Irene Lewis has been named artistic director of Center Stage by the theater's board of trustees.
Lewis has served as acting artistic director since July when Stan Wojewodski Jr. resigned to become the dean of the Yale School of Drama and artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre.
Trustee W. David MacCallan, chairman of the Center Stage Search Committee, informed the board of trustees Monday evening that Lewis was the unanimous recommendation of the committee.
Nancy Roche, president of the Center Stage board of trustees, said, "Our comprehensive search process lasted almost a year and included a survey of dozens of resumes and interviews with the best artists working today in American regional theater."
Lewis directed nine plays at Center Stage prior to assuming the position of acting artistic director last summer. Lewis selected the current season.
The new artistic director was an associate artist at Center Stage (1982-88) following her tenure as the artistic director of the Philadelphia Drama Guild. Prior to that she was associate director of the Hartford Stage Company.
Plays directed by Lewis at Center Stage include "The Queen and the Rebels" this season, "Miss Evers' Boys" (1989), "Aunt Dan and Lemon" (1987) and "The School for Wives" (1986).
In accepting the post, Lewis said, "I have found Center Stage to be an unusual organization -- one that combines fiscal responsibility with strong artistic integrity. In shaping its future, I hope to build on Center Stage's thoughtful dynamic past."