STORRS, CONN.: Connecticut Repertory Theatre has named playwright Michael Bradford to be its new artistic director beginning in August. Bradford succeeds Vincent J. Cardinal, who is departing to become chair of the musical theatre department at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Bradford will also serve as the department head of Dramatic Arts at the University of Connecticut.
“I’m delighted to welcome Michael Bradford in a new role at UConn, as department head and CRT artistic director,” said Anne D’Alleva, dean of UConn’s School of Fine Arts, in a statement. “Michael has been an outstanding interdisciplinary collaborator and has developed wonderful new initiatives, like the Open Doors play reading series. His focus on new-play development will open up exciting opportunities for Connecticut Repertory Theatre.”
Bradford is not a newcomer to UConn, on whose faculty he has served since 2001. His play Living in the Wind premiered in 2000 at the American Place Theatre and received 10 AUDELCO Theatre nominations. And he’s no stranger to CRT, which produced his play Olives and Blood in 2014, after its New York City premiere in 2012 and a run at Brixton East in London in 2013. His latest play, Migration, received its world premiere in April at eta Creative Arts Theatre in Chicago, IL. He has received the Manhattan Theatre Club playwright fellowship, the Lark Theatre Writers Residency, and the New York Stage and Film residency.
“I am honored to have worked under the leadership and experience of Vincent Cardinal through his tenure,” said Bradford in a statement. “I can’t thank him enough for the open and creative environment he provided, and certainly fair winds follow him to his next position. Looking forward, I am extremely excited to be working closely with the talented and passionate faculty and staff at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre and the Department of Dramatic Arts as we continue to focus on educating and training the next generation of artists to make their mark on stage and film.”
Connecticut Repertory Theatre is a resident professional company that serves as the professional producing arm of UConn’s Department of Dramatic Arts. Bradford’s duties will include administrative leadership of the department as well as artistic leadership of the theatre company. He will work alongside the theatre’s managing director, Matthew J. Pugliese.
