Bucks County Playhouse Appoints Veteran Producer & Director For New Era

The Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope Borough announced Tuesday the appointment of BT McNicholl as its new producing artistic director.

McNicholl, a veteran director and producer with a resume spanning 12 Broadway productions, will succeed the leadership team of Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman, and Josh Fiedler.

The outgoing trio previously announced they would step down in June after more than a decade at the helm.

“We have found our new producing artistic director, BT McNicholl, whose experience, imagination, and respect for our legacy will guide us into an exciting new chapter,” said Gayle Goodman, president of the Playhouse board of directors and search committee co-chair.

McNicholl comes to New Hope following 10 years as producing artistic director of La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles County. During his time there, the theater achieved record-breaking revenue and attendance, countering national post-pandemic trends for regional playhouses.

His extensive Broadway background includes work on Tony Award-winning hits such as “Spamalot,” “Billy Elliot,” and “Cabaret.” He has served as an associate to renowned directors including Mike Nichols, Sam Mendes, and James Lapine, and has collaborated with legendary writers such as Stephen Sondheim.

“Bucks County Playhouse is a national treasure, and I’m honored to steward the next chapter of its extraordinary artistic legacy,” McNicholl said in a statement.

The transition comes as the Playhouse continues a period of growth.

Under the leadership of Fraser, Robyn Goodman, and Fiedler, the theater became a central driver of the regional economy. Recent seasons saw box office records broken by productions of “White Christmas” and “Elf: The Musical.”

Mitch Berlin, vice president of the board and search committee co-chair, noted the importance of maintaining that momentum.

“Bucks County is in the middle of a cultural renaissance, and the Playhouse is at the heart of it,” Berlin said. “It is imperative that we keep this momentum through this leadership change.”

McNicholl’s background also includes a stint as producing artistic director of the Palace Theatre/Stamford Center for the Arts in Connecticut. A BMI-award winning writer, his original musicals have been staged Off-Broadway and at Madison Square Garden.

In his new role, McNicholl will join a leadership team that includes Executive Director Nicole Hackmann and Managing Director Teresa Sanpietro. He is scheduled to officially assume his duties on June 22.

Founded in 1939, the Bucks County Playhouse on the Delaware River has hosted legendary performers ranging from Grace Kelly to Robert Redford. It was restored and reopened in 2012 by the Bridge Street Foundation and currently welcomes more than 80,000 patrons annually.