Long, who joined the board of the Wing last year, will succeed current Chair Ted Chapin, who concludes his four-year term this year (the maximum number of consecutive years permitted). Chapin will maintain an active role in The Wing as Co-Vice Chair.
Long will serve as Chair of the Wing's Board of Directors, which also welcomes three new appointees: Pamela Zilly, Pamela Bell and Mark Abrahams. (ATW officers include Co-Vice Chairs Chapin and Peter Schneider, Treasurer Michael Price and Secretary Enid Nemy. The Wing's Executive Director Heather Hitchens recently completed her first full year.)
"I am honored to lead the board of the American Theatre Wing,” said Long in a statement. “Having worked for 38 years in professional theatre designing 63 Broadway productions, I am very proud to be part of an organization that celebrates artistic excellence in the theatre."
"I have had four remarkable years as Chair during a period of growth," Chapin added. "And while I am not intending to venture too far away, I think William is an inspired choice. I look forward to working with him and with our amazing Executive Director, Heather Hitchens, as the Wing continues to strengthen and blossom."
William Ivey Long is a five-time Tony Award-winning costume designer. He recently designed Don’t Dress For Dinner, for which he received his 12th Tony nomination. Other credits include Chicago, now in its 16th year, Hugh Jackman: Back On Broadway, Pal Joey, Curtains, Grey Gardens, The Frogs, The Boy From Oz, Hairspray, The Producers, The Music Man, Contact, Cabaret, Steel Pier, Smokey Joe’s Café, Madison Square Garden’s A Christmas Carol, Guys and Dolls, Crazy for You, Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me A Tenor, Nine. Long received a BA in history from The College of William and Mary, was a Kress Fellow in Art History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and received an MFA in stage design from the Yale School of Drama. He joined United Scenic Artists in 1974, and designed his first Broadway show, The Inspector General, in 1978. He has won four Hewes Awards, five Drama Desk Awards and four Outer Critics Circle Awards. He was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in January 2006. The American Theatre Wing is a not-for-profit organization best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, which it presents annually with The Broadway League. In addition to “Downstage Center,” “Working in the Theatre” and a host of other online resources, The Wing sponsors many activities, all dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre. Visit americantheatrewing.org.
