BUFFALO, N.Y.: The Irish Classical Theatre Company (ICTC) has named Keelie A. Sheridan to be their new artistic director. She will begin at the company this week. She succeeds Kate LoConti Alcocer in the position.

“I am thrilled to join the Irish Classical Theatre Company and to build upon the legacy of previous leaders by guiding the company’s next phases of evolution,” Sheridan said in a statement. “I look forward to curating programming that contextualizes classical works within our modern landscape and explores the way Irish and American stories intersect with other cultures around the world.”

Sheridan is an actor, director, producer, and educator who teaches at Union College, where she is an artist in residence. She is also the co-artistic director of the Ume Group, a physical theatre ensemble. She has performed with the Public Theater, 3LD, Dixon Place, and JACK NY, and has studied intimacy choreography and coordination and anti-racist theatre practices. Sheridan was a 2009 World Irish Dance Championships finalist and a US-Ireland Alliance George J. Mitchell Scholar. Sheridan holds an MFA in acting from Brooklyn College and an MFA in directing from the Lir Academy of Trinity College Dublin.

“Sheridan’s vision resonates deeply with our commitment to presenting exceptional theatre experiences that captivate our diverse audiences,” John Earshen, the president of the ICTC board of trustees, said in a statement. “With Keelie at the helm, we are eager to embark on a fresh artistic journey that holds promise and potential.”

Sheridan will work alongside producting director Cassie Cameron and other core ICTC staff members.

The Irish Classical Theatre Company presents live productions at Western New York’s only true theatre-in-the-round facility. ICTC presents both traditional and contemporary Irish plays and international classics. As of 2021, the theatre had a budget of approximately $764,300.