Playhouse hires managing director

Following an extensive, six-month nationwide search, The Laguna Playhouse announced today that Karen Wood has been appointed as the Playhouse’s managing director. She succeeds Richard Stein, who resigned in June after many years as executive director.

Wood, who was previously managing director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre for seven years, will assume her duties at The Playhouse on Feb. 4.

The announcement was made by Andrew Donchak, president of the Laguna Playhouse board of directors.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am very pleased to welcome Karen Wood to the Laguna Playhouse,” said Donchak. “We interviewed many fine candidates from across the country and were tremendously impressed by Karen’s experience, talent and passion for theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has developed an enviable reputation as one of the leading professional nonprofit theatres in the U.S. We are confident that Karen will help lead the Playhouse to new heights in the years to come.”

Executive search firm services were provided by Jessica Andrews and Jim Volz of Consultants for the Arts, who helped select and evaluate numerous candidates along with Laguna Playhouse Search Committee Chair Richard Schweickert, Andrew Donchak, board members Sindi Schwarz and Laura Rohl, and Playhouse artistic director Andrew Barnicle.

Prior to her tenure with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, Wood’s career in the arts included serving as managing director of The Music Center Education Division in Los Angeles, general manager of the John Anson Ford Theatre through the County Arts Commission of Los Angeles, and general manager of the Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles.