Irene Lewis Steps Down As CenterStage's Artistic Director

Irene Lewis, Artistic Director of CENTERSTAGE, and Jay Smith, President of the theater's Board of Trustees, announced today that Ms. Lewis will leave CENTERSTAGE in June 2011 after completion of the 2010-11 season, which will mark her 19th year as Artistic Director.

"It's been an incredible journey," Lewis said, "working with such a high level of artists, artisans, and the staff at CENTERSTAGE. I am particularly grateful for the extraordinary encouragement I received as an artist from the late Nancy Roche, Board president when I first came to CENTERSTAGE-not to mention many years with longtime Managing Director Peter Culman."

President of the Board Jay Smith said, "Our appreciation of Irene's artistic innovations and leadership over her tenure is indescribable. Her productions have created enjoyable, emotional, and challenging experiences for our audiences, a legacy that is the envy of artistic directors nationwide. We are most appreciative of Irene's efforts during the last year to reposition CENTERSTAGE's artistic programming in response to the difficult economic times, leaving the Theater in a strong position both artistically and financially."

He said Ms. Lewis will become Artistic Director Emeritus on July 1, 2011, and will continue to consult on artistic matters.

Ms. Lewis first came to Baltimore in 1980 to direct Lillian Hellman's Watch on the Rhine. Then-Artistic Director Stan Wojewodski, Jr. made her an Associate Artist shortly thereafter, and when he left CENTERSTAGE in 1991, Lewis agreed to be Acting Artistic Director for a season. She assumed full artistic leadership the following year.

Ms. Lewis' tenure has marked a tremendous period of artistic accomplishment and institutional stability for CENTERSTAGE. A national search for Lewis' replacement will begin immediately, chaired by CENTERSTAGE Board member Jed Dietz, Director of the Maryland Film Festival.
With the theater's 50th anniversary approaching and a strong season in place for Ms. Lewis' last year, Ms. Lewis and the Board of Trustees of CENTERSTAGE mutually agreed that the timing is right. "I was ready for a change," Lewis said, "and so was the Board."

Since 1963, CENTERSTAGE has been committed to producing and developing an eclectic repertory of challenging, bold, and thought-provoking work, representing a varied array of theatrical styles and forms, in collaboration with leading artists. Each year, a consistently broad range of productions in two intimate performing spaces attracts highly diverse audiences of more than 100,000 people-including thousands of fiercely loyal subscriber members, many of whom have been with the theater during its entire history. Additionally, CENTERSTAGE offers a variety of dramaturgical, community, and educational programs to broaden access and enhance the theatergoing experience, earning its honorary designation as the official State Theater of Maryland. For more information, visit http://www.centerstage.org.

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