STORY AND BY KAREN BOSSICK

The founding president of a prestigious theatre in California has been tabbed to be the first executive director of the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum.

Doug Rankin was selected following an eight-month national search, said Bill Lowe, chair of the Sun Valley Performing Arts Inc. board of directors.

“It’s just great to have attracted someone of Doug’s caliber, and we’re delighted to have Doug and his wife Leila joining us here in the wood River Valley,” said Tim Mott. “We knew The Argyros deserved, and believe we could attract, an esteemed leader from the performing arts center and presenting world.”

Rankin is an experienced arts professional and presenter, Lowe noted.

In 1986 he became the founding president of the 756-seat Irvine Barclay Theatre, one of Orange County’s premier presenters of dance, music and theater. There he created a well-attended program in music, dance, world events, cirque and theater through 2016.

He also was a founding executive director of the Woodstock Opera in Woodstock Ill. He led the restoration and, later, the operations of the 1890 National Register historic property which, like the Argyros, has a 450-seat theater, horseshoe balcony and other public spaces.

Rankin received a Bachelor of Art in Economics with a minor in architecture and urban planning from the University of California-Berkeley. He later completed a UCLA Graduate School of Management Program.

He was awarded the Professional Legacy Award for his career achievements form the Western Arts Alliance, the premiere membership association of performing arts professionals and facilities in the western states and provinces.

Rankin takes over from Greg Phillips, who has been serving as interim executive director. Philiips had served as executive director of Portland Center Stage, one of the largest theater companies in America and done work with the Berkeley Symphony, San Francisco Play House, Sun Valley Center for the Arts ad Western Arts Alliance.