Space 55 Announces New Artistic Director

Space 55 Theatre Ensemble, the innovative voice for performing arts in downtown Phoenix, announces the appointment of producer, director and actor John Perovich to the position of Artistic Director.

Perovich succeeds Duane Daniels, who is retiring from the Artistic Director position to return to his focus as a freelance actor/director and training actors through his company The Actors WorkHouse in Phoenix and Berridge Programs in France. Space 55 looks forward to continued collaboration with Daniels as a guest director and actor.

John Perovich is a co-founder of Now & Then Creative Company, Phoenix, where he will continue to serve as Artistic Director. John's plays have been featured in festivals with the Kennedy Center, Mid-America Theatre Conference, and the Last Frontier Theatre Conference. His work also has been produced at Arizona State University, Brelby Theatre Company, and B3 Productions. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. Formerly, John was a company member and Director of New Play Development at Brelby Theatre Company.

He earned his M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing at ASU, his M.A. in Educational Theatre for Colleges & Communities at New York University, and his B.A. in Communications: Radio/TV/Film from Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. He also served as an adjunct instructor for playwriting, acting and dramatic literature for the School of Arts & Humanities at New Jersey's Stockton University. He currently serves as the head of performing arts and instructor of the theatre and film departments at Metropolitan Arts Institute in Phoenix.

"John Perovich comes to Space 55 with broad experience in adventurous programming and theatrical collaboration," says Tim Eigo, Board Member of Space 55. "His deep theatre relationships across the Valley, along with his stellar creative reputation, make him the ideal successor to advance Space's mission. We are excited to see John lead the theatre in offering innovative, unique performances you can see nowhere else, and in fostering emerging voices."

"Because John values high-quality work and takes creative risks, he's a perfect fit for the personality and style of our downtown Phoenix Theatre."

"Space 55 has a rich tradition of producing off-kilter work that shocks the imagination," says Perovich. "I am committed to celebrating the strange and building off the legacy that so many in the Valley have grown to love about Space 55. We have big plans for next season, a focus on collaboration, and a unique approach to programming. We're going to be taking some risks while conducting creative experiments. I look forward to sharing next season's offerings in July."

Space 55 will also benefit from the contributions of two talented and experienced theatre experts:

Longtime Space 55 ensemble member Ashley Natftule has accepted the position of Associate Artistic Director. A music journalist, Naftule is also a playwright who wrote the critically acclaimed "Ear," which debuted to appreciative Space 55 audiences in 2017.

Cody Goulder, accomplished theatre and dramaturg expert, will serve as the Space 55 Literary Manager. In that role, he will seek out and consider plays to be produced, with an eye toward new work by local playwrights. Goulder is also the Associate Artistic Director at Now & Then Creative Company. He has collaborated on play development at numerous theatre companies throughout the Valley.

Before his three years of leadership at Space 55, Duane Daniels had founded and oversaw the Fritz Theatre in San Diego for over 18 years. He also served as Artistic Director of L.A.'s Buzzworks Theatre, and produced acclaimed premieres in New York, including three works at the famed La MaMa Experimental Theatre. An accomplished producer and actor, Daniels may be most known for his role as Principal Van Clemmons on the TV series and film version of Veronica Mars.In Phoenix, he continues to operate the Actors WorkHouse, a professional training center for actors.

Among Daniels' many noteworthy productions at Space 55 were his direction of the world-premiere of musical "Blue Galaxy," the absurdist classic "Ubu Roi," the Phoenix premiere of "Luna Gale," and David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," and his performances in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and the world-premiere of company member Ashley Naftule's play "Ear." His directorship of Space 55 was capped this season by his direction of and performance in the world premiere of musical "Country Blue Saloon," which he co-authored.

Space 55's 2018 season will end in June with a reprise of "Laurel & Hardy Go to Heaven" and a play, soon to be announced, to be directed by Louis Farber, Associate Artistic Director at Stray Cat Theatre.

Further details on upcoming performances, as well as a call for new works, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Space 55 is located at its new theater at 1524 N. 18th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85007. For more information and show times visit www.space55.org

About Space 55

Space 55 Theatre Ensemble is the home to cutting-edge theatre in downtown Phoenix. Formed in 2006 by actor Shawna Franks, Space 55 is dedicated to the development and production of new and innovative theatre and presenting it in a relaxed, casual environment at an affordable price. Space 55's season of alternative theatre includes Main Stage performances and the popular Late Night Series. For more information, including a comprehensive list of ongoing events and shows, visit www.space55.org

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