NEW YORK CITY: Signature Theatre has announced that Paige Evans will step in as its new artistic director, beginning July 1, 2016. Evans is the artistic director of LCT3, the new-play development wing of Lincoln Center Theater, which she created in 2008.

Evans succeeds founding artistic director James Houghton, who announced last year that he was stepping down after 25 years due to health issues.

“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Signature Theatre,” said Evans in a statement. “With great vision, Jim Houghton has created an exceptional home for playwrights, the theatrical community, and audiences. I’m privileged to be working with Erika Mallin and Signature’s board of trustees and staff on this next chapter.”

As artistic director of LCT3, Evans has programmed, developed, and produced more than 20 world and New York premieres. Productions have included David Adjmi’s Stunning, Amy Herzog’s 4000 Miles, Greg Pierce’s Slowgirl, Ayad Akhtar’s Disgraced, the Rude Mechs’ Stop Hitting Yourself, and Dave Malloy’s Preludes. Her new-play experience fits well with the mission of Signature, which commits to a playwrights’ bodies of work over multiple seasons. The theatre currently has nine playwrights in residence.

Houghton will continue at Signature in the role of founder. “Paige Evans embodies all that we could possibly hope for in an artistic leader,” said Houghton in a statement. “She has spent the last 20 years dedicated to advancing the field and our writing community, and has done so with tremendous integrity and determination. We’re lucky to have her, and I look forward to supporting Paige as she leads Signature into this next exciting phase.”