As a theater enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the evolution of Broadway, I am thrilled to welcome Christopher Ashley as the new artistic director of Roundabout Theatre Company. With his extensive background at La Jolla Playhouse, where he nurtured 22 shows that ultimately made their way to the Great White Way, and his impressive directing credits on Broadway himself, Ashley is undoubtedly a perfect fit for this esteemed position.
Christopher Ashley, who has been the artistic director at La Jolla Playhouse for a while, is set to become the new artistic director at Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway.
Scott Ellis is set to continue as the interim artistic director until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Then, in July 2026, a new artistic director will start their term, which will cover the 2027-2028 season. During this transition period, Ellis and the incoming artistic director, Ashley, will collaborate on the 2026-2027 season. Before that, Ashley has some previous engagements to fulfill at La Jolla.
Following Todd Haimes’ passing in April 2023, Ellis was appointed as the temporary head of the non-profit theatre organization that he had been leading for nearly four decades. Under his guidance, this theater company expanded significantly to become one of the largest not-for-profit theatres in the United States, boasting three Broadway venues and two Off-Broadway.
In the year 2024, the main Broadway theater known as Roundabout’s American Airlines Theater was rechristened in honor of Haimes.
Ashley has moved on to this position following a decade of leadership at La Jolla Playhouse, a renowned non-profit organization situated in San Diego, starting from 2007. During this time, Ashley was responsible for directing shows such as “Come From Away,” which later had a successful run on Broadway, and for debuting new productions like “The Outsiders,” which recently won the Tony Award for Best Musical. Collaborating with artists including Tina Landau, Lisa Sanaye Dring, Joe Iconis, Sonya Tayeh, Anna Deveare Smith, Kimber Lee, and Charlayne Woodard, Ashley oversaw a total of 22 shows that were transferred to Broadway under his guidance.
His directing credits on Broadway span a variety of productions such as ‘Diana’, ‘Memphis’, ‘Xanadu’, ‘Leap of Faith’, ‘Escape to Margaritaville’, and ‘All Shook Up’ as well as ‘The Rocky Horror Show’.
Ashley expressed great enthusiasm and gratitude for taking on the position of Artistic Director at Roundabout Theater Company, following Todd Haimes’ tenure. Roundabout, under his guidance, has grown to be a creative sanctuary for numerous artists, operating in five stunning venues both on and off Broadway. Ashley is excited to work with Scott Ellis in planning the 2026-27 season and officially join Sydney Beers, Chris Nave, and the dedicated team full time in July 2026. As the American theater undergoes significant transformation, Ashley aims for Roundabout to serve as a gathering place, fostering open dialogue about pressing issues, celebrating the magic of live performance, and fostering a sense of unity and optimism.
productions by Roundabout Theatre have been honored with 38 Tony Awards, among them are awards for plays like “A Soldier’s Play”, “She Loves Me”, “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “The Humans”, “Anything Goes”, “The Importance of Being Earnest”, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”, “The 39 Steps”, “The Pajama Game”, “Assassins”, “Nine”, “Little Me”, “Side Man”, “Cabaret”, “A View from the Bridge”, “Anna Christie” and “A Day in the Death of Joe Egg”.
Ashley has been appointed the newest leader of Broadway’s nonprofit organizations, following several decades of unchanged leadership at the four major nonprofit companies on Broadway. This month, Lear deBessonet was selected as the new artistic director for Lincoln Center Theater, taking over from André Bishop who served for 33 years. Evan Cabnet, previously the artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT3, has recently been appointed as the new artistic director at Second Stage Theater, replacing Carole Rothman after a long career spanning 45 years. Lynne Meadow continues in her position at Manhattan Theatre Club.
Roundabout will next search for a managing director to work with Ashley.
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2024-09-25 21:25