Jason Spelbring
Following an extensive national search, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival has selected Jason Spelbring as the company’s new artistic director. He’ll replace current executive artistic director Denice Hicks, who will transition out of her role on Sept. 30 after serving more than three decades with the organization.
“I was immediately struck by how at home I felt in Nashville,” Spelbring says in a press release. “The leadership, staff, and board of directors at the Nashville Shakespeare Festival were so kind and inviting. I quickly realized that NSF was an organization I needed to be a part of, and serving as artistic director would be a joy.
“I am fully aware that I have some big shoes to fill as executive artistic director Denice Hicks steps down after decades of leadership serving the mission of NSF, stewardship through a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic, and collaboration and dedication to the Nashville theatre community,” he continues. “She truly is one of a kind. I look forward to sharing space with Denice and gleaning as much information from her as possible.”
The beloved artistic executive director announced she’ll transition in September
Spelbring’s hiring comes at a time of great transition for many local arts organizations, as well as those throughout the country. But he brings with him an abundance of experience as a theater director, administrator, educator and producer. Spelbring has served as associate artistic director and artistic associate/resident director at Lyric Repertory Company, and associate professor/assistant department head in the Department of Theatre Arts at Utah State University’s Caine College of the Arts. In 2019, Spelbring established Lyric Rep’s Emerging Directors Initiative — a program to promote underrepresented early-career directors. He also co-created the Vosco Call Spotlight Concert, an annual event to raise funds for Lyric Rep’s endowment.
Spelbring’s directing credits include the Lincoln Center Theatre national touring production of My Fair Lady (assistant director) and Amadeus at the Tony Award-winning Cleveland Play House (movement, intimacy and fight director). He also has worked extensively with the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, serving as director, movement director, intimacy and fight director on various productions.
“The Nashville Shakespeare Festival is thrilled to welcome Jason Spelbring to our team,” says NSF’s executive managing director, Isabel Tipton-Krispin. “We are looking forward to Jason bringing not only his classical theatre expertise and artistic leadership experience but also a commitment to community that is so critical in NSF's work.”
Spelbring is set to step into his new role with NSF on Sept. 2. Meanwhile, audiences can look forward to checking out the company’s Summer Shakespeare production of As You Like It, which runs Aug. 29-Sept. 22 at The Yard at OneC1ty, and Sept. 26-29 at Academy Park in Franklin. To learn more, visit nashvilleshakes.org.
