Oskar Eustis, artistic director of the Trinity Repertory Company and professor of English at Brown, will leave his posts to become the artistic director of New York City's Public Theater, one of the most prestigious non-profit theaters in the nation, the theater announced Wednesday.
Eustis, who could not be reached for comment, will fulfill responsibilities at both the Public Theater and Trinity Rep starting in January; he will assume his full-time role at the Public Theater in the spring of 2005, according to a news release issued by the Public Theater.
Much beloved and well-respected by his students, Eustis is currently teaching TA 128.4: "Introduction to Dramaturgy" and EL 200: "Theatrical Styles on Stage and Page." He is not scheduled to teach any Brown courses next semester, according to the Brown Online Course Announcement.
"He inspires his students every day and reminds them why theater is important for the world," said Jed Resnick '06, who is currently taking Eustis' dramaturgy course and worked with him in an independent study program his freshman year.
Adam Immerwahr '05, also enrolled in the dramaturgy class, said, "Oskar is an unbelievable professor. One of the incredible things about having him as a teacher is that he is able to bring in a wealth of experience."
Eustis is able to share with his students the experience he has gained by working with some of the greatest playwrights of his generation, Immerwahr said, adding that the class is improved by Eustis' access to materials such as new manuscripts.
Students were abuzz before a class in late October after the New York Times reported that Eustis was being eyed for the Public Theater's top job, Resnick said, adding that Eustis immediately brushed the report aside when class began and continued with his lesson plan.
Immerwahr said Eustis simply said "no comment" when he walked into class the day of the Times report.
Eustis' dramaturgy class is extremely popular, Resnick said. Of about 25 students, most are graduate students or seniors concentrating in theater arts, he said, adding that many more students who wanted to enroll in the course were turned away.
Eustis' students accepted the news reports today with mixed emotions - enthusiasm to see their beloved professor receive the honor and disappointment to see him leave Brown.
"It is very sad for us but great for New York," said Teddy Goldsmith '05.
Eustis, in addition to teaching at Brown, founded and directs the Brown/Trinity Rep Consortium, a graduate program that combines the resources of the University and Trinity Rep's professional theater program. The program graduates its first class this May.
In his 10 years as head of Trinity Rep, Eustis oversaw the theater triple its attendance and operating budget, construct the new Pell Chafee Performance Center, revitalize its resident acting company and launch the Trinity Summer Shakespeare Project, according to a Trinity Rep news bulletin about his departure.
In addition to his artistic and administrative leadership responsibilities at the Public Theater, Eustis will teach as a full-time professor at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, according to the Public Theater press release.
