Richard D. Thompson will become the fourth artistic director in History Theatre’s 44 years, the St. Paul company announced Friday.

Thompson has more than 30 years of experience as a director, administrator, choreographer, educator and performer, including extensive work with History Theatre. He succeeds Ron Peluso, who will retire Jan. 1 after 27 years at the theater.

“I am honored and humbled to be chosen to lead History Theatre into its next chapter by building on the theater’s legacy of success to continue to make it a vital and celebrated part of the lives of the people of Minnesota,” Thompson said in a news release. “History at its essence is about our shared stories, ideas, hopes and dreams and creating theater that draws on our collective past allows us to reflect our world and illuminate our present in ways that enlighten, educate and entertain our audiences.”

Thompson has been the producing and directing associate for the past year and his previous director credits include “The Meeting” (1991-92), “The Brotherhood” (1995-96), “Summer in the Shadows” (2001-02), “Joe” (2003-04), “Nellie” (2012-13) and “Not in Our Neighborhood” (2021-22). He has also worked with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Penumbra Theatre, Children’s Theatre Company, Illusion Theatre, John Hassler Theater, the Virginia Opera, Playwrights Center and Mixed Blood Theatre Company.

“Rick was the first director I hired,” Peluso said. “I saw his play ‘The Last Minstral Show’ at Penumbra and it was one of the best shows I’ve seen in the Twin Cities. He’s an incredible historian and he loves history.”

The board of directors formed a search committee comprised of board members, key staff and artists from the Twin Cities theater community to make the hire. After a nationwide search, the committee met with several candidates and recommended Thompson to the board, which was unanimous in its support of the selection.

Thompson will start Jan. 10, continuing his work of producing the “Raw Stages: New Works Festival” Jan. 18 through 22. He’ll also direct the final production of the 2022-23 season, “The Defeat of Jesse James,” a new musical by Jeffrey Hatcher and Chan Poling, the creative team behind the theater’s successful musical “Glensheen.”

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