Bard celebration toasts Sneed a.d.

Foothill Theater vet also worked for Sacramento Co.

By BOB BOWS

BOULDER, Colo. -- The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the nation's second oldest Bard fest, has named Philip Charles Sneed as its new producing artistic director. Sneed takes the reins for next year's 50th anniversary season from Richard Devin, who led Colorado during his 17-year tenure to become one of the top summer festivals in the country.

For the past 12 years, Sneed has served as a.d. of nonprofit professional troupe the Foothill Theater Company of California. He also has served as associate director of the Sacramento Theater Company for the past year.

Sneed comes aboard at a time when fund-raising has once again taken center stage, as CSF copes with the pressures experienced by most companies since 9/11. The budget Sneed inherits is comparable to the one he managed for FTC -- in the neighborhood of $1 million.