Charlotte Coh, photo by Russ Rowland
(UNION, NJ) -- American Theater Group (ATG) has announced the appointment of Charlotte Cohn as its new Producing Artistic Director, marking an exciting new chapter in the company's artistic and organizational evolution.
Cohn, an accomplished theater director, producer and performer will assume her role at ATG beginning June 15, 2026, collaborating with retiring Producing Artistic Director James Vagias, who co-founded the company in 2012. She will guide ATG into its next phase of growth, building on a strong foundation of artistic excellence, community engagement, arts education as well as new play development.
“Charlotte first came to ATG as a director of our acclaimed production of Canned Goods in 2024 and we are thrilled to welcome her to this vital new role,” said Stephen Schnall, President of the Board of Trustees. “Her combination of artistic vision, producing expertise, and collaborative leadership style made her the clear choice from a large and impressive group of candidates. We are confident she will both honor ATG’s legacy and help expand its impact in meaningful and forward-looking ways.”
In her role as Producing Artistic Director, Cohn will oversee ATG’s artistic programming, production strategy, and community partnerships. She will work closely with the Board and stakeholders to strengthen the organization’s presence at the recently opened Union Arts Center and beyond, expanding its programming and audience reach throughout the region.
“I am deeply honored to join American Theater Group at this pivotal moment,” said Cohn. “ATG has built a remarkable reputation for thoughtful, engaging work and a genuine commitment to artists and audiences. I’m excited to collaborate with the Board, artists, and community to build on that momentum and explore new opportunities for storytelling and human connection.”
"Having had the pleasure of working with Charlotte on two ATG productions, I am confident the company will thrive in her capable hands,” noted Jim Vagias. “I am excited to see her impart her talents and vision on ATG and am certain she will help lead it to new heights. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead."
Cohn is a recent recipient of the Denham Fellowship Award from the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) which is awarded annually to women who are early and mid-career directors to further develop their skills. Her directing highlights include My Italy Story and Canned Goods (both for ATG), Walden (Premiere Stages), Church & State (Berkshire Theatre Group), The Whole Shebang and Baltimore in Black and White (The Cell Theatre, NYC) and Best Friends (Jazz at Lincoln Center). She has appeared on Broadway in La Boheme and Coram Boy and her producing credits include Here Lies Love (Broadway), Without You (starring Anthony Rapp) and Handle with Care and Church and State by Jason Odell Williams. Cohn is an Ovation Award Winner and a Bay Area Critics’ Circle Award nominee. Her original musical The Sound, based on her father's true story of escaping from Denmark to Sweden in WWII, will be presented May 2-17th at the JCC in Rochester, NY.
ATG’s 2025-6 season has included critically acclaimed productions of Our Town, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play and My Fair Lady. Upcoming events include a presentation of a new work, The Unwitting Magician by Jeremy Dobrish, cabarets and community Juneteenth celebrations.
American Theater Group (ATG), founded in 2012, produces new and classic works primarily by American playwrights with an emphasis on the development of new works and the reimagining of undeservedly neglected older ones. It also provides quality arts-in-education initiatives, including its New Works/New Voices playwriting program for high school students and its PlayLab program for BIPOC and queer playwrights. ATG is currently in residence at the DMK Black Box Theater at the Union Arts Center, Hamilton Stage in Rahway and the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge.
