KC Rep Welcomes New Artistic Staff

Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen today announced additions to KC Rep's artistic staff. Jason Chanos has been hired as the new Associate Artistic Director and Marissa Wolf in the newly created position as Director of New Work/Artistic Associate. Chanos will begin January 5, 2015 and Wolf will begin December 10, 2014.

"This announcement is significant for KC Rep, especially during our 50th anniversary," Rosen stated. "Both Jason and Marissa bring extraordinary talent and achievement to KC Rep and this community. Having Jason as a UMKC alumnus is doubly joyful in that it speaks volumes, not only for the quality of the program but as well for Jason's commitment to bringing those talents to Kansas City."

Rosen continued, "Part of our mission at KC Rep is to develop new works. This newly created position is the best expression of that mission. Furthermore, the 50th anniversary is about honoring KC Rep's commitment to present the highest quality productions of classics and new works. These two are a perfect example of that commitment. Our audiences should expect to see even greater work coming out of KC Rep."

Chanos joins KC Rep after serving for six years as an Assistant Professor of Theatre at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. During his time at Pepperdine, he directed productions in their main stage season, became the Head of Recruiting and Program Assessment, designed and implemented the Voice and Movement curriculum, and taught more than 30 classes. He was also the distinguished recipient of 11 research grants to pursue a Linklater Teacher designation.

He was raised in Parker, Colorado and earned his BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. Following that, he was offered a Chancellor's Scholarship to attend the UMKC Professional Actor Training Program and earned his MFA in Theatre Arts with emphasis in Acting and Directing in 1997.

Chanos is a member of SAG and AEA and has worked professionally as a regional stage actor for more than 19 years. He has performed across the country in over 20 new works and 30 fully staged productions, and has earned critical praise in Kansas City for roles done at The Unicorn (Fully Committed), The Coterie (Whale), Heart of America Shakespeare Festival (Hamlet) and Kansas City Repertory Theatre (The Last Night of Ballyhoo).

He co-starred on episodes of "Cold Case" and "Numb3rs" for CBS, filmed several independent movies, and continued working on the stage with The Rubicon Theatre, A Noise Within, The Theatre@Boston Court and The Ensemble Theatre, receiving two Ovation Award nominations for productions of Bus Stop and Ubu Roi.

Marissa Wolf will join KC Rep staff after six seasons as the Artistic Director of Crowded Fire Theater in San Francisco, an indie company leading vanguard of new play production on the West Coast. Wolf has directed numerous west coast and world premiere productions for the company including The Late Wedding by Christopher Chen, The Taming by Lauren Gunderson, The Bereaved by Thomas Bradshaw, Good Goods and DRIP by Christina Anderson, and Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven by Young Jean Lee (nominated Best Director by Broadway World San Francisco and the Bay Area Critics Circle Award, co-produced with Asian American Theatre Company).

Other credits include the world premiere of 77% by Rinne Groff at SF Playhouse, Precious Little by Madeleine George at Shotgun Players (2012 Top Ten list in the SF Chronicle), Act II of The Lily's Revenge by Taylor Mac at The Magic Theatre, the Bay Area Premiere of Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno at Cutting Ball Theatre (#1 on Bay Area Critic Sam Hurwitt's 2009 Top Ten list), Truce by Marilee Talkington at Vanguardian Productions, and The Music Man at Berkeley Playhouse. Additionally Wolf has directed workshops at Berkeley Rep's Ground Floor, Marin Theatre Company, and Playwrights Foundation.

Wolf previously held the Bret C. Harte Directing Internship at Berkeley Repertory Theatre for two years, where she assisted renowned directors, including Tony Taccone, Les Waters, Lisa Peterson, Annie Dorsen, Frank Galati, and Mary Zimmerman. Marissa has her degree in drama from Vassar College, and received additional training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.