Bonnie Metzgar named interim artistic director of American Theater Company

The board of directors of American Theater Company, still reeling from the loss of the company’s visionary artistic director, PJ Paparelli, who died in a car crash in Scotland in late May, has named Bonnie Metzgar to serve as interim artistic director, effective immediately.

The board also announced it will conduct a nationwide search for a new permanent leader of the company.

Metzgar, a former artistic director of Chicago’s About Face Theater, is a member of the 2014-2015 Playwrights Unit of the Goodman Theatre. She has had an ongoing relationship with the American Theater Company, and most recently directed its production of Anna Deavere Smith’s documentary play “Let Me Down Easy.”

Meanwhile, Paparelli’s highly lauded production “The Project(s),” a vivid history of public housing in Chicago, continues through June 21 at ATC. For tickets call (773) 409-4125 or visit www.atcweb.org.