For Immediate Release - May 16, 2009

Theatre Ontario Welcomes 2009-2010 Board of Directors

Theatre Ontario welcomed four new Board members who were elected at the 2009 Annual General Meeting of Theatre Ontario in Kanata.

John Koensgen, of Ottawa, was elected to his first term. He is a director, actor, and Artistic Director of New Theatre of Ottawa.  His professional credits include the National Arts Centre, Great Canadian Theatre Company, and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Most recently, he just closed an NAC-Segal Theatre co-production of Buried Child and this summer he will be acting with the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. He is the recipient of an Ottawa Critics Circle Award for Lifetime Contribution to English Theatre. "When I started in theatre, I relied heavily on the information and support that I received from Theatre Ontario. It was a tremendous resource and a place where I felt at home as a young artist...I would like to raise the profile of Theatre Ontario in the professional theatre community, especially in Eastern Ontario."

Anne Mooney, of London, was elected to her third term. She brings a wide range of experience in education, community and semi-professional theatre to the Board. She is a past member of the Board of Theatre Kent (Chatham) and a past president of the Western Ontario Drama League, and is an award-winning director and actor in community theatre. She has also worked with London Community Players, and Pull-Chain Theatre (Sault Ste. Marie) and has directed and produced plays for the Toronto, London and Windsor Fringe Festivals. She has worked as a high school drama teacher and has been a teacher for the past 30 years. She is the present chair of the Education Committee and Member at Large of the Executive at Theatre Ontario.  "I hope to continue my work with the Education Committee as we expand our programmes and solidify our partnerships with other Education-focused groups."

Angela Rebeiro, of Toronto, was elected to her first term. She is the former publisher at Playwrights Canada Press and its Chief Financial Officer, responsible for all grant applications, and generally managing the company’s financial affairs, showing annual profits.  She has worked in the writing and publishing sectors for 49 years and with community and professional theatres, through the publishing programme for seventeen years, eleven of them as Executive Director of Playwrights Union of Canada, now Playwrights Guild of Canada.  In December 2008 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. She is also the recipient of the Sandra Tulloch Award and the Maggie Bassett Award, both administered by Theatre Ontario. Volunteer work with Theatre Ontario has involved proofreading the newsletter for the past year.  “I am interested in raising the profile of the organization with funders and the public; and working on the education committee-the subject being vital to the survival of Canadian literature, and most particularly Canadian plays.”

Chris Scholey, of Toronto, was elected to his first term. He has had a broad range of involvement in both professional theatre (not-for-profit and commercial) and community theatre in Ontario.  He currently works for Dancap Productions, and has worked for The Canadian Stage Company and the Dora Mavor Moore Awards.  He is a past member of the Boards of Directors at Shakespeare in the Rough and London Community Players. He has been a student at Theatre Ontario's summer courses and a recipient of a grant through Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program. "Just as I was inspired and guided by Theatre Ontario, I seek to serve on the Board of Directors so that I may help the organization continue to inspire and guide others."

The Theatre Ontario Board of Directors is made up of fifteen individuals.

Ten of the fifteen positions on the Board are elected to reflect the “mandate to ensure regional representation and representation from the professional and educational theatre sectors, as well as any special expertise the Board may require from time to time.”

Six Board members were elected to two-year terms beginning in 2008 and are returning to the Board in 2009:

• Katherine Grainger, Toronto – In her second term on the Board. Currently Chair of the Professional Theatre Committee.  Katherine is a freelance theatre producer in both adult and Theatre for Young Audience.
• Marcia Johnson, Toronto – In her second term on the Board. Marcia is a professional actor and playwright.
• John Mayberry, Toronto – In his third term on the Board. John is an associate professor of Theatre Production at the Department of Theatre York University.
• Debra McLauchlan, St. Catharines – In her first term on the Board. Debra is an associate professor at the Faculty of Education, Brock University.
• Julianne Snepsts, Toronto - In her third term on the Board. Julianne is a producer at The Second City.
• Brian Van Norman, Waterloo – In his first term on the Board. Brian is a theatre educator and adjudicator.

Five of the fifteen positions on the Board are appointed by the community theatre regions.  Two were appointed to two-year terms beginning in 2008 and are returning to the Board in 2009:

• Bill Meaden, London – In his third term on the Board. Western Ontario Drama League representative.
• Mark Nathanielsz, Pickering – In his first term on the Board. Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario representative.

Three will be appointed to two-year terms beginning in 2009.  Incumbents are:

• Sheena Albanese, Thunder Bay – Completing her second term on the Board. Northwestern Ontario representative.
• Harry Houston, Sault Ste. Marie – Completing an interim appointment to the Board. QUONTA (northeastern Ontario) representative.
• Margit Tauchner, Ottawa – Completing her first term on the Board. Eastern Ontario Drama League Representative and current Chair of the Community Theatre Committee.

The outgoing President returns as an ex-officio (and sixteenth) Board member for one year.

• Richard Poore, Sarnia – Richard is a member of Theatre Sarnia and is the Theatre Manager of the Imperial Theater, a venue which presents both community and professional productions.

Following the Annual General Meeting, the Board elected the Executive Committee for 2009-2010.

Julianne Snepts was elected President.
Anne Mooney was elected Vice President.
Sheena Albanese was re-elected Secretary.
Chris Scholey was elected Treasurer.
Richard Poore shall serve as Past President.

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