Stern, who has served as producing artistic director of the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park since 1992, will vacate his position following the 2011-12 season. Robison will consult with the Playhouse over the next several months to plan the 2012-2013 season and will assume his role there full time July 1, 2012.

Robison currently serves as the producing artistic director at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD, where he staged the world premiere of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's The Picture of Dorian Gray, as well as Karen Zacarias' How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.

Robison has been with the Round House Theatre since 2005. Prior to that he served as producing artistic director of the Clarence Brown Theatre and as producing director of the National Shakespeare Company. He co-founded the Vermont Stage Company in 1994.

"I am delighted that Blake has been chosen as the new artistic director of the Playhouse," outgoing artistic director Stern said in a statement. "I know he is the right man at the right time for the right theatre. The growth at the Round House Theatre, both artistically and in community-driven projects, assures me that the Playhouse has an exciting and bright future. I also know how personable Blake is. I am confident that the Cincinnati community will embrace this wonderful and talented artist. I am looking forward to working with him in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition and help move the Playhouse forward."

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park received the 2004 Regional Theatre Tony Award. John Doyle's 2006 actor-musician revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company debuted at the Playhouse prior to a Tony Award-winning Broadway transfer. Doyle will return to the Playhouse in March 2012 for an actor-musician revival of Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along. The world premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Dead Accounts is also on CPP's season plate. Click here to read more about the 2011-2012 season.