Kent Thompson has resigned as the producing artistic director of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company, effective March 3.
Thompson will remain in an advisory capacity through the end of the current season and will still direct the theatre’s upcoming production of The Christians, which begins performance January 27.
Thompson issued a statement saying “After 12 seasons, I believe it’s now time to move onto other opportunities in professional theatre. In the immediate future, I am writing a book on professional directing for a major publisher of drama and theatre books in the U.S. and the U.K. After that is done, I look forward to pursuing opportunities elsewhere in the American theatre. I wish the DCPA, the Theatre Company and the entire theatre community of Colorado much success in the future.”
In the coming weeks, DCPA executive staff and Theatre Company leaders will create a transition team, and will embark on a national search for Thompson’s successor.
Janice Sinden, DCPA president and CEO, said, “Kent has been an exceptional artistic leader of the Theatre Company for the past 12 years. His accomplishments as producing artistic director include the creation of the nationally acclaimed Colorado New Play Summit, the establishment of the Women’s Voices Fund to support the work of women in theatre, the development of innovative and immersive programming through Off-Center, and a robust commissioning program. As a director, Kent has led more than 20 productions at the Theatre Company, most notably Kent Haruf’s Plainsong trilogy, Sweeney Todd, and numerous world premieres and Shakespearean productions during his tenure. We will miss his commitment to artistic excellence and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
The Denver Center Theatre Company won the 1998 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre under Thompson’s predecessor, Donovan Marley.
