The Ruckus Theater has announced a pair of productions for the company's sixth season in 2015, along with new artistic and executive directors.
Derek Van Barham, currently the Ruckus's literary manager, moves up to artistic director, taking the reins from Allison Shoemaker, who will remain with the company as marketing and publicity director. Company member Catherine Bullard becomes executive director.
First up in the new season is the Midwest premiere of Matt Lyle's comedy Barbecue Apocalypse (February 15–March 15 at the Athenaeum Theatre), directed by Thomas Murray. In the summer, Shoemaker will helm Dan Caffrey's Matawan, which the pair developed as part of Red Tape Theatre's Fresh Eyes series. Dates and venue for Matawan, which centers on a spate of shark attacks that took place along the Jersey Shore in 1916, remain to be determined. The Ruckus also recently announced the addition of nine new company members, including Bryan Bosque, Kristin Davis, Beth Lach, Kate Leslie, Carmen Molina, Jillian Rea, Nicholas Shaw, Mike Steele and Zachary Webb.