Luna Stage Announces Hiring of Interim Managing Director

Luna Stage Theatre Company, currently celebrating its 20th season, has announced that Dara Falco has joined the company as Interim Managing Director. Ms. Falco has been a leader in the Arts and Academic community for over 20 years. She served as the Executive Director of Newark School of the Arts for two years, and has held positions at such varied venues/companies as ArtsRock, Riverspace Arts in Nyack, Columbia University, and The John Harms Center for the Performing Arts in Englewood, NJ. She has managed numerous Off-Broadway companies and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the State University of New York at Purchase.

Luna Stage's previous Managing Director, Mona Hennessy, left the position at the end of August for personal reasons. Hennessy is an acclaimed actress who performed in numerous Luna Stage productions from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, she took the position of managing director and helped the company transition to its new home in The Valley Arts District. Though she has taken her leave as Managing Director, Ms. Hennessy will not be leaving the company altogether; she has come full circle and will appear as an actress once again in the role of Virginia Woolf in Luna Stage's 2012-2013 Season opener, Vita and Virginia.

“After months of soul-searching I came to see that I must leave - but it is hard to do, I have to confess,” said Hennessy. “I love Luna Stage - I love its mission, its vision, its heart; and I love all the people involved here who are so deeply committed to the work we bring to life. But I am very happy to be passing the management of this great company over to a wonderful leader. Dara comes with years of experience and will make a huge difference in moving the company forward.”

Dara Falco welcomes the challenge, stating, "I am honored to be a part of this transitional phase for Luna. I look forward to putting systems into place that will give Luna the tools needed to keep thriving for the next 20 years."

Ms. Falco will hold the position of Interim Managing Director through the end of 2012, at which time a permanent Managing Director will be identified and hired.

The mission of Luna Stage is to produce thought-provoking theatre that gives voice to emerging American Playwrights and to re-examine contemporary and classic plays that speak to our times. The company is committed to collaborating with artists of multiple disciplines and partnering with the community to illuminate the diverse perspectives of our society. Luna is very proud to be part of such a dynamic movement of revitalization and community engagement in the Valley Arts District, and is looking forward to the future possibilities that this new leadership will bring.

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