Spokane Civic Theatre hires artistic director

The Spokane Civic Theatre has new leadership.

Lenny Bart takes over as artistic director for the theater’s 70th season, the theater announced Monday.

He will lead the organization with new CEO Mike Shannon.

Bart is coming to Spokane from Quincy, Illinois, where he was executive director for Arts Quincy. Previously, he was managing artistic director for the Quincy Community Theatre.

He has worked with a variety of theater organizations, including serving as artistic director for Pushcart Players, a professional nationally touring children’s theater company, and as producing director for the National Shakespeare Company.

Bart’s Spokane directing debut will be “A Little Night Music,” which opens at the Civic on Feb. 10.

Mark your calendars

Registration is open for Connecting Writers With Hollywood.

The conference will be Sept. 8-10 at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.

Among the speakers are Chuck Palahniuk, author of “Fight Club,” and Brian Bird, a writer and producer whose credits include “Touched by an Angel.”

There will be a free book signing from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Fox lobby, 1001 W. Sprague Ave.

Conference registration is $225 by Aug. 29, $245 starting Aug. 30. For more information, visit http://cwwh2016.com/.