News Releases
TORONTO, September 24, 2008 – BMO Financial Group, sponsor of the Elinore & Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, announced the names of five Canadian playwrights who have made the 2008 short-list for the largest prize in Canadian theatre. The finalists are:
- Morwyn Brebner, Toronto, Ontario;
- Daniel Danis, St-David de Falardeau, Quebec;
- Daniel MacIvor, Toronto, Ontario;
- Colleen Murphy, Toronto, Ontario; and
- Larry Tremblay, Montreal, Quebec.
The five finalists were selected from 26 nominated Canadian playwrights, recognized for their body of work and inspiration to younger theatre artists.
“On behalf of BMO Financial Group, congratulations to all of the extraordinary playwrights who were short-listed for the 2008 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre,” said Gilles Ouellette, President and CEO, Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group. “Our gratitude to Leonard McHardy and this year's jury for their steadfast dedication to honouring such excellence in Canadian theatre.”
“The jury feels that each playwright on the short-list possesses a very strong and unique voice,” said Leanard McHardy, Jury Chair, Siminovitch Prize in Theatre and co-owner of Toronto's TheatreBooks bookstore. “The diversity of vocabulary and style of their writing is impressive and bodes well for the growth of a strong Canadian theatre.”
Other jury members include:
- Patricia Hamilton, Toronto, Ontario, a Canadian actress with more than 45 years on the stage;
- Paul Lefebvre, Ottawa, Ontario, a translator, stage director, dramaturge and theatre scholar;
- Vicki Stroich, Calgary, Alberta, a dramaturge, programmer and producer with Calgary's Alberta Theatre Projects; and
- John Van Burek, Toronto, Ontario, a director, teacher, translator, and Founding Artistic Director of Toronto's Pleiades Theatre.
The recipient of the Siminovitch Prize will receive $100,000, of which $25,000 will be awarded to a prot�g� or organization of their choice. The Prize will be presented on October 27, 2008 at a ceremony in Toronto.
For more information about the short-listed playwrights, please visit www.siminovitchprize.com.
The Selection
Process
The Jury reviewed
nominations
of professional
Canadian
playwrights
who have advanced
Canadian theatre
through a body
of work
achieved in
recent
years while
influencing
and
inspiring younger
theatre
artists. In
the preceding
10
years, nominees
were to have
made
a significant
creative contribution
to no fewer
than two noteworthy
theatre projects
in Canada.
The jurors
assessed
the
nominees' originality,
sense
of evolution,
growing maturity,
continuing
experimentation,
impact upon
audiences,
and/or influence
upon younger
artists. They
also considered
whether
the artists
were
at a point
in their professional
career
where the recognition
and resources
associated
with
the prize would
make a significant
difference,
allowing and
encouraging
the artist
to go further
in the pursuit
of his
or her
craft.
About the Siminovitch
Prize
The Siminovitch
Prize in
Theatre was
introduced
in 2001 and
dedicated
to
renowned
scientist
Lou Siminovitch and
his late
wife Elinore,
a playwright.
Sponsored
by BMO Financial
Group, Canada's
largest annual theatre arts award
recognizes direction, playwriting
and design
in three-year cycles. Previous
recipients include:
- Toronto director Daniel Brooks in 2001;
- Montreal playwright Carole Fr�chette in 2002;
- Montreal designer Louise Campeau in 2003;
- St. John's director Jillian Keiley in 2004;
- Toronto playwright John Mighton in 2005;
- Toronto set and costume designer Dany Lyne in 2006; and
- Montr�al director Brigitte Haentjens in 2007.
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