With this announcement, the Public's board has designated current artistic and executive director Ted Pappas as the producing artistic director.

Power, a Pittsburgh entrepreneur who has enjoyed a corporate marketing and consulting career, and who has a seven-year relationship with the Public as a consultant, is a long-time supporter of the arts. A Public subscriber and an original investor in The Producers (Broadway and the national touring companies), Power is also an investor in the current Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. In his new position, Power will focus on board relations, fund raising, and marketing, and will report directly to the producing artistic director.

"In keeping with the initiatives outlined in our recent Strategic Plan, a managing director was to be hired and in place by May of this year," Pappas said in a statement. "After a search committee comprised of board members was formed in 2005 and the specific goals for the position were outlined, it was a unanimous decision that Mark was the ideal candidate to complete the Public's leadership structure.

"With Mark Power, we have the good fortune of finding a consummate professional with a long history of involvement and support with the company. His talents, added to the exceptional team already in place at the Public, create the perfect chemistry for continued artistic success and growth."

Pappas will continue to focus his efforts on "artistic leadership and ambassadorship for the company." "When previous managing director Stephen Klein departed the Public in spring 2003, we asked Ted to take on three major jobs: artistic director, managing director and the director of several Public Theater productions each season," said PPT board of trustees' president David M. Matter. "This was never intended to be a long-term arrangement and Ted, along with the management team, has taken this company to new heights never before imagined. We believe that our new structure will allow the Public, under Ted's experienced leadership, to continue to set the standard for regional theatres across the country."

During Pappas' tenure as artistic and executive director, produced a diverse array of programming, including classics, recent works and new works, including world premiere productions of Naomi Wallace's Things of Dry Hours and Rob Zellers & Gene Collier's The Chief, as well as the American premieres of Alan Ayckbourn's RolePlay and Frank McGuinness' The Bird Sanctuary.

The company has operated debt-free in recent seasons.

On the horizon is a production of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean ( to close the current season, May 25–June 25).

In 2006-2007, the Public will produce the world premieres of The Glorious Ones, a new musical by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty, directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele; and The Secret Letters of Marilyn & Jackie, a new play by Mark Hampton & Michael Sharp, directed by Leonard Foglia.

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