Lyric Stage Names Courtney O'Connor Associate Artistic Director

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston's Producing Artistic Director, Spiro Veloudos, Managing Director, Matt Chapuran, and its Board of Directors today announced that they have named Courtney O'Connor as the company's new Associate Artistic Director. She assumed her full-time duties at the Lyric Stage on July 9, 2018.

Spiro Veloudos commented on Courtney's appointment: "Courtney and I have been friends for some time (it's been so long, I don't event want to say). She has directed a number of plays at the Lyric Stage and throughout Boston, and was my associate director for our production of Nicholas Nickleby, parts 1 & 2. With 75 applications for this position, the choice was anything but easy. But Courtney's background in theatre production, administration, and education made her an exciting choice."

Matt Chapuran added: "I fondly recall Courtney's production of Sin at the Coyote Theatre, produced back when we were all much younger. She's lost none of her vibrancy and wit, and shares our commitment to local talent."

And Courtney O'Connor wrote: "The Lyric Stage has been an artistic home to me as a director here in Boston - a place that has challenged and supported me like no other. And as I have grown during that time, the Lyric Stage has also grown and expanded greatly. With their new programs and partnerships, the continuing deep commitment to supporting local artists, and the dedicated and vibrant staff, the Lyric Stage is an invigorating and thriving company. I am thrilled to be joining in this new role, and look forward to discovering what we can create as we grow together."

ABOUT COURTNEY O'CONNOR

Courtney O'Connor is a senior affiliated performing arts faculty member at Emerson College. She has directed with several theatres in the Boston area, including Lyric Stage Company of Boston, The Nora Theatre, AIM Stage, Coyote Theatre, Emerson Stage, UMass Boston, Suffolk University, Brandeis University, and Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (intern company). She previously was the Director of Education and Outreach for Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Artistic Director of Coyote Theatre, and Program Director of the Emerson Summer Stage for High School Students. Courtney is a recipient of the Elliot Norton award for Outstanding Direction for her work as the Associate Director on the Lyric Stage's production of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby and the Alan L. Stanzler Award for Excellence in Teaching. Other productions Courtney has directed at the Lyric Stage include Buyer & Cellar, Red Hot Patriot, Rich Girl, and Stones in His Pockets. Through her work with the Coyote Theatre Project, she oversaw the creation of more than 200 new 10-minute plays written by at-risk youth from Boston. Courtney directed the world premiere and return engagement of Blood on the Snow, a site-specific play about the Boston Massacre for the Bostonian Society in the 300-year-old Old State House. ?She recently directed a outdoors, site-specific, community based production of Our Town in the Berkshires? in which the 100+ members of the audience moved from the front lawn of the community's church across to the town's cemetery. She received her Bachelor's Degree in English from Cabrini College and her Master's Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College. courtneyoc.com

Photo by Lizzie Milanovich

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