After a year-long national search, Théâtre du Rêve Founder Carolyn Cook will be passing the torch to incoming Artistic Director Anna Richardson.
Founder of Atlanta’s French-language theater company Carolyn Cook will be retiring this summer from her leadership role within the company to return to freelance work as an actor, director, and writer.
“I love this company and will continue to support our mission,” Cook said. “Thanks to our strong board and supporters, we’re on solid ground financially, even after the pandemic. This is a great time for new artistic leadership, and Anna Richardson is exactly the right person for the job.”
Richardson is thrilled to take the artistic helm of a company she staunchly loves and believes in. She returns to Théâtre du Rêve after working with the company in multiple administrative and artistic roles between 2014 and 2022, including Teaching Artist; Director of Marketing, Outreach and Development; and Events Consultant. She also worked as a stage manager, director, and actor for many Atlanta theaters in the 2010s.
“I am over the moon to be working in my favorite theater city again with artists and theatermakers I deeply respect,” she says.
With a degree in French literature from Goucher College, Richardson has studied in France and written a French thesis on the impact of improvisation on adolescent development. She now lives in Boston, but will be traveling frequently to Atlanta for this role and says she plans to take advantage of access to both major cities and the opportunities that lie therein for Théâtre du Rêve.
“I had the honor and pleasure of working closely with Carolyn in 2016 and have continued supporting and collaborating with Théâtre du Rêve since relocating back to Boston,” Richardson said. “I feel excited to continue with Carolyn’s vision for the company and to build upon the work Théâtre du Rêve has been doing to broaden what French theater means, particularly in highlighting lesser known French speaking figures and peoples.”
Programming for Théâtre du Rêve’s inaugural season under Richardson’s leadership will be announced in the fall.
