plan; adds former Deputy Director of Chicago Shakespeare, 5 new Ensemble members, enhanced programming, a directorial apprenticeship, and a new logo
 
American Theater Company proudly announces Michael Thomas Newberry as its Executive Director. Newberry joins Artistic Director PJ Paparelli for his first full season as ATC embarks upon its ambitious Season 24, which includes an expanded mainstage season, new Ensemble Members and a bold new logo designed by Noble. Newberry, formerly the Deputy Director of Chicago Shakespeare, will begin at ATC in early August.
 
"After six months of an intense national search, our Board, Staff, and Ensemble are thrilled to welcome Michael Thomas Newberry to the ATC family," says Artistic Director PJ Paparelli. "In addition to his experience on the management team of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Michael's passion for ATC's mission both excited and challenged us. Michael believes deeply in theatre's responsibility to incite important dialogue in our community. Without question, he was the ideal choice to lead ATC in this ambitious chapter in our twenty-four year history."
 
"I truly look forward to joining the ATC family, and I am genuinely excited to work in partnership with PJ Paparelli, its visionary Board of Directors, dedicated staff, and amazing Ensemble," comments Michael Newberry. "I have long admired ATC's work on stage and in the community, and I am delighted to be coming on board during this time of growth and reinvigoration for one of Chicago's finest Ensemble theaters."
 
Michael Thomas Newberry, 31, comes to American Theater Company after three years as Deputy Director at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, recipient of the 2008 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. During his tenure, Michael managed artist and union relations, led the development of a new website, expanded the DePaul University/Chicago Shakespeare Theater Arts Leadership Program, and oversaw international presentations of work by Peter Brook, James Thiérrée, Carlo Colla e Figli, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Farber Foundry, and The Chekhov International Theatre Festival, among others. Previously, he worked with Teach For America as an elementary and middle school teacher and as Development Director for the Arizona region. He has also worked with Childsplay, a theater for young audiences in Arizona, and with Future Tenant, a laboratory space for emerging visual, literary and performance artists in Pittsburgh.
 
Newberry holds a master's degree in arts management from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a recipient of the New Generations, Future Leaders grant, a program of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Theatre Communications Group.
 
Julie Saltzman, ATC's General Manager for the past two years, will be promoted to the position of Producing Director as of August 1.  Ms. Saltzman's new responsibilities include managing daily fiscal and production activities.
 
ATC ANNOUNCES NEW ENSEMBLE MEMBERS
In addition to the appointment of Michael Thomas Newberry as Executive Director, ATC proudly announces new Ensemble Members, including Sadieh Rifai, Kareem Bandealy, Casey Campbell, Tania Richard and Joe Minoso.
 
 "Tania, Casey, Kareem, Joe and Sadieh usher in the new era at ATC. Their talent inspires, their passion is infectious, and their commitment to serving and challenging our audience shines in their deeply personal approach to their work onstage," comments PJ Paparelli. "The addition of these talented Chicagoans has energized our weekly Ensemble meetings and focused our twenty-nine member collective on exploring the core question of our mission 'What does it mean to be an American?'"

The Chicago Premiere of Celebrity Row, Itamar Moses's new play, directed by David Cromer, will run October 16- November 9, 2008.  Celebrity Row will feature ATC Ensemble Member Joe Minoso, Usman Ally, Larry Neumann, Jr., and Kelli Simpkins.
 
Itamar Moses will be celebrating premieres of three of his plays this fall. His play Yellowjackets will premiere at Berkeley Rep; Back, Back, Back will premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego and then move to Manhattan Theatre Club in NY. Celebrity Row will have its Chicago premiere at ATC under David Cromer's direction. 
 
Fact: For a time in the late 1990s, Colorado Supermax, the most secure prison in America, housed in neighboring cells: Latin Kings Leader Luis Felipe, WTC Bomber Ramzi Yousef, Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, and Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh.
 
Fiction: When a young lawyer defends the civil liberties of one of the country's most notorious criminals, her idealism stands face to face with a criminal genius who, along with his neighbors, has a plan of his own. 
 
Combining the suspense of Silence of the Lambs with the political savvy of ATC's Speech & Debate, Itamar Moses and David Cromer, critically acclaimed director of The Adding Machine (Next Theatre) and Our Town (The Hypocrites), explore issues of homeland security and individual freedoms in one of the most dazzling cliffhangers in modern drama.

