Theatre Orangeville Announces Next Artistic Director - Jennifer Stewart

Theatre Orangeville Announces Next Artistic Director  - Jennifer Stewart

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - PRESS RELEASE - November 18th, 2024

Orangeville, ON – The Theatre Orangeville Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Jennifer Stewart has been chosen to succeed long-standing Artistic Director (AD) David Nairn as the theatre’s new Artistic Director. Jennifer will begin a six-month overlap/mentorship period alongside David, beginning in January 2025, before assuming the full Artistic Directorship in July of 2025.

Jennifer has the bona fides. She is a graduate of Sheridan College’s esteemed Musical Theatre Performance Program and also holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from East 15/University of Essex in London, UK.  

She has been immersed in the Canadian theatre industry for over 35 years, beginning her career as a child actor in The Winter’s Tale at the Stratford Festival in the early 90s. She is a multidisciplinary theatre artist - actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, producer, and educator - who has performed and directed plays and musicals and taught throughout Canada, the US, the UK, and Europe. And as an actor, director and educator, Jennifer has had the unique perspective of knowing how magical, mysterious and exciting theatre can and should be for audiences of all ages.

She has spent nine seasons at Stratford as both an actor and an assistant director (on productions such as HMS Pinafore and Long Day’s Journey into Night). While with the Stratford Festival she was a participant of the Michael Langham Program for Classical Theatre Direction under the mentorship of the incomparable Martha Henry.

As a long-time observer of Theatre Orangeville’s work, Jennifer understands the impact Theatre Orangeville has on our community and is a firm believer in how important theatre is to building community. She looks forward to calling Orangeville home and getting to know Theatre Orangeville’s patrons, sponsors, and community partners in the new year.

“I am thrilled and honoured to step into the role of Artistic Director for Theatre Orangeville. Under David Nairn’s leadership, Theatre Orangeville has become a home for an extraordinary array of artists and creative programs, while at the same time serving this community with the utmost of artistic excellence. I look forward to collaborating with all of the artists, everyone in this community, as well as the fantastic office staff here at Theatre Orangeville. My hope is that Theatre Orangeville will continue to be a place where we can all come together to share in the joy of live theatre, with stories that matter to you, at your theatre. I look forward to meeting everyone in the new year. See you at the theatre!” - Jennifer Stewart

Jennifer brings her passion, knowledge, and experience into her new role with Theatre Orangeville. She is very much looking forward to working with the artists, the office staff, the board, and the entire community in serving the town of Orangeville with continued artistic excellence.

Working out a successful succession plan has been a critical challenge for the Board over the last 14 months. After 26 years as AD, the board and David wanted to make sure the process was done right to ensure a smooth transition that would benefit both the theatre and the community. After much planning, the recruitment process ran over four months and culminated  in Jennifer being selected from the dozens of exceptional applicants. As the new AD, Jennifer will co-lead the organization into the future alongside current Executive Director Sharyn Ayliffe.

The Board of Directors and TOV staff are delighted and excited to welcome Jennifer to the fold and are confident that she is the right person to help lead this organization into a bright and promising tomorrow.

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Theatre Orangeville is a non-profit professional theatre company whose artistic vision guides every aspect of what we do: To enrich the community with a high quality, professional theatre experience, that showcases the development of new Canadian works; to provide youth with unique opportunities to transform their lives through the performing arts; to provide vibrant, engaging and creative opportunities that grows the cultural experience through community partnerships; and to nurture diversity, promote acceptance and celebrate all abilities.

Please contact Amanda Doerrie (Marketing & Public Relations) at Theatre Orangeville for more information.

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