"Jeanie O'Hare has distinguished herself as a unique and profoundly accomplished theatre artist," said Yale School of Drama dean James Bundy in a statement. "For nearly 20 years, she has cultivated relationships with playwrights from around the world and developed work that has been produced and celebrated internationally. I am certain that her vital creative intelligence and generous collaborative spirit will inspire not only the playwriting department, but also the entire Yale School of Drama community."
At the RSC, O'Hare has been responsible for dozens of commissions that have brought the works of living playwrights back to high visibility within the company's repertoire, including plays by Debbie Tucker Green, David Greig, Natalia Vorozhbit and Roy Williams, as well as the recent Matilda The Musical by Dennis Kelly with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Additionally, O'Hare brought playwrights into the RSC for extended residencies through the RSC/Warwick International Playwright In Residence program, forged an alliance with LAByrinth Theater Company in New York City and conducted play development workshops at the University of Michigan. Prior to her work at the RSC, she served as literary manager for Hampstead Theatre for four years and worked for seven seasons in the artistic and literary offices of the Royal Court Theatre.
"I am delighted and honored to join Yale School of Drama," said O'Hare in a statement. "I have long been aware of Yale as the proving ground of some of the best talent emerging in American theatre. I have spent nearly 20 years working with writers in the profession and Yale has consistently earned its reputation as a hotspot of exciting new writing."
O'Hare will participate in the admissions process and planning for the incoming class of 2015 and beyond. She will lead a department that includes Eugene O'Neill professor (adjunct) of playwriting Paula Vogel and associate chair Kenneth Prestininzi. The current School of Drama playwriting faculty also includes Michael Korie, Lisa Kron, Lynn Nottage, Frank Pugliese, Sarah Ruhl, Rachel Sheinkin and Deborah Stein.
