A twelve-year veteran of the New Jersey Theatre Group and former casting assistant and company manager of the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, George Ryan has now been appointed as artistic associate at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick. Starting in mid-August, he'll manage the theatre's literary department as well as assist artistic director David Saint with casting, administration and special programs, such as Scholars On Stage symposia and gallery exhibits.

Ryan, who starts the position this month, began at NJSF in 1985, then moved to New Jersey Theatre Group (later renamed New Jersey Theatre Alliance) three years later, serving there as Director of Information Services and then as Director of Artistic Services.

Said artistic director David Saint -- himself a relative newcomer to the Jersey scene -- of his new appointment, "His comprehensive knowledge of the local talent pool will be of enormous benefit to our mission of involving the New Brunswick community in George Street Playhouse..."

Managing Director Michael Stotts added that Ryan helps "strengthen our artistic team," especially as they "focus more and more on the development of new plays."

Recent George Street productions have included A.R. Gurney's Ancestral Voices, Donald Margulies' Collected Stories, and Anne Meara's Down the Garden Paths. -- By David Lefkowitz