The Waterfront Playhouse (aka Key West Players, Inc.) announces the appointment of Tom Thayer as its new Artistic Director, effective July 1, 2018. Current Managing Artistic Director, Danny Weathers will be retiring from the position as of June 30, 2018, marking the end of his 15^th Season at the Waterfront Playhouse.

Mr. Thayer, who is the present Business and Box Office Manager of the Playhouse, has extensive experience in theatre management. Along with his partner, John McDonald, Tom created the successful Roxy Center for Arts and Education in Clarksville, TN, which they ran for 33 years before relocating to Key West in 2015.

Like the Waterfront, the Roxy season was a mix of comedies, musicals and dramatic works but also included a vibrant children’s theater program. Mr. Thayer has directed award-winning productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and Sandy Wilson’s The Boyfriend as well as Green Day’s American Idiot, Spring Awakening, The Secret Garden, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, as well as the world premiere’s of Life on the Mississippi, Bessie, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Magnificent Amberson’s and Red Badge of Courage all adapted for the stage by John McDonald.

Mr. Thayer graduated from New York’s Musical and Dramatic Academy and taught for the Rhodes School and The Dwight School.

During Danny Weathers’ tenure as Managing Artistic Director, the Waterfront has seen significant growth both financially and artistically. “I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished at the Waterfront,” Weathers said. “The success is definitely due to the hard work and dedication of the Board and members over the years, the outstanding designers, actors, crew and staff, the generosity of this community and the TDC, and of course, the brilliant work of scenic designer Michael Boyer. I believe we’ve made the Waterfront Playhouse a respected regional theater and one that the community can be proud to call their own.” Indeed the Waterfront was named the “Best Professional Theater in Florida” two years in a row by Florida Monthly magazine.

Mr. Weathers has directed such well-received productions as The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, The 39 Steps, Good People, Noises Off, Avenue Q, Equus, Doubt, Lettice and Lovage,Twelve Angry Men, August: Osage County, Urinetown, the Musical, Reefer Madness, The Glass Menagerie, Leading Ladies, The Best Man, Spamalot and many more. He has also coordinated numerous concerts and special events.

Previous to being with the Waterfront, Danny was the Artistic Director for the Founders Society, who were the producing organization for the Tennessee Williams Theater for three seasons between 2000 and 2003.

“I’m tremendously sad to see Danny leave both the Waterfront and Key West,” said Waterfront Board President, Jeff Johnson. “He has been a joy to work with and a driving force behind great theater in Key West for decades. Tom Thayer certainly has big shoes to fill but I do believe that he is up to that challenge. We all look forward to the next chapter in the history of the Waterfront.”

Mr. Weathers and Mr. Thayer are currently working together to assemble the 2018/19 season for the Waterfront, which will be announced sometime in May 2018.