NEW ERA FOR THE REP

Rep goals 'spoke to me,' new artistic leader says

John Miller-Stephany, the Arkansas Repertory Theatre's new producing artistic director, walked into the party knowing only a handful of the 80 Rep folks awaiting him there. Just two hours and many hugs and handshakes later, he was family.

The affair was a welcoming reception for Miller-Stephany at the home of Cindy and Chip Murphy on Edgehill Road and co-hosted by Rep board Chairman Brian and Brianne Bush and Catherine and Ron Hughes. Invitees were members of the Rep's board of directors and leadership council, major sponsors and senior staff.

The Murphys provided a seemingly endless buffet of hors d'oeuvres and wines from their own collection including a chardonnay and sauvignon blanc produced by their nephew, Matt Murphy, co-founder and president of Presqu'ile Winery in Santa Maria, Calif.

Miller-Stephany, who officially starts in mid-October, is only the third artistic leader in the theater's 40-year history. He replaces the Rep's founding artistic director, Cliff Baker, who graciously served as interim producing artistic director after Bob Hupp's departure in July for a job in Syracuse, N.Y.

All agreed it was timing and luck that led Miller-Stephany to Little Rock from a nearly 20-year career as artistic administrator and associate artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Before that he was associate producer of the Acting Company in New York.

"He was looking for a new home and we were looking for a new artistic director," Baker said, speaking to the crowd from the Murphys' staircase. Miller-Stephany, bedecked in a fetching, sky blue suit, stood nearby. He and the Rep were matched through a diligent local search committee assisted by a national consulting firm.

Miller-Stephany said that when he looked at Little Rock on the internet, "there were so many aspects about the Rep that seemed right. Your mission spoke to me."

"I probably would have agreed to do plays in a barn to have this position," he later said.

High Profile on 09/04/2016

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