Associate Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski to Depart Seattle Rep for Pittsburgh Public Theater

Seattle Repertory Theatre today announced that Associate Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski will leave the organization in June 2018 to take on a new role as the Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Public Theater.

After over 15 years as an actor, director, playwright, leader, theatre founder, educator, and mentor in the Seattle theatre community, and three years in her leadership position with Seattle Rep, the organization is saddened by her departure, but joyful to celebrate her in this outstanding achievement for her career.

"Marya joined Seattle Rep in 2014 and over the past three years has made her indelible mark on our company," Artistic Director Braden Abraham comments. "She has connected the Rep more deeply to artists and audiences throughout her tenure here. One of her greatest contributions to the Rep and to the city during this time has been her incredible realization of Public Works Seattle. Marya built PWS from an aspirational idea into a groundbreaking Seattle Rep program in partnership with five local organizations and our national partner theatres in New York City and Dallas. Her three years of visionary work on the program culminated in our first Public Works production this past summer; a moving, gorgeous production of The Odyssey, which she also directed. Her artistic prowess, personal drive, and natural leadership abilities make Marya an attractive candidate to lead any theatre. My heart is heavy losing a trusted colleague and close collaborator at Seattle Rep, but I'm elated to gain a fellow artistic director with a strong vision for the future of our field."

Kaminski is a director, writer, and producer who believes that theatre is not only an artistic but also a civic act. She has dedicated her career to developing a versatile, comprehensive expertise in crafting theatre experiences that delight and challenge audiences by prioritizing both imagination and integrity, not to mention high art and collective joy. "Seattle Rep has been my artistic home since I first moved to this extraordinary city in 2001," Kaminski comments. "The many wonderful people I've collaborated with here, especially our artistic leaders Jerry Manning and Braden Abraham, have inspired me to take risks and to find new ways to make theatre that connects us more deeply to one another. The artists and friends I've met in my 16 years of working in this community have taught me the intimate power of live performance, over and over again. This is a bittersweet moment, but mostly sweet. I am honored to be able to share that energy and experience with a new city and to carry the legacy of that work forward."

Prior to her time at Seattle Rep, Kaminski co-founded the Washington Ensemble Theatre in 2004 and served as Co-Artistic Director there for five years, leading season planning and new play development during her tenure. Kaminski has been honored with the Genius Award in Theater from The Stranger and has been recognized as an Artist of the Year by Seattle Magazine. She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Actors' Equity Association, and the Society of Authors and Dramatic Composers. She holds a B.A. in English and Theatre Arts from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.F.A. from the University of Washington's School of Drama. Kaminski has taught and lectured on Theatre at Hollins University, the University of Washington, and at Cornish College of the Arts, where she was awarded the Drama Department's Award for Teaching Excellence. This spring, Kaminski will be directing a workshop of Naomi Morgan's new musical, Industry,for the 5th Avenue Theatre and collaborating with Seattle's treasured performer, Felicia Loud, to develop her new musical revue Say It Loud.

Keep up with Marya at MaryaSea.com.

Seattle Rep was founded in 1963 and is currently led by Artistic Director Braden Abraham and Managing Director Jeffrey Herrmann. One of America's premier non-profit resident theatres, SeattleRepertory Theatre has achieved international renown for its consistently high production and artistic standards, and was awarded the 1990 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. With an emphasis on entertaining plays of true dramatic and literary worth, Seattle Rep produces a season of plays along with educational programs, new play workshops, and special presentations.

Photo by Danielle Barnum.