Rochester Children's Theatre Announces New Appointments

Danny Hoskins appointed RCT's new Artistic Director; RCT Founder Deborah Haber moves to Executive Director of Special Projects

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Danny Hoskins, Artistic Director, Rochester Children's Theatre

ROCHESTER, NY (10/18/2013)(readMedia)-- Rochester Children's Theatre (RCT) welcomes Danny Hoskins as Artistic Director of the organization. Hoskins inherits the position from RCT Co-founder and previous Producing Artistic Director, Deborah Haber. Haber will be moving into the newly created Executive Director of Special Projects position within RCT.

"I am pleased to announce that Danny Hoskins, someone with true passion and artistic vision, will be guiding RCT toward a new era of excellent theatre for young audiences and families," Haber says. "I am certain that, under his leadership, RCT will have greater impact not only for our immediate community, but for the entire region."

Hoskins has been with RCT since 2009, holding the positions of Director of Innovation and Theatre Education and Associate Artistic Director. He has directed numerous productions for the company, including Disney's Aladdin; The Hobbit; Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; The Velveteen Rabbit; and HONK!. Mr. Hoskins holds an M.F.A. from the University of South Carolina and also serves as Adjunct Professor of Theatre at the University of Rochester and SUNY Brockport. As an actor, he has performed at the Alliance Theatre Company, Hartford Stage Company, The Wings Theatre, Trustus Theatre, and Festival Theatre of St. Croix, as well as locally with Blackfriars Theatre, JCC CenterStage, PUSH Physical Theatre, and RCT.

"I'm thrilled and honored to lead a company that has been a staple of the Rochester community for more than 20 years," Hoskins says. "I believe in the mission of RCT and the impact that children's theatre, theatre education, and the arts can have in the lives of our Rochester families and youth. Having grown up here, I look forward to continuing RCT's status as a valuable and vital organization, positioned to educate and enrich the lives of our community and train the next generation of Rochester artists."

He adds, "Ms. Haber's leadership has been essential to RCT's growth and its position in the theatre community. She is now poised to move forward with exciting new endeavors as the Special Projects arm of RCT grows, and I'm grateful to have had the chance to learn from her before stepping into my new position. RCT also has a dedicated and passionate partner in the Nazareth College Arts Center and I'm finding this is an exciting time for this organization."

Special Projects, one of RCT's four areas of programming designed to expand the reach of the company, has enjoyed recent growth with the launch of two original productions: Sweet House, Hansel and Gretel With A Bold New Flavor and Moses Man: A Musical Journey of a Holocaust Survivor. Both were written by Haber and her writing partner, Casey Filiaci, and are headed toward receiving national exposure, thus requiring Haber's full attention.

Hoskins steps into the role of Artistic Director as the 2013-2014 Season begins.

Rochester Children's Theatre is a professional company of adult actors that brings literature to life for children of all ages. RCT offers high-quality, entertaining, literature-based experiences that follow New York State Learning Standards and foster enrichment, communication, and positive values to audiences throughout the region. Since 2003, RCT has been in residence at Nazareth College Arts Center, where they offer co-produced public performances as part of the Arts Center's Subscription Season, as well as weekday RCT/Arts Center co-productions as part of the Arts Center's School Performance Series.

RCT also tours to New York State urban, suburban, and rural schools with its curriculum-based PLAYS ON TOUR. Voted the "Family Favorite Children's Theatre in Rochester" four years in a row by Genesee Valley Parent Magazine, RCT is also a "Kids Out and About Top 20 Places" to take your children in Rochester for the second time in two years.

For more information on Rochester Children's Theatre please visit www.rochesterchildrenstheatre.org or call (585) 385-0510