ADDISON, TEXAS: WaterTower Theatre has named Joanie Schultz as its artistic director. She will begin her new post Jan. 1, 2017, succeeding Terry Martin, who resigned in May. Director of development and marketing Gregory Patterson was also promoted to the position of managing director.

“Joanie is a phenomenal choice to lead WaterTower Theatre’s artistic vision into a new era,” said board president Paul Shultz in a statement. “She has the unique combination of being a successful director of both new works and classics in the worlds of theatre and opera.”

Schultz is a director of theatre and opera based in of Chicago. Her work includes directing for the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, the Cleveland Playhouse, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Studio Theatre, and more. She was a Drama League Fellow, a SDCF Denham Fellow, a Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab participant, and a Michael Maggio Directing Fellow at the Goodman. She also served as the co-artistic director for Theater on the Lake in 2013. Schultz holds an MFA in directing from Northwestern University and a B.A. in directing from Columbia College Chicago.

“I am so excited by the opportunity to lead WaterTower Theatre’s artistic contributions to a new level in an already dynamic cultural landscape in the DFW Metroplex,” said Schultz in a statement. “WaterTower Theatre has a rich history and deep roots in the community and I’m looking forward to building on the solid foundation established by former producing artistic director Terry Martin.”