Orlando Shakespeare Theater Names Interim Associate Director of New Play Development

Sept. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is pleased to announce that Mark Routhier has been selected as the Interim Associate Director of New Play Development. Routhier, who starts the position with the Fall 2011 semester, comes to Orlando from the National New Play Network where he served as the Chair of Literary Managers and on the Executive Committee for more than five seasons.  

"We are so glad to have Mark with us this season,” said Orlando Shakes Artistic Director Jim Helsinger. “We already knew his work well, both from his direction of OPUS and from three seasons as a PlayFest! Associate Artist. He brings a wealth of experience to the faculty at UCF as well."

He will serve as a member of the theater faculty at the University of Central Florida where he will teach directing. In addition to his role in the PlayFest office and for UCF, Routhier is slated to direct Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s 2011-2012 productions of GOD OF CARNAGE and CHARLOTTE’S WEB.

Routhier’s directing credits include SKIN, THE BONE MAN OF BENARES and 70 SCENES OF HALLOWEEN at the Encore Theatre; ORANGE FLOWER WATER at the Elm Theatre, CAT’S-PAW with InsideOut Prod. at the Allways Lounge and Theatre; THE SANTALAND DIARIES with A.J. Allegra at Le Chat Noir, THE PIANO TEACHER, OPUS, AND THE SEAFARER at SRT, as well as ZOMBIE TOWN: A DOCUMENTARY PLAY and LOVE CHILD for Southern Rep at Le Chat Noir.  

Routhier produced 6x6 (6 ten minute plays by 6 local playwrights) as part of the Wednesday Night Series for Southern Rep, directed THE STREETCAR PROJECT (a workshop of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE) with InsideOut Productions at The New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, and conducted workshops with playwrights Eisa Davis, Annie Baker, Marisa Wegrzyn, Rajiv Joseph, Carly Mensch, Lia Romeo, Susan Stanton, and Chris Chen.

Routhier taught acting at Loyola University in New Orleans and served as the Associate Artistic Director at Southern Rep. He previously acted as Literary Manager and then Director of Artistic Development at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco.  He is also an active member of the National New Play Network (NNPN) where he is a former member of the Executive Committee as Literary Chair and Vice President. Routhier received his Masters of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from NYU and is a proud member of the Nola Project.

The University of Central Florida and Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF will conduct a joint search to permanently fill the position during the 2011-2012 Season.

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Now celebrating its 23rd season, Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF has grown into one of the region’s most acclaimed Equity theaters producing bold professional theater in Central Florida. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Managing Director Shannon Lacek, Orlando Shakespeare Theater continues to achieve the highest standards, while preserving its artistic and cultural legacy. Through PlayFest! The Harriett Lake Festival of New Plays, Orlando Shakespeare Theater is nationally recognized for its contribution to the development of new plays. Orlando Shakes also provides innovative educational experiences through its youth education programming, serving over 25,000 young people, families, and schools annually.