Today, Kathleen Lynch, president of the board of Magnus Theatre, announced the appointment of Thom Currie as the new artistic director of Magnus Theatre. Currie will work with the current artistic director Mario Crudo who is scheduled to leave the post on November 5, 2016. They will work together for the first two plays of the season allowing Currie time to familiarize himself with the workings of the theatre and to plan for his first season line-up for the 2017-2018 season.
Thom Currie
“Our search committee spent a substantial amount of time over the past year in developing the selection process followed by interviewing candidates from across the country. There was great interest in the position which confirmed for us all that Magnus is held in high regard locally, regionally, and nationally,” said Lynch, who also served as chair of the committee. “We are delighted to have Thom Currie as our next artistic director. With his extensive theatre experience, his background, enthusiasm and his outgoing personality he is the candidate we feel will be an excellent fit for Magnus.”
Currie has enjoyed a 25 year career as an actor, director, playwright and producer. Originally from New York, he has appeared on stage on both sides of the Atlantic, performing in Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Brussels. Since settling in Toronto, Currie has worked steadily in theatre, film, and television, both in English and in French.
He has worked in theatres across Canada including the Victoria Playhouse, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Stage West in Calgary and Mississauga, Theatre in the Park, the Georgian Theatre Festival and others. His directing credits include over 40 productions with an additional 50 productions of plays for young audiences. He has lectured at the University of Toronto, Scarborough, Seneca College, and Ryerson University, and has worked as an adjudicator, educator, and workshop leader for ACT-CO/Theatre Ontario.
Currie is leaving his most current position as the artistic director of the Stephenville Theatre Festival, the oldest professional theatre festival in Newfoundland and Labrador to take up the artistic leadership at Magnus Theatre. “I am thrilled to be joining Magnus Theatre as the new artistic director. Magnus has a great history as one of Canada’s most important theatres, and I could not be more honoured to join the list of brilliant artists to work in this wonderful city and region,” said Currie, “I have always considered myself to be a builder of experiences for audiences, and I have always had a deep respect for history and for the work that came before me. I plan on building new experiences for Thunder Bay audiences while maintaining and continuing the marvellous work that Mario Crudo has been doing here at Magnus.”
“I welcome Thom as the new artistic director of Magnus Theatre. He brings with him a new perspective along with new ideas and a new vitality. With the abundance of goodwill that Magnus Theatre enjoys in the community I am convinced that under Thom’s artistic leadership the company will continue to grow and continue to be a strong cultural force in the region,” said outgoing artistic director Mario Crudo.
