JUNEAU, ALASKA: Perseverance Theatre has named Leslie Ishii their new artistic director. Ishii has been serving as the company’s interim artistic director since July.

“Leslie has been outstanding to work with these past months,” said Perseverance board president Joe Bedard in a statement. “Her vision as a creative leader and her passion for equity and justice will be an amazing voice in Alaska theatre.”

Ishii has worked as a director and actor, appearing in the Broadway production of Shogun by John Driver and Paul Chihara as well as in film and television. Ishii served as the co-chair, organizer, and board member for the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists’ ConFest for two years, and is the founder and co-director of the National Cultural Navigation Theatre Project. She was also a co-facilitator of Theatre Communications Group’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Institute.

“I’m excited to continue working with the amazing team at Perseverance,” Ishii said in a statement. “We’ll be focused on listening and learning from the Alaska community, and striving toward art that is exceptional, equitable, and thoughtful.”