Sarah Stern Announced As co-Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre

Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel announced today that he has appointed Sarah Stern to be his Co-Artistic Director starting with the 2011-12 season.

"I'm utterly delighted that Sarah Stern will be joining me as Co-Artistic Director in the upcoming season," says Mr. Aibel. "As Associate Artistic Director over the last several years, Sarah has been absolutely invaluable to me and to The Vineyard in nurturing and developing gifted and unique new writers, composers and directors, and has worked tirelessly and brilliantly in bringing new projects to life here. She has been a trusted colleague and creative partner to me, and an important part of The Vineyard family over the last decade - first as artistic associate and then as associate artistic director. Our collaboration has been a most felicitous one, and I look forward to this next step for us and for our company."

Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, Executive Producer adds: "I am truly thrilled, along with Doug and our Board of Directors, to have Sarah join Doug in this leadership position. She is such an integral part of our theatre company and her commitment and contributions to the institution and our artists through the years have been tremendous."

Ms. Stern adds, "I am excited and honored to embark on this new role at The Vineyard, and to partner with Doug Aibel, who has been a wonderful mentor over the past decade. I look forward to continuing our collaboration, together with The Vineyard's amazing staff, and to building on our efforts to seek out, support, and produce the work of gifted and daring theatre artists. It is a privilege to assume this role in the company where I began as an artistic associate, and which I believe in so passionately."

Sarah Stern joined The Vineyard staff in 1999 as Artistic Associate, and became Associate Artistic Director in 2001. During that time she has played an integral role in the programming, development, and production of more than 40 Vineyard Theatre productions, and helped to bring works by a new generation of writers, such as Tarell Alvin McCraney, Will Eno, Jenny Schwartz, Christopher Shinn, Anne Washburn, Gina Gionfriddo, Adam Rapp, The Civilians, Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, Ben Katchor and Mark Mulcahy and more to The Vineyard stage.

She formalized and expanded The Vineyard's new play development programs, which she oversees, and helped launch The Vineyard's award-winning education program as well as initiatives like the Poetry/Theatre Project, Vineyard Voices, and the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. In addition to her work with The Vineyard, her directing and dramaturgy credits include productions for Bard Summerscape, Atlantic Theatre Company New Works, Clubbed Thumb, New Georges (Associate Artist), America-in-Play (Associate Artist), Opera on Tap, Exiles Theatre in Northern Ireland, chashama, New York Fringe Festival, and more, and she has a long affiliation with Voice and Vision as a director, dramaturg and teacher. Ms. Stern is a graduate of Cornell University.

The Vineyard previously announced that Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, who has been with the company for 15 years, most recently for several seasons as Executive Director, had been given the title of Executive Producer. As well, it was announced that Rebecca Habel, employed at The Vineyard as General Manager before leaving to serve in that capacity at Roundabout Theatre Company for the past five years, has returned to The Vineyard as Managing Director.

One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works including the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, Tarell Alvin McCraney's WIG OUT!, Nicky Silver's PTERODACTYLS and RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, the Laura Nyro musical ELI'S COMIN', The Civilians' THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN, Will Eno's MIDDLETOWN, and, most recently, the acclaimed production of Christopher Shinn's PICKED, which the New York Times praised as "a thoughtful new work, drawn with subtlety and sympathy...impeccably observed." Last month, Vineyard Theatre presented a Lab Production of NOW. HERE. THIS., the newest work from the creators and cast of [title of show].

Vineyard Theatre is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard produced the world-premiere of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS - recently nominated for 12 Tony Awards - with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, with direction and choreography Susan Stroman -- in March 2010 and on Broadway. The Vineyard also produced the musical [title of show] both off and on Broadway.

The Vineyard's first production of the 2011-12 season will be the world-premiere of Nicky Silver's THE LYONS, directed by Mark Brokaw, and starring Linda Lavin.

For more information about the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), call 212 353 3366 or visit the website www.vineyardtheatre.org.