Children's Theatre of Charlotte to Welcome New Artistic Director Adam Burke, 6/17

Children's Theatre of Charlotte recently concluded its nationwide search for its new artistic director, naming Adam Burke, of San Antonio, to the position.

Burke was chosen from among 100 applicants from 30 states and Canada. He will begin his new responsibilities at Children's Theatre on June 17.

"We feel Adam is the perfect fit to help lead us into our next 65 years," said Bruce LaRowe, Children's Theatre of Charlotte's executive director. "There were a lot of candidates, but throughout the search process, Adam stood out, not only for his commitment and passion for theatre for youth and our exciting future, but also for the tremendous opportunities presented by our partnership with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in ImaginOn."

Burke has been an assistant professor at St. Mary's University in San Antonio for the last five years and is also the artistic director of the Scioto Society of Chillicothe, Ohio, which produces the outdoor drama "Tecumseh."

Originally from Green Bay, Wis., Burke earned his BFA in Theatre Acting from the University of Arizona and his MFA in Theatre Directing from Northwestern University. He was the founding artistic director of Chicago Theatre for Young Audiences and was the recipient of a National Theatre Communications Group New Generations Fellowship. The fellowship provided an opportunity for him to spend two years as an artistic associate at Childsplay - Arizona's professional theatre for young audiences - and working under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director David Saar.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the family at Children's Theatre of Charlotte," Burke said. "It's rare to see such passion from each and every member of an organization, and I'm excited to be a part of a group that consistently maintains such high standards for our most important audience: children. The future will be in the hands of those who can imagine and, thus, create it. Theatre cultivates an aesthetic experience that connects the mind and the heart in a way that nothing else can and therefore sparks wonder and possibility."

Children's Theatre of Charlotte is a national leader among theatres for young audiences, serving nearly 300,000 young people and families annually with professional productions and innovative education initiatives.