Montana Repertory Theatre Announces New Artistic Director

Montana Repertory Theatre, the professional theatre-in-residence at the University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance, has selected Michael Legg to become its next artistic director.

Legg currently is director of the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky. He will start his new role at UM on July 1.

"The faculty and staff of the School of Theatre & Dance and the staff of Montana Repertory Theatre consider Legg an excellent leader with the qualifications, experience and national reputation required to succeed Professor Greg Johnson upon his retirement in May," said John DeBoer, the UM associate professor of theatre who chaired the search committee. "We were impressed by Mr. Legg's bold ideas and contemporary mindset. Those qualities, along with his connections in the profession, will be vital for our students."

"We are excited to have Mr. Legg join our faculty and to lead Montana Rep into its next adventure," added Stephen Kalm, dean of UM's College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Montana Rep celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. Legg, as the new artistic director, will have the 2018-19 academic year to plan for the 2020 tour and determine how the Rep can further develop its programming to better serve the students of the School of Theatre & Dance, the residents of Montana and the entire country.

"I could not be more excited to lead the Rep in this new chapter of its long and incredible history," Legg said. "I'm especially looking forward to becoming part of the University and Missoula communities that were so warm and welcoming even before I accepted the job. We're going to do amazing work together."

Johnson, whose tenure with Montana Rep began in 1990, is delighted with the choice.

"Mr. Legg brings youth, vision and vitality at a time when the Rep is poised not only to continue its tradition of touring nationally, but also to be a strong artistic presence in Missoula and the region, as the University of Montana begins its renaissance under our new president."

For more information, call DeBoer at 812-322-2505 or email john.deboer@umontana.edu. More information about Montana Rep and its current national tour of Ernest Thompson's "On Golden Pond" can be found at http://www.montanarep.org. More information about the UM School of Theatre & Dance can be found at http://www.umt.edu/theatredance.