Asolo Repertory Theatre names new managing director

The changing of the guard is complete at Asolo Repertory Theatre with the May 4 announcement of Ross Egan as the theater company's new managing director.

On July 1, Egan will succeed Linda DiGabriele, who is retiring after 50 years with Asolo Rep, 35 of them as managing director.

A nationwide search to fill DiGabriele's job was conducted by incoming Producing Artistic Director Peter Rothstein and the Asolo's board of directors.

Rothstein takes his new job on July 1, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Michael Donald Edwards, who had an 18-year run at Asolo.

Egan comes to Sarasota from the historic Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, where he was managing director. He is credited with steering the organization through pandemic by building and producing "Barter at the Moonlite Drive In."

Prior to joining the Barter, Egan was director of operations for the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and founded the award-winning Refuge Theatre Project in Chicago, which produced music theater in distinctive spaces around the city.

Ross has a BFA in Theater from Michigan State University and an MBA from Illinois State University.

"I am honored to join the leadership team at Asolo Rep," said Egan in a statement. "The theatre's reputation for producing high-quality theatre, developing new work and leading the conversation for regional theatre nationally has grown exponentially under Michael and Linda's leadership. I look forward to working with Peter to continue this robust tradition while ushering Asolo Rep into its next chapter of excellence."

Rothstein's first act at Asolo upon his return will be directing the musical "Man of La Mancha," which runs from May 13-June 11. Famous for its ballad, "The Impossible Dream," "Man of La Mancha" stars Mauricio Martinez as the Don Quixote-inspired protagonist.