Announcements
GableStage Names Bari Newport Producing Artistic Director
Bari Newport has been named producing artistic director of GableStage, succeeding Joe Adler, who passed away last April after 20 seasons leading the organization.
“Bari has the rare combination of artistic ability and business skills to run a theater and lead our growth efforts,’’ the GableStage Board said in a statement. “We wanted someone who would address the diversity of Miami, have their own voice and creative style and be a leader who engages the community, board, company, staff and volunteers. Bari will lead us into the future.’’
Since 2012, Newport has led the Penobscot Theatre Company in Bangor, Maine, as producing artistic director. Previously, she was artistic associate at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, artistic associate/literary manager at the Pasadena Playhouse, associate producer at Horizon Theatre and associate director of Florida Repertory Theatre.
“I can’t even begin to share my excitement about this tremendous opportunity and responsibility. I am inspired by the strong mission at GableStage and love the diverse and art-loving community Miami brings. While it will certainly be a challenge taking over for someone as beloved and talented as Joe, the next chapter at GableStage is thrilling and it is a tremendous honor to lead such a vital and visionary organization,” Newport said.
Newport has been responsible for the creation and stabilization of a wide range of artistic initiatives in a number of theaters, including extensive work in new play development, education and community engagement.
Her work as a director and actor has been seen at Horizon Theatre Company, Greenbriar Valley Theatre, American Stage, Cumberland County Playhouse, Florida Repertory Theatre, Sacramento Theatre Company and early on at the Westport County Playhouse and the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
“From the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta to the Pasadena Playhouse on the west coast, to her leadership tenure at Penobscot in Maine, Bari has broad and varied experience and will bring her smart, committed, community focused leadership to GableStage. I’m excited for this important theater’s future under Bari’s expert guidance,” said Joseph Haj, artistic director of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, an FIU graduate, and a member of the search committee that recommended Newport to the board.
Her directing credits at Penobscot Theatre Company include Gaslight, Ripcord, The Graduate, Ugly Lies the Bone, Escanaba in da Moonlight, Misery, Murder for Two, Duck Hunter Shoots Angel, Doctor Cerberus, August, Osage County, End Days, Our Town, The Woman in Black, The Sugar Bean Sisters, Annie and Becky’s New Car.
Newport holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California, where her efforts yielded the creation of the Bill White Memorial Theatre Collection, the university’s first and only theatrical library. She received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. She was awarded the Theatre Communications Group’s New Generations: Future Leaders grant, funded by the Carnegie and Doris Duke Foundations.
She will be in Miami beginning April 1, is excited to engage with the GableStage community and hopes to have news regarding the upcoming season in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, if you have questions about where GableStage is headed or what it’s doing, email Newport at: askbari@gablestage.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Click here to view the full Bio for Bari Newport.