Urbanite Theatre announces a change in leadership

Urbanite Theatre announced today that founding Co-Artistic Director Brendan Ragan will step down to assume a new role as Artistic Director of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, IL. Ragan, who has led Urbanite Theatre in a partnership with Summer Wallace since inception in 2014, has helped build the organization into a prosperous company with a regional reputation for inventive, provocative new works.

Together, Ragan and Wallace have produced over 50 plays, three new play festivals, developed five world premieres, two United States premieres, and many regional premieres. The two were named Sarasota Magazine's Localpreneurs of the Year in 2019, and have garnered a number of regional accolades and awards for their work in the 70-seat flexible black-box space in downtown Sarasota. 

Ragan directed ten of those productions, including the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of the recently opened Backwards Forwards Back by Jacqueline Goldfinger, playing through April 23, 2023. Other notable productions include Sender by Ike Holter, The Burdens by Matt Schatz, The Drowning Girls by Graham, Vlaskalic and Tomlinson, Breadcrumbs by Jennifer Haley and The Smuggler by Ronán Noone. Ragan also wrote and directed the immersive experience Safe House, which the company produced in the early days of COVID-19 pandemic.

As a part of the transition, Summer Wallace will assume the role of Producing Artistic Director at Urbanite Theatre. Wallace has produced the company's yearly Modern Works Festival, a playwriting festival highlighting female writers, and directed memorable Urbanite productions such as Northside Hollow by Brenda Withers and Jonathan Fielding, Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel, and recently, Birds of North America by Anna Ouyang Moench.

"We're enormously proud of Brendan and everything he's helped Urbanite accomplish in his nine years here," says Len Goldberg, Board Chair. "He's an immensely talented storyteller and leader, and has been a voice for positive change in the industry. While Brendan will certainly be missed as he moves to this important new chapter in his career, the Board is fully supportive and confident in Summer Wallace stepping into the role of Producing Artistic Director. Summer is a splendid leader and accomplished theater artist, and we know she will continue the work that has made Urbanite Theatre so special.”

Ragan says, "Sarasota has been a transformative place for me, and I owe an incredible debt of gratitude to Urbanite's passionate patrons and supporters for making Urbanite Theatre what it is today. Their belief in what we do has allowed us to take major theatrical risks and support the growth of countless emerging artists. So much of the credit needs to go to these adventurous, dedicated theatergoers who've taken the risks with us. Because of the strength of that community, I feel very confident that Urbanite is in a tremendous position to continue to flourish."

Summer Wallace says, "Brendan has been a wonderful artistic partner and collaborator for the past nine years, and while I am saddened to say goodbye to him, we will continue to be close. I look forward to supporting and strengthening each other as arts leaders in the regional theatre community. I am grateful for the opportunity to deepen the artistic work at Urbanite Theatre and remain very excited about our future."

Ragan will continue until April 14th, assuring a smooth transition of leadership responsibilities. The company plans to hire more staff in the future and will announce those opportunities soon.

BACKWARDS FORWARDS BACK
by Jacqueline Goldfinger
Directed by Brendan Ragan, in his final work at Urbanite Theatre

A National New Play Network
ROLLING WORLD PREMIERE

Playing NOW through April 23, 2023
 
When a soldier returns from war carrying the ghosts of his tour, he’s faced with a sobering decision: address his alarming PTSD with Virtual Reality therapy, or risk losing access to his family forever. Can this new technology re-calibrate the brains and bodies of wounded soldiers?  This electric, vivid, one-man drama studies the power of healing and finding strength in vulnerability. 

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Tickets to BACKWARDS FORWARDS BACK