Bangor, Maine: Penobscot Theater Company (PTC) announced that the artistic director Jonathan Berry would leave the end of the 51st main season season of the theater, concluding a mandate marked by artistic innovation, community commitment and the growth of post-pandemic blocking. A search for a new artistic director will start in the coming months, with more details to announce soon.
“We are deeply grateful to Jonathan's passion and dedication to the Penobscot Theater Company,” said PTC's board of directors, Sundance Campbell, in a statement. “Thanks to its artistic leadership, the theater prospered, captivating the public with a dynamic narration and promoting a feeling of community through the power of live performance.”
Since he joined the company in 2022, Berry has helped shape the artistic vision of the theater, bringing daring and diverse productions on the stage while deepening the connection of the organization with the community of Bangor and beyond. In partnership with executive director Jen Shepard, Berry worked to rebuild the public while simultaneously broadening artistic programming to include different voices and perspectives. Under his mandate, PTC has expanded the diversity of artists on stage – including directors, playwrights, actors and designers – creating productions that reflect the evolutionary demography of Bangor. With a solid leadership of Shepard and Berry, PTC also opened a coffee, the door of the scene and extended its community partnership program. While the financial challenges persist, each season has shown an increase in ticket sales and the number of subscribers.
“The main Penobscot theater company was an extraordinary honor,” said Berry in a statement. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. Our dedicated staff, our talented artists and our passionate audience have made this experience an experience of which I am grateful. I can't wait to see the company continue to thrive in the coming years. ”
The last three PTC seasons have included two first world (Trapped: a lobster story And Dirty acts downwards), a collaboration of Penobscot Nation featuring the dramatic Academy (My story is glluskabe), the return of A Christmas songand two very popular summer musicals (Small horrors shop And Mary Poppins). Berry has also directed productions acclaimed by criticism such as Clarkston,, IronAnd M. Burns: a post-electrical partWhile producing two vacation productions featuring Bangor Drag Icon Poppycocks.
The last show that Berry will direct for the company as an artistic director is the first of the east coast of Lauren Yee's comedy Russian motherwhich will start rehearsals on April 8. The 52nd season, selected by Berry, will be announced in April.
Penobscot Theater Company has roots at the Acadia Repertory Theater, founded in Bangor in 1973. Acadia REP presented 97 productions in Bangor before the Penobscot theater company was formed in 501 (C) 3 in 1983. In 2024, they have a budget of around $ 2.1 million.
