Incoming Fortune Theatre artistic director Jonathon Hendry was introduced to patrons at the 2016 season launch in Dunedin yesterday.
At the launch, theatre board chairwoman Haley van Leeuwen thanked about 150 patrons at the launch.
"We do understand there is a lot of other entertainment options out there and we are truly grateful you choose us, to spend your hard-earned dollar and come and be entertained and escape life for a short period of time.''
During the past year at the theatre, general manager Bob King was welcomed, before "fine-tuning the operations'' to ensure the theatre was moving in the right direction.
Also during the year, Lara Macgregor completed five years as artistic director and left to work on other projects.
"Lara has set a very high standard for our theatre and we have really appreciated her hard work and dedication and expertise.''
Mr Hendry would bring a "wealth of experience'' in acting and directing when he started the role on February 1, Ms van Leeuwen said.
The first production for next year, Kings of the Gym, is a New Zealand comedy written by Dave Armstrong and directed by Patrick Davies.
Ms Macgregor would direct the second production, a collaboration with The Court Theatre in Christchurch, the historical comedy Winston's Birthday, by former Waitaki Boys' High School principal Paul Baker.
"It is fuelled with much laughter,'' Ms Macgregor said at the launch.
The third play of the season, Niu Sila, a comedy written by Oscar Kightley and Dave Armstrong, would tour Otago and Southland after its Dunedin performance.
The fourth play, the American comedy Over the River and Through the Woods, would have its New Zealand premiere in Dunedin.
Mr Hendry said reading the play induced laughter.
"I found myself chortling.''
The fifth play, another premiere, is solo drama Grounded, written by George Brant.
"It's an extraordinary piece of writing ... theatre that breaks barriers,'' Mr Hendry said.
The sixth play, Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape, was being presented in association with Arts Festival Dunedin.
Mr Hendry said he was excited when he heard the play was part of the season.
"The actor in me was jealous and the director in me was excited.''
The first play Mr Hendry would select for stage, the end-of-year show, would be unveiled in May, he said.
"It'll definitely have a good comic flavour of the festive season. But I'm most interested to arrive here in February full of ideas and talk to people to find out what might be the best thing to offer for next year and to build in the future.''
