Keen Company Announces the Appointment of Damon Chua as Executive Director

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company today announced the appointment of Damon Chua as Executive Director, beginning July 7th.

Damon comes to Keen from Los Angeles, where he was a senior staff person at Company of Angels, LA's oldest non-profit theater, responsible for a wide range of theatrical offerings including mainstage productions, literary festivals and play readings. He helped establish the very successful LA Views, 10-Minute Play Festival, now in its fourth year. He previously worked as Office Manager at Reprise Broadway's Best, a company dedicated to reviving Broadway musicals. Damon was also Vice-President and General Manager of Impact Pictures, a Los Angeles film Production Company that has been responsible for four #1 films at the US box office. As an independent producer, he has received grants from UNESCO and the Singapore Film Commission; one of his films, Perth, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. As a playwright, Damon's works have been produced on three continents and published by Samuel French and Smith & Kraus. He won an Ovation Award for his play Film Chinois, and was the recipient of a Durfee Foundation grant. Damon grew up in Singapore and has an MBA from Stanford University and a law degree from Oxford University.

Artistic Director Carl Forsman had this to say about Chua: "I am thrilled to welcome Damon Chua to Keen Company. After an extensive search, the board and I concluded that we had found an excellent candidate to partner with me and continue Keen's tradition of producing quality plays off-Broadway. Damon brings a wealth of skills that will continue Keen's growth as we focus on expanding our offerings, widening our reach, and championing plays that examine the value of living a life of generosity and compassion. We are both thrilled about this season that features two fantastic writers in Lanford Wilson and Tina Howe, and we can't wait to welcome audiences back for our twelfth season."

Keen's new season will begin September 13th at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street) with Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky. Spring will offer the first New York revival of Painting Churches, the smash hit comedy from Tina Howe, the author of Coastal Disturbances and Pride's Crossing; performances will begin February 14th.

Keen Company continues their tradition of presenting plays that illuminate the challenge to live generously, and these two stories about children and parents will bring these themes to thrilling life. Keen believes that theater is at its most powerful when texts and productions are generous in spirit and provoke identification. Inspired by the works of early 20th Century American Playwrights, Keen Company demonstrates that an earnest intent can still be sophisticated. We are unafraid of emotional candor, vulnerability, and optimism. Keen Company seeks to create a culture of artists, technicians, administrators and audiences who share a desire to invigorate the theater with productions that connect us through humor, heart and hope.

For subscriptions for the upcoming Keen season, call the Subscriber Hotline at 212/560-2185. To purchase individual tickets, visit Telecharge.com or call212/239-6200 or for more information, visit www.keencompany.org.

 

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