EDGEWATER — After 35 years of cultivating theater on the Far North Side, Raven Theatre's founders and co-Artistic Directors Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro announced Monday they plan to retire at the close of the 2017-18 season.
“We are deeply grateful for the work which Mike and JoAnn have done over the years for the theater," Walter Pophin, president of the theater's Board of Directors said through a company spokesman. "Through their effort and inspiration Raven Theatre has offered high quality, accessible modern drama to Chicago audiences for 35 years.”
Menendian and Montemurro founded the theater in 1983 and from 1985-99 called a Rogers Park storefront space that was formerly the neighborhood's post office home. In 2002, the group moved into its current location, a former grocery store, at 6157 N. Clark St. in Edgewater.
Together, the couple have headed or appeared in more than 100 productions.
The theater was also the recipient of 23 prestigious Jeff Awards and 85 Jeff Award nominations while under the pair's leadership.
Now, a national search is on to hire a new artistic director, according to the announcement.
Menendian and Montemurro declined to comment.
Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro. [Provided/Dean La Prairie]
