Robert Hupp to Step Down as Syracuse Stage Artistic Director in Summer 2027
Syracuse Stage has announced current artistic director Robert Hupp’s retirement after a decade of leading the region’s premier professional theatre. He will step down at the completion of the 2026-27 season and will remain in Central New York with his wife, Clea, after programming the 2027-28 season. Over the coming months, Syracuse Stage and Management Consultants for the Arts (MCA) will conduct a national search for the next artistic director.
“Bob is not only a remarkable theatremaker, but a tireless champion of the arts with the kind of leadership and wisdom that only comes from having worked with the best and the brightest in his field, and he leaves Syracuse Stage with a strong artistic foundation that will carry us into our next chapter,” says Syracuse Stage Board of Trustees Chair Dick Driscoll. “On behalf of the entire board, I extend eternal gratitude for everything Bob has helped us accomplish as we begin our search for a new artistic director.”
Appointed in 2016 after tenures at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and the Jean Cocteau Repertory in New York City, Hupp directed many acclaimed productions at Syracuse Stage, including “The Three Musketeers,” “Next to Normal,” “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” and “Our Town.” He oversaw artistic programming leading to multiple years of operating surpluses, a financial foundation which helped the company maintain full employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hupp’s production of “Amadeus” (March 2020) was an early streaming success that reached audiences in 49 states and was lauded by the late Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout as a standout virtual offering directed with “exhilarating clarity.”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve this past decade as Syracuse Stage’s artistic director,” says Hupp. “I’m proud of the diverse theatrical stories our resident and guest artists have created, and of the new work, community engagement and educational programming that define Syracuse Stage for Central New York. I’m also grateful for the tremendous support the community and Syracuse University have afforded our theatre. I look forward in the coming season to supporting our fantastic staff as they work with our dedicated board of trustees to chart the exciting future of Syracuse Stage.”
Under Hupp’s leadership, and in collaboration with the theatre’s resident staff, Syracuse Stage increased its reputation as a leading regional theatre. The company produced two world premieres which later transferred to Broadway (“Thoughts of a Colored Man” and “How to Dance in Ohio”); strengthened its relationship with other regional theatres and producers through co- and enhanced-productions (“The Hello Girls,” “Relentless” and the upcoming world premiere of “Dust and Shadow: The Unraveling of Sherlock Holmes”); and developed commissioned work from nationally recognized artists and playwrights, all while expanding its community engagement and educational programming serving local patrons, students and families.
As part of the company’s 50th anniversary season, Hupp facilitated the largest single donation in Syracuse Stage history, establishing the Julie Lutz New Play Development Fund to be used for the creation of new work with a particular focus on sharing stories from underrepresented voices. The fund helped produce the world premiere production of Rogelio Martinez ‘s “The National Pastime” and will support the upcoming world premiere of Resident Playwright Kyle Bass’ “The Black Nationals” in 2027.
“Bob’s steadfast leadership, artistic vision and dedication to the transformative power of theatre have shaped Syracuse Stage and the cultural life of our region for the past decade,” says Carly DiFulvio Allen, managing director. “His impact extends far beyond the productions on our stage, leaving an enduring artistic legacy and building tremendous momentum for the future. I am profoundly grateful for his partnership and guidance during my first year on staff, and I am honored to work together as we gear up for another season of unparalleled storytelling for the Central New York community.”
Hupp was instrumental in fostering work like award-winning artist Ty Defoe’s “Our Words Are Seeds” which continued the company’s commitment to uplifting Native performers and Indigenous storytelling and led to the Dramatist Guild Foundation recognizing Syracuse Stage as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Lucille Lortel Foundation Indigenous Theatermaker Award. The theatre is located on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Onondaga Nation, the “Keepers of the Fire” of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.
“Being a decent artistic director means knowing when to step up and when to step back. It also means knowing when to step aside,” Hupp says. It’s been a remarkable 10 years, and I am confident Stage is well positioned for even better things to come in the next 10 years.”
For his final show as artistic director, Hupp will direct “Les Misérables,” a personal favorite, as the company’s annual co-production with the Syracuse University Department of Drama.
