Loretta Greco to head Magic Theatre

Loretta Greco, whom Bay Area audiences know mainly from her work with American Conservatory Theater, has been named as the new artistic director of the Magic Theatre. She replaces Chris Smith.“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to partner with David Jobin in launching the next era of adventuresome work at Magic Theatre,” Greco said in a statement. “I believe Magic's 41-year legacy of unwavering commitment to playwrights and the development of bold new work is truly paramount to the future of American theater. I can't wait to bring my passion for new work to a city I adore and to join San Francisco’s rich and wonderful community of artists."Greco arrives at the Magic with a directing career regionally and in New York, as well as producing experience as the producing artistic director of Women’s Project in NYC and as associate director and staff producer of McCarter Theatre.Greco has director's credits in the Bay Area as well, including the world premiere of Morbidity & Mortality at the Magic and Speed-the-Plow, Blackbird, and Lackawanna Blues at ACT.Her New York premieres include: The Story, Lackawanna Blues, Two Sisters and a Piano (Public Theater); Victoria Martin: Math Team Queen, Touch, Gum (Women’s Project); Meshugah (Naked Angels); Mercy (Vineyard Theatre); A Park in Our House (New York Theater Workshop); and Under a Western Sky (INTAR/ Women’s Project). Regional credits include: Romeo and Juliet and Stop Kiss (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); and productions at Long Wharf, South Coast Repertory Theatre, McCarter Theater, Intiman, Williamstown Theater Festival, La Jolla Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St Louis, Coconut Grove Playhouse, Playmakers Repertory Company, and the Cleveland Play House. Greco also directed the national tour of Having Our Say as well as the play’s international premiere at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Greco has collaborated with a variety of distinguished contemporary writers including Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz, Tracey Scott Wilson, Emily Mann, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Deb Margolin, Luis Alfaro, Joyce Carol Oates, and Jessica Hagedorn. Greco’s own play, Passage: Stories of the Cuban Balseros premiered at Miami’s AREA Stage where it ran for six months before transferring to the Coconut Grove Playhouse.“Loretta is the ideal choice to be leading the Magic at this time,” said Harold Goldstein and Missy Kirchner, co-presidents of Magic Theatre Board of Trustees. “Her experience and commitment to Magic Theatre’s mission was clear from the first day we met her. The Board and the staff are excited to be working with her to build on Magic’s foundation and legacy, most recently accomplished under Chris Smith’s leadership.”“Loretta’s résumé and reputation speak volumes,” said Jobin, Magic Theatre’s managing director. “And personally, I am thrilled to have her on board.”For more information, visit www.magictheatre.org.