Arena Stage artistic director Molly Smith announced on Friday that she will retire.
She said that she鈥檒l guide the company through one more season, her 25th: Smith’s retirement is effective July 2023.
鈥淭his decision has been very difficult, because this has been a dream job for me,鈥� Smith said in the statement. 鈥淚鈥檝e loved being artistic director of one of the greatest theaters in the country.鈥�
She added that 鈥淏efore I came to Arena, I went around the world twice and it鈥檚 time to go again. I want to spend more real time with family and friends and perhaps direct a project or two. I realized the other day that I鈥檝e been working steadily for over 50 years and it鈥檚 time to live life differently.鈥�
Arena鈥檚 executive producer, Edgar Dobie, has worked with Smith for 13 years, and in called that time 鈥渁n amazing run for any partnership, especially when spent with an artist and executive like Molly who knows her heart and mind, and remains a pioneer.鈥�
Decker Angstrom, the chair of Arena鈥檚 board of trustees, added, 鈥淎rena Stage, our Greater D.C. community and, indeed, all of American theater will be forever the better for what she has accomplished.鈥�
Smith, a graduate of Catholic University and American University, grew up in Juneau, Alaska, where she started the Perseverance Theatre.
鈥淎rena Stage and you will always be a part of my life,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been here for a third of Arena鈥檚 life and a third of my own life. This wonderful theater is in my blood, in my bones and in my heart.鈥�
