David Ivers
David Ivers
David Ivers has had a distinguished career as both director and educator. With degrees in Anthropology/Sociology, Leadership, Education, Communication and Policy Studies under his belt, he brings an impressive range of skillsets and expertise to his role as Artistic Director at South Coast Repertory (SCR).
He was appointed by SCR’s board of trustees after an exhaustive national search, replacing Managing Director Paula Tomei as co-chief executive officer until March 2019, when he will officially assume full control of operations at SCR. While at SCR, he will maintain his duties with ATC including directing projects.
Early Life and Education
David Ivers has been an accomplished theater executive for decades, directing plays at some of America’s top regional theaters. Currently, he serves as artistic director of Arizona Theatre Company in both Tucson and Phoenix locations.
He has a range of objectives for SCR, such as creating an engaging connection to the community and cultivating new works. But before anything else, he wants to get to know the organization and its staff better intimately.
Ivers, who previously served as artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival, will join SCR full time in March and joins Managing Director Paula Tomei as co-chief executive officer of this 55-year-old theatre.
Professional Career
South Coast Repertory, located in Costa Mesa, California, is renowned for being one of America’s premier producers of new plays. Led by Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei, SCR produces year-round on its three stages: 507-seat Segerstrom Stage; 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage; and 94-seat Nicholas Studio.
The company’s season includes world-premiere productions, Theatre for Young Audiences and Families shows, annual holiday favorites, as well as the three-day Pacific Playwrights Festival each spring. Furthermore, it provides a range of educational and outreach programs throughout the community.
Arizona Theatre Company’s artistic director was selected after conducting a nationwide search. David Ivers, from Utah, was chosen and will begin his new role on July 1. Prior to that he served seven years as artistic director at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Achievements and Honors
Ivers was an iconic figure in pop culture during the 1980s. He hosted and curated New Wave Theatre, bringing together Hollywood comedic actors (John Belushi and Chevy Chase) with West Coast punk rockers (Fear, Black Flag) for an exuberant comedy cabaret experience.
Even after Ivers’ tragic passing at 29 years old, his work with New Wave Theatre continues to shape our perception of music and comedy today. His book In Heaven Everything Is Fine: The Story of a New Wave Theatre vividly brings alive this fertile world he helped create.
After an extensive nationwide search, Arizona Theatre Company announced that David Ivers will succeed David Ira Goldstein and take up the position of artistic director on July 1. Additionally, Ivers will direct Neil Labute’s world premiere play How to Fight Loneliness which opens August 26 as part of ATC’s 56th season.
Personal Life
At all times during his career, Ivers kept a busy schedule but always made time to spend time with his family. He and Vicci had an enduring bond that extended beyond their children and grandchildren.
After 10 years at ATC, Ivers recently relocated to South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California. SCR, a 55-year old Tony Award-winning theater with an expansive endowment and high budget, offers two stages and has earned a stellar reputation for nurturing new playwrights.
Ivers recorded hundreds of writing and rehearsal sessions onto reel-to-reel and cassette tapes, but these recordings have since either been lost or scarcely kept. Working with Steven Martin and Lucy Fisher, RVNG Intl has assembled these demos into Becoming Peter Ivers – a documentary documenting his creative journey through this untold music.
Net Worth
David Ivers has been an actor for over four decades, yet his net worth isn’t as large as some other famous stars. Jon Voight reportedly has an estimated net worth of $45 million while Angelina Jolie boasts a whopping $160 million fortune.
His wife, Blythe Danner, also earned a considerable amount of money during her career. She began as a theater actress and has since featured on multiple television shows.
Ivers is also proud of his farming operation with his sons and grandsons, which covers 11,200 acres in Illinois and Indiana. To improve the land through tiling and good tillage practices, they strive to continuously innovate.