Jeanie O'Hare Named Director of New Work Development at the Public Theater

The Public Theater announced today that Jeanie O'Hare has been named its director of New Work Development. O'Hare, who will start at the Public in September, has more than 20 years of experience, most recently serving as the chair of Playwriting at the Yale School of Drama.

Prior to her time at the Yale School of Drama, O'Hare served as company dramaturg for the Royal Shakespeare Company for seven years. She served as the literary manager of the Hampstead Theatre from 2001 to 2004, and for every year of her tenure Hampstead received Olivier Award nominations for Most Promising Playwright, winning twice. She also worked as the literary assistant at the Royal Court Theatre under artistic directors Stephen Daldry and Ian Rickson. There she served as senior script reader and ran the literary team of readers who put plays forward for programming, and led the Royal Court Young Writers' Group with Rufus Norris.

"Jeanie O'Hare has the vision, the experience, the brains and the drive to elevate all our work at the Public Theater," said artistic director Oskar Eustis in a statement. "I am thrilled she will be joining our staff and I look forward to our partnership with joy."

"This is a wildly exciting time to be joining the Public Theater," said O'Hare. "Oskar Eustis leads a company that has become the place for America to take its boldest theatrical risks."