American Conservatory Theater Announces Three New Hires

American Conservatory Theater artistic director Pam MacKinnon has announced three new hires to fill key positions within the nonprofit theater's artistic and conservatory departments.

Joy Meads will be director of dramaturgy and new works. She comes to A.C.T. from Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, where she was literary manager and artistic entertainment strategist. Other previous positions include literary manager at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and associate artistic director at California Shakespeare Theater. As director of dramaturgy and new works, she will lead the day-to-day literary and dramaturgy operations of commissioning and identifying new work, among other roles. She begins the role on Monday, August 13.

Peter J. Kuo will be associate conservatory director. A director, producer, writer, and educator focused on raising the visibility of marginalized communities, he is currently in the directing corps at Williamstown Theatre Festival, where he is assistant director to Rachel Chavkin on the new musical Lempicka. His first assistant directing job was working with McKinnon on the world premiere of The Parisian Woman at South Coast Repertory in 2013. As associate conservatory director, he will direct MFA productions, teach, and advise students, among other roles. He begins the role on Monday, September 10.

Danyon Davis will be head of movement. He comes to A.C.T. from the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, where he was also head of movement. In this role, he will oversee the movement curriculum in the theater's MFA program, as well as support A.C.T. development projects, coach mainstage works, and support student production, among other roles. He begins the role on Thursday, August 23.