CENTER VALLEY, P.A.: After 19 years, Patrick Mulcahy has stepped down as producing artistic director of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF).
Mulcahy is succeeded by both Jason King Jones and Casey William Gallagher as the festival adopts a new dual leadership model. Gallagher previously served as the festival’s managing director and Jones was appointed following a nationwide search. Jones formerly served as the senior associate artistic director of M.D.’s Olney Theatre Center. The two officially assumed their roles as of Sept. 1.
“The PSF Board of Directors welcomes new artistic director, Jason King Jones with much delight and excitement,” said board president Judith Harris, Esq. in a statement. “Jason’s extensive experience in the Shakespeare canon, musical theatre, and both classical and innovative theatre are in uncanny alignment with PSF’s vision of excellence in artistry and mission. Moreover, Jason’s versatility, organizational talents, and leadership are in perfect sync with the careful and brilliant fiscal management and pragmatic administration of managing director Casey Gallagher over his nearly 19 years in managing PSF and its gifted staff. In light of the board’s recent adoption of a dual leadership model, Jason and Casey are, together, a formidably wonderful team who will surely lead PSF in realizing its artistic and strategic goals.”
“Over the years, it has been my honor to work side-by-side with the festival founder, Gerard J. Schubert, OSFS and with Patrick Mulcahy since 2004, and now I am thrilled to work with Jason as we co-lead the Festival into an exciting future,” said Gallagher in a statement.
Gallagher has worked at PSF for 24 seasons. Previously serving as assistant house manager, box office manager, company manager, assistant producer, and director of development. Since 2004, in his role as general manager and later managing director, he has been the administrative leader of the Festival, working very closely with the box office, business, development, marketing and production departments. Gallagher has also served as treasurer for the Shakespeare Theatre Association, director of audience services for the People’s Light, a board member for Civic Theatre of Allentown, a peer panelist for the New Jersey Council on the Arts, and a judge for the Greater Philadelphia Barrymore Awards for excellence in theatre. Casey is a member of the PSF Board of Directors and also serves on the board of Arts Academy Elementary Charter School.
Jones comes to PSF after spending a decade as the artistic director of National Players at Olney Theatre Center, where he also served as associate artistic director and director of education. He was a freelance director and an artistic associate at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, where he directed main-stage and touring shows for over a decade. He has been a guest director at numerous universities and taught at Boston University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Missouri State University. Jones is member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Actors’ Equity, and The Acting Company.
“I am deeply honored to be invited to co-lead this fantastic organization,” said Jones in a statement. “I got my professional start at a summer Shakespeare festival, and I believe deeply in the expansive power of Shakespeare as well as the power of mentorship that an organization like PSF provides. Everyone associated with PSF, including my co-leader Casey, believes deeply in this institution, and I can’t wait to work with them, to forge with them a dynamic future.”
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival is a nonprofit organization founded in 1952. Its mission remains to enrich, inspire, engage, and entertain the widest possible audience through professional productions of classical and contemporary plays, with a core commitment to Shakespeare and other master dramatists through an array of education and mentorship programs. As of 2020, their annual budget was an estimated $941,000.
