NEW YORK CITY: Rattlestick Playwrights Theater has named director Daniella Topol as its new artistic director. She will succeed founding artistic director David van Asselt, who will turn his focus to creating Rattlestick West, the Los Angeles branch of the company, with James Franco and Scott Haze.

“Daniella has that rare combination of artistic strength with administrative savvy,” said van Asselt in a statement.  “She brings years of experience working with new and emerging writers. We believe that Daniella is the ideal person to take the organization to the next level.”

Topol is currently programming Rattlestick’s 2016–17 season. Topol recently directed Martyna Majok’s Ironbound at Rattlestick. Her credits include When January Feels Like Summer at Ensemble Studio Theatre, Five Mile Lake at South Coast Rep, and Andy and the Shadows at Theater J. She previously served as the artistic program director for Lark Play Development Center, new works program director for National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and the associate producing director of City Theatre Company in Pitssburgh. She holds a BFA in directing and a Masters in arts management from Carnegie Mellon University.

“I love Rattlestick’s mission—its commitment to produce daring plays by innovative artists,” said Topol in a statement. “Rattlestick will always dare to do the impossible, such as producing five plays of Lucy Thurber’s simultaneously. There is a spirit of risk-taking, not just from the playwrights but from the directors, designers, and actors.”

Rattlestick is dedicated to producing emerging American voices. It was founded by van Asselt in 1994 and has produced more than 90 world premieres.