The New Colony announced today that Founding Members and Co-Artistic Directors Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder will step down in January 2018 at the end of the company’s ninth season. The board of directors has launched a search for a replacement.

Under Linder and Hobgood’s leadership, The New Colony has presented 29 world premieres, 10 workshop productions and over one hundred staged readings of new plays, including 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE, which transferred Off-Broadway to SoHo Playhouse in 2012, and has seen productions in over 40 states and five continents. The company was given Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theatre Award in 2011. For its past three seasons, The New Colony has produced at its resident home, The Den Theatre.

“When Evan and I started The New Colony, we wanted to form a company where new artists could create new theater that spoke to a new generation of theater-goers,” comments Andrew Hobgood. “After supporting the development of over 100 original scripts and producing nearly 30 world premieres, it is insane to think we even made it past our first season. The Chicago theater scene is changing rapidly, and that means our mission requires leadership that reflects the type of new theater and new artists Chicago needs today. I am so excited that we have the opportunity to hand this incredible ensemble and organization over to the leadership of tomorrow.”

Evan Linder added, “For ten years, it’s been my privilege to make theatre with my best friend Andrew and the most talented collection of people I know. I’m excited to continue to do just that as a member of our ensemble, and I can’t wait to see what stories The New Colony’s next leaders want to share. I believe TNC’s mission to bring world premiere plays and musicals to Chicago is vital. I’m thrilled that our ensemble and board want that mission to continue.”

Board President Emilee Lales said the company is “so grateful to Evan and Andrew for guiding us through The New Colony’s first ten years. We are thrilled to have them involved in a new capacity: focusing their experience towards growing our education programs and continuing to develop new work and new artists. This next year will be yet another major leap forward in accomplishing our mission.”