GCTC (Great Canadian Theatre Company) Announces New Managing Director

Ottawa, Ontario ... the Great Canadian Theatre Company today announced the appointment of Charles McFarland to the new position of Managing Director. He joins Artistic Director Lorne Pardy in GCTC's leadership team, effective immediately.

He moved to Ottawa in 1992, serving four years as Assistant Head of the Canada Council's Theatre Section, and founded and directed The Stage for AIDS/ Les Arts pour la vie performing arts galas at the National Arts Centre. In 1997, Charles completed his Canadian Advanced Technology Association management certification, and spent three years working in the fields of fundraising and web-solutions marketing for small business, primarily in New York and Vancouver.

As a stage director, Charles has over 40 professional productions across Canada to his credit, and has spent several seasons with the Stratford Festival, the Canadian Opera Company, the Manitoba Theatre Centre and, as Artistic Director, three years at Peterborough's Arbour Theatre.

In GCTC's 2000-01 season, he returned to Ottawa direct an acclaimed production of John Murrell's play, The Faraway Nearby, and came aboard as GCTC's interim General Manager as of September 2001.

In announcing the appointment, GCTC Board Chairman Mark Sutcliffe said: "Charles has performed admirably on an interim basis, so it was a very easy decision for the board to approve his permanent appointment. His love of theatre and his enthusiastic and effective management style are of great benefit to GCTC."

"I am very pleased that Charles has agreed to take on the position of Managing Director at GCTC," said Artistic Director Lorne Pardy, "He brings with him years of experience as an artist in his own right, as well as a significant background in arts administration and small business. I am very excited at the prospect of working closely with him to realize GCTC's truly exciting potential."

"This is an exciting time to be joining GCTC's dynamic leadership," said Charles. "Lorne has brought strong vision and extremely high artistic standards to GCTC and the Board is committed, energetic and focussed. As the company moves towards its goal of offering Ottawa a hub for contemporary Canadian theatre, I'm delighted to take on the challenge of helping to create the business environment to get us there."

For more information, please contact:
Sean Fitzpatrick, Marketing and Publicity
(613) 236-5192 ext. 29