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 | Cal State L.A. Names New Chair Los Angeles, CA -- California State University, Los Angeles announces the appointment of Stephen Rothman as the new chair for its Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, effective Spring Quarter 2001. Rothman, who received a B.S. and M.F.A. from Florida State University, comes to Cal State L.A. from Pennsylvania State University, where he is associate professor of theatre and producing director of Pennsylvania Centre Stage, the professional theater arm of Penn State University. Based in Los Angeles from 1979 to 1998, he is best known by southern California theatergoers as founder and producing artistic director of the revitalized Pasadena Playhouse. While there, he coordinated the multi-million dollar restoration of the three-theater complex and directed numerous productions in each space. In California, he also served as artistic director of the Sacramento Theatre Company, and produced West Coast premieres that included Hometown Heroes, California Schemin' and Orphans, presented in American Sign Language at Deaf/West Theatre. His March 1997 Sacramento production of Love Letters, starring then-Governor Pete Wilson and his wife, Gayle, made L.A. Times front-page news. Rothman has been producing director of the Paramount Arts Centre, and associate executive director of the Asolo State Theatre. He was theater management consultant for the El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles for many years. In addition to directing over 100 shows at more than 50 different theaters around the country, Rothman has directed television productions, including two seasons on The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He has taught master classes and held adjunct professorships at USC, CSU Davis, Illinois State University, and Florida State University, and held a three-time appointment as the Iben Lecturer at Bradley University in Illinois. He was most recently honored as "Best Director" at the 25th Carbonell Awards in Miami, Florida, for his work on David Rambo's new play, God's Man in Texas. The play won the most honors at the 2000 Carbonell Awards for a non-musical, including best play, supporting actor, lighting and set design, and has since become one of the most popular new plays in the regional theatre circuit. The Carbonell Awards are given by the South Florida Critic's Association and the Theatre League of South Florida. In 1997, Rothman received the Los Angeles Dramalogue award for his direction of Orphans. Critics for the Palm Beach Post and the Palm Beach Daily News have heralded Rothman as a director who "understands the balancing act of tones and characters weaving them into an impressive, seamless whole," and "deftly shapes the show with an ear for its poetic rhythms."
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