THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270030
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: 44 lines
THE GENERIC Theater, known as a center for new and often daring plays, has a new artistic director.
Steven E. Harders, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, who has studied and taught at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, has been named artistic director of the theater.
In making the announcement, Elisabeth C. Burgess, president of the board of directors, said ``Steve is solidly committed to our unique brand of theater and will bring new energy and enthusiasm to the Generic. He has plenty of hands-on theater experience, particularly in directing, but also in stage management, scene and lighting design and acting.''
Harders received his masters degree in directing from Virginia Commonwealth University, where his master's thesis was a staging of Tony Kushner's adaptation of ``The Illusion,'' a play that was produced at the Generic in the 1992-93 season. He has taught both drama and public speaking at VCU.
Harders was founder and director of the Ah-MuZe Theater in Loveland, Colo., staging original plays and children's shows. His directing credits include productions of ``The Elephant Man,'' ``Working,'' ``Extremities,'' ``The Nerd'' and ``Goodnight, Desdemona (Good Morning, Juliet).''
In accepting the position, Harders said, ``I plan to build on the strong tradition that has already been established at the Generic. I look forward to becoming part of the theater community in Hampton Roads.''
The Generic Theater, located at 912 W. 21st St. in Norfolk, will open its third annual ``New Plays for Dog Days'' festival on July 10.
The summer event includes five original plays from playwrights around the country. Running for four weeks, the festival opens a new bill each Wednesday evening.
The theater's fall season opens Oct. 25 with ``Playing With Fire,'' a play adapted from Mary Shelley's novel ``Frankenstein.'' Other shows include ``Minor Demons'' (Jan. 10), ``Eleemosynary'' (Feb. 21), ``Oleanna'' (April 4) and ``So Long on Lonely Street'' (May 23).
There's also a pre-season opener, the comedy ``La Bete, '' on Sept. 13.
For ticket information for any of the theater's events, call 441-2160. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MANNING STUDIO
Steven E. Harders is the Generic Theater's new artistic director. by CNB