Shakespeare Theatre's Michael Kahn Will Resign In 2019 After 3 Decades

GEORGETOWN, DC — Georgetown Media Group's next Cultural Leadership Breakfast will feature Michael Kahn—the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company who recently announced his resignation—on March 9 at the George Town Club. Kahn will speak about his experience with the Shakespeare Theatre Company and beyond with Georgetowner arts writer Gary Tischler at the 18th breakfast in the series.

Kahn, who is almost 80, has been the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company since 1986.

On Feb. 13, he announced via email that he plans to step down in July 2019 after three decades of running the company.

Kahn said he wants his successor to present Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2019-2020 season "as their own," according to The Georgetowner.

Kahn is an iconic face in the DC theatre world, who reshaped the way the nation's capital views Shakespeare and the arts as a whole.

Before DC, Kahn was the Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, Connecticut and the Producing Director of the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey.

Kahn's DC career started back when the Shakespeare Theatre Company was known as The Folger Theatre Group. They were housed in the Folger Shakespeare Library, and Kahn helped them move to the 451-seat Lansburgh Theatre in March of 1992.

Since then, Kahn's directed Much Aldo About Nothing, Measure for Measure, Hamlet, Othello, Henry V, The Doctor's Dilemma and much more. Kahn also curated the Shakespeare in Washington celebration in 2007, a six-month citywide presentation presented by more than 40 arts organizations.

Among other accomplishments, Kahn spearheaded the opening of the 774-seat Sidney Harman Hall and the creation of the Harman Center for the Arts. This expanded the stage for the Shakespeare Theatre Company and DC's performing arts community in October of 2007.

Read Kahn's full biography here.

Admission to the 8 a.m. breakfast is $25 and $20 for George Town Club members. To RSVP, email richard@georgetowner.com or call 202-338-4833. For more information, check out the Georgetowner article.

Photo: Shakespeare Theatre Company Instagram