Jan Powell named Interim Artistic Director of Richmond Shakespeare

Richmond Shakespeare has announced Jan Powell, PhD, as Interim Artistic Director through summer 2012. Powell's official start date is March 15.

Powell is based in Oregon, where she was founder and Artistic Director of the Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company in Portland, and where she received her PhD in Theater Arts from the University of Oregon in Eugene. Her professional résumé includes serving as the Artistic Director of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival from 2007 through 2008, and past president of the international Shakespeare Theatre Association. She has extensive experience in education, training and professional development, theater consulting, community engagement, and leadership in the professional theater community. Powell's artistic credits are also extensive, most recently as director of Richmond Shakespeare's highly acclaimed production of Macbeth last month in the Gottwald Playhouse at CenterStage. Other recent direction includes Marat/Sade at Theatre 54 in New York City, and The Taming of the Shrew for Kingsmen Shakespeare in Los Angeles.

Board President BrenDan Williamson expressed enthusiastic support for the appointment. He said, "Richmond Shakespeare is fortunate to have someone of Jan's talent and credentials to lead the organization during this period of transition. I am confident her experience will be invaluable to our efforts to position Richmond Shakespeare for a successful future, and I am looking forward to watching the positive impact she has already had on the company and the community carried forward into the coming months."

For more information about Powell and Richmond Shakespeare upcoming events, go to www.RichmondShakespeare.com.