Lim Leaves AATC

Sean Lim, the driving force behind the Asian American Theater Company for the past four years, has announced his resignation as artistic director, effective Thursday. Having come to the job fresh out of Stanford University, Lim is leaving to learn the talent agent business at United Talent Agency in Los Angeles.

Though it's long been one of the nation's three or four best known Asian-identified theater companies, AATC has endured a rocky existence, coming close to closing down several times since it was founded under the aegis of American Conservatory Theater in 1973. It was once again at death's door when Lim came aboard and launched its latest revival.

During his tenure, Lim rebuilt the company's close ties with such noted alumni as David Henry Hwang, Chay Yew and Philip Kan Gotanda (who is developing an outrageously titled, anime-based piece, "Four Chinks and a Dyke," for the theater), instituted new play-development programs and fostered cooperative relationships with other companies. Among the projects he leaves to be developed by his successor is a residency program for AATC to stage work at New Langton Arts and San Jose Repertory Theatre, and a developing partnership with San Jose's Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene.

Playwright Jeannie Barroga will serve as interim artistic director, and company production manager Victoria Mejia will take over as interim managing director, while the board of directors sketches out the next act in AATC's epic cliff-hanger.