Strand Theater Co. Appoints Elissa Goetschius as New Artistic Director

The Strand Theater Company is pleased to announce the appointment of a talented new artistic director, Elissa Goetschius. The theater will host a reception in her honor beginning at 6:00 p.m., as Artscape gets under way. The reception is open to the public.

"We are excited to welcome Elissa as our new artistic director, helping to carry forward The Strand's growing reputation as one of the Baltimore region's premier theaters, showcasing the talents of women artists," said Strand Managing Director Elena Kostakis.

Goetschius has been working in the Baltimore-Washington area for the last eight years as a director and dramaturg. Recent credits include A Midsummer Night's Dream with Glass Mind Theatre, and A Brief Narrative of an Extraordinary Birth of Rabbits and Night Sweats with the EMP Collective.

During her time as a DC resident, Goetschius collaborated with a number of established playwrights and directors in theaters across the country, including Portland Center Stage, Marin Theatre Company, Florida Stage, Forum Theatre, Wandering Souls, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The former literary manager at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Goetschius contributed to many first and second productions working alongside artists such as Pam MacKinnon, Rebecca Taichman, Anne Kauffman, Daniel Aukin, Sheila Callaghan, Peter Nachtrieb, Noah Haidle, and Sherry Shephard-Massat. Additional information about Goetschius' background is available at strand-theater.org.

"I can't think of a more exciting--or more important--time to join the leadership team at the Strand," said Goetschius. "This is a vital moment of change in the American theatre, as audiences and practitioners across the country demand diversity on their stages and in their rehearsal rooms. I'm thrilled to be working with a company so strongly dedicated to female artists, and I intend to expand on that foundational commitment to diversity. It's exhilarating to be able to take up this mission, and endlessly inspiring to do so with neighbors like Single Carrot, Stillpointe Theatre Initiative, the BROS, and the myriad other organizations that are bursting with creative energy in Baltimore's thriving theatre scene."

"As we enter our sixth season, we are looking forward to introducing an exciting mix of productions, development activities and additional artistic programming," said Kostakis. "We hope to bring our audiences the most innovative season to date, while remaining true to our mission of highlighting the talents of women artists working in theater today."

"The Strand is very lucky to have someone as talented and creative as Elissa Goetschius to help one of the best small theaters in Baltimore to continue to grow and challenge our audiences," added Amy Bernstein, the Strand's acting board president.

The Strand's leadership transition reflects the recent departure of its previous Artistic Director, Rain Pryor, who resigned her post at the end of the 2012-13 Season.

The Strand Theater Company is dedicated to providing opportunities for women actors, designers, directors, and writers. With a focus on producing works new to Baltimore, the Strand hopes to foster a love of theater for a new generation of patrons.

Since launching in 2008, the Strand has presented 19 full-length plays, including eight world premieres; offered 75% of the artistic positions on its productions-as playwrights, directors, designers, stage managers, and actors-to women; provided affordable theater space to many organizations and independent artists; and played an integral role in the revitalization of the Station North Arts & Entertainment District.

In August 2011, the Strand was honored as one of Baltimore magazine's "Top 5 Baltimore Theaters," along with CENTERSTAGE, Everyman, the Hippodrome, and Single Carrot.

The Strand is funded by an operating grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency dedicated to cultivating a vibrant cultural community where the arts thrive. Funding for the Maryland State Arts Council is also provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

To learn more about the Strand Theater Company, visit strand-theater.org.

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