Antaeus Welcomes A New Managing Director

Michael Barker has been chosen to fill the position of Managing Director of The Antaeus Company, concluding a four-month search. Mr. Barker comes to Antaeus from Yale Repertory Theatre, where he served as Associate Managing Director.

"Antaeus has a proven track record of consistently high artistic quality and aspiration, and a lot of forward momentum right now, says Barker. "I am very pleased to join Jeanie, the ensemble, and the board in taking a leadership role as the company continues to grow and make its mark on Los Angeles and the national arts dialogue."

Also at Yale, Mr. Barker was Managing Director of Yale Summer Cabaret, Company Manager at Yale Repertory Theatre, and produced the third annual Carlotta Festival of New Plays. He was the 2008 Managing Director Fellow at Seattle Repertory Theatre. Prior to graduate school, he was Associate Director of Marketing for Court Theatre, producing classics in residence at the University of Chicago. Also in Chicago, he worked with The Goodman Theatre, American Theater Company, Sansculottes Theater Company, and The Playground Theater. He holds an MFA in theater management from Yale School of Drama and an MBA from Yale School of Management. He lives in North Hollywood with his fiancée Heidi Hanson, a costume designer working in television and film.

"We're really thrilled to have Michael join our team," says Artistic Director Jeanie Hackett. "We've been working hard to raise the administrative side of our organization to the same level of quality as our art. Michael's the ideal person to get us there."

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, has a 19-year history of providing quality classical theater in Los Angeles. Through productions, readings and workshops; through educational outreach to the community; and through acting training programs for young professionals, the Antaeus mission remains steadfast and simple: to keep classical theater vibrantly alive in ourselves and in our community. Members of the company and its board span a wide range of age, ethnicity and experience; they have performed on Broadway, at major regional theaters across the country, in film and television, and on local stages, and are the recipients of multiple accolades including Tony, Los Angeles and New York Drama Critics Circle, Ovation, LA Weekly, and Back Stage Garland nominations and awards.

The Antaeus Company's next production, Lillian Hellman's The Autumn Garden, opens on October 28.