Theater News

Anne Kauffman, Jeanine Tesori to Be Co-Artistic Directors of 2018 Encores! Off-Center

They take over from the late Michael Friedman in presiding over the New York City Center summer concert series.

Anne Kauffman and Jeanine Tesori will be coartistic directors of the 2018 season of Encores! Off-Center.
Anne Kauffman and Jeanine Tesori will be co-artistic directors of the 2018 season of Encores! Off-Center.
(© David Gordon)

New York City Center announced that Anne Kauffman and Jeanine Tesori will be co-artistic directors for the 2018 Encores! Off-Center season, taking the reins from the late Michael Friedman, who was the artistic director of the summer concert series last year.

"Encores! Off-Center began a new phase last summer under the direction of Michael Friedman, which was tragically cut short," said New York City Center president and C.E.O. Arlene Shuler in a statement. "We are fortunate to welcome two of his good friends and colleagues as guest co-artistic directors to lead us through this transitional year. Both Jeanine and Anne have connections to the Off-Center series. As founding artistic director, Jeanine served as a champion for the work of other artists for four seasons and we were delighted to welcome Anne to the Off-Center family last summer as the director of Assassins. It is always difficult to move on from such a loss, but as an institution it is essential that we continue the mission of Off-Center and bring these important works to a new audience."

Tesori is best known as one of the creators of the musical Fun Home. Kauffman most recently directed Mary Jane at New York Theatre Workshop and the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Marvin's Room.

Programming for the 2018 Encores! Off-Center season will be announced early next year.

Encores! Off-Center was founded in 2013 with the mission of presenting off-Broadway musicals that pushed creative boundaries when they were first produced.