theatretoursinternational.com
Via a memo sent this afternoon by freshly-appointed Village Voice editor Tony Ortega: Playwright and former staffer Brian Parks has been named the paper's new Arts and Culture Editor. Before quitting in 2003 to work on his writing career, Parks spent thirteen years at the paper, starting out as a copy editor and copy chief before sliding up the ladder to senior editor, where he ran the theater pages and served as chairman of the eponymous Obie Awards from 1998 to 2003. One current staffer describes Parks, who has been providing backup editing at the paper, as "the nicest guy and a great editor" who has "really helped hold things together here during a difficult time." Known for the dark humor and rapid pace of his plays, Parks met his greatest success with the well-reviewed Americana Absurdum, which won him a "Best Writing" award at the 1997 New York International Fringe Festival and a Fringe First Award at the 2000 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It was later produced in London in 2004.
