Dobama Appoints New Artistic Director

Dobama Theatre in Cleveland Heights has appointed a new artistic director.

Nathan Motta, an associate artistic director at Dobama, will take the place of Artistic Director Joel Hammer beginning Feb. 15.

Motta, a professional freelance director, conductor, and composer/lyricist, was named an associate artistic director at Dobama in 2012, and teaches acting through his program at Dobama, the Dobama Emerging Actors Program. Before his time there, he worked with the Cleveland Play House, Opera Cleveland, Ohio Light Opera, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Mercury Opera Rochester (NY), and Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh). 

He holds a B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University and Master’s degree from the Eastman School of Music. Motta will be directing Dobama Theatre’s final show of the 2012-13 season, Nicky Silver’s THE LYONS, which opens April 19.

“It’s a great privilege to follow in the footsteps of people like Don Bianchi, Joyce Casey, Ron Newell and Joel Hammer,” Motta said. “Dobama has a long history of producing Cleveland premieres of important new plays. The work that has been done to bring professional productions of these new works to the greater Cleveland community is both exciting and vital to the arts culture in the city. I look forward to continuing this work, to helping to grow Dobama Theatre’s theatre community, and to advance this theatre’s essential mission.”

Motta will be the 54-year-old theatre's fifth artistic director.

"We are delighted to have Nathan Motta step into this role at Dobama Theatre," said Hammer. "It is rare to  find a new Artistic Director with such energy and credentials, as well as a commitment to Dobama’s mission and the greater theater community.”

Laura Anderson, President of Dobama’s Board of Directors, said, “Not only are Nathan’s artistic abilities and leadership skills exemplary, his passion for Dobama is contagious. We are thrilled that Nathan will lead Dobama, its artists and its audiences into this next phase of the theatre’s artistic mission.”