Prior to his role as Producing Artistic Director of the Playwrights’ Center, Cohen served as the Associate Artistic Director and Director of New Play Development at Hartford Stage from 2003 to 2010 where he directed a wide variety of plays including, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, I Am My Own Wife, A Christmas Carol, and more. Other regional theatre credits include U.S. and world premieres at Centerstage, the Alliance Theatre, the Alley Theatre, Theater J, Steppenwolf, and more. As Founding Artistic Director of Naked Eye Theatre Company in Chicago, Cohen developed/directed over 15 plays. He is the recipient of numerous awards and nominations for his directing and productions, including Joseph Jefferson, Helen Hayes and After Dark. Next season his production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer will be seen at Actors Theatre of Louisville, Repertory Theatre of St Louis, Kansas City Rep and off-broadway at New Victory, and he’s thrilled to make his Twin Cities debut with Beautiful Thing at Theatre Latte Da in February 2012.