News: (Calgary) playRites is no more, ATP Executive Director named: Vicki Stroich (Press release)

This is the last year of the Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays.

Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP) created the Festival almost 30 years ago, setting the path for the Canadian theatre community. When the Festival was started, few Canadian theatres created and produced new Canadian plays. Now they are a regular feature at almost every theatre across the country. After developing and premiering 115 new Canadian plays that have gone on to over 250 subsequent productions around the world, the Festival has done its work. Now, times have changed. We need to stay relevant. We need to change too.

We remain passionately committed to new Canadian work. We are excited for the 2014/2015 season, when our audiences will enjoy six productions presented one after the other, two of which will be world premieres by Canadian playwrights, one in the fall and one in the spring. We undertake to produce two or three world premieres of new Canadian plays every season. This change will allow us to focus our attention and tailor our efforts even more specifically to the needs of each play. By working on fewer projects, we will further increase the quality of our productions, bringing you the best, most engaging experience in the theatre possible.

Thanks in part to the Festival, Canadian audiences now expect to hear Canadian stories. More than that, they take pride in them. The Festival has given breath and life to the Canadian theatrical voice, and launched the careers of many Canadian playwrights. It is now time to put these new plays alongside the others in our season, and give them the attention and resources that come with a production outside the Festival. We look forward to celebrating the many accomplishments of the Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays during this year’s edition!

Changes guided by ATP’s new Executive Director
After a nation-wide search, the Board of Directors of ATP is extremely proud to announce the appointment of ATP’s new Executive Director, Vicki Stroich. “Vicki’s clear and compelling vision for the future of ATP, as well as her wide-ranging and impressive skill set, put her at the absolute top of the list during the search process, a list that included highly qualified arts administrators from across the country,” says Board President Alex MacWilliam.

Vicki brings a great depth of experience and passion to this role. Her tenure as ATP’s Artistic Associate – Festival, her time as Interim Artistic Director, and her role as President of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, have prepared her well for this new leadership position. “Vicki’s influence has made ATP a better place since she was an intern from the University of Calgary in 1999,” says Vanessa Porteous, Artistic Director at ATP. “She’s smart, wise, honest, questing and passionate – and her executive leadership talents are absolutely astonishing. I can’t wait to get started with her in this new role.” Vicki Stroich takes on the new position on November 15, 2013.