Photo by Joe Mazza

The WaterTower Theatre, based in Addison, Texas, announced today the appointment of Joanie Schultz as Artistic Director. Schultz will assume her new position on January 1, 2017 and will immediately begin planning the Company’s 2017-2018 season.

Schultz has made Chicago her home base for the last 20 years, directing for The Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, and around 30 other theater and opera companies throughout the city. She received an MFA in directing from Northwestern University and a BA in directing from Columbia College Chicago. Most recently, Schultz served as Associate Artistic Producer at Victory Gardens. She is an ensemble member at Steep Theatre; associate artist with Victory Gardens; and an artistic cabinet member at Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. She has been on the theater faculty of Columbia College Chicago and University of Chicago, the opera faculty of Roosevelt University, and has taught for the School at Steppenwolf, the Audition Studio, and Italian Operatic Experience.

“I look forward to getting to know the Addison community and its leaders,” said Schultz. “The Town of Addison is so generous in its support of the arts, in particular WaterTower Theatre. I look forward to partnering with them on our collective desire to produce an exceptional theatrical experience that is unique, innovative, and entertaining, opening doors to bring greater understanding to the many challenges that face our community.”

“Joanie is one of the most gifted young directors working in our business today and I very much look forward to partnering with her,” said Managing Director Gregory Patterson. “She will bring a daring new perspective to the work we produce on our stage while respecting the work we’ve done in the past and the incredible community which has supported us for 20 years. She is passionate, creative, genuine, insightful, and intuitive, possessing an artistic maturity that will fuse beautifully with the culture here at WaterTower Theatre that makes us unique in our community.”