Lise Ann Johnson, the newly appointed Artistic Director of GCTC 

GCTC's New Artistic Director to Lead Next Era of Great Theatre

The Great Canadian Theatre Company has announced that former GCTC Resident Dramaturge Lise Ann Johnson has been named the new Artistic Director for the theatre company. Ms Johnson, who has been the National Arts Centre English Theatre's Artistic Associate and Literary Manager, succeeds Interim Artistic Director Arthur Milner at GCTC.

Ms Johnson will be working closely with Mr Milner during the month of November as a transitional period.

"I am honoured and delighted to become the next Artistic Director of the Great Canadian Theatre Company," says Ms Johnson. "I have a profound respect for GCTC, its audience and the artists who call it home. I look forward to continuing GCTC's rich history of developing and producing provocative, relevant and emotionally resonant Canadian plays."

Ms Johnson has an extensive background in developing new Canadian plays. She began her career at Playwrights Workshop Montreal, where she acquired a particular interest in Quebecois playwrights. Following a stint as GCTC's Resident Dramaturge from 1996-1999, Ms Johnson helped the NAC create their play development programme, which included a national commissioning programme and the highly successful On the Verge festival. Lise Ann worked closely with many of Canada's best established and emerging playwrights, including Wendy Lill, Jason Sherman, Anosh Irani, Mieko Ouchi, Stephen Massicotte, and Greg MacArthur. Lise Ann also helped curate the theatre component of the NAC's Atlantic and Alberta Scenes. She looks forward to bringing her dramaturgical skills and love for the Canadian repertoire to the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

"I believe that GCTC has one of the most sophisticated audiences in the country," says Ms Johnson, "an audience eager to engage in dialogue about our most pressing cultural and ethical questions. I am thrilled to lead this company into a new building, a new neighbourhood, and a new era of developing and producing great Canadian theatre in our National-Capital region."

Founding Board Member and Chair of the Artistic Director Search Committee Larry McDonald says, "With Lise Ann's long experience in the development of new plays, she is the perfect person to maintain the GCTC tradition as we move towards our exciting future in the Irving Greenburg Theatre Centre."

GCTC is charging full-speed ahead. The theatre recently expanded its dynamic youth outreach programme with TELUS' $20,000 donation to student matinees, construction has begun at the site of GCTC's future home, and the company's current production of No Great Mischief has broken all attendance records. With Ms Johnson's arrival as Artistic Director, GCTC is poised to enter a new era of artistic growth and excellence, not only in Ottawa, but also in the national Canadian context.