Artistic Director James Ricks will step down from his leadership role at Richmond Shakespeare at the end of May.
Since 2018, James has led the aesthetic mission of the Richmond-based theater company, producing seven highly-regarded seasons including the Richmond Shakespeare Festival (in partnership with Agecroft Hall & Gardens) and celebrated programs such as Bootleg Shakespeare, Bardathon and Festival Young Company. Previously he served as Artistic Director of Henley Street Theatre, where he was named 2013 Richmond Theatre Community Circle (RTCC) Best Director of a Play for his production of Julius Caesar. At Quill/Richmond Shakespeare, James directed Love’s Labor’s Lost, Lysistrata, As You Like It, The Tempest, Red Velvet, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, The Bottom Show, An Iliad, She Stoops To Conquer, Hamlet, All’s Well That Ends Well, School For Lies, Doctor Faustus and, most recently, Macbeth.
During his tenure, Richmond Shakespeare earned 71 RTCC award nominations and 15 awards. In 2019 , the Richmond Shakespeare Festival was honored by the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly for its contributions to cultural life within the Commonwealth.
The Board expresses sincere gratitude to James Ricks for his vision, passion and contribution to our mission and to the Richmond arts community.