M. Edgar Rosenblum, executive director of Long Wharf Theatre in Connecticut, has resigned that position in order to take a senior producing appointment under Gregory Mosher at Broadway's Circle In The Square.

Janice Muirhead will act as interim executive director to assume administrative leadership of Long Wharf. A 17-year veteran with the New Haven theatre, Muirhead noted, "This will be a wonderful opportunity to work with the board, the staff and our many friends to...support and augment the creative process."

Of his new job, Rosenblum enthused, "I'm very excited by the challenges of going to New York and joining Gregory Mosher at Circle in the Square. There are many risks involved, but that's what theatre is all about."

Rosenblum, by the way, will continue to serve as president of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT).

Kimberly Sewright, press representative for Long Wharf Theatre, told Playbill On-Line that despite the immediate loss of Rosenblum and the pending loss of Brown, this transitional period is going quite smoothly. "[Janice] Muirhead has been here for seventeen years, and she's been involved with every aspect of production. She'll be working very closely with General Manager John Conte, who's been here over 25 years, and Marketing & Development Director Pam Tatge [pronounced Tatge], who's been here for seven." "There's a search committee mulling over candidates for Arvin's slot when he leaves," Sewright continued, "and they hope to have a decision by spring, so Arvin and that person will have time to plan a new season." Currently Brown is in rehearsals with Long Wharf's next production, a revival of The Show Off.

The Long Wharf/Circle In The Square connection is more than coincidental, since the Connecticut theatre's production of Hughie, starring Al Pacino, is now the biggest hit the beleaguered Circle has had in years.

Rosenblum's move from Long Wharf to Circle In The Square comes at a time of upheaval for both theatres. Gregory Mosher just took over the bankrupt Circle after the resignation of Ted Mann and the brief, unsuccessful tenure of Josephine Abady. In June, Arvin Brown announced his resignation as artistic director of Long Wharf Theatre at the end of the 1996-97 season -- his 30th there.

More information on both theatres' turbulent seasons is available in previous stories on-line.

-- By David Lefkowitz