With history in non-profit theatre management in North America, Dobie is also a Tony Award-winning commercial producer. He'll begin with Arena Stage at the end of March. Dobie succeeds interim managing director Guy Bergquist, who led the theatre after former executive director Stephen Richard left in spring 2008 after 17 years with Arena Stage.

"Edgar comes to Arena as an experienced and seasoned managing director," stated artistic director Molly Smith. "He has had a remarkable career with companies like Trinity Repertory in Providence, Rhode Island. Edgar is also sophisticated in the commercial theatre and is able to bridge both worlds."

Chairman of the Arena Stage board Mark Shugoll added, "As Arena Stage prepares to open its new Mead Center for American Theater in September of 2010, these dual experiences will be hugely beneficial. He is truly the right person at the right time for Arena. The Trustees are greatly excited that he is coming on board."

Dobie was executive director of Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, founding managing director of Toronto's Canadian Stage Company, managing director at National Arts Centre in Ottawa and Vancouver's New Play Centre. For six years he was president of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Company, and for the past three years he has been the North American executive producer of Riverdream. His Broadway producing credits include Sunset Boulevard (Tony Award for Best Musical), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Paul Simon's The Capeman, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Boublil and Schonberg's The Pirate Queen and this season's new musical 9 to 5.

Arena Stage was founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum. It was one of the nation's original resident theatres. With the opening of the new Mead Center for American Theater in 2010, Arena Stage "will be a leading center for the production, development and study of American theatre." For more information visit www.arenastage.org.