Tarver named the new artistic director of Necessary Angel

Jennifer Tarver has been appointed artistic director of Necessary Angel, the acclaimed Toronto theatre company announced Thursday.

The selection of Tarver, one of the Stratford Festival's star directors, brings to an end a three-month search – and a longer period of existential uncertainty for the 25-year-old arts institution.

Necessary Angel had been without a leader since former artistic director Daniel Brooks left in June to resume a freelance career, and doubly rudderless after the departure of long-time producer and general manager Guy de Carteret in the fall.

Tarver, who will be only the third artistic director of Necessary Angel and its first female one, won Dora Awards for her work on Samuel Beckett plays in Toronto's independent theatre scene before becoming a mainstay at Stratford with shows such as Harold Pinter's The Homecoming and George F. Walker's Zastrozzi. She returns this summer to direct Waiting for Godot with Brian Dennehy, Stephen Ouimette and Tom Rooney.