ArtsWest Playhouse, the performance art and gallery staple of California Ave. S.W. in West Seattle, announced the appointment of Annie Lareau as their interim artistic director on Oct. 15.

Here are the details from their Facebook page:

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery Appoints Annie Lareau as Interim Artistic Director

ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is pleased to announce the appointment of Annie Lareau as the Interim Artistic Director. This announcement completes the Management team at ArtsWest as they move forward after a period of re-branding and identity strengthening.

"We are so pleased that Annie has agreed to join us here at ArtsWest," shares Dawn Leverett, the ArtsWest Board President. "Annie's energy, enthusiasm and experience are exactly what we were looking for in our Interim Artistic Director. She will be tasked with defining and developing our 2014-2015 season and supporting our current artistic teams, as they bring us the exciting plays and musicals we have planned for the rest of our current season."

Laura Lee, ArtsWest's Managing Director adds, "I am excited to begin working with Annie. During the search process it became very evident that she and I share a common vision and shared goals for ArtsWest. We speak with the same passion, commitment and often found ourselves using the same verbiage in discussing our plans to move forward!"

"I am so thrilled to join the tremendous team at ArtsWest and help usher this innovative and evocative theatre company into it's next phase," Lareau explains. "We have the opportunity to extend our artistic vision and expand our education program to our community and beyond. What a wonderful place to be."

Annie Lareau comes to ArtsWest hot off the heels of her critically acclaimed and sold out run of her adaptation and direction of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Prior to her freelance directing, Ms Lareau worked for nine years at Book-It Repertory Theatre, serving as their Director of Touring and Outreach productions. She has been a part of the Seattle Theatre community for over twenty years directing and acting for a variety of theatres in the region. She holds a BFA in Acting and Directing from Syracuse University and an Arts in Education Masters degree from Harvard University.