Christopher Ashley, the Tony-winning director of “Come From Away,” has been appointed as the new artistic director of Roundabout Theatre Company.
Ashley has spent the past 17 years as the artistic director of San Diego’s La Jolla Playhouse and will begin his tenure with the New York-based nonprofit in July 2026 with the 2027-2028 season. He will take over from interim artistic director Scott Ellis, who assumed the role after Roundabout’s influential artistic director and chief executive Todd Haimes died in 2023. Haimes led Roundabout for four decades and turned the company into a major force on Broadway.
Ellis will continue in his role for the 2025-2026 season and collaborate with Ashley for the 2026-2027 season as he fulfills his prior commitments at La Jolla Playhouse. Roundabout operates three theaters on Broadway and two theaters Off Broadway.
“I am honored and exhilarated to step into the role of artistic director at Roundabout Theater Company,” Ashley said in a statement. “As we navigate this moment of immense change in the American theater, I hope that Roundabout can be a town square, where urgent questions can be investigated, the joy of live theater can be shared, and we can together find community and hope.”
Roundabout says it conducted a yearlong international search to find the company’s new leader. The selection committee consisted of Board of Directors members Kitty Patterson Kempner, Thomas E. Tuft, Lawrence Kaplen, Stephanie Kramer, Johannes Worsoe, LaChanze and Mary C. Solomon.
Ashley’s other Broadway directing credits include “Diana,” “Escape to Margaritaville,” “All Shook Up” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” During his tenure at La Jolla Playhouse, he worked on musicals and plays like recent Tony-winner “The Outsiders,” “Come From Away,” “Glengarry Glen Ross” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” In total, 22 shows transferred to Broadway from La Jolla Playhouse during Ashley’s run. He also spearheaded several initiatives such as the Playhouse’s yearly free immersive Without Walls (WOW) and founded DNA New Work Series, the Resident Theatre program and the BIPOC Directing Fellowship.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are proud of the thoughtful process we took to name Christopher as our incoming Artistic Director,” said Kitty Patterson Kempner, chair of the board of directors. “Christopher impressed us with his appreciation for Roundabout’s history and for our potential as a theatrical community with many unique voices — and as a national theatre for America. He also leads with kindness and compassion, two qualities Todd treasured most. As a long-time leader of La Jolla Playhouse, he is also well suited to lead our complex network of off-stage activities including Education, Workforce Development, and industry innovation.”
Ellis will continue his leadership responsibilities alongside executive producer Sydney Beers, chief advancement officer Chris Nave, as well as chief administrative officer Steven Showalter and the artistic staff including director of artistic producing Nicole Tingir MacMillan and director of play development Abigail Katz. Now, Ashley is collaborating with Ellis, Beers and Nave to fill the role of managing director.
“Our gratitude to Scott Ellis, who immediately stepped in after Todd passed, whose first Roundabout production was ‘She Loves Me’ in 1993, over 30 years ago, is infinite,” said Kempner. “Our confidence in Christopher Ashley is boundless. And we extend our deep gratitude to the entire Roundabout staff for the commitment and care they have demonstrated during this difficult time.”
