Fraser and Goodman will replace Bernstein — who announced earlier this year he will be joining Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts as its next president — and will begin their duties at BCP in January 2014.
"We are thrilled to welcome Robyn and Alex as the new leadership team of the Bucks County Playhouse. We feel fortunate to be able to work with such immensely talented, experienced and wonderful people," said Bridge Street Foundation founders Sherri and Kevin Daugherty, who provided funding to acquire and renovate the New Hope, PA, property in December 2011. "Jed really resurrected this theatre, bringing back the charm, the tradition and the excitement of Broadway caliber performances here in New Hope. Collectively, Alex and Robyn have impressive Broadway experience, a great appreciation for the history of the Playhouse and some really creative ideas. We can't wait to see their shows."
The 75-year-old theatre, which had been sitting empty since late 2010, reopened July 2, 2012, and now operates 12 months per year, hosting over 50,000 audience members in 2013. In 2014, the BCP production of Terrence McNally's Mothers and Sons, starring Tyne Daly, will move to Broadway, marking the first BCP transfer in years.
"Having Alex and Robyn as the new artistic leadership of the Bucks County Playhouse is like adding Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to your team at the same time. I leave the Playhouse in the best new hands possible," added outgoing producing director Bernstein.
Fraser and Goodman said in a statement, "We are honored to take the helm of Bucks County Playhouse and continue the tradition begun by the great Moss Hart and so beautifully restored and rejuvenated by Jed Bernstein and Kevin and Sherri Daugherty's Bridge Street Foundation. We look forward to serving the people of the Delaware River Valley by presenting the highest quality entertainment and providing a nurturing home for plays and musicals bound for Broadway and beyond." Tony Award-winning producers Fraser and Goodman met 30 years ago. Fraser has worked as a theatrical producer, general manager and nonprofit executive for over 70 Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End and touring productions. Among them are Kinky Boots; The Normal Heart; Love, Loss and What I Wore; The Divine Sister; Bombay Dreams; Topdog/Underdog; and Crazy for You. From 1997-2001, Fraser was executive director of Second Stage Theatre.
After serving as founder and artistic director of the award-winning nonprofit Second Stage Theatre for 13 years and supervising producer of ABC's "One Life to Live" for five years, Goodman began to produce on Broadway. She is currently lead producer for Cinderella, developed and produced Avenue Q and produced In the Heights. Among her other Broadway productions are Metamorphoses, West Side Story, Steel Magnolias, Barefoot in the Park, The Performers, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, American Idiot, A Class Act and High Fidelity. Goodman serves as artistic consultant to The Roundabout Theatre Company, where she is artistic producer of the Underground Series for emerging writers, which includes a commissioning program.
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