The board of directors of The Erie Playhouse has started a national search for a new executive director and a new youth theater and education director.

Erie News Now first reported Tuesday on a staffing shakeup at the playhouse that has been in the works for weeks.

One piece of the puzzle, Richard Davis fired for a rehearsal incident last summer, has been fully reinstated to his former job as producing director for the playhouse.

And Erie Playhouse officials now confirm that resignations from Executive Director Kate Neubert-Lechner and Youth Theater and Education Director Dominick DelGreco have been accepted by the playhouse board.

Board Vice President Carl Larese told Erie News Now that it's been a difficult transition for the organization.  He said Neubert-Lechner and DelGreco did good work for the playhouse and he wishes them well as they move on.

Larese went on to say that the playhouse has already advertised its search in national theater publications. "Well we're looking for somebody obviously who has theater experience both in acting and also in business. The number one job of the executive director is fund raising so they have to be very business conscious, very budget conscious and willing to work with a wide variety of people."