Slog - Comments on Hello, I Must Be Going http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon This just in: David Esbjornson, artistic director of Seattle Rep, has decided not to renew his contract. He came to the Rep in 2005 and his contract expires June, 2009. He's a fairly taciturn guy (I made up an interview with him when he first got here and was reluctant to speak to the press) and only says, through a Rep spokesperson, that he's leaving "for a complex of reasons."... Copyright 2008 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:16:46 -0800 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:33:01 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Bub Hmm. Do you think a local theater artist will be named the new Artistic Director of the Seattle Rep?

]]> Bub http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001198 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001198 Theater Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:54:24 -0800 Comment by MyDogBen My copy of 'Angels in America' says he directed the world premieres, so he was always OK in my book. Also, he was savvy enough to snag talent from Washington Ensemble Theater (My Name is Rachel Corrie). Could it be that Seattle audiences are more comfortable with "Shrek" and retreads of 'Cabaret', 'My Fair Lady', and 'Into the Woods'?

]]> MyDogBen http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001225 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001225 Theater Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:16:39 -0800 Comment by Mike Daisey
No, I do not...

...but man, I'd be the first to fucking celebrate if they did.

]]> Mike Daisey http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001292 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001292 Theater Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:06:04 -0800 Comment by Jenny Adams An artistic director isn't going to be any better or worse because they're from Seattle or from Little Rock -- or from New York, as we have just seen from the past years with Mr. Esbjornson. They just need to be someone who wants to be an AD for Seattle audiences. Like, actually meet them; maybe hang with them. How many of you ever met the guy, even after sitting thru one of the deadly productions since 2005? Bet its almost no one. Spare me from an appointment based on either a preference for home grown talent OR a snobbery for an outsider. Just help the Seattle Repertory Theatre come back, by finding the best leader they can find. David Esbjornson has really hurt that theater, inside and out. Ask anyone who works there, or anyone who goes there.

]]> Jenny Adams http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001410 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001410 Theater Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:54:38 -0800 Comment by GDC Just to through a cynical bone in: it might be that the Seattle Rep has become a resume builder within the American Theater world. It is a pit stop for directors on their way to bigger places. Not to diminish the next place, something like going to Yale faculty, or any major theater in New York, or head of the NEA or just tons of freelance work.

May or may not be, but there may be some years of a revolving door of AD's through there.

]]> GDC http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001436 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001436 Theater Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:26:08 -0800 Comment by Brendan Kiley Jenny Adams: Would you please send me an email at brendan@thestranger.com or give me a call at 323-7101?

Thanks.

]]> Brendan Kiley http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001519 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/04/going_so_soon#c1001519 Theater Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:33:01 -0800