Shakespeare in Action is so excited to announce our new Artistic Director, Michelle Urbano! Michelle has worked with SiA in the past as the Producer of our 2023 summer show. You may have also seen Michelle telling cozy winter stories during Winterfest!

“I am thrilled to be joining Shakespeare in Action at this pivotal time. I am excited to honour the work of my predecessor, Cameron Grant, and to continue to explore theatrical programming that is rooted in fostering and strengthening community. Most of all, I am honoured to have the opportunity to serve and create in my neighbourhood.” - Michelle Urbano

Michelle Urbano (she/her) is a Toronto theatre creator, puppeteer, storyteller, and producer, recognized in 2017 by Cahoots Theatre as one of their “30 for 30” – 30 artists shaping the next 30 years of Toronto theatre. Her background is in devised theatre and new play creation, and as such, she feels most at home working with a team on creative projects. She was the Producer for Shakespeare in Action’s otîhêw last summer. She lives just on the other side of the Humber River, and is thrilled to be connecting more deeply with the Weston community through her new position as Artistic Director.

Michelle was the Co-Artistic Director and Producer for the award-winning found-object puppetry company, Artichoke Heart, and produced the Toronto International Storytelling Festival, leading the project in its 43rd (2022) and 44th (2023) edition. She recently received funding from the Ontario Arts Council to develop a new puppetry piece inspired by the children’s book Strega Nona, and completed a tour of Quest for the Moon, and Old Man and the River with the Wee Festival. She was an artist-in-residence at Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, and completed three tours with the company (Canada, USA, China). She has performed and worked in a variety of capacities with the CBC, Theatre Passe Muraille, Theatre by the Bay, Pandemic Theatre, Eldritch Theatre, the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, and more.

Welcome, Michelle! We are so happy to have you at the helm, and we can't wait to see where you take us.

Want to learn more about Shakespeare in Action? Visit our website at shakespeareinaction.org.