Aaron Posner, a co-founder of Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, has been named artistic director of the Two River Theatre. He replaces Jonathan Fox, who was with the company for 12 years and left last month.

The Star-Ledger has a story today. Reporter Peggy McGlone writes:

Posner and two colleagues co-founded the Arden Theatre Company in 1988. He served as its artistic director for 10 years, and in 1998 stepped down to become its resident director, producing plays by Shakespeare, Shaw and Brian Friel. Meanwhile, his freelance directing career took him to the country’s top regional theaters, including the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Folger Shakespeare Theatre.

Posner joins a young but thriving theater. Founded by (now executive producer Robert) Rechnitz in 1994, Two River moved to its new $15 million home on Bridge Avenue in Red Bank in May 2005. Since then, its subscription rolls have tripled—from 792 in 2005 to 2,111 for the upcoming season—and total attendance has soared to 29,465, up from 11,729 the previous year…

Rechnitz said seeing Posner’s latest adaptation—”A Murder, A Mystery & A Marriage,” a musical based on a Mark Twain story—sealed the deal.

“Given the heft of Aaron’s résumé — he’s really done all kinds of very serious theater—seeing this play was a delight,” said Rechnitz, who traveled Bethesda, Md., to see the Round House Theatre production. “Not only is he bright, and not only can he handle ‘Macbeth,’ but this play is so charming, so festive, so joyful. It tickled me to pieces.”

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