Experienced leader hired at Metropolis

Libertyville native Matt O'Brien has been hired to lead the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

His first day will be Dec. 1.

O'Brien, 47, will oversee the day-to-day operations of the $2.5 million organization, which includes the theater and the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts.

During the 2006-07 season, Metropolis saw more than 75,000 patrons.

One of O'Brien's first major jobs will be putting together the 2008-09 Metropolis schedule, he said.

"The lineup should be finalized in late February, so it will be a busy first few months," said O'Brien, who lives in Libertyville with his wife and two children, ages 10 and 13 years old.

O'Brien founded the Irish Repertory Theatre of Chicago in 1998 and headed that organization for seven years.

In 2005, O'Brien founded and produced GreatWorks Theatre, a company that produces educational entertainment for schools.

He graduated from Columbia College of Chicago and attended the Goodman/DePaul School of Drama -- now known as The Theatre School at DePaul University.

The Metropolis board looked over more than 100 resumes before picking O'Brien.

"We're thrilled to have Matt join the Metropolis team," said Metropolis Performing Arts Centre Board President Monica McCarthy. "He has an extremely strong background in both the management and artistic side of the performing arts. He's a dynamic personality and he has great vision as to the future of Metropolis."

The theater's previous executive director, Tim Rater, left Metropolis in July to join the restoration team working on the Wheaton Grand Theatre in Wheaton.

Rater started working at the Arlington Heights theater as its general manager when it opened in 2000. He was named the executive director in 2002.