ATC Announces Deborah Banks As New Development Director

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the appointment of Deborah Banks as its new Development Director. Banks comes to the Aurora with more than 20 years of development experience in the Bay Area, working with the Alameda County Art Commission and such nonprofit organizations as San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Habitot Children's Museum, and Building with Books. Banks has served as Aurora Theatre Company's Interim Development Director since July and will officially step into her role as Development Director effective January 1, 2009.

"As a long-time fan of Aurora Theatre Company, I am thrilled to join the company's creative and dedicated staff," said Banks. Impressed by the recent critical and popular success of the company's productions of The Best Man and The Devil's Disciple, she looks forward to helping the company create additional resources that will allow its productions to continue to increase in quality while maintaining their unique intimacy.

"Deborah brings to Aurora a remarkable array of arts experience," said Aurora Theatre Company Managing Director Susan G. Duncan. "Over the last few months as our Interim Development Director, she has applied her formidable talent to setting new directions, and we're delighted that she has agreed to stay on and see her efforts fully realized."

Aurora Theatre Company continues to offer challenging, literate, intelligent stage works to the Bay Area, each year increasing its reputation for top-notch theatre. Located in the heart of the Downtown Berkeley Arts District, Aurora Theatre Company has been called "one of the most important regional theaters in the area" by the San Francisco Chronicle, while The Wall Street Journal has "nothing but praise for the Aurora." The Contra Costa Times stated, "perfection is probably an unattainable ideal in a medium as fluid as live performance, but the Aurora Theatre comes luminously close," while the San Jose Mercury News affirmed "[Aurora Theatre Company] lives up to its reputation as a theater that feeds the mind," and the Oakland Tribune declared "it's all about choices, and if you value good theater, choose the Aurora."

Following the company's currently extended production of George Bernard Shaw's THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, the jingle bells will rock when Aurora Theatre Company presents THE COVERLETTES COVER CHRISTMAS in December. Director Robin Stanton helms the West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative recent Off-Broadway hit BETRAYED in January. Mark Jackson, who directed Aurora Theatre Company's acclaimed production of Salome, returns to the company to direct August Strindberg's MISS JULIE in April. Bob Glaudini's unconventional romantic comedy JACK GOES BOATING, directed by Joy Carlin, rounds out the season in June. For tickets and more information about Aurora Theatre Company, the public may call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.