Libby Appel
Libby Appel, born May 14, 1937 , served as the fourth artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival ("OSF") from 1995 to June 2007. Appel was succeeded at OSF by Cornerstone Theatre Company artistic director, Bill Rauch. Appel directed more than 25 productions at OSF, and her artistic vision influenced the 11 plays presented each year during her tenure. Despite the festival’s name, she placed increased emphasis on new works. “We have made major connections with world playwrights, artists whose voices we’re particularly interested in.” Appel said. “We commission playwrights, we develop plays here; we have playwrights in residence. We’re a world force now, and I’m really proud of that.”
Appel holds a BA from The University of Michigan, an MA from Northwestern University, and 3 honorary doctorates from Southern Oregon University, University of Portland, and Willamette University. She began her theatrical career teaching acting at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, 1970 to 1976. From 1976 to 1981, she chaired the acting program at California State University Long Beach, simultaneously serving as associate artistic director at the California Shakespeare Festival in 1980-1981. In 1981, Appel was named dean of theatre at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California. During this period she took freelance directing jobs during summers, authored Mask Characterization: An Acting Process, co-authored two plays, Shakespeare’s Women and Shakespeare’s Lovers, with Michael Flachmann, and created and produced a video, Inter/Face: The Actor and the Mask. From 1992 to 1996, she served as artistic director of Indiana Repertory Theatre, where she saw her mission as bringing “diversity to every aspect of the theatre, reinvigorate the theatre’s approach to the classics, increase dialogue with the community…expand the theatre’s commitment to young people, and increase the commissioning of new projects.”
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