The appointment of Josh Costello as the new artistic director of Aurora Theatre Company was announced on Feb. 5. He will replace departing artistic director Tom Ross, who is leaving after 27 years with the company. Since 2012, Costello has been Aurora’s literary manager and artistic associate.
I met with Costello recently to talk about his new appointment. He is an engaging, lively Berkeley native who has been a theater enthusiast since fifth grade at Berkwood Hedge School. It was there that he participated in the theater program, which was run by the Blake Street Hawkeyes theater group. He attended ACT’s Young Conservatory during his high school years, received an M.F.A. in directing from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a B.F.A. in theater from Boston University. After serving as the founding artistic director of Impact Theatre in Berkeley, Costello joined the Marin Theater Company as its artistic director of expanded programs, where he also directed.
Tom Ross plucked Costello from Marin to join Aurora in 2012, after seeing a play that Josh had directed. While at Aurora, Josh has directed at least one play per season, including last season’s hugely successful and highly regarded Eureka Day written by Jonathan Spector.
Costello expresses a sincere and ardent commitment to live theater.
Julie Saltzman Kellner, Aurora’s managing director, described the search process, which did not employ a search firm, but which did create a search committee that included non-Board member theater professionals, actor Aldo Billingslea and scenic and lighting designer Richard Olmsted.
Costello’s official tenure begins on Aug. 1. He will be directing Oscar Wilde’s delightful comedy, The Importance of Being Ernest, starting April 12.