FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 15, 2007

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Comte chris.comte@annextheatre.org

ANNEX THEATRE APPOINTS BRET FETZER AS NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

(Seattle, WA) Annex Theatre announced today that Bret Fetzer has been appointed to the position of Artistic Director. Outgoing Artistic Director Gillian Jorgensen stated, "It has been an absolute honor and pleasure to lead the company through the past several years," she said, "but I felt the stability of having a new home provided a good opportunity for new leadership to step forward to enable Annex to continue to grow and prosper."

Fetzer, who preceded Jorgensen as Artistic Director from 2000 to 2004, was selected by the Company and approved by the Annex Board of Directors to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization. "With so much going on, including building out a new venue, a new season of production, as well as the number of new people who have joined the Company in the past year, everyone felt it was important to maintain a sense of continuity," Fetzer said, "so having someone with previous experience occupy the position seemed the best strategy."

Jorgensen, who steps down after nearly four tumultuous years that saw Annex transition from a homeless, "itinerant" fringe company, into a two-year residency at Capitol Hill Arts Center, and most recently a move into the former Northwest Actors' Studio space, is a ten-year company member who has also worked locally as a director, playwright, and performer. She is currently a Teaching Artist with Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Book-It Repertory Theatre's "Book-It All Over" arts and education program.

In addition to taking on the duties of Artistic Director, Fetzer also serves as curator for Annex Theatre's "Spin The Bottle" monthly late-night cabaret showcase. An accomplished playwright and storyteller, he is a staff member with 4 Culture, King County's Cultural Services agency, serves on the board of directors of Rain City Projects, and is a Principle Playwright with Seattle Dramatists.

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ABOUT ANNEX THEATRE: Founded in 1986, Annex Theatre has presented nearly 400 productions of new and original works, re-imaginings of the classics, workshops, cabarets, and music events, including numerous World, Regional and West Coast premieres by some of the contemporary theatre's most innovative playwrights.

In addition, Annex has played host to an impressive number of young and emerging performers, playwrights, directors, musicians, designers and technicians, many of whom have gone on to successful careers not only at the region's more established professional companies, but who include among their ranks artists of national and international stature.

Founded on the principles of consensus-driven collective effort and will, the company members of Annex Theatre embark on their 21st season of production by continuing to dedicate themselves to "creating bold new work in an environment of improbability, resourcefulness and risk".