Settle Named as New Artistic Director of Shakespeare on the Sound

Connecticut's premier outdoor summer theater, Shakespeare on the Sound, has appointed Joanna Settle as its new Artistic Director. Ms. Settle will be responsible for all of the company's artistic endeavors, including its annual summer production of a major Shakespeare play. She succeeds the company's founding artistic director, Ezra Barnes.

Settle who is known for her modern interpretations of classic texts, has directed works by Sophocles, Ionesco, Shakespeare, Euripides, Harold Pinter, and Samuel Beckett, among others. Her direction of contemporary plays includes 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo, which won two Lucille Lortel Awards and was hailed by The New Yorker as "an example of how art can remake the world." Recently, Settle directed In Darfur for The Public Theater downtown and at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Also at The Public, she directed the final week of Suzan-Lori Park's "365 Plays/365 Days" and Future Me.

The Public Theater's Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis, who is chair of Shakespeare on the Sound's Artistic Advisory Board, said "Joanna is one of the boldest and most exciting young directors in New York, and I know she will be an extraordinary artistic leader for Shakespeare on the Sound: bold, visionary, and fun. Her appointment is a blast of fresh sunlight, and cause for optimism and joy."

Currently in its 14th season, Shakespeare on the Sound presents a new production of a Shakespeare play each summer in two outdoor Connecticut locations (Rowayton and Greenwich) against the backdrop of the Long Island Sound. Admission is free.

The newly formed Artistic Advisory Board for Shakespeare on the Sound includes Mr. Eustis, Polly K. Carl, Producing Artistic Director, The Playwrights' Center; Barry Edelstein, Director of The Public Theater Shakespeare Lab; Mandy Hackett, Associate Artistic Director, The Public Theater; Morgan Jenness, Dramaturg; Andrew Lieberman, Head of Set and Film design at NYU; David Neumann, Choreographer, Artistic Director of Advanced Beginner Group; Bill Rauch, Artistic Director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival; Stew, musician, 2008 Tony Winner Passing Strange; Tony Taccone, Artistic Director, Berkeley Repertory Theater; and Alan Tudyk, actor.

Additional Shakespeare on the Sound summer news, including production, creative team, casting, and additional programs, will be announced shortly.

Joanna Settle is a graduate of the inaugural Andrew W. Mellon Directing Program at The Juilliard School and a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts/Theater Communications Group Fellowship for Directors. She has directed classic and modern classic work by Sophocles, Ionesco, Shakespeare, Euripides, Harold Pinter, and Samuel Beckett, among others. Her direction of contemporary plays includes 9 Parts of Desire which won two Lucille Lortel Awards. 9 Parts of Desire was presented in New York at Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, in Chicago at the Museum of Contemporary Art, at California's Berkeley Rep, Washington, DC's Arena Stage and in numerous other theaters across the country. Recently, Joanna directed In Darfur for the New York Public Theater downtown and at the prestigious Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

Photo by Dixie Sheridan

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