The Off-Broadway company's artistic directors Robert LuPone and Bernard Telsey made the announcement March 22. West was previously the director of development at MCC. He will succeed John Schultz, who left in October 2006.

Blake West has been with MCC since February 2006, where, as director of development, he oversaw all annual fundraising initiatives, including increasing individual giving and breaking a net record this year for MCC's annual gala Miscast.

He joined MCC after four years as director of planning and projects at Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC), where he oversaw all event-based fundraising and was responsible for significant revenue increases in its annual benefit events. Prior to MTC, West worked at The Karpel Group, a marketing and publicity firm, where he oversaw marketing initiatives for numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Donkey Show, James Joyce's The Dead and others. He began his career as a public relations writer and journalist.

"Blake has been an inspired match for MCC since the day he arrived, and we are thrilled to engage his leadership as we enter our third decade," co-artistic director Bernie Telsey stated.

West stated, "I am proud to have been a part of MCC's success this last year and am honored to have this opportunity to work even more closely with artistic directors Bernie Telsey and Bob LuPone, associate artist director Will Cantler and the dynamic board and staff of MCC in this expanded role. MCC has a rich history and I am looking forward to being a part of an equally rich and exciting future." The third and final play of the 2006-07 MCC season is the world premiere of Neil LaBute's In a Dark Dark House, running May 16-June 23, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The schedule for the 2007-08 season will be announced shortly.

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Now in its 21st season, MCC Theater is "committed to presenting New York and world premieres each season." When MCC Theater was founded in 1986, its mission was "to bring new theatrical voices to theatregoing audiences. MCC Theater continues to accomplish this yearly through presentation of its mainstage works; its literary program, which actively seeks and develops new and emerging writers and its education and outreach program, allowing more than 1,200 students yearly to experience theater, increase literacy and discover their own voices in the arts."

MCC Theater highlights include the 2004 Tony-winning production of Bryony Lavery's Frozen; Neil LaBute's Fat Pig; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living; Marsha Norman's Trudy Blue; Margaret Edson's Pulitzer prize-winning Wit; Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone and Alan Bowne's Beirut.

For more information and a complete production history, visit www.MCCTheater.org.