Doug Hughes, only the third artistic director of Connecticut's Long Wharf Theatre in its 36 year history, announced his resignation June 4.

Hughes has headed the Long Wharf since 1997 when he replaced the company's longest serving artistic director Arvin Brown. Under his leadership, Long Wharf transferred several productions to Off-Broadway including Wit, Red, Down the Garden Paths and The Dog Problem.

Hughes, an Obie winner for Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone, has directed Long Wharf productions of She Stoops to Conquer, Playboy of the Western World and The Importance of Being Earnest, as well as Manhattan Theatre Company's An Experiment With an Air Pump, John Guare's Lake Hollywood and Mystery School with Tyne Daly.

While the company searches for a new artistic director, managing director Michael Ross and director of artistic programming Greg Leaming will produce the 2001-02 season.

The Long Wharf has already chosen next year's productions. The season features Kathleen Chalfant in The Cherry Orchard, the world premieres of David Schulner's An Infinite Ache and Dael Orlandersmith's Yellowman and Sinan Unel's Off-Broadway hit Pera Palas. — By Christine Ehren