Fishman brings more than 20 years of experience, having been a general manager, production supervisor and production stage manager, including 14 years with Second Stage Theatre as both managing director and production manager.

"We're elated to have Carol join the Playwrights Horizons family," stated Tim Sanford, artistic director of Playwrights Horizons. "We're especially excited to bring on someone with such vast experience in the producing community, and someone who already has strong relationships with many of the theatre's writers, directors and designers. As Playwrights is known not only for the quality of its writing, but for the caliber of its productions, I know that this organization will remain in the best hands."

"The general manager is one of the leaders of this institution," explained Leslie Marcus, managing director of Playwrights Horizons. "And Carol brings with her both amazing expertise in producing theatre, and considerable experience in running an institutional theatre. Her many years at Second Stage will be an immeasurable asset, and we couldn't be happier to have Carol join us."

Fishman will be replacing Playwrights' longtime and current general manager, William Russo, who first joined the company in 2000. Fishman will officially begin at Playwrights Horizons on May 12, overlapping with Russo for four weeks through his final day with the company on June 6.

"Billy has made an indelible impact on Playwrights Horizons in his eight years with us," stated Sanford. "And while we're all sad to see him go, we know it's the right time for him to take the next step in his career, which is leading an institution as a managing director." Fishman has worked as a general manager, associate producer, production supervisor and production stage manager for over 20 years. For 14 years she served as managing director (1993-2003) and production manager (1989-1993) for Second Stage Theatre, where she produced over 70 productions resulting in Tony, Obie, Drama Desk, Audelco and Lortel awards. Among the many works she produced there were the New York premieres of Mary Zimmerman's Metamorphoses; August Wilson's Jitney; Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night; Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth; Lynda Barry's The Good Times Are Killing Me; Cheryl West's Jar the Floor; and the acclaimed revivals of Edward Albee's Tiny Alice and Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women and Others. While at Second Stage, she also oversaw the construction of the organization's 299-seat theatre near Times Square. As general manager for Aruba Productions, she has managed several Off-Broadway productions as well as Broadway productions in development, including Almost Heaven, The Screwtape Letters, Stormy Weather, Robin and the 7 Hoods and Grumpy Old Men.

She also served as event manager for the promotions of the film of "Hairspray" and associate general manager for Brooklyn, the musical. Prior to her tenure at Second Stage, she began her career as a production stage manager, working at many of the major Off-Broadway institutions such as Lincoln Center, The Vineyard and New York Theatre Workshop, as well as on Broadway. She also served as production supervisor for numerous Off-Broadway productions, including the long-running Blue Man Group: Tubes.

For more information about Off-Broadway's not-for-profit Playwrights Horizons, devoted to contemporary voices, visit www.playwrightshorizons.org.