New Producing Artistic Director comes home to Wyoming to head Theatre Company

Jackson, Wyoming—John Briggs has been appointed producing artistic director for the Off Square Theatre Company, announced David Kornblum, Off Square Theatre Board President. Briggs, a Cheyenne native, returns to his home state to lead the theatre in its expanded focus in its new theatre space. His professional acting, directing and producing career includes work on Broadway, in Dallas, Miami, West Palm Beach and Atlanta.

”In retrospect, it’s ironic that the Off Square Theatre board conducted an expensive national search resulting in over 80 applicants,” Kornblum says. “John was one of the first to apply and we could have simply stopped looking after receiving his resume because he is incredibly qualified for the job. We are so happy he has returned to Wyoming to join the Off Square Theatre Company.”

A University of Wyoming graduate, Briggs began his career as an actor doing summer stock while he was a student in Laramie. Following graduation he moved to Casper, where he taught drama at Kelly Walsh while directing summer stock theatre in Jackson: From 1970 to 1974 Briggs was the resident director of the Jackson Hole Opera House and Dirty Jacks in Jackson. Briggs eventually left Wyoming to pursue a career that has included directing musicals, performing in national tours, co-writing a Broadway musical and recording music under a contract with Laurie Records.

“I am delighted to be back in Wyoming, working to assist Wyoming’s year-round professional theatre company as we expand our direction and move into our fabulous new space,” says Briggs, who in his new role at the OST will work in the dual role of artistic director and producing director creating original works on the new stage at the Center for the Arts. “The potential for the Off Square Theatre Company is extremely exciting as we look at our 2007 performance schedule as well as into the future.”

The OST company will open on the new stage at the Center for the Arts with a children’s classic Peter Pan on March 28, 2007. From June 26 through July 29, the OST will perform the regional premiere of the Broadway tryout musical comedy “Crazy Love.” A three-play “black box” mini-series will be performed from September 4-18, followed by the Pulitzer prize-winning play “Wit” November 1-17. The 2007 season will wrap up with “Scrooge,” the musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol,” December 13-23. Annual subscriptions to the Off Square Theatre will be offered.

Briggs particularly looks forward to the September mini-series of plays, which includes “The God Committee,” “Stones in His Pocket,” and “Eleemosynary,” and will be performed in the rehearsal space at the Off Square Theatre Company. “I am very excited about the mini-series, which features smaller, intimate, actor-driven performances,” says Briggs. “I believe our audience will love this new addition to the line-up.”

Briggs’ vision for the theatre company’s future includes a subscriber series that will allow subscribers to buy additional tickets at a discount for visiting guests, a Rocky Mountain playwriting festival, and opportunities for local actors to develop their professional skills.

“The only reason I left Wyoming,” says Briggs, “was because of a lack of professional opportunities in the theatre here at the time. But I’ve seen a tremendous change in Wyoming embracing the arts, and as a result, creating more opportunities. I would like for kids to have a shot at pursuing a theatre career without having to leave the state. Some of the most gifted people I’ve ever worked with are Wyoming talent,” he adds.

The Off Square Theatre Company was founded in 1998. After eight great years in the historic Pink Garter Theatre space, the theatre company will move into its new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Pavilion home in February 2007 to become the Resident Theatre Company at the Center for the Arts. For additional information, contact Emy diGrappa at 307.733.3021 or visit http://www.offsquare.org