Roger Rees to Head Williamstown Theatre Festival

Roger Rees will be the new artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Rees, who will assume his post January 1, 2005, replaces Michael Ritchie, who is leaving WTF to serve as the artistic director of Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles.

Rees, a Tony-winning actor, has worked at Williamstown as both a performer and director. He began his association with Williamstown in 1997 when he directed Jon Robin Baitz's The Film Society. He has also directed mountings of The Rivals, The Taming of the Shrew and The Late Middle Classes there. As an actor, he appeared in his production of The Taming of the Shrew in 1999. This past summer, he was seen onstage as part of the Cabaret & Main series and the company's anniversary celebration, As Dreams Are Made On.

As artistic director, Rees' tenure begins as WTF prepares to move into its new home, Williams College's 1962 Center for Theatre and Dance, beginning with the 2005 season. He will oversee all aspects of the Festival's programming and operations, planning productions for the 550-seat Main Stage and 250-seat theater as well as supervising outreach programs, educational workshops and a multitude of special events that are part of each summer season.

"WTF is unique among non-profit theaters for its history of rediscovering classics and its ability to produce large-scale plays and musicals," Rees said in a statement. "As a director, I appreciate the tremendous artistic freedom to explore material, both established and new, available at the Festival. WTF will continue to be a home to the brightest theater artists working today, and I intend to continue building on the success the Festival achieved under Michael Ritchie's guidance. I look forward to meeting the Festival's many patrons and supporters and sharing my ideas for the Festival's future soon."