The Intiman named Whoriskey as Sher's successor in 2009, with the intent that the duo would share the title of co-artistic director through the 2010 season until Whoriskey would officially take over in 2011. The Intiman has accelerated the time-table, according to board president Kim A. Anderson. Sher will now assume the title of artistic director emeritus.

Whoriskey most recently staged the first Broadway revival of William Gibson's The Miracle Worker. She is known for her direction of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Ruined Off-Broadway and at the Goodman Theatre. Whoriskey previously staged The Chairs, The Lady from the Sea and Blue/Orange at the Intiman, where she served as an associate artist from 2002-2003.

Sher will direct the world premiere musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown for Lincoln Center Theater on Broadway this fall. He was appointed resident director of Lincoln Center Theater in fall 2008. Sher earned Tony nominations for each of his Lincoln Center projects and received the 2008 Tony Award for his direction of South Pacific. Sher has also staged LCT productions of The Light in the Piazza, Awake and Sing! and Joe Turner's Come and Gone.