WaterTower Theatre didn't have to look far for its new producing artistic director: Shane Peterman, who began leading Lyric Stage in 2017, formally assumed the position for the Addison theater on March 1, 2019.

"The search committee went through extensive efforts conducting interviews with talented individuals from across the country to find someone whose goals, mindset, and drive matched that of the mission and current needs of WaterTower Theatre," says WTT board president Grace Daniels. "Shane rose to the top as a successful producer and businessman, as well as one who knows WTT and its community intimately as a performer and a patron."

Peterman brings over 23 years of experience as an entrepreneur, producing artistic director, executive producer, casting director, and performer for many award-winning theaters and programs across the country. He relocated Lyric Stage from Irving to Dallas' historic Majestic Theater, and can claim that two out of the last four productions were over 95 percent sold.

At WTT, Peterman will lead the company's artistic vision and oversee fundraising, marketing, and administrative initiatives.

"I am extremely excited to begin work as the producing artistic director for WaterTower Theatre, a truly exemplary arts organization in North Texas," says Peterman. "Many thanks to the board of directors, staff of WaterTower, and my family for believing in me. I'm eager to get the work started and to collaborate with the amazing talent we have in this town."

In late 2018, former artistic director Joanie Schultz resigned after two controversy-filled years. Schultz had come to WTT from Chicago, where she directed at the Goodman Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre, received her MFA in directing from Northwestern University and BA in directing from Columbia College Chicago.

Longtime artistic director Terry Martin resigned in 2016 to head the fine arts department at Greenhill School. Martin assisted in the transition after Schultz's departure.

WaterTower Theatre is currently producing Tony Meneses' Guadalupe in the Guest Room, a cross-cultural and cross-generational exploration of familial understanding (and the healing power of telenovelas). It runs through March 17.