Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company Names Lydia Fort Executive Artistic Director

San Diego's award-winning theatre, Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company, announced today the selection of Lydia Fort as its new Executive Artistic Director. Fort is an experienced director in New York with additional regional directing, teaching and producing experience. She will join the company in mid-May.

Currently, Fort is Assistant Professor at the City College of New York where she teaches undergraduate theatre courses. Since joining CCNY, Fort created a number of new theatre courses and designed an Arts for Social Transformation Program. With a very strong background in artistic leadership, cultural diversity, social responsibility and administration, Fort has directed numerous workshops and readings.

Lydia is currently a Time Warner Foundation Fellow at the Women's Project Theatre. She was a Drama League Fellow and a Theatre Communications Group New Generations Future Leaders Grantee. In addition, Fort was a member of the US delegation to the 2011 International Theatre Institute's World Congress in China.

"Lydia's theatre and administrative experience, depth of artistic vision and commitment to consensus organizing is an extraordinary match for Mo`olelo's mission and will allow us to continue to provide accessible and meaningful theatre experiences to historically underserved members of our community," commented Alison Whitelaw, president of Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company's Board of Trustees.

In accepting the EAD position, Fort said, "I am thrilled to be joining Mo`olelo and the San Diego theatre community. Mo`olelo's vision to integrate community, social issues and diversity in its work makes it unique. I look forward to the company's upcoming 10th anniversary and helping launch it into its new exciting decade."

The national search committee was led by Jerry Hoffmeister, Board vice president who stated, "Lydia is a recognized arts leader whose work experience demonstrates her passion to enrich Mo`olelo's mission of telling powerful stories with a social-justice consciousness to empower underrepresented communities in mainstream American theater."

Fort replaces Seema Sueko, co-founder and former Executive Artistic Director who led the company with great distinction for the past nine years. She is recognized nationally as a pioneer in building community outreach and presenting important, socially-sensitive plays by playwrights of color featuring diverse artists. Sueko recently joined the Pasadena Playhouse as the Associate Artistic Director.

Photo Credit: Hosea Johnson