Ted Brackett assumed the artistic leadership of The Paper Bag Players in June 2009 from founding Artistic Director, Judith Martin.

Ted, who joined The Paper Bag Players in 1987 as a member of the performing company, became Associate Artistic Director in 1994 working more and more closely with Judith Martin in the writing and staging of each show.  Last season, Ted directed MAKE A LITTLE ROOM FOR ME and led a workshop residency at Amherst College on Theater and The Paper Bag Players. 

Judith Martin, one of the founders of The Paper Bag Players in 1958 and the company’s Artistic Director for over 5 decades (Judith also performed with the company) is pleased that Ted has assumed the Artistic Directorship of the company, “I will miss directing, being in the studio every day, working on the shows but Ted has a deep understanding of the work. I am very anxious to see his stamp on the material.” (Judith Martin continues to write new material.)

Ted is excited about the challenges his new responsibilities offer and eager to put into practice all he has learned from Judith Martin. “ I can not express how much Judy has taught me over the years.  She, her personality, her imagination is a part of every bit of The Paper Bag Players work and style--so much of what I know and believe about theater for children is due to her.”

Ted’s first initiative as Artistic Director in June was to establish a Creative Team; “I want to move The Paper Bag Players into the future with new material.  The performing company is so strong and interested in writing. I asked Kevin Richard Woodall, Laura Canty-Samuel and John Stone to work with me this summer.  From the start it went well. I feel we are harking back to time when Judy and Shirley Kaplan, Remy Charlip, Betty Osgood, and Donald Ashwander were creating the classic “Bags” numbers and performing them. I feel very connected to ‘The Bags’ roots.”

This year’s show, THE PAPER BAG PLAYERS GREAT MUMMY ADVENTURE combines some of those classic pieces: The Postman’s Dream, The Lady and The Storm and several new piece from this summer’s work, Prints, Amy’s Chicken, What A Day. The title number is a combination of the old and new.  First created by Judith Martin with playwright Jennifer Wells, Ted was anxious to re-explore and elaborate on the original material, “The piece is so funny but I felt it could be enriched.  We have added new songs and some surprising twists. It is true to the original but I hope even more fun.” 

Kathy Mele, President of The Paper Bag Players Board of Directors, feels this is “an important step in the companies long history and I am thrilled to have someone of Ted's caliber as an artist to continue The Paper Bag Players tradition.”

Rehearsals for THE PAPER BAG PLAYERS GREAT MUMMY ADVENTURE begin in October.   The Paper Bag Players will give three previews for the students of PS #20 on the lower Eastside then tour to some 44 theaters.