CENTER VALLEY, PA: August 1, 2022—Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the region’s professional Equity theatre hosted on the campus of DeSales University, announces a new artistic turnover and leadership model. Determined through a national search, Jason King Jones, the former Senior Associate Artistic Director of Maryland’s Olney Theatre Center, has been hired as the new artistic director and he will join current Managing Director Casey William Gallagher in a new dual leadership model. The news comes following Patrick Mulcahy’s announcement one year ago that he will step down from his role at the Festival at the end of this summer 2022. Mulcahy served as Producing Artistic Director of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) since 2003.
In a statement, Board President Judith Harris, Esq. said, “The PSF Board of Directors welcomes new Artistic Director Jason King Jones with much delight and excitement. Jason’s extensive experience in the Shakespeare canon, musical theatre, and both classical and innovative theatre are in uncanny alignment with PSF’s vision of excellence in artistry and mission. Moreover, Jason’s versatility, organizational talents, and leadership are in perfect sync with the careful and brilliant fiscal management and pragmatic administration of Managing Director Casey Gallagher over his nearly 19 years in managing PSF and its gifted Staff. In light of the Board’s recent adoption of a dual leadership model, Jason and Casey are, together, a formidably wonderful team who will surely lead PSF in realizing its artistic and strategic goals.”
Gallagher, who has worked at PSF for 25 seasons in a variety of positions, and presently serves as managing director had this to say about his new leadership role, “Over the years, it has been my honor to work side by side with the Festival Founder Gerard J. Schubert, OSFS and with Patrick Mulcahy since 2004, and now I am thrilled to work with Jason as we co-lead the Festival into an exciting future.”
Bringing over a decade of experience as the Senior Associate Artistic Director at Olney Theatre Center, and Artistic Director of OTC’s National Players touring company, Jones said this at the time of accepting the position, “I am deeply honored to be invited to co-lead this fantastic organization. I got my professional start at a summer Shakespeare festival, and I believe deeply in the expansive power of Shakespeare as well as the power of mentorship that an organization like Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival provides. Everyone associated with PSF, including my co-leader Casey, believes deeply in this institution, and I can’t wait to work with them to forge with them a dynamic future.”
Jones will join Gallagher in this new appointment beginning September 1, 2022.
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