Cecilie D. Keenan has been appointed new assistant artistic director at IL's Northlight Theatre. She'll work closely with artistic director Russell Vandenbroucke in overseeing casting, literary and education programs.

Keenan will no longer serve as artistic director of Bailiwick Rep in Chicago, but she'll stay with the company as one of 15 "artistic associates" who will all work with executive director David Zak. No replacement artistic director is being sought there.

Said Keenan, "I'm excited about my new position with such an established theatre as Northlight, and I eagerly await the challenges and opportunities it will present." Said Vandenbrocke, "Cecilie's passion, maturity and commitment make her a superb addition to Northlight's staff. I've long admired her work from afar."

At Bailiwick for nine years, Keenan helped that theatre move from a small off-Loop house to a bustling arts complex. She created and coordinated the annual Diretor's Festival, the 11 Minutes Max! Series, and the "Naked I" visual theatre festival. Her directing credits include The Rose Tattoo, The Shanghai Gesture, Nagasaki Dust and The Sleep of Reason.

Prior to Bailiwick, Keenan acted with the American Blues Theatre, and she recently served as associate director on their Flight Of The Phoenix. Upcoming assignments for Keenan include Toys In The Attic (March) at American Blues and Dark Of The Moon (April) at Bailiwick. At Northlight, Keenan replaces Brian Russell, who will become full-time artistic director of American Blues Theatre. (He's the director of the Apollo hit, Always...Patsy Cline.)

Now in its 22nd year, Northlight has a new home in the $18 million North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (NSCPAS). The first show will be a world premiere of artistic director Vandenbroucke's Atomic Bombers, about physicist Richard Feynman.

The state-of-the-art, 345 seat, thrust-stage theatre will be ready for the March 19 opening of Bombers. For more information call (847) 673 6300.

--By David Lefkowitz