David Esbjornson, a noted freelance theatrical director, has been named artistic director of the Seattle Repertory Theater succeeding Sharon Ott,.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ott announced said last spring she would leave Seattle Rep at the end of the season, setting off a talent search for a new artistic director.

Esbjornson staged last summer's Shakespeare in the Park production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in New York's Central Park. He has been a frequent collaborator of playwright Edward Albee's and has directed the New York premiere productions of Albee's "The Goat or Who is Sylvia?" on Broadway and "The Play About the Baby" Off-Broadway. He also directed the Broadway premiere of Arthur Miller's "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan."

Esbjornson was artistic director of the Classic Theater Company in New York from 1992-1998 and has been resident director of the O'Neill Playwrights. He also has worked in London where he directed the original production of Tony Kushner's "Homebody/ Kabul" after directing the original U.S. production of Kushner's "Angels in America."