Know Theatre's Bruffy Resigns, Named SLAC's Executive Artistic Director

The Staff and Board of Trustees of Know Theatre have announced the resignation of Artistic Director, Jason Bruffy. Bruffy will be moving to Salt Lake City, Utah to become the new Executive Artistic Director at the Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC). SLAC's 2009-2010 season opens on September 18th, so Bruffy's departure will be expedited that he may arrive in time to open their season.

Know Theatre Board President, Jeff Syroney says, "The board and staff of Know Theatre of Cincinnati offer their congratulations and gratitude to Jason Bruffy and this new opportunity in Salt Lake City. On a personal note, I am torn between my happiness for the success of a talented artist and a dear friend, and the lamentation of the loss of one of the city's true artistic entrepreneurs. Never one to shy away from a challenge or an experiment, Jason's ability to create community through vision has gifted Cincinnati with the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival, a new home and name for Know Theatre of Cincinnati, a resident company of outside actors, and an army of Cincinnati Ambassadors in the guise of hundreds of Fringe artists spreading the good news about Cincinnati throughout the country. His influence and inspiration will be missed."

SLAC was founded in 1970 to present innovative and thought provoking plays for Utah audiences and to nurture a community of local professional theatre artists. SLAC is committed to presenting a year round season of regional and world premieres as well as commissioning, developing and producing the work of emerging playwrights. SLAC is about to enter its 40th season as Salt Lake City's premiere resident based acting company. Bruffy is the first person chosen to helm the organization from outside of the company.

President of SLAC's Board Anne Stewart Mark said: "I'm thrilled we found someone so brilliant and capable and ready to join the SLAC family. We are very fortunate to have found him."

Bruffy's career in Cincinnati started at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company as member of their Young Company. He was soon moved into the role of Company Manager. Under the auspices of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's Studio Series, Bruffy founded and produced the First Annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival in 2004. In the six years since it's founding, it has grown to become the largest performing arts festival in the state.

"We founded the Festival with the idea of supporting and encouraging artistic process and freedom. There were these pockets of great avant garde work happening all around the city, not to mention the country, and no one (mainstream) knew about it. In one night we committed to giving them a home, here in Cincinnati," says Bruffy.

That same year, Bruffy was chosen by Know Theatre's founder, Jay B. Kalagayan, as the first full-time Artistic Director of Know. Bruffy immediately went to work crafting an artistic vision for Know Theatre that would help move the company to its next evolution. With Kalagayan able to focus more on the business of fundraising and Bruffy brought focus to its artistic programs, Know Theatre began to grow quickly.

"Bringing Jason on board was perfect for the company," says Kalagayan, "Our partnership was very fruitful from solidifying Know Theatre's programming ‘style,' creating a resident actor program, opening our new home and merging us with the Cincinnati Fringe Festival."

"One of the most important steps for the company was moving to fully paid casts and hiring of a dedicated production team. This was an important step for the company because it fueled the steady increase in production value and growth that followed," says Bruffy.

The growth that followed was substantial. As production quality grew, so did the audiences and contributed support. This growth enabled the hiring of Know Theatre's first resident company in 2005. In subsequent years the resident company would grow until it reached as many as six in the 2008-2009 season.

In 2006, the steady growth of the company turned into more of an explosion. In March, 2006 long-time supporter, David C. Herriman lead the way for Bruffy and Kalagayan to move Know Theatre into its current home at 1120 Jackson Street. That same year, Bruffy's Fringe Festival merged with then Know Theatre Tribe, to form one organization, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, at the time making Know Theatre the only year around theatre company that produced a Fringe Festival.

"This was an important step for helping stabilize Know Theatre and the Fringe Festival," says Know Theatre's Board President (and Fringe co-Founder), Jeff Syroney. He adds, "Both companies were sharing resources and staff, so it only made sense, but more importantly it helped firm up support from the community for both entities, which were beginning to compete for audiences and financial support."

In the six years since Bruffy took the helm artistically, the company has seen a ten-fold increase in its operational budget. Staff that once consisted of only Kalagayan and Bruffy has expanded to include a full-time resident company (four actors in this upcoming season), a managing director, production manager, resident stage manager, technical director, marketing/development manager, and education manager.

"I have spent 8 wonderful years in Cincinnati," says Bruffy. "From a young actor with the Shakespeare Company, founding of the Fringe Festival, and Artistic Director of Know Theatre, Cincinnati is a place I will always call home. The passion this community has and the wealth of culture the city has to offer is a tribute."

"Jason's presence will be missed, to be sure," says Managing Director, Eric Vosmeier. "His artistic vision helped make Know Theatre what we are today, and this cannot be replaced casually. On a personal note I'm saddened by his move because I felt we had just barely begun to hit our stride together, but I am excited for him as he moves into this next phase in his career." Vosmeier continues, "The Board and I are working on a long term plan for the organization and artistic leadership is obviously key to that planning. But we are in a great position to move the company forward once again. We have a solid staff with a combined 15 years experience in running Know Theatre. We're excited about what the future holds for the company and we're all dedicated to continuing to expand what Know and the Fringe Festival are able to accomplish."

Know Theatre of Cincinnati is a 12 year old professional theatre located in the heart of Over-The-Rhine's newly revitalized arts district. Know Theatre produces a six show mainstage season, the annual Cincinnati Fringe Festival, a national educational tour: Calculus the musical, as well as many other innovative and provocative programs.

Bruffy's last official day will be Friday, September 4th. On Thursday, September 3rd there will be a farewell cocktail party at Know Theatre in the Jackson Street Underground starting at 7 pm. Please stop in and wish him well. The event is free and open to the public. Cash bar.

For more information, visit www.knowtheatre.com.

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