New Blood at MTC

Out at Old Globe in San Diego, it looked like Jerry Patch was poised to take over Jack O'Brien's long-expected departure to direct on Broadway full time. Well now Patch is coming east, too--to Manhattan Theatre Club as "Director of Artistic Development"--which seems to mean he will be head man of new play development.

Like the problems at Stratford up north, one senses another falling apart of a co-artistic director partnership. For after O'Brien's departure, Patch found himself power-sharing with director Darko Tresnjak--who presumably now will have full run.

In Europe the idea of a director-and-dramaturg team running things is common. Seems more difficult here.

Patch brings to MTC an interesting background not only from Old Globe, but fertile new play gounds like South Coast Rep and Sundance Theatre Lab. But will this mark new thinking in new play selection, or just the usual suspects?