Brian Swasey Named Managing Director of NY Theatre Barn

The Board of Directors of New York Theatre Barn (The Barn), the only 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company whose sole mission is "to give theatre a chance," announced today that Brian Swasey has been appointed as its Managing Director, effective immediately. Swasey will work alongside Joe Barros, founder and Artistic Director of the company. Swasey's primary responsibility will be to manage business operations of the company. In addition, he will assist Barros in programming and producing The Barn's presentations.

Swasey succeeds Jason Najjoum, who served as The Barn's Producing Director prior to leaving for Yale's graduate program in Theatre Management. Najjoum remains an artistic associate with The Barn.

Prior to this appointment, Swasey was most recently the Associate Producer at Queens Theatre in the Park. Before that, from 2001-2008, he was the Founding Artistic Director of The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), currently in its 14th Season.

According to Barros, "Brian Swasey is much more than a Managing Director, because he is professionally trained as an actor and dancer; he understands a production from the center stage out. His breadth and depth of work as a managing director is a testament to his deep knowledge of the business side of productions. Plus, he has a wonderful artistic sense."

Early in Swasey's career as an actor he performed in the U.S. and Europe in productions including A Chorus Line, Peter Pan, Crazy For You, and West Side Story.

Swasey's producing and directing experience is comprehensive. At Queens Theatre in the Park, Swasey worked on several productions including associate producer of a revival of Closer Than Ever, starring original cast members Sally Mayes and Lynne Winterstellar. At APAC, he directed revivals of Lucky Stiff, Nunsense, Is There Life After High School?, A New Brain, and Triumph of Love. His tenure included overseeing a full season that included contemporary plays, children and senior programming,

Shakespeare, as well as new works by emerging playwrights and composers.

Said Sheilah Rae, President of the Board of The New York Theatre Barn, "Brian Swasey's breadth and depth of experience includes his deep involvement and commitment to new works. This was critical to all of us on the Board in choosing a managing director. Our mission at The Barn is to give theatre a chance. And to give new works a chance requires understanding how to make a new musical work artistically, as well as from a business perspective. Brian has both sides of the coin. In getting him, for us, it was 'heads we win, tails we win.'"

The core of The Barn's new work development process is it monthly Pre-Premiere of new musicals in its New Works Series for emerging writers, which is now in its 7th year at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The New Works Series has presented the work of over 250 writers.

Added Brian Swasey, "I am truly honored and thrilled for the opportunity to work with New York Theatre Barn as its Managing Director. Joe Barros is simply a genius in his eye for new work, and his sensitivity and compassion in finding untold stories and giving them life on stage. I am excited to collaborate and help bring our organization to the next level." Originally from Maine, Swasey moved to NYC after graduating with a degree in theatre and dance from The University of New Hampshire.

For more information about New York Theatre Barn (The Barn), visit www.nytheatrebarn.org.