The People's Temple will be directed by Head writer Leigh Fondakowski and will feature ATC Ensemble Members Cheryl Graeff, John Mohrlein, Tania Richard and Editha Rosario with Patrick Andrews, Daniel J. Bryant, Darrell W. Cox, Tim Decker, Kenn Head, Amy Methany and Penelope Walker.
 
Celebrity Row will be directed by David Cromer and will feature ATC Ensemble Member Joe Minoso, Usman Ally, Chris McLinden, Larry Neumann, Jr., and Kelli Simpkins.
 
It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play will be directed by Marty Higginbotham and will feature ATC Ensemble Members Casey Campbell, James Leaming, John Mohrlein, Sadieh Rifai, John Sterchi; with Kate Berry, Sean Okerberg and James Lusk.  
 
True West and Topdog/Underdog will feature ATC Ensemble Member Matthew Brumlow and Stephen Louis Grush; Congo Square Ensemble Members Daniel J. Bryant and Anthony Irons with Ian Paul Custer. True West will be directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and Topdog/Underdog will be directed by Congo Square Artistic Director Derrick Sanders.
 
Yeast Nation will be directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and will feature ATC Ensemble Member Ed Kross, Erica Elam, Robert Gerdisch, Govind Kumar, Stephanie Kim, Michael Mahler, Phil Ridarelli, Sandie Rosa, Cessalee Smith, Trista Smith, Bethany Thomas, Joseph Tokarz, and Wendi Weber.

ATC proudly announces a series of new programming surrounding its six-play mainstage season. The first installment is IMPROV ATC, a Friday night improv series hosted by ATC's inaugural house team: Pudding - Thank You!.  Pudding - Thank You! includes four of the top improv artists from Second City and Improv Olympics: Jurin Garguilo, Adal Rifai, Ryan Dolan, Louis Saunders. Two teams will perform Fridays until September 26 and every Friday during the runs of mainstage shows at 11 p.m. Tickets are $10 and free beverages are provided. This summer's performances included improv teams 3033, Twenty-First Century Men, St. Olaf, and a monologue series from former Saturday Night Live cast member Nora Dunn. The program's pilot events this summer were highly attended, and ATC anticipates sell-outs throughout the coming year.
 
The second installment is the Artist Warehouse Series, an in-depth and personal interview with national and local professionals, curated by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli. The series will occur an hour before select performances throughout the season and are designed to illuminate the passion and drive behind some of the most innovative theater artists.The inaugural Series includes interviews with Leigh Fondakowski, Head Writer of The Laramie Project and The People's Temple; Greg Kotis & Mark Hollmann, Tony Award-winning writers of Urinetown and Yeast Nation; and Craig Lucas, writer of Prelude to a Kiss, Reckless and Light in the Piazza.
The series is open only to members of ATC's Associates, subscribers who donate $75 or more.

Princess Grace Award recipient, Jaime Castaneda of San Antonio, Texas, will begin a residency at ATC this fall assisting Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and Congo Square Artistic Director Derrick Sanders on the "Black and White" Rep of True West and Topdog/Underdog. Castaneda will also be developing a modern adaptation of Lorca's Blood Wedding with ATC and Teatro Vista Ensemble members. Castaneda was awarded the Gant Gaither Theater Award, which is given to a single emerging director under the auspices of the Princess Grace Foundation. ATC is the only Chicago-area theatre chosen to partner with a Princess Grace Award-Winner this season.
 
Each year, the Princess Grace Foundation - USA announces a select group of Princess Grace Awards for distinction in the areas of theater, dance, and film. Students are eligible for scholarships and emerging artists eager to work with major companies qualify for apprenticeships and fellowships.

In keeping with its bold new mainstage season and enhanced offerings, ATC unveils a new logo designed by Noble. ATC has been working with the Chicago-based firm for six months on the new design.

 

"The new logo embraces our working-class, industrial roots as illustrated by our brick and metal warehouse on Lincoln & Bryon, while echoing the ambitious scope and vision of our mission: 'What does it mean to be an American?," says Artistic Director PJ Paparelli.

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