Artistic director Jeff Bartlett, who for 33 years has been integral to the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, has left the organization.

Board vice chairman G. Bryan Fleming said Tuesday that Bartlett is "technically on leave." "Out of respect for Jeff and the Southern's board of directors, I am unable to provide any further details surrounding his departure at this time," Fleming said in a phone interview.

"At 4 o'clock [last] Thursday, I was instructed that I was not expected back at work, beginning Friday morning, for the indefinite future," said Bartlett, who added that he had not been given grounds for his apparent dismissal. "That's not stonewalling; it's the truth."

Bartlett's attorney, Eric Brever, said that his client was "trying to work through what [legal] options we have directly with the theater. Jeff would like to keep moving forward."

Bartlett said that he started as an intern in October 1975 at what was then known as the Guthrie II. After the Guthrie left the space in 1979, the theater closed for three years. When it reopened, Bartlett was hired as theater manager. Theatre de la Jeune Lune and Illusion frequently used the space. In recent years, Bartlett developed a reputation as a lighting designer, and the 200-seat Southern has become an important venue for dance, in addition to theater and music programming. For many years, it hosted the Walker Art Center's annual "Out There" series.

"Wow, I'm shocked," said choreographer Mathew Janczewski, whose Arena Dance company is scheduled as part of the organization's coming season. "I know there's been a lot of turnover with technical staff there, but to let Jeff Bartlett go, he is the Southern Theater."

The news about Bartlett came as the Southern announced a new president and CEO. Patricia Speelman assumed the post Monday, coming to the organization from a career that includes regional theater production, newspaper editing, regional arts councils and academia.

The Southern, which underwent a major renovation earlier this decade, reported a $300,000 deficit on expenses of just more than $1 million in the year ended Aug. 31, 2006. That same document indicated ticket sales of $432,000. Since that time, the board has embarked on a financial-discipline program, Fleming said. The current long-term debt is $90,000.

The board in 2006 hired arts consultant Steve Barberio to guide a strategic plan and address the deficit. Barberio served as board chairman, recruited a new board and then took over as interim executive director. Fleming said that under Barberio's leadership, the organization began to address monetary and staffing issues. He did not say, however, that Bartlett's departure was linked to financial issues.

"The Southern is dedicated as ever to performing artists in our community," Fleming said. The organization recently announced an ambitious 2008-09 season.

groyce@startribune.com • 612-673-7299 rpreston@startribune.com • 612-673-4390