As the Georgia Ensemble Theatre looks ahead to its upcoming 25th Silver Anniversary Season, the theater group is facing a major change.
The company's co-founder and artistic director Robert J. Farley has announced that he will retire after the 2017-18 season.
Before founding the Georgia Ensemble Theatre in 1992, Farley worked with other arts organizations, including Atlanta's Alliance Theatre. In total, his career has spanned 50 years.
“I am happy that GET is at a place where it is stable, vital, and operating with more performance and educational programs than at any time in our history," Farley said via press release. "Given that, plus the fact that I do have other goals in life outside of the theatre that I wish to explore before it is too late, I feel that this is a good chapter in time for me to retire from the theatre profession."
Credit: Jewel Wicker
Credit: Jewel Wicker
The artistic director's last day will be at the conclusion of the theater group's 25th Silver Anniversary Season on April 30, 2018. Alan Kilpatrick will serve as his successor.
"Our team has worked most diligently in selecting Alan Kilpatrick as Associate Artistic Director for the upcoming season and as my successor effective May 1, 2018," Farley said. "Passing the torch of artistic leadership to Mr. Kilpatrick will provide GET with one of the kindest and most skilled theatre artists working in Atlanta today.”
A succession committee and the organization's board has been working to ensure a smooth transition for more than a year.
Georgia Ensemble Theatre co-founder Anita Allen-Farley will remain with the organization in her current role as managing director.
In addition to announcing Farley's departure, the theater group has released the scheduled for it's 25th season.
"Each play I have selected to celebrate this huge occasion has been chosen as a tribute to our subscribers, donors, sponsors, and supporters, " Farley said. "I thank each of you with all my heart, and I cannot wait to share my farewell season with you every step of the way.”
See the full schedule below:
The 2017-2018 Mainstage Season - It's Your Party!
Once On This Island
Sept. 14–Oct. 1, 2017
By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Directed and Choreographed by Ricardo Aponte
Musical Direction by S. Renee Clark
Morningside
Oct. 26-Nov. 12, 2017
By Topher Payne
Directed by Shannon Eubanks
Tenderly -- The Rosemary Clooney Musical
Jan. 11-28, 2018
Based on the life of Rosemary Clooney
By Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman
Directed by Alan Kilpatrick
A Comedy of Tenors
March 1-18, 2018
By Ken Ludwig
Directed by Shelly McCook
Buddy -- The Buddy Holly Story
April 12-29, 2018
By Alan Janes
Featuring the Music of Buddy Holly
Directed by Robert J. Farley
The FamilyStage: Adventure Series
The Jungle Book
Sept. 16, 23, 30 and Apr 14, 21, 28
By Greg Banks, adapted from the book by Rudyard Kipling
Miss Nelson is Missing!
Oct. 28, Nov. 4, 11, 2017 and March 3, 10, 17, 2018
by Joan Cushing, adapted from the book by Harry Allard
The Giver
Jan. 13, 20, 23, 27, 2018
By Eric Coble, adapted from the book by Lois Lowry
And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank
March 13, 2018
by James Still
The Joe Gransden Big Band Series
Oct. 30 and Dec. 18, 2017, March 12 and April 23, 2018
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