Associate Artistic Director Jon Kretzu to Leave Artists Rep

After directing 50 productions in almost 20 years Jon Kretzu leaves his post as Associate Artistic Director at Artists Repertory Theatre. Working side-by-side with Artistic Director Allen Nause, who retires at the end of this season, Kretzu has made great contributions to the mission of Artists Rep both as a play director and in his artistic administrative role.

“After nearly 20 years and the thrill of creating 50 productions for Artists Repertory Theatre I feel it is time to follow Allen and leave my position at the theatre to move on and grow artistically devoting myself fully to working on new projects in different venues and explore new cities,” said Kretzu. “Allen and I are a team and I really cannot imagine continuing on as an Associate Artistic Director with anyone else.” He continues, “It is impossible to single out favorite productions, but I will never forget the experience of bringing Next To Normal, Streetcar Named Desire, The Laramie Project, Copenhagen, Dinner With Friends, Keely and Du, Assassins and the Chekhov projects to life here, among many others. It has been a remarkable time being a part of the inspiring growth of Artists Rep and sharing my work with our incredible, passionate audiences.”

“Jon's contributions to Artists Rep are simply immeasurable,” said Allen Nause, Artists Rep's Artistic Director. “We have worked side-by-side to craft the artistic voice of Artists Rep over the past 20 years. Jon always brings a unique, incisive perspective to his work. Jon was always my favorite director to work with as actor. He is a dear friend and brilliant collaborator whose artistic aesthetic has significantly shaped Artists Rep into the premiere regional theatre company that is 30-years strong today.”

Nause created the position of Associate Artistic Director for Kretzu immediately after he directed his first show with Artists Rep, The Artificial Jungle by Charles Ludlum in 1993. Kretzu will direct this season's remounted holiday production of Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol by John Longenbaugh. His directing calendar is full through August of 2013, but he hopes he will be invited to guest direct future plays at Artists Rep.

Kretzu recently directed Romeo and Juliet with Shakespeare in the Park in Bend and has many engagements over the next year and a half. Recently, Kretzu worked as Bill Alexander’s Assistant Director for Northwest Classical Theatre’s Fall production of Othello. Also in Portland, Kretzu will direct Herstory/History: The Children’s Hour and The Boys In the Band in rotating rep for Defunkt Theatre as well as an opera for Portland State University’s acclaimed Opera program. In Seattle, Kretzu will direct Love’s, Labour’s, Lost at Seattle Shakespeare Company this March and is in talks to direct at Seattle Public Theatre Company in 2013/14. Outside of the Northwest, Kretzu will make his Canadian directing debut helming a production of A Steady Rain in Edmonton, Alberta and has plans to direct productions in the Midwest and East Coast. Kretzu is also in the planning stages to direct two short films locally this Fall before working on future film/TV projects in Los Angeles next year.

Jon Kretzu has directed 50 productions in almost 20 years at Artists Rep including the world premieres of Tracy Letts’ Three Sisters, Marc Acito and C.S Whitcomb’s Holidazed, Joseph Fisher’s The Seagull, The New House and (I Am Still) The Duchess of Malfi, and Richard Kramer’s adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. He has also directed Next to Normal, Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, A Streetcar Named Desire, The History Boys, Othello, Design For Living, All My Sons, Speech and Debate, Orson’s Shadow, The Retreat from Moscow, Mr. Marmalade, Assassins, Humble Boy, Death of a Salesman, Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, The Laramie Project, Dinner with Friends, Master Class, Present Laughter, A Question of Mercy, Indiscretions, Keely and Du, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Breaking the Code, Chaps!, The Sea, The Normal Heart, The Destiny of Me, Buried Child, The Artificial Jungle, Three Tall Women (USIA International Tour) and co-directed House and Garden with Allen Nause. Other Portland directing credits include Cloud 9 at Theatre Vertigo, Dracula for Northwest Classical Theatre Company, The Carpetbagger’s Children for Profile Theatre, Guys and Dolls for The Musical Theatre Company, Romeo and Juliet, A Winter’s Tale, Much Ado About, Nothing and As You Like It for Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company, Waiting for Vern, Jeffrey, Bent and The Sum of Us for triangle productions!, Broadway Bound and Hay Fever for Portland Repertory Theatre, The Importance of Being Earnest for New Rose Theatre, The Mystery of Irma Vep for Storefront Theatre and Down the Road for the Oregon One-Act Festival. Jon has also directed numerous productions in Seattle, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles. Jon recently directed the final workshop production of It Shoulda Been You at the Village Theatre before it heads to Broadway in the Spring.

The 2012/13 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Premiere season sponsors are Ronni Lacroute/WillaKenzie Estate and The Oregonian. Season hotel sponsors are Mark Spencer Hotel and Hotel deLuxe. The 2012/13 radio sponsor is KINK.FM. Other support comes from Regional Arts Culture Council, Work for Art, Oregon Arts Commission, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, All Classical and Maletis Beverage.

Portland’s longest-running theatre company, Artists Repertory Theatre celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Over the past three decades Artists Rep has made a name for itself offering adventurous plays – comedies, dramas and musicals alike – that are supremely entertaining, thoughtful and provocative. Artists Rep feeds our community’s artistic soul with premieres, re-imagined classics, new play development and educational outreach. More information at www.artistsrep.org.