31 March 2008 - Ron Ulrich to Step Down as Artistic Director of Neptune Theatre

Ron Ulrich announced today that he will be leaving his post as the Artistic Director of Neptune Theatre to accept the position of Managing Artistic Director at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, Ontario.

“Over the past eight years I have been very fortunate to be part of a superb team that has restored Neptune Theatre to financial health while at the same time creating some challenging and memorable theatrical experiences,” says Ulrich. “Neptune Theatre is a superb company with an exceptional audience. I am proud of all our achievements and I am saddened to be leaving the company, the city of Halifax and Nova Scotia. However, I am very excited by the possibilities afforded me by my new position as Managing Artistic Director of Theatre Aquarius, one of Ontario’s premiere regional theatre companies”

Ulrich began at Neptune in the fall of 2000 and since that time has guided the theatre artistically through an extremely successful period. His tenure is highlighted by popular triumphs such as Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2007) and Cats (2004), alongside many critically acclaimed works including Copenhagen (2003) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (2006).

“Ron is one of the very best people working in Canadian Theatre today, and I think it’s fair to say that the Ulrich era will go down as one of the most successful in Neptune’s lengthy history,” says Neptune Board of Directors President Jamie Baillie. “We are saddened that Ron is departing, but at the same time we are very happy that he has received this great opportunity at Theatre Aquarius and wish him nothing but the best.”

Ulrich will remain on as Neptune’s Artistic Director until the end of August and is also currently directing the theatre’s season ending production of The Producers: A New Mel Brooks Musical. The Neptune Board of Directors will begin the process to select a new artistic director over the next few weeks.

Theatre Aquarius is in its 35th season as Hamilton's professional theatre with 8,500 subscribers and over 100,000 patrons. Producing plays with Canada’s leading actors and designers, it is one of only a dozen 'A' category regional theatres as designated in the Canadian Theatre Agreement.

Neptune Theatre is located at 1593 Argyle Street, Halifax. With two stages, Fountain Hall and the Studio, a Theatre School and its Young Neptune Company Tour, Neptune continues to produce world-class theatre.

-30-


Media Contact: Mark Laventure
(902) 494-8465
mlaventure@neptunetheatre.com