WEST ORANGE, NJ — Cheryl Katz, Luna Stage’s artistic director, recently announced her decision to step down at the end of the current 2017-2018 season. Katz has been a staff member for more than 15 years and artistic director for the past five years. To succeed Katz, the board has chosen Ari Laura Kreith, who comes to Luna from Theater 167 in New York; she will become artistic director at the conclusion of the current season.
“I have decided to step down as artistic director at the end of this season,” Katz said in a press release. “I have not made this decision lightly. During my tenure here, I have been blessed to work with an amazing collection of artists and arts supporters, and I have been given the gift of being able to champion the work I felt was most deserving. All of this is rare and has been an honor.”
“It’s difficult to succinctly describe the depth of what Cheryl has brought to Luna over the years,” Luna Board President Rita Woodard said in the press release. “Her fierce commitment to the work and to the audiences has meant that when you see a play here, you will be ‘challenged and illuminated.’ We will deeply miss her.”
As a director and artistic director, Kreith comes to Luna with a long history of creating new work through community engagement. Her work as artistic director in theaters that work with original plays will continue Luna’s tradition of developing vital new works for the stage. Her work in community engagement will add new dimensions to Luna’s work as one of the anchors in the Valley Arts District.
“Luna is rekindling its role as an engine for community and arts engagement in the Valley Arts District,” Woodard said. “Ari’s skills and experience will catalyze building theater that builds community. She will continue Luna’s tradition of producing work that inspires powerful conversations. I am beyond delighted about Luna’s evolution.”
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