American Theater Company has hired Thomas Newberry as its new executive director; Newberry comes from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. ATC also has added the Chicago premiere of Itamar Moses’ “Celebrity Row” to its 2008-09 season, to be directed by David Cromer. … The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire has announced its 2009 season, including: “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Light in the Piazza,” and “Hairspray.” The “Hairspray” production will be one of the first post-Broadway outings. … Cast members from “Wicked” will join the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruises on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. in September. … The topic of this year’s thinkTank will be race and gender in the media. Idris Goodwin, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai, and Usman Ally will take part in Remy Bumppo’s third annual program. … Barrel of Monkeys has announced that company member Luke Hatton will be its new artistic director. … Loyola University will host “Tell The Story: First National Meeting of Women of Color Writing Drama” Sept. 4-7. Taking part are MacArthur winner Lynn Nottage, Carla Ching, Nambi E. Kelley and Tanya Saracho.
