Canadian theater company based in Toronto
Soulpepper is a theater company based in
Toronto ,
Ontario .
[1]
History
Soulpepper was founded in 1998 by twelve Toronto artists aiming to produce lesser-known theatrical classics. It often presents Canadian interpretations of works by noted
playwrights such as
Harold Pinter ,
[2]
Thornton Wilder ,
Samuel Beckett ,
Tom Stoppard and
Anton Chekhov .[
citation needed ]
Soulpepper's founding members are
Martha Burns ,
Susan Coyne ,
Ted Dykstra ,
Michael Hanrahan ,
Stuart Hughes ,
Diana Leblanc ,
Diego Matamoros ,
Nancy Palk ,
Albert Schultz ,
Robyn Stevan , William Webster, and
Joseph Ziegler .
[1]
In 2005, the Soulpepper Theater Company moved into its permanent building, the
Young Centre for the Performing Arts . The joint project with the
George Brown College theater school was designed by local firm
KPMB Architects and is located in Toronto's historic
Distillery District .
In January 2018, founding artistic director Albert Schultz was publicly accused of sexual misconduct by four professional actresses who worked with him at Soulpepper. The women involved are
Kristin Booth , Diana Bentley, Hannah Miller and Patricia Fagan. Lawsuits on their behalf were filed against both Schultz and Soulpepper.
[3] Schultz resigned his position as artistic director on January 4, 2018.
[4] The lawsuits were settled out of court in July 2018.
[5]
The Academy
Soulpepper Theatre Company aims to contribute to the growth of upcoming generations of theatre artists via the Soulpepper Academy. The Academy, which began in 2006, is a full-time, paid training program. After a nationwide search, eight artists are selected to participate in a one-year residency. During this time, they refine their abilities under the guidance of esteemed theatre practitioners, advance their careers by engaging in Soulpepper productions, offer instruction in local community classrooms, act as mentors to young individuals, and collaborate on collective creative ventures.
The Soulpepper Academy program is divided into two phases. The first is focused on training and pedagogy, while the second shifts to performance/production with ongoing training. The Academy was on hold and under review in 2018,
[6] but has since resumed.
Awards
Parfumerie : Outstanding Production (2010)
Parfumerie ; Outstanding Direction of a Play/Musical, Morris Panych (2010)
Parfumerie ; Outstanding Original Set Design, Ken MacDonald (2010)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ; Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role, Diego Matamoros (2010)
A Raisin in the Sun ; Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, Alison Sealy-Smith (2009)
Top Girls : Outstanding Direction of a Play, Alisa Palmer (2008)
The Time of Your Life : Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role, Joseph Ziegler (2008)
The Time of Your Life : Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, Stuart Hughes (2008)
Leaving Home : Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, Jane Spidell (2007)
Our Town : Outstanding Production of a Play (2006)
Translations : Outstanding Performance in a Featured Role, Michael Simpson (2005)
No Man's Land : Outstanding Performance, William Hutt (2003)
The Bald Soprano /The Lesson : Outstanding Direction of a Play, Jim Warren (2001)
Platonov : Best Production; Outstanding Performance, Diego Matamoros (2000)
Platonov : Outstanding Direction of a Play, László Marton (1999)
Endgame : Best Production; Outstanding Sound Design, Richard Feren (1999)
Other awards
2015 -
Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts , Arts Organization Award
[7]
2008 - DareArts Foundation Cultural Award to Albert Schultz, in recognition of his outstanding work in empowering and educating at-risk youth
2006 - Toronto Arts Council Foundation William Kilbourn Award to Albert Schultz, for contribution to the cultural life of the city
2006 -
City of Toronto Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award to Albert Schultz, recognizing excellence and professionalism in the performing arts
2005 - City of Toronto Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award to Martha Burns
2004 - Leonardo da Vinci Award for creativity & innovation in the arts, to Albert Schultz
2003 - Salute to the City Award, for outstanding contribution to the cultural life of Toronto, to Albert Schultz
2002 -
Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal , for outstanding contributions to the community, to Albert Schultz
2002 -
Arts and Letters Club Award to Susan Coyne & Albert Schultz, recognizing worthy members of the artistic community
2001 - Joan Chalmers National Award for Artistic Direction, to Albert Schultz
1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 -
Lieutenant Governor's Awards for the Arts , recognizing achievement in fundraising
1999 - Mayor Mel and Marilyn's Youth Award, for mentoring emerging artists or youth
See also
References
^
a
b Keith Garebian,
"Soulpepper Theatre" .
The Canadian Encyclopedia , November 4, 2010.
^ Morrow, Martin (September 5, 2019).
"Soulpepper's Betrayal is first-rate Harold Pinter, but not quite a first-rate production" . The Globe and Mail . Retrieved November 13, 2023 .
^
"Actresses accusing Albert Schultz of sexual misconduct had to 'suffer in silence,' lawyer says" . cbc.ca . January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018 .
^
"Soulpepper artistic director Albert Schultz resigns amid sexual harassment allegations" . cbc.ca . January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018 .
^
"Soulpepper case changed cultural institutions without going to trial, experts say" . cbc.ca . August 2, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018 .
^
"Soulpepper's acting artistic director Alan Dilworth breaks silence on 'upheaval and change' " . cbc.ca . July 10, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018 .
^
"Winners Announced for Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts" . News release .
Queen's Printer for Ontario . 12 October 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015 .
External links