Allen Cornell Succeeds Chuck Still at Riverside Theatre

Allen D. Cornell, long-time Artistic Director of Riverside Theatre, has been given the new title of Producing Artistic Director and will henceforth also have responsibility for the business operations of the theater, it was announced recently.

The decision by the Board of Trustees followed a search for a replacement for Executive Director Chuck Still, who left Riverside in April to run a theater in Connecticut.

“Our search firm interviewed many qualified candidates for the position and our eight-person Search Committee brought a few applicants to the theatre and interviewed them here,” said E. Martin Gibson, President of the Board of Trustees.

“After all of that, we concluded unanimously that the best candidate was someone that was here all along, Allen D. Cornell,” said Gibson. “By making Allen Producing Artistic Director, we are following a common and successful regional theatre model.”

Cornell has been the founding Artistic Director for the professional producing end of Riverside since it transformed from its community theatre roots to the organization it is today. Under his 25 years of guidance, the Acting Company, Riverside 2 and the Actor’s Cabaret were created featuring Equity performers.

He has produced over 200 productions at Riverside Theatre including such popular shows as: Chicago, Anything Goes, Doubt, Sylvia, Beehive, and One . As a playwright, Mr. Cornell has collaborated with Ken Clifton on two acclaimed world premiere productions at Riverside, Midnight Clear (2001) and A Christmas Carol (2006).

“I am honored by the confidence the Board has shown me and I look forward to the challenges and great opportunities ahead,” Cornell said.