LEWISBURG, W.VA.: Following a months-long search, Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT) has appointed Paul Stancato its new producing artistic director. The company officially welcomed him to the community earlier this month at its opening performance of Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery. Former producing artistic director Cathey Sawyer stepped down in 2021 after 30 years in the position. She was succeeded by Matthew Scott Campbell, who departed GVT in December to become the managing director of Barter Theatre.

Stancato is an accomplished director, choreographer, and arts administrator. He previously served as the artistic director of Timber Lake Playhouse and of Franco Dragone’s The House of Dancing Water in Macau, and is a co-founder of Electric Playground Inc. As a resident director, Stancato collaborated with Julie Taymor on The Lion King for four years and assisted Rob Ashford on The Wedding Singer on Broadway. He has directed and choreographed premieres regionally and internationally, including the original production of Friends: The Parody Musical in Las Vegas, Australia, and Europe; the world premiere of What A Wonderful World at Timber Lake Playhouse (live-streamed by Broadway On Demand and DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts); the regional premiere of A Bronx Tale at the John Engeman Theatre in New York; and Forever Plaid and Grease at Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago. He has also worked on national tours including Jekyll & Hyde, The Wedding Singer, and the international tour of Flashdance the Musical. He holds an MFA from the University of Florida and a BA from Western Illinois University.

Greenbrier Valley Theatre is the state professional theatre of West Virginia. GVT strives to enlighten, enrich, and enliven the region through theatre. As of 2022, the theatre had an approximate budget of $1.3 million.