John Van Burek, Artistic Director and founder
of Pleiades Theatre
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Mr. Van Burek has been a professional theatre artist for thirty-five years. He has directed over 100 productions, including plays, operas and special events, and he has translated over 40 plays. He was the founding Artistic Director of Théâtre français de Toronto, which he ran for close to twenty years. Through his translations, often in partnership with the late Bill Glassco, he introduced the work of Michel Tremblay, one of Canada’s preëminent playwrights, to the English-speaking world. In addition, he has translated works by Gratien Gélinas, Goldoni, Suzanne Lebeau, Marivaux and Molière. He is currently working on a translation of Albert Camus’ Les Justes. Mr. Van Burek has taught at the National Theatre School of Canada, York University, Ryerson Theatre School, the Nottingham School of the Performing Arts (U.K.), University of Victoria and at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. For four years, he was a member of the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal and he is a member of l’Ordre de la Pléïade (Paris). He has received many awards and distinctions, including the Toronto Drama Bench Award for Distinguished Contribution to Canadian Theatre, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and most recently, he was given the prestigious Silver Ticket Award by the Toronto Association of Performing Arts. Mr. Van Burek sits on the Board of the Toronto Arts Council.Arts. |
Andrey Tarasiuk, Producer
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Andrey Tarasiuk, a graduate of the University of Manitoba and the National Theatre School of Canada, has been associated with almost every major theatre in this country. He was the founding Producer of The Dream in High Park, the acclaimed Toronto Free Theatre/Canadian Stage outdoor Shakespeare production, and the director of many radio dramas with CBC-Radio Canada. He has been a guest director, instructor and lecturer at the National Theatre School of Canada, The University of Winnipeg and the National Arts Centre among others. As Artistic Producer for Theatre Direct Canada, an award–winning Toronto-based company, he worked with such Canadian authors as Anne Chislett, Tomson Highway and Joan MacLeod in the creation of new dramas for young audiences. At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he was Associate Artistic Director and Head of New Play Development for eight seasons, Mr. Tarasiuk also directed a number of productions including James Reaney’s The Donnellys: Sticks & Stones which was also presented at the National Arts Centre, Anne Chislett’s Quiet in the Land, and the world premiere of Anton Piatigorsky’s Eternal Hydra. Mr. Tarasiuk has served as a board member for numerous Canadian organizations including the Stratford Arts Foundation/Stratford Summer Music, Toronto Alliance for Performing Arts and the Professional Association for Canadian Theatres. He is a recipient of a number of awards and distinctions including both the Derek. F. Mitchell Artistic Director’s Award and the Tyrone Guthrie Award from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. |
Lauren Brotman, Director of Arts Education
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As actor, creator, and co- artistic director of Bound to Create Theatre, Lauren has received a number of awards and grants for her work: And By The Way Miss (Dora - Outstanding Performance TYA-Theatre Direct), Apricots (SummerWorks-Outstanding Performance NOW), Christopher Plummer Fellowship Award (Globe Theatre- London, UK), Jessica Fraser Award, TAC playwright’s grant, and OAC Creators’ Reserve grants (Factory Theatre, Canadian Stage, Nightwood). Other acting credits includeTwelfth Night (HRSC/European Tour); Antigone/No Exit (Theatre Inferno); Ten Green Bottles (Te-Amim), The Complex (Bound to Create) and many staged readings/workshops including Martyr’s Street (Crow’s Theatre) and with Canadian Stage, Passe Muraille, and Nightwood. As creator or co-creator: Jenny’s Room (Bound to Create/LAB CAB/ Canadian Stage, Raw! Raw! Raw!); Afamefuna! (Theatre Revolve); Power of One Project (Pleiades Theatre), The Grace Project: SICK (Next Stage). Lauren is an artist facilitator/mentor with Pleiades Theatre, Canadian Stage, Paprika Festival and was a BASH! artist with Canadian Stage. |
Board of Directors
- Jules Bloch, Lawyer, Mediator/ Arbitrator
- Mimi Goyer, Lawyer & Businesswoman
- Dr. Peter Keefe, Psychiatrist, University of Toronto & Mt. Sinai Hospital
- Maryam Khoshyomn,(Treasurer), Risk and Reporting Analyst, RBC Dominion Securities
- Patricia Macdonald, Marketing Consultant
- Lisa Martin, CA, Associate Director-Controller BellTV
- Marnie McGarry, (Chair), Volunteer Fundraiser
- Geoffrey Miller, PAR-Med Properties Services Inc.
- Antonella Vergati, Real Estate Investor
Founding Board Members, retired
- Dr. Harry Arthurs
- Billie Bridgman
- Jennifer Duchesne
- Gerry Eldred
- David Silcox (former chair)
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