Cynthia Rider, the executive director of Oregon Shakespeare Festival since 2013, will soon leave that job after an interim director is named, OSF announced Friday. The announcement comes as the theater searches for a replacement for its artistic director, Bill Rauch, who鈥檚 leaving for New York next year.
In a statement, OSF said Rider 鈥渙pted not to renew her contract鈥� beyond its present term. She is quoted as saying it鈥檚 鈥渢ime for fresh leadership鈥� to work with the new artistic director who will replace Rauch after he leaves in August 2019.
The Tony Award-winning theater suffered $2 million in losses over the summer due to wildfire smoke-caused refunds, lost ticket sales and extra expenses, and laid off 16 people last week.
Rider, in an interview, said her departure was not prompted by the board and that, in fact, it just offered a contract renewal. Her partnership with Rauch is optimal and 鈥渨e鈥檙e wonderful colleagues and friends,鈥� she added.
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