Siminovitch Prize in Theatre to honour designers in 2003

[Kathy Chung]

F.Y.I.

>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>$100,000 Siminovitch
> > >Prize to honour designers in 2003 Jury selected ­ Nominations close May
> > >30 TORONTO, February 24, 2003 ­ The
> > >organizers of the Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre today
> > >announced the Jury for its $100,000 prize, Canada's
> > >largest arts award. Highly regarded theatre professional Leonard McHardy
> > >has been named Chair of the jury which, in
> > >this third year of the award, will select a Canadian designer who has
> > >“made a significant contribution to theatre in
> > >Canada.” Mr. McHardy, former Director of Communications at the Stratford
> > >Festival, is co-founder of Toronto's
> > >TheatreBooks, Canada's premier performing arts bookstore. Tony Comper,
> > >Chairman and CEO of BMO Financial
> > >Group, the title sponsor of the Siminovitch Prize, applauded the choice
> > >of Mr. McHardy. “Leonard contributed
> > >significantly to the Jury last year, and we are delighted he will be
> > >back to chair the panel this year.” After consultation with
> > >members of the theatre community across Canada, Mr. McHardy has
> > >assembled the following distinguished jury: Martine
> > >Beaulne ­ one of Quebec's most respected directors and actors, who is
> > >equally at home performing in or directing new
> > >work in smaller venues as in directing the classics in Quebec's
> > >venerable institutions. She has had extensive experience
> > >teaching theatre and is currently a professor at the École supérieure de
> > >théâtre, University of Quebec at Montréal
> > >(UQAM). Denise Clarke ­ an Associate Artist for 15 years with Calgary's
> > >internationally acclaimed One Yellow Rabbit
> > >theatre company, Denise also works extensively with various opera, dance
> > >and theatre companies across Canada and
> > >internationally. Michael Eagan ­ New Brunswick-born and -educated,
> > >Michael has designed sets and costumes for the
> > >past 30 years for theatres across Canada, including the Shaw and
> > >Stratford Festivals. He has taught at the University of
> > >Toronto; was Director of the Scenography Section at the National Theatre
> > >School, and recently designed the stage of the
> > >new Studio Theatre at the Stratford Festival. Dr. Natalie Rewa ­
> > >Currently Associate Professor at the Department of
> > >Drama and Institute for Women's Studies at Queen's University, Dr. Rewa
> > >is a recognized authority on theatre design in
> > >Canada, having written numerous articles on design and designers for
> > >journals in Canada and abroad, and contributed to
> > >books on design and the role of women in Canadian theatre. Her new book,
> > >Scenography in Canada: Selected
> > >Designers, will be published by University of Toronto Press this summer.
> > >The Jury will receive nominations of Canadian
> > >designers (set designers, costume designers, lighting designers, and
> > >sound designers) in mid career “who have made a
> > >significant creative contribution to no fewer than three noteworthy
> > >theatre projects in Canada in the past 10 years.” A
> > >mid-career professional artist is defined as one who is at a point in
> > >his or her career where the recognition and resources
> > >associated with the prize will make a significant difference, allowing
> > >and encouraging the artist to go further in the pursuit
> > >of his or her craft. “Whether he or she has reached that point,”
> > >explained Mr. McHardy, “derives from a sense that the
> > >exceptional quality of the artist's work has made its mark within a
> > >relatively recent period of time; and that by virtue of its
> > >impact on audiences and fellow artists now, is moving Canadian theatre
> > >forward.” Anyone can submit a nomination for
> > >the prize. Nomination forms are available online at
> > >www.siminovitchprize.com. The deadline for nominations is May 30,
> > >and the prize will be awarded in October. Saluting the creation of the
> > >Siminovitch Prize, Sherri Helwig, Executive Director
> > >of the Associated Designers of Canada (the national professional
> > >association of performing arts designers), thanked the
> > >Prize Founders and BMO Financial Group for having recognized “the
> > >invaluable contribution” that designers of sets,
> > >costumes, lighting and sound have made to Canada's visual and aural
> > >culture. “As a significant acknowledgement of those
> > >whose work is often unacknowledged,” said Ms. Helwig, “this year's
> > >Siminovitch Prize reinforces the ideals of excellence
> > >and mentorship that are important to designers, and ensures that
> > >theatrical design ­ normally a ‘behind the scenes’ artistic
> > >pursuit ­ will instead be ‘front and centre.’” The prize was introduced
> > >in 2001 and dedicated to renowned scientist Lou
> > >Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright. “The prize
> > >celebrates Elinore and Lou’s shared passion for excellence
> > >and their lifelong encouragement of others,” said Mr. Comper. “The
> > >ideals of excellence and mentorship are ones that we
> > >at BMO Financial Group value highly.” The prize is awarded in alternate
> > >years to designers, playwrights and directors.
> > >The winner receives $100,000, of which $25,000 is awarded to a protégé
> > >or organization of the winner’s choice. Last
> > >year, the prize was presented to a playwright, Carole Fréchette ­
> > >described by last year’s Jury Chair, Bill Glassco, as an
> > >artist “at the height of her powers, with the wind full in her sails” ­
> > >and to Ms. Fréchette’s protégé, Geneviève Billette.
> > >-30- For further information: Brian Smith, Tel. (416) 867-4673
> > >bsmith at siminovitchprize.com