Theatre Calgary‘s board of directors is pleased to announce that Associate Artistic Director Shari Wattling has been named Interim Artistic Director, effective September 12, 2016. She will replace Dennis Garnhum, who announced in June that he will become Artistic Director of The Grand Theatre in London, ON, later this year.

Wattling has had a leading role in Theatre Calgary’s programing and five-year artistic vision, as well as the expansion of education and outreach (interACTive) programs