Strawdog Theatre Company names Brandon Bruce artistic director

Strawdog Theatre Company announced this morning that Brandon Bruce will be the company's new artistic director. Bruce previously served as artistic director of BackStage Theatre Company before leaving that post in 2007 to pursue an M.F.A. in directing at the University of Iowa. "After conducting a nationwide search, we ultimately were given the opportunity to welcome an artist home to Chicago, and not just into our community, but back into the Chicago theater community at large, where he is known and respected," Strawdog managing director Hank Boland said in a statement. Bruce replaces outgoing artistic director Nic Dimond, who's stepping down after eight years at Strawdog's helm. The company's current production of Manfred Karge's Conquest of the South Pole marks the conclusion of its 23rd season.