About Face Theatre Announces New Artistic Director

The Board of Directors of About Face Theatre Company has announced the appointment of Andrew Volkoff as AFT's new Artistic Director. Volkoff, who has served as Associate Artistic Director of Barrington Stage Company in Massachusetts and Genesius Theatre Group in New York City, will succeed Bonnie Metzgar this spring.

"Following an extensive local and national search, Andrew Volkoff, a returning Midwesterner, emerged as the natural candidate to implement a new strategic vision for About Face," comments About Face Board President Bill Michel. "With his asset-based, collaborative style of leadership, Andrew will draw upon AFT's 17 years of artistic accomplishments, engage with our talented artists, administrators and youth, and help forge a new era of theatre and social advocacy for the LGBTQA community in Chicago - and beyond. This is an exciting moment for About Face Theatre that honors our past, celebrates the present and charts a course for our future," added Michel.

"I believe in theatre that serves its community," comments new Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff. "In About Face, I saw an organization founded in strong LGBTQA tradition by Eric Rosen and Kyle Hall, strengthened under the leadership of Bonnie Metzgar and currently positioned for expansion and change. I look forward to collaborating with AFT's talented group of Artistic Associates as well as other local and national artists to support and amplify AFT's mission of creating new, innovative works that tell our numerous, diverse stories. Together, we will create inspiring and entertaining theatre of the highest caliber - theatre that will engage Chicagoans and encourage us all to participate in continual dialogue about our lives, our community and social change. Additionally, I intend to expand the successful model of About Face's unparalleled youth program, which provides young LGBTQA people a safe place to express themselves and create positive change through artistic discovery. Finally, I will work with AFT to realize its long-awaited vision of a community-rooted space to house its expanded, year-round programming and activities. I am truly excited to return to the Midwest and honored to become a part of the Chicago arts and LGBTQA communitie," added Volkoff.

About Face Theatre will publicly introduce Andrew Volkoff at its upcoming gala and largest annual fundraising event, WONKA BALL 2013: CIRCUS MAXIMUS, on Friday, April 26, 2013 at 8 pm (VIP Cocktail Party at 7 pm) at Architectural Artifacts, 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave. For WONKA BALL 2013 tickets and additional information, visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com.