Montana Repertory Theatre Announces Finalists For Artistic Director

After 29 years of service, Montana Repertory Theatre artistic director and School of Theatre & Dance professor Gregory Johnson will retire at the end of the academic year.

Last fall, College of Visual and Performing Arts Dean Stephen Kalm convened a search committee of faculty, staff, students and community members from the School of Theatre & Dance and Montana Rep to conduct a national search for an exceptional theater professional to fill the role of artistic director.

The large pool of applicants was narrowed to two finalists, both of whom will visit campus during the first two weeks of the spring semester. Michael Legg, director of the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville, will come to campus Jan. 24-26. Peter Ellenstein, former artistic director of the William Inge Festival, will visit the following week, Jan. 31-Feb. 2.

Members of the community are encouraged to attend open forums with the candidates. Legg will present at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, with Ellenstein following at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1. Both forums will be held in Room 123 of the Gallagher Business Building.

Chair of the search committee and associate professor of theater John DeBoer considers the forums a vital part of the interview process.

"Montana Rep is a public service of the University of Montana, and the artistic director of the Rep is the face of the company," DeBoer said. "Input from Missoula's arts and theater community will be an important component of the selection process."

To learn more about Montana Rep, visit http://www.montanarep.org. To learn more about the UM School of Theatre & Dance, visit http://www.umt.edu/theatredance.

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