David Esbjornson Named New Artistic Director of Seattle Rep.
"As one of the nation's leading directors, David brings a unique combination of artistic intelligence, enthusiasm, and professionalism to Seattle Rep," Seattle Repertory Board of Trustees Chairman Bruce Johnson said in a statement. "We believe that he has the vision to build on our current successes and lead the Rep to the next level of achievement. In the interview process, we were singularly impressed with David's commitment to the art of the theater, and took special note of the awe and devotion that he uniformly commanded within his profession and among his colleagues."
Last season, Esbjornson directed Bobbi Boland, the Farrah Fawcett-vehicle that closed after a week of previews, on Broadway and off-Broadway mountings of The Normal Heart and Much Ado About Nothing. He has helmed Broadway productions of The Ride Down Mt. Morgan and the Tony-winning The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?. In addition to the two previously mentioned projects, his off-Broadway work includes My Old Lady, The Play About the Baby, In the Blood, Just Say No, Mud and Drowning, Therese Raquin, Iphigenia and Other Daughters, The Maids, Krapp's Last Tape, Candide and Home and Away. He was artistic director of the Classic Stage Company in New York from 1992-1999.
As artistic director of Seattle Repertory, Esbjornson will be charged with leading the theater in multiple ways, including setting the artistic vision for the company, selecting and cultivating artists who will help further that vision, and, in partnership with Managing Director Benjamin Moore, ensuring the institutional health of the theater in such efforts as fundraising, audience building and community outreach
While an official in-residence date for Esbjornson has yet to be determined, he will begin working in the next few weeks with theater staff and board on planning for the 2005-2006 season.