Some of these people, however, already have indicated they are not interested in the job, so Williamstown board members might not be in such an enviable seat to call all the shots as they think (Just ask Yale president Richard Levin how the ego deflates when people start saying no to you.) Others have suggested the board look beyond stage directors and consider writers (Pete Guerney's name comes up most) or - gasp! - even an actor. Wild-card names include Mark Linn-Baker, former Hartford Stage artistic director Mark Lamos, James Simpson, Christopher Ashley, Scott Elliot and Darko Tresnjak. Other names mentioned include former Long Wharf head Doug Hughes, a man who seems destined to run a theater again sooner or later, and director Joe Mantello (Broadway's "Take Me Out" and "Wicked"), both of whom are mentioned for the Public Theater job as well (as is Greif). Other directors participating at the theater this summer who have been mentioned as possible candidates include Michael Greif (Broadway's "Rent," "The Seagull" at WTF), Scott Ellis (Broadway's "She Loves Me," "The Man Who Had All the Luck" at WTF), Gregory Boyd (Houston's Alley Theater artistic dirctor, "Design for Living" at WTF) and actor-director James Naughton. Martin, however, retains a close connection with Williamstown, and he will return this summer to direct "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as well as the being major domo for its season-ending gala, where presumably Ritchie's successor will be named. But couldn't Williamstown be for the Huntington what Tanglewood is for the Boston Symphony? On paper, that might seem attractive, but the project is daunting in light of the Huntington's own major expansion drive, which will open new theater spaces in the Hub this fall. Nicolas Martin is too busy changing the Boston theater scene with his Huntington Theatre Company to tackle an additional artistic directorship. One obvious choice for consideration has already nixed early speculation. New England sensibilities prefer something more tasteful and comfortable. Few expect revolutionary times, saying that's more the aim of The Public's search in New York. It will be interesting to see if Williamstown's search committee turns to one of its own "family" members, whether it seeks out someone with lesser ties to the theater or whether it will choose a fresh face with no previous association with WTF in an effort to bring in new blood and shake things up a bit. But sometimes it's just nepotism for nepotism's sake. Sometimes the nepotism makes artistic - not to mention box office - sense, as when Williamstown vet Blythe Danner brought daughter Gwyneth Paltrow into the theater fold (as well as husband, director Bruce Paltrow). Also on staff is Rachel Davidson, daughter of Gordon Davidson, whom Ritchie is succeeding in Los Angeles. Ritchie's associate producer is Jenny Gersten, daughter of Bernie Gersten, executive producer at Lincoln Center Theater. Ritchie is married to longtime Williamstown regular, actress Kate Burton. Most identifiable is the sense of the Williamstown "family." It's not unusual to see sons, daughters, wives, husbands, lovers of the theatrically rich and famous fill Williamstown's rosters.
It also deals with hordes of summer interns and a college that lends its theater and facilities to the festival but one whose association hasn't always been smooth.
TAKE ME OUT HARTFORD STAGE LIGHTING DESIGN PROFESSIONAL
Williamstown has a loose summer theater style, running at its own pace, schedule and manner, which is sometimes at odds with how other professional theaters run their organizations.
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