David Esbjornson exits Seattle Rep early

David Esbjornson, Seattle Repertory Theatre's artistic director, will step down within the next month — more than six months earlier than originally announced. Longtime casting director Jerry Manning will take over as acting director.

Jane Zalutsky, the theater's board president, said that once Esbjornson announced in April that he would depart at the end of the 2008-09 season, board members elected to move forward.

"We just concluded it was best for everybody to get moving in their individual directions," Zalutsky said. The theater will honor Esbjornson's remaining contract.

Braden Abraham, the theater's literary manager, will become Manning's principal associate.

The theater, founded in 1963, will reconsider its organizational structure before searching for Esbjornson's permanent replacement. "Clearly he's created a situation where we've got really strong depth," Zalutsky said.

The low-key Esbjornson had envisioned a communitywide festival of Arthur Miller works for fall 2009, but Zalutsky said no decision will be made on whether to continue with those efforts until a permanent director is named.

Marc Ramirez: 206-464-8102 or mramirez@seattletimes.com