Wes Drummond to Join Clear Space Theatre Company as Its Third Artistic Director

Accomplished theatre leader and stage director selected after national search; Drummond will relocate to Rehoboth Beach to join CSTC in Summer 2026

Clear Space Theatre Company (CSTC) announces that its Board of Directors has selected Wes Drummond, recently of Duluth Playhouse, as the organization’s next Artistic Director following a comprehensive national search. Drummond will join Managing Director Joe Gfaller in leadership of the growing company as it prepares for architect selection and construction plans for its future performing arts center. 

Clear Space Search Committee Chair Laura Howard stated, “I am immensely proud of the thoughtful, rigorous work of the search committee, whose members gave generously of their time and insight throughout this process, and grateful for the collaboration that guided the Board of Directors to this decision. We are confident Wes will be a leader who will inspire artists and audiences alike and will help steward the company’s future with creativity, integrity, and purpose."

Drummond will be the third Artistic Director in the company’s 22 year history, succeeding founding artistic director Doug Yetter, and David Button, who served in the role until September 2025.

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minnesota from 2021 to 2026, including four years as Executive Director followed by one year as Executive Producing Artistic Director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, the Playhouse rebuilt operations, expanded audiences, strengthened financial footing, and reinforced its role as a vital cultural institution in the Twin Ports.

“I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as Artistic Director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together,” Drummond shared. “Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking cultural force that champions fearless storytelling, amplifies a wide range of voices, and embraces fresh and innovative ways of connecting with audiences. Theatre has the power to reflect who we are and who we can become, and I can’t wait to collaborate with the staff, board, and community to shape a future filled with imagination, shared joy, and possibility.”

As a director, Drummond has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theatres across the country, directing both musical theatre and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He earned his MFA in Directing from Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director Susan H. Schulman, and is an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif.

During his tenure in Duluth, Drummond distinguished himself through dynamic artistic leadership, shaping a body of work that energized audiences and deepened the theatre’s connection to its community. His work emphasized bold, forward-thinking storytelling with a strong sense of theatricality, pairing inventive interpretation with a commitment to innovation. Drummond’s leadership on Duluth Playhouse’s Theatre For All  initiative ensured broader access and inclusion onstage and in the audience. 

Clear Space Managing Director Joe Gfaller added, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident that he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers to ensure that Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”

Search Committee representatives at Clear Space Theatre Company noted Drummond’s commitment to artistic excellence and his ability to build meaningful relationships across the community, pointing to his work in Duluth, including service on the Duluth Public Arts Commission and the board of Visit Duluth, where he championed the visibility of the arts and emphasized their vital role in the cultural and economic life of downtown.

Drummond will assume his new role with Clear Space remotely to start, with an expected full-time arrival date in Rehoboth Beach in early June. Candice Jewell remains Interim Creative Director until Drummond begins full time, after which time Jewell will assume the role of Associate Artistic Director, helping to support Clear Space’s further artistic expansion as the company prepares to open a satellite black box performance space in early 2027. The first opportunity for community members to meet Drummond in person will be at Clear Space’s Annual Meeting on Monday, May 11 at 5pm. He will also participate in person in Clear Space’s annual fundraiser for the Arts Institute, the Tony Party, on Sunday, June 7 from 4-7pm at The Cambria.