Leadership Shakeup: 8 New Theater Appointments This Week
New artistic directors, executive leaders, and senior producers step into major roles across the industry, plus full coverage of Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
Industry News - August 10, 2026
Theater organizations across the country are undergoing significant leadership transitions this week, with several institutions naming new artistic and executive directors while others create entirely new senior roles to support growth. A major producing organization has expanded its leadership team with a newly created North America-focused position, while a leading drama training institution has tapped a Tony-winning director to lead its programs going forward. Regional theaters and dance companies from California to Texas to New Mexico are similarly bringing in new artistic and managing leadership, often as part of planned successions where outgoing leaders transition into advisory or newly created roles rather than departing outright. Elsewhere, an established off-off-Broadway institution is losing a key producer to a prominent festival, and a veteran arts executive takes the helm of a major choral organization. Rounding out the latest news, comprehensive coverage of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe offers a wide-ranging look at the international festival circuit.
Industry Trends
Michael Cassel Group Names Zachary Baer North America Producing Head
Michael Cassel Group has appointed Zachary Baer to the newly created role of Head of Producing & Creative Development, North America, as the company expands its senior leadership team. (Read more)
Broadway/New York
Juilliard Names Anna D. Shapiro as Next Richard Rodgers Dean and Director of the Drama Division
Juilliard has appointed Tony Award–winning director, educator, and artistic leader Anna D. Shapiro as the next Richard Rodgers dean and director of the Drama Division. (Read more)
Molly FitzMaurice to Depart The Tank as Managing Producer
Molly FitzMaurice will leave her role at The Tank to become Festival Producer of Under the Radar, with Kaaron Briscoe stepping in as Interim Managing Producer. (Read more)
Regional
TheatreWorks Appoints Jeffrey Lo Associate Artistic Director
Jeffrey Lo has been appointed as TheatreWorks Silicon Valley's Associate Artistic Director. Lo joins TheatreWorks Artistic Director Giovanna Sardelli as the artistic leaders of the Tony Award recipient theatre company. (Read more)
The Ruth Theater Names Blake Barlow as New Executive Director
Blake Barlow, a longtime performer at The Ruth Theater in Pleasant Grove, has been appointed Executive Director as Bill Woahn transitions to the theater's Board of Directors. (Read more)
Stephen Laughton Named Associate Artistic Director of Echo Theater Company
Playwright and filmmaker Stephen Laughton has joined Los Angeles' Echo Theater Company as associate artistic director, joining Chris Fields and Elana Luo in leading the company. (Read more)
Bruce Wood Dance Dallas Names Melissa M. Young Artistic Director
Bruce Wood Dance Dallas has named Melissa M. Young as its new Artistic Director, while Joy Bollinger moves into a newly created Resident Choreographer and Répétiteur role as the company enters its 17th season. (Read more)
Santa Fe Playhouse to Welcome Jamison Driskill as Managing Director
Jamison Driskill will join Santa Fe Playhouse as Managing Director, bringing prior experience as Director of Development at The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Texas. (Read more)
Krista Bradley Named Executive Director Of The Washington Chorus
Krista Bradley, a veteran arts executive with more than 30 years of experience, will lead THE WASHINGTON CHORUS as its new Executive Director. (Read more)
International
EDINBURGH 2026: BroadwayWorld's Edfringe Reviews
A comprehensive guide to all of BroadwayWorld's coverage of the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. (Read more)
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