Edelstein will work together with managing director Michael G. Murphy to lead San Diego’s flagship arts institution. Both Edelstein and Murphy will report jointly to the Board of Directors.
"Barry Edelstein and Michael Murphy will give The Old Globe a world-class theatrical leadership team and open up a future for the Globe that's even brighter than its illustrious heritage," said Board Chair Harold W. Fuson Jr. in a statement. "Barry will be a terrific asset to San Diego, helping secure the city’s cultural reputation in the same way our universities make San Diego the center of cutting-edge research. Everyone associated with the Globe owes a great debt of gratitude to Elaine Darwin and the Search Committee for bringing us a leader of Barry’s stature."
"Our staff and artists are elated that Barry is joining The Old Globe,” added managing director Michael G. Murphy. “His extraordinary background in contemporary plays, classics and Shakespeare, in addition to his commitment to the creation and development of new works, is a perfect match with the Globe’s history of theatrical tradition and artistic innovation. Barry’s energy and intense love of theater are infectious, and I look forward to welcoming him and his family to San Diego.”
“I am deeply honored and beyond thrilled to be appointed artistic director of one of this country’s greatest theaters,” stated Edelstein. “The Old Globe’s history is one of unparalleled excellence, and it will be my privilege to work alongside Michael Murphy to build on that history and guide the theater into a new period of excitement and achievement. I believe that a thriving theater is vital to the life of a vibrant city, and I am delighted that this opportunity will bring me and my family to one of the most spectacular cities in America. I am grateful to the Board and Search Committee for selecting me, and I cannot wait to get to work.”
Edelstein is widely recognized as one of the leading authorities on the works of William Shakespeare in the United States, having directed nearly half of the Bard's works. He is the author of "Bardisms: Shakespeare for All Occasions and Thinking Shakespeare," which New York magazine called “a must-read for actors” and is now considered the standard text on American Shakespearean acting. As director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater, he oversees all of the company’s Shakespearean productions, as well as The Public’s extensive educational, community outreach and artist-training programs. He was associate producer of The Public’s recent Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino. Prior to his work with The Public, Edelstein was the artistic director of the Classic Stage Company in New York City. Under his leadership, the Off-Broadway theatre doubled in size and was recognized with every major theatre award, including six Obie Awards and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work.
