Jubilee Theatre Announces The Resignation of Artistic Director Ed Smith

Jubilee Theatre today announced the resignation of Artistic Director Ed Smith. The resignation is effective August 31, 2010, at the end of the 2009-2010 Season.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors, we deeply appreciate Ed for his artistic leadership, knowledge and contributions to Jubilee Theatre over the past four years," said Board President Joy M. Thomas. "We have enormous respect for Ed and we're thankful for his work on behalf of Jubilee Theatre. He helped the theater remain stable, and even grow, after the difficult loss of Founder and Artistic Director Rudy Eastman. We look forward to Ed returning as a guest director in the future."

Smith is nationally-known for advancing African-American theatre and anchoring Jubilee following the sudden death of Eastman. In 2009, he was presented with the prestigious National Black Theatre Festival's first annual Lloyd Richards' Director's Award. In 2002, Ed was recommended by the late director Richards to direct Ossie Davis's last play, A Last Dance for Sybil, featuring Ruby Dee, Earl Hyman, and Arthur French.

"Jubilee Theatre is truly a jewel in Fort Worth and indeed the region. This has been a remarkable experience. I love this theatre and I'm extremely grateful that I've had an opportunity to expand the repertoire, bringing equity actors into the fold and building upon the legacy of Rudy Eastman to bring awareness to the African American experience. It's time for me to explore new creative endeavors and other theatrical projects," says Smith.

Smith's award-winning productions of Fences, Our Town, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Piano Lesson, I'm Not Rappaport, Joe Turner's Come and Gone, and most recently, The Bluest Eye, have all received critical praise. He has directed more than ninety plays at many of the country's professional and university theatres, as well as in Canada and the West Indies.

The Board of Trustees will embark on a national search in May, 2010 for the future Artistic Director for Jubilee Theatre.

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