Sharif, who served as the artistic producer for Hartford Stage, will make her MainStage directorial debut with Gee's Bend in early 2010 and will also produce the Brand:New Festival at Hartford Stage. She directed 2008-2009 New Voices Fellow and Tony nominee Quiara Hudes's Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue for last season's Brand:New Festival. "Hana Sharif is one of the bright young talents in American regional theatre today. Her contributions to Hartford Stage over the past five years have helped to elevate the theatre's national reputation as a place where diverse, exciting, up-and-coming artists can be nurtured and grow their work. I'm thrilled by Aetna's ongoing support and Hana's choice to continue to call Hartford Stage as her artistic home," said Hartford Stage artistic director Michael Wilson in a statement.
In addition to co-founding Nasir Productions, Sharif has produced the world premieres of Fragility's Decline, Next Stop Africa and The Drum. She has also directed Barrio ABC's, Tuesday Night, Game/Over, Dreaming in Cuban and 365 Days/365 Plays for Hartford Stage.
For more information visit www.hartfordstage.org.