Mason Takes Ahmanson Post

Marshall W. Mason, who staged the production of “Summer and Smoke” now playing at the Ahmanson Theatre, has formally agreed to serve as guest artistic director of the Ahmanson for one year effective immediately.

The announcement was made Monday by Lawrence J. Ramer, president of the board of the Center Theatre Group, who said that the appointment would help “while the search for the most qualified artistic director continues.” (Mason, who is the former artistic director of New York’s Circle Repertory Theatre, said last week that he is not a candidate for the permanent Ahmanson post.)

Outgoing artistic director Robert Fryer has also agreed to stay on for another year and work with Mason on the 1988-89 season.