With an eye toward surviving in this down economy—which has hit the state of Michigan harder than most—eight Equity theatre companies around the state have come together to form the Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance (META). The group will share branding and marketing, technical elements and know how, and, perhaps, even bargain collectively for Equity contracts.

This just in: Matt Elwell has been named King of ComedySportz . OK, his actual title is President and CEO, but it seems so stodgy for a comedy company. And for Elwell.

That seeming contrast, though, is exactly what Elwell wants: to make comedy and business one seamless package.

“We’re trying to see ourselves as a comprehensive entertainment provider,” says Elwell about not only his new title, but the entire restructuring of ComedySportz Chicago. “We have to take this off our stage and focus on other elements.”

Congo Square and Theatre of Western Springs have announced new artistic directors, while Second City and Steppenwolf have created new positions.

Congo Square Theatre , which hasn’t produced much since losing its space a couple of years ago, has announced that artistic director Derrick Sanders will be leaving the company. The outlook for the company as a whole seems uncertain.

After 10 years, the second founding member of Teatro Luna Theatre is stepping down. For Tanya Saracho, the Jeff-nominated writer and actor who co-founded Teatro Luna with Coya Paz, the move is not totally unexpected. According to Teatro Luna managing director Alex Meda, “It had always been the plan that [Tanya and Coya] were going to take us to year 10, and then there would be changes.”