Theater News

Lear deBessonet Named Resident Director of New York City Center Encores!

DeBessonet will join a leadership team consisting of Jack Viertel and Rob Berman.

Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel with newly named resident director Lear deBessonet.
Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel with newly named resident director Lear deBessonet.
(© David Gordon)

New York City Center has named Lear deBessonet as the first-ever resident director of Encores!

In this newly created role, deBessonet will join Encores! artistic director Jack Viertel and music director Rob Berman in all discussions surrounding repertoire, production artists, and casting—cultivating relationships with artists new to the series. She will also foster an open dialogue with today's expanding audience around the social and political themes associated with the genre. In addition, deBessonet will occasionally direct a production for the series.

DeBessonet is an Obie-winning director who founded the Public Theater's Public Works program. Among her credits are Miss You Like Hell, Good Person of Szechwan, and Big River and Pump Boys and Dinettes for Encores!