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David Ivers is heading to Arizona Theatre Company, taking over July 1 as artistic director.
For seven years, Ivers has shared artistic duties co-directing the Utah Shakespeare Festival, where he is noted for acting in and directing more than 50 productions since he started at the company as an intern actor in 1992.
At ATC, Ivers will succeed David Ira Goldstein, who is retiring after 25 years. The professional regional theater company is unusual in that it runs full seasons in two cities, with shows in downtown Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center and at Tucson's Temple of Music and Art.
At the Utah Shakespeare Festival, artistic directors Ivers and Brian Vaughn oversaw the opening last year of Southern Utah University's $39.1 million, 8-acre arts complex, which includes the outdoor Engelstad Shakespeare Theatre and Anes Studio Theater, as well as new rehearsal space, costume shop and administrative offices.
As actors, Ivers and Vaughn shared the stage in the comedy-drama "Stones in His Pockets" in 2005 and 2012, as well as switching lead roles in last season's "The Odd Couple."
Utah theatergoers also know Ivers' work as a guest director at Pioneer Theatre Company, including the March production of "King Charles III" and the 2104 production of "One Man, Two Guvnors."
At USF, Ivers will direct this season's world-premiere production of playwright Neil LaBute's "How to Fight Loneliness," which opens in August.
Previously, Ivers, a native of San Rafael, Calif., was the associate artistic director at Portland Repertory Theatre and a resident artist for 10 years at the Denver Center Theatre Company. He has recently directed at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and South Coast Repertory Theatre.
Earlier this month, Vaughn was promoted as the sole artistic director of USF. A nationwide search was conducted to identify candidates for the company's executive producer position, with an announcement expected in upcoming weeks. That opening was created after the March retirement of R. Scott Phillips, who was hired by founder Fred Adams as the company's first full-time employee in 1977.
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P Utah Shakespeare Festival's season runs from June to October. Tickets and schedules are available at bard.org.
O Information about the Arizona Theatre Company available at arizonatheatre.org.