PlayCo Executive Producer to Step Down

The Play Company (PlayCo)'s Founding Producer Kate Loewald announced today that fellow Executive Producer Lauren Weigel will step down from her position on June 30, 2016. The Play Company will begin the search for a new team member this week. Under Lauren Weigel's leadership as Executive Producer, PlayCo has become the only New York theater to regularly produce international contemporary plays alongside new American work. Weigel has been intrinsic in advancing PlayCo's unique commitment to premiering work from around the world to advance a dynamic, international experience of contemporary theater in New York.

Weigel joined the company in 2004 as an Associate Producer and in 2005 assumed the position of Executive Producer; she has partnered with Kate Loewald for 13 years. Now in its fifteenth season, PlayCo's annual budget has more than doubled since the beginning of Weigel's tenure. During this time, she has developed and produced 30 premieres of plays from around the world including Sweden, Poland, Japan, Romania, India, Germany, Russia, France, Great Britain and the United States, serving over 450 artists from the US and abroad. In 2007, her extensive work and international programming garnered an OBIE Award for PlayCo's "unique contribution to the Off Broadway theatre community."

Executive Producer Lauren Weigel said: "The Play Company is part of my bones and while it's very hard for me to step away, I am excited to join the ranks of our dedicated fans and supporters. I have been fortunate to work with so many generous and talented people in my time here, and have enjoyed stalwart support from our Board and patrons. It has been an honor and a great pleasure to partner with Kate to expand PlayCo's support of artists and bring new voices from around the world to the New York stage. I am proud of what we have built together and look forward to watching PlayCo continue to grow and thrive."

Founding Producer Kate Loewald said: "PlayCo is a dynamic theatre company with 15 seasons under our belt thanks to Lauren's dedication and leadership. It's been a beautiful adventure to build this organization with her from early days. I treasure our partnership. We've made work we're proud of, and had a lot of fun besides. I will miss her and I wish her and her family great happiness."

Board Co-chairs Carmine Boccuzzi and Victoria Reese said: "Lauren has been a critical component to the growth and success of The Play Company to date. We will miss her and wish her the very best in this next chapter of her life. "

In addition to her work with PlayCo, Weigel produced The Adventures of Barrio Grrrl! by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Hudes for the 2005 Summer Play Festival. From 2001-2003, she was the Associate Producer for The Foundry Theatre where she produced Talk by Carl Hancock Rux at the Public Theater, David Greenspan's The Myopia at The Ohio Theatre, The Rude Mechanicals' Lipstick Traces on U.S. tour, and Rinde Eckert's And God Created Great Whales in London. Lauren has also worked in the artistic department of the Manhattan Theatre Club and in the theatre department of International Creative Management. She has served on funding panels for New York's Department of Cultural Affairs, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, ART/New York and Theatre Communications Group.

Lauren is stepping down from her position as Executive Producer to focus on her family and two young children. She will continue as an external advisor to Kate Loewald, The Play Company staff and Board.

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