- By Hangar Theatre
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Lisa Bushlow, Executive Director of The Hangar Theatre, has announced the selection of Peter Flynn as the theatre's new Artistic Director. Based in New York, Flynn has extensive experience as a director and teacher, and is a prominent force in the development of children's theatre. "We are not just pleased to have Peter Flynn as our new Artistic Director," said Bushlow. "We are thrilled. We are ecstatic. He was our unanimous first choice." Bushlow went on to say, "Peter Flynn will build on the vision of past artistic leaders, including Robert Moss, Mark Ramont and Kevin Moriarty. With his experience and enthusiasm, we look forward to a new integration of our professional summer season, our acclaimed training programs, and our year-round education programs in local schools."
Peter Flynn is every bit as pleased with his appointment. "The Hangar's mission to focus on education as well as entertainment in live theatre reflects my personal commitments," Flynn said. He directed an award winning production of "Junie B. Jones" at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and has directed four new musicals created for TheatreworksUSA, the leading children's theatre company in New York.
Peter Flynn has directed a wide variety of productions in New York and his regional directing credits range from Vermont Stage Company to Tampa Center for the Arts and westward to Pittsburgh, St Louis, and Chicago. "I am proud to have an artistic home at the Hangar. I look forward to the opportunity to guide this remarkable organization and to build upon my relationships with other regional theaters."
Flynn served as the first artistic director of the Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Perry Mansfield is the oldest continuously operating performing arts school and camp in the nation. The New Works Festival, which began eleven years ago, brings performing arts professionals together in the Rocky Mountains to develop new pieces of drama, musical theatre, and dance, and to mentor new talent in each medium.
"Mentoring new talent by providing the opportunity to work with professionals parallels the commitment and excitement of the Hangar's Lab Company," Flynn remarked.
The Hangar tradition of premiering a brand new play provides the foundation for unveiling more new work, Flynn believes. He would like to increase the production of new work so that the Hangar gains the kind of national reputation for the development of new plays enjoyed by the Huntington Theatre in Boston or the Old Globe in San Diego. He believes this goal to be "absolutely plausible" and is committed to its success.
To find exciting new scripts and to engage new talent in all aspects of the Hangar Theatre, Flynn will use his own presence in New York, which he says remains "the live performance capital." Through his teaching at the Stella Adler Conservatory and New York University, through the networks of playwrights in graduate programs, and through cooperation with other regional theatres, Peter Flynn is confident that he will be able to identify new work that has commercial viability.
Flynn has every reason to believe in the power of networks. He was urged to apply for the Hangar Artistic Director's job by his good friend Kenny Finkle, whose new plays have been developed and premiered at the Hangar both in the KIDDSTUFF program and also on the Mainstage. Finkle's play Indoor/Outdoor went on to an off-Broadway production in New York.
Peter Flynn is married to actress Andréa Burns. She is now appearing in the New York hit, In the Heights, which has been nominated for a Tony Award for Best New Musical of 2008. They are the proud parents of four-year-old Hudson Rafael. Flynn feels confident his family will thrive with commitments to both New York City and Ithaca. He said, "I've already begun to feel at home in Ithaca."
Flynn was struck by the fervent commitment of Board members and staff to the Hangar's community involvement. "To a person, those I spoke with talked about the crucial role of the theatre in the community. Every single person understood that creating and experiencing live theatre has inherent value for people young and old. That conviction is precisely where I come from as a theatre professional and it is refreshing to hear it expressed from the other side of the footlights."
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