DENVER: Denver Center for the Performing Arts has announced that Kent Thompson will resign as producing artistic director of DCPA Theatre Company after 12 seasons at the helm. His last day will be March 3. The DCPA staff and Theatre Company leaders will create a transition team in the coming weeks to search for his replacement, and Thompson will stay in an advisory capacity through the end of the 2016-17 season.

“Kent has been an exceptional artistic leader of the theatre company for the past 12 years,” said Janice Sinden, DCPA president and CEO, in a statement. “His accomplishments as producing artistic director include the creation of the nationally-acclaimed Colorado New Play Summit, the establishment of the Women’s Voices Fund to support the work of women in theatre, the development of innovative and immersive programming through Off-Center, and a robust commissioning program. As a director, Kent has led more than 20 productions at the theatre company, most notably Kent Haruf’s Plainsong trilogy, Sweeney Todd, and numerous world premieres and Shakespearean productions during his tenure. We will miss his commitment to artistic excellence and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”

Thompson will direct the theatre’s production of The Christians (Jan. 27-Feb. 26). He is working on a book about directing, and plans to pursue other opportunities in the theatre field.

“With the support of so many at the DCPA and in the Denver community, serving as producing artistic director for the last 12 seasons has been a fulfilling and rewarding period of growth and achievement,” Thompson said in a statement. “The Theatre Company’s efforts have brought national acclaim and foundation support to the DCPA, Denver and Colorado. We also have worked to diversify our programming, company, and staff to create a theatre that better reflects the communities we serve.”