Brenda DeVita to succeed David Frank as APT artistic director

American Players Theatre puts plan in place for David Frank's eventual retirement SPRING GREEN, WIS: American Players Theatre's (APT's) Board of Directors announces that Brenda DeVita will succeed David Frank as Artistic Director upon Mr. Frank's retirement, currently planned for the end of 2014. Ms. DeVita joined the APT staff in 1995 and has served as Associate Artistic Director since 2004. In her position as APT's Associate Artistic Director, Ms. DeVita has been responsible for season planning, casting, assembling design teams, hiring directors and overseeing the day-to-day artistic needs of the theater. She developed APT's acting apprentice program, and oversees the education department. She also lectures extensively on auditioning and Shakespeare performance at universities around the United States. Ms. DeVita said, 'I am honored and humbled by the board's decision. I will make it my personal goal to stay true to our mission and our incredible audience while continuing our long tradition of doing so within our resources. I am excited to lead APT by continuing to focus on developing talented regional artists-artists who will not only be a part of APT's community but will enrich the greater regional theater community as well. I believe this nurturing of individual artists is essential to APT's culture and what is truly special about our organization. I love my job. I love artists. What could be better?' APT Board of Directors President Barbara Swan said, 'The Board has been working on succession planning for some time, since David told us of his intention to retire. At the same time, David has been giving Brenda increasingly more responsibility for the artistic workings of the theater, and she has responded splendidly. We are very comfortable with our choice, and wanted to make clear our commitment to Brenda and give her time to transition into her new role.' Mr. Frank said of the appointment: 'Congratulations are in order for our remarkable board on its perceptive and forward-thinking decision. Determining the artistic leadership of an ambitious and increasingly important theater company is, perhaps, the single most important decision a board of directors must make. In this case, it must also have been one of the easiest. Brenda DeVita has been fulfilling ninety percent of a typical artistic director's job for several years and the results, including the recent lavish praise for APT's work from the regional and national press, speak for themselves. I am in no great hurry to retire and expect to be with APT for a few more years, but I take great satisfaction and pride in the fact that the transition, when it happens, will be extraordinarily seamless and meticulously planned. Although only recently formalized by the board, it has in fact been in the works for several years already. The process, I like to think, has been typical of APT's thoughtful and consensus-driven management style.' David Frank came to American Players Theatre in 1990 as Artistic Director and was named Producing Artistic Director in 2005. Under Frank's leadership, APT developed a critically-acclaimed core acting company, built the 200-seat indoor Touchstone Theatre and just completed its 20th year without an operating deficit. The Board of Directors anticipates hiring a Managing Director to co-lead the company following Mr. Frank's retirement.