Jonathan Christenson Shortlisted for The Siminovitch Prize

Catalyst Theatre is thrilled that Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson has been announced as a finalist for the 2016 Siminovitch Prize. The internationally-recognized and honoured award shines a spotlight on excellence and innovation in Canadian Theatre with an annual prize worth $100,000. Over a three-year cycle, the prize recognizes a professional director, playwright, or designer as a leader in national theatre whose work is transformative and influential. The prize also recognizes the importance of mentorship to support emerging talent. The recipient receives $75,000 and in turn, chooses a protégé to receive $25,000. This year’s prize will be awarded to a director on Friday, October 28 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

“To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is truly extraordinary,” exclaims Mr. Christenson. “It’s an amazing gift, at this point in my career, to have my own creative journey and the body of work I’ve been developing recognized in this way.”

Jonathan Christenson is a director, writer and composer who has spearheaded the creation of 22 original Canadian productions, many of which have had an international reach. He has directed in more than 85 theatres across Canada, the UK, Australia, and the United States including in London’s West End, and New York’s Broadway district. His work has been recognized with more than 100 awards and nominations, including a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding New Musical of the 2015 Off-Broadway season. His plays have been published by Playwrights Canada Press, Newest Press, and Bayeaux Arts. Recordings of his music can be found on iTunes and at Broadway Records, and his productions are featured in American Theatre, Maclean’s, CTR, and PRISM International. He was named one of “Alberta’s Fifty Most Influential People” by Venture Magazine, and Alberta Playwrights Network chose him as one of Alberta’s one hundred most significant theatre artists of the past one hundred years.

Since 1996 Mr. Christenson has led Catalyst Theatre’s creative teams to increasing national and international acclaim. It is his bold, imaginative, and utterly distinctive vision as a director and theatre creator that has earned him a spot on the list of five finalists for Canada’s leading prize in theatre.

Canada’s Catalyst Theatre creates bold, distinctive and highly theatrical productions – ‘Made-In-Edmonton’ work that is presented across Canada and around the world. The company’s core creative team strives for the unexpected, seeking out innovative ways to tell powerful stories through the inventive and playful use of evocative music, haunting sound, poetic text, dynamic choreography and stunning & surreal design.

Catalyst multi-award-winning productions have been presented by London’s Barbican Theatre (BITE) and the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT), The New Victory Theater and New World Stages (New York), Canadian Stage and the Luminato Festival (Toronto), Theatre Calgary, Vertigo Theatre, the High Performance Rodeo (Calgary), Vancouver Playhouse, the PuSH Festival, the Arts Club Theatre and The Cultch (Vancouver), The Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), The Tron Theatre (Glasgow), The Playhouse (Liverpool), Magnetic North Theatre Festival (Ottawa), The Citadel Theatre (Edmonton), Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), Le Carrefour International du Théatre (Québec), Keyano Theatre (Fort McMurray), and the Yukon Arts Centre (Whitehorse).

Catalyst Theatre’s creative and administrative home is the 702-seat Maclab Theatre in the Citadel Theatre complex in the Heart of Edmonton’s downtown Arts District, where they have recently celebrated a $1.2 million renovation.

Catalyst Theatre is currently in Calgary developing their newest work, Fortune Falls, conceived and directed by Jonathan Christenson. This co-production with Calgary’s Alberta Theatre Projects will have its world premiere at the Martha Cohen Theatre on October 21 and runs until November 5. Fortune Falls hits Catalyst Theatre’s home stage in Edmonton, January 17 to February 5, 2017, presented in association with the Citadel Theatre.

For more information on the Siminovitch Prize please visit their website. For a list of the nominees and jury, click here.

For more information and tickets to Fortune Falls in Calgary with Alberta Theatre Projects. 

For more information and tickets to Fortune Falls in Edmonton and ticket info click here.

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Media Contact for Catalyst Theatre: Joshua Semchuk, Bottom Line Productions
P: 7809750864 | E: joshua@bottomlinepro.com

Media Contact for Alberta Theatre Projects: Ashley Meller, Director of Marketing and Communications
P: 5878942257 | E: AMeller@atplive.com
Joshua Semchuk
Project Manager
Bottom Line Productions Inc.
10515 111 St NW
Edmonton, AB
T5H 3E8

P: 7809750864