Diane Claussen Departs Philadelphia Theatre Co. for Northwestern Univ.

Philadelphia Theatre Company (PTC) announced today that Diane Claussen, Managing Director of the Company, will leave the organization next month to assume the role of Managing Director at Northwestern University's Theatre and Interpretation Center. She will also teach Arts Management in Northwestern's Department of Theatre.

PTC will immediately begin a search for a replacement. Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik will continue in her leadership role as the company enters its 35th Anniversary season.

Priscilla M. Luce, PTC President of the Board, said, "While we are extremely sorry to lose Diane, we are delighted for her as she takes this next step in her career. PTC has a top-level management team, which ensures that we will not miss a beat during the transition as we enter our exciting new season in our state-of-the-art venue on the Avenue of the Arts, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre."

"It has been wonderful working with Diane these last three years as we have successfully moved PTC into a new phase of organizational maturity. I will truly miss her but know that we have a terrific platform now for attracting a high level of management talent as we conduct our search for our next Managing Director," said Garonzik.

Claussen returns to Chicago, having served six years as Executive Director at the University of Chicago's Court Theatre.

"While I am both personally and professionally thrilled to assume my new position at Northwestern and to re-join the Chicago theatre community, I am also sad to be leaving Philadelphia Theatre Company and my colleagues in the thriving theatre community here. I am so proud of the growth at PTC and the work we have accomplished these three years, both internally and on the stage. It has been an honor to partner with Producing Artistic Director Sara Garonzik, the Board of Directors and the dedicated staff as we took the company to a new level," said Claussen.

Philadelphia Theatre Company kicks off its 35th Anniversary Season on October 6th with PTC@PLAY, a festival celebrating 35 years of new play development with staged readings by such playwrights as Jeffrey Hatcher and Theresa Rebeck. PTC@PLAY runs October 6 - 21.

The company's mainstage season begins November 12- December 12 with the quirky and hilarious Tony Award-winning musical, THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin.

Philadelphia Theatre Company rounds out its 2010/2011 season with RACE, David Mamet's smash hit direct from Broadway, the tour-de-force one woman show LET ME DOWN EASY, conceived, written and performed by the incomparable Anna Deavere Smith, and the 2001 Pulitzer Prize-Winner for Drama, RUINED by Lynn Nottage.

For more information visit www.philadelphiatheatrecompany.org

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