SAN FRANCISCO and KANSAS CITY, MO.: Marissa Wolf, artistic director of Crowded Fire Theater, has announced that she will step down at the end of the theatre’s 2014 season in December. Wolf will move to Kansas City, where she will take the newly created position of director of new works at Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Wolf first joined Crowded Fire in 2008 after the departure of founding artistic director Rebecca Novick. Under her leadership, the theatre grew significantly, more than doubling its budget and increasing its support for new-play development via the Matchbox commissioning and development program. Recent commissions included The Late Wedding by Christopher Chen and The Taming by Lauren Gunderson.

While a search commences for Wolf’s replacement, managing director Tiffany Cothran will take over as executive producing director. In a statement, Cothran said, “Marissa is leaving us with an amazing new lineup in place and a noteworthy legacy upon which a new artistic leader can build. This is an incredible opportunity for a new artistic director, and also an exciting opportunity for us as an organization continuing to grow. Change is a powerful and exhilarating force and everyone at Crowded Fire is eager to begin this new chapter.”