Route 66 Theatre Company Announces Appointment of Managing Director and New Play Development Director

Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to announce the appointment Rachel Wendte and Deborah Blumenthal as its new Managing Director and New Play Development Director, respectively.

Wendt and Blumenthal join the company's current staff, including Artistic Director Stef Tovar, Business Manager Alana Parvey-Zalas and Company Manager Matthew Bonaccorso. Route 66 recently announced its 2017 season, as well as its new residency at The Den Theatre in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

"Having a Managing Director has been a goal of mine for years. It's tough to find the right fit and with Rachel, we really struck gold," comments Artistic Director Stef Tovar. "Rachel's arts administration background coupled with her immense knowledge of tech and social media gives Route 66 the cornerstone its desperately needed for longevity."

Deborah Blumenthal succeeds Frances Limoncelli, who has taken the job as Artistic Director of the Magik Theatre in San Antonio, Texas.

"Losing Frances was so tough for us, but its such a great opportunity for her at the Magik," adds Tovar. "Deborah has worked with us for a couple of years on our 'Test Drive' new play development workshop. She was a natural fit for the position and I'm excited to see her blossom in the role."

In addition to Test Drive, Deborah will curate the company's "Driver's Seat" monthly reading series at Mrs Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro.

Route 66 Theatre Company's 2017 season kicks in March 2017 with the world premiere of Gabe McKinley's psychological drama THE SOURCE, directed by Jason Gerace. The season concludes late next summer with the Chicago premiere of Halley Feiffer's dark comedy A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY UNIT AT MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER OF NEW YORK CITY directed by Keira Fromm. During its recent world premiere at New York's New York's MCC Theater, The New York Times' Ben Brantley called Feifer's new work "irresistible!" Tickets for both productions will go on sale at a later date. For additional information, visit www.route66theatre.org.

BIOGRAPHIES

Rachel Wendte (Managing Director) is an arts administrator specializing in social media, digital marketing and audience engagement. She joined Route 66 in August 2016 and is thrilled to be working with such a dynamic team. Previously, Rachel was the Development and Sales Manager of Windy City Playhouse, where she worked to promote the company's first season and introduce audiences to a new kind of theater experience. She has also worked in social media and marketing for the restaurant development company, Rockit Ranch Productions and the boutique public relations firm Skirt PR. Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science in Arts Administration from Butler University.

Deborah Blumenthal (New Play Development Director) is a Chicago-based dramaturg. She first joined Route 66 as a dramaturg for the 2015 and 2016 "Test Drive" workshops. Production dramaturgy credits include the Chicago premieres of A Class Act and The Gifts of the Magi at Porchlight Music Theatre, Beast on the Moon, Dividing The Estate, The Playboy of the Western World, and Boy Gets Girl at Raven Theatre and Angels in America at Court Theatre. Assistant directing credits include Assassins at the 2012 Chicago Humanities Festival, Pal Joey at Porchlight Music Theatre and An Iliad at Court Theatre. Deborah is originally from New York, where she worked in the literary departments of The Public Theater, Second Stage Theatre and Ars Nova. Her work has been published in the Center for Classic Theatre Review, a journal associated with Court Theatre. She holds a BA in American Studies with a focus on American musical theater from Columbia University's Barnard College and an MA in Humanities from the University of Chicago.

Route 66 Theatre Company

Route 66 Theatre Company introduces, develops, produces, and exports new work for the stage. The road begins with our new play development process and reaches west, where our World and Chicago Premiere shows are given an advocate for further regional productions along the road less traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles. Since the company's founding, Route 66 has produced 10 productions, 2 in two cities including an Off-Broadway premiere, been nominated for ten Jeff Awards and won two. Route 66 is now a resident company of The Den Theatre. www.route66theatre.org

Route 66 is Stef Tovar, Founder and Artistic Director; Rachel Wendte, Managing Director; Deborah Blumenthal, Director of New Play Development; Alana Parvey-Zalas, Business Manager; Matthew Bonaccorso, Company Manager and Kelly Parker, Casting Director

Route 66 Theatre Company Artistic Associates: Brian Sidney-Bembridge, Audrey Billings, Johnny Clark, Brandon Dahlquist, Raymond Fox, Damon Kiely, Ron Klier, Jenni Lamb, Tyler Meredith, John Mohrlein, Kelly Parker, Geoff Rice, Emily Rohm, Tricia Small, Jeremy Sonkin, Alex Stage, Nancy Staiger, Erica Stephan, Bethany Thomas, Rita Vreeland, Steven Wilson, Rachel Wendte and Emily Woods.

Route 66 Theatre Company Board of Directors: Jennifer Baumann, President; Deborah Haimes, Vice-President of Communications; Nicholas Stone, Treasurer; Molly Crabtree, Secretary; Elizabeth Derrico, Lee Dickson, James Frenzel, Laurie Hamilton, Pat Turnbull and Robert Veasey.

Route 66 Theatre Company's 9th Season is presented by generous grants from MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency and DCASE CityArts.

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