Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The Board of Directors of Young People’s Theatre (YPT) is delighted to announce that Nancy Webster (currently Managing Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre) will return to YPT to assume the role of Executive Director, a newly established position focused strongly on directing the theatre’s future development.
In making the announcement, Board Co-Chairs Sheila Brown and Christopher Jones said, “YPT will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in three years. Toronto’s nationally-recognized theatre for young audiences needs a senior manager with an ability to achieve crucial strategic goals for the company, particularly the redevelopment of our historic facility. Nancy and YPT’s dedicated Artistic Director, Allen MacInnis were a formidable team before and we expect great things in the future through the reunion of this dynamic duo.”
“We were tasked with casting top-flight leadership to realize YPT’s important long term objectives, including the achievement of our building’s renovation – a dream that has been developing over the last six years” said Search Committee Chair, Susan Payne. “Nancy brings the right mix of knowledge, energy, courage, curiosity, and a stellar track record of making things happen.”
Ms. Webster was YPT’s Managing Director from 2004 to 2009 during which time she was named one of Toronto’s Vital People by the Toronto Community Foundation. Within her tenure Ms. Webster oversaw a transformation of the company, establishing financial stability, new audiences, and expanded educational programming. She accomplished groundbreaking work at the theatre by lowering YPT’s ticket prices by 40%, resulting in an immediate increase in attendance, repositioning the company as a vital centre of theatre and learning. Before she left to join the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Nancy completed the early stages of designing a new vision for the theatre’s facility in partnership with YPT’s Board of Directors. The results of that feasibility study await the next steps for implementation.
“I am truly thrilled to entice Nancy back to YPT to pursue the work we began together – developing a facility that matches the depth and breadth of our artistic and educational programming,” said Allen MacInnis. “Nancy and I make a great team and her new position as Executive Director will focus on turning our ideas for the future into reality.”
Nancy Webster returns to Toronto after producing three successful seasons of English-language theatre at the National Arts Centre, marked by strong audience engagement. “I am truly excited to return to YPT to work in an area that is so close to my heart: that of child development through theatre,” stated Ms. Webster. “YPT has long imagined the recreation of its current facility into a building specifically designed for the full theatrical engagement of young people in all aspects of theatre -- and I want to bring that dream to fruition.” Ms. Webster’s transition into her position at YPT will commence in the next few months.
2012-11-01
Toronto: Nancy Webster becomes Executive Director of Young People’s Theatre