CATCO’S new artistic director is from Chicago

A Chicago theater leader is the new artistic director of CATCO and CATCO Is Kids.

Leda Hoffmann, selected by the CATCO board after a nationwide search, previously led Strawdog Theatre Company, a 32-year-old Chicago storefront theater that produces a mainstage season and an annual production for young audiences.

Hoffmann plans to build upon CATCO’S reputation to “bring bold, progressive and exciting work to Columbus audiences” while continuing CATCO and CATCO Is Kids’ commitment to create quality theater for adults and young people, she said in a statement.

Hoffmann has worked as a director, artistic director, producer, theater educator, and senior staff member of a major regional theater. Before working at Strawdog, Hoffmann served as director of community engagement, literary coordinator and education coordinator at Milwaukee Repertory Theater. She also was founding artistic director of Luminous Theatre, where she created theatrical productions in non-traditional spaces.

Hoffmann’s work as a director has been seen across the country, including productions at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Milwaukee Rep, Northbrook Theatre, Renaissance Theatreworks in Milwaukee, Texas Shakespeare Festival, and the University of Miami.

Hoffmann, who assumed her new CATCO position Monday, replaces Steven Anderson, who served as CATCO producing director since 2010. Anderson’s last day, extended because of the pandemic, was Friday.

Hoffmann joins Christy Farnbauch — CATCO’S new executive director hired in April to oversee administration, budgeting, fundraising and financial operations — as the reorganized leadership team at CATCO.

“Throughout her career, Leda has demonstrated creative and innovative strategies to advance the theatres where she has worked. Her national perspective, coupled with my experience in the local arts and cultural sector, will position CATCO to thrive after the pandemic, while being responsive to the cultural and social changes in our community and the world,” Farnbauch said in a statement.

In response to the changes sparked by the pandemic, Farnbauch and Hoffman plan to consider innovative theater approaches that keep actors and audiences safer, such as outdoor theater and online productions. mgrossberg1@gmail.com @mgrossberg1