Charles Wright Named President of 2014-15 Drama Desk; BWW's Richard Ridge Elected Secretary

Charles Wright, long-time Drama Desk member, has been elected the new President of the Drama Desk by its membership voting electronically in approval of the projected Officers and Board of Director slate for 2014-2015.] He assumed the Presidency at this evening's annual membership meeting, held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Travel Inn, 515 West 42nd Street. Mr. Wright was introduced as the incoming President by outgoing President Isa Goldberg, who was elected to remain on the Board as a Member-at-Large.

Following is list of elected officers and Drama Desk Board of Directors for 2014-2015:

PRESIDENT: Charles Wright, A+E Networks
VICE PRESIDENT: Leslie (Hoban) Blake, Co-host: Two on the Aisle (MNN/youtube/Daily Motion)
TREASURER: Edward Karam: offoffonline.com.
SECRETARY: Richard Ridge, broadwayworld.com, Backstage with Richard Ridge
MEMBER AT LARGE: David Barbour, Editor In Chief, Lighting and Sound America
MEMBER AT LARGE: Arlene Epstein, theater critic, arts columnist, South Shore Record/Herald Community Newspapers;
MEMBER AT LARGE: Elysa Gardner, theater critic, USA Today
MEMBER AT LARGE: Isa Goldberg, Broadway Channel
MEMBER AT LARGE: John Istel, managing editor, dramadesk.org; freelance arts editor and writer
MEMBER AT LARGE: David Kaufman, freelance writer and author
MEMBER AT LARGE: William Wolf, wolfentertainmentguide.com
MEMBER AT LARGE: Lauren Yarger, Reflections in the Light, Manchester JournalInquirer, Theaterlife.com

The voting was tabulated and reported by Stuart F. Margulis, Drama Desk accountant.

Charles Wright has been Treasurer and 2nd Vice President of the Drama Desk Board of Directors. He has written about theater and books for a wide variety of publications, both print and on-line. He was a contributor to the Theatermania Guide to Musical Theater Recordings (Back Stage Books, 2004); his essays have appeared in nine editions of the Best Plays Theater Yearbook (published by Limelight Editions), and he has also been a member of the editorial board of that series. Over the past two decades, he has written almost one hundred program notes for the York Theatre Company's popular series Musicals in Mufti. He had this to say in response to the election: "I'm proud to have been part of the Drama Desk for a number of years and it's an honor to be asked to serve in this capacity. I look forward to working with Drama Desk colleagues to find new ways that we may exchange critical views and become better acquainted with the work and diverse perspectives of our membership." Outgoing President Isa Goldberg said, "As treasurer for The Drama Desk, Charles Wright has demonstrated sound judgment. His knowledge of the literary canon as well as stage craft, along with his awareness of new developments in New York theater, will serve our organization well".

The Drama Desk (www.dramadesk.org) is an organization of professional theater writers, editors, critics and columnists who cover all areas of professional theater in the greater New York area, including Broadway, off Broadway, off-off Broadway and not-for-profit theaters. The organization was founded in 1949 to explore key issues of the theater community. Each year the Drama Desk produces a series of panel discussions to explore areas of concern and then to educate the public about these matters. Guest panelists have included theater reporters, editors and critics as well as working actors, directors, producers, composers, lyricists, authors and producers. The Drama Desk is unique in that Broadway, off Broadway and off off Broadway shows compete in the same categories for its annual Drama Desk Awards which were first given in 1955. The 60th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be presented in May 2015.