Derek Charles Livingston. (Picture by Sq. Taking pictures.)
HOUSTON: Phases has named Derek Charles Livingston their new inventive director. Livingston will take over when present inventive director Kenn McLaughlin steps down on the finish of June after 25 seasons.
“Derek is a demonstrated arts and civic visionary, a strolling encyclopedia of theatre historical past, an skilled in creating new, groundbreaking works, and an exuberant cheerleader for a way the American regional theatre can proceed to be related and very important to our communities,” Phases board president and emeritus George C. Lancaster stated in a press release. “We’re excited to see how Derek will take Phases to the subsequent degree, attain much more Houstonians, and proceed to develop our profile as a regional and nationwide chief.”
Livingston is leaving his function as director of new-play growth on the Utah Shakespeare Competition, the place he has served since 2021. He additionally served because the group’s interim inventive director from June 2022 to November 2023, directing the pageant’s first manufacturing of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin within the Solar. Livingston additionally beforehand served because the managing inventive director of Celebration Theatre and has labored extensively as an actor and in new-play growth.
“All through my profession, I’ve deliberately sought out works that have interaction the soul and spark thought-provoking conversations. As the subsequent inventive director of Phases, I look ahead to constructing on this philosophy,” Livingston stated in a press release. “Not solely is Phases a powerhouse of inventive expression, it additionally embraces various voices and a number of genres as a part of its well-rounded annual seasons. I intend to make sure we proceed on this path to totally have interaction audiences and keep theatrical excellence.”
McLaughlin introduced his impending retirement on the finish of the 2023 season. He has served 18 seasons as inventive director. Livingston will relocate to Houston in August.
Phases makes performs and tells tales that invite everybody to reside extra deeply and love extra boldly. As Houston’s sixth-largest nonprofit performing arts producer, Phases produces roughly 12 productions yearly, drawing over 75,000 guests per season. As of 2023, the theatre’s price range was roughly $6.5 million.
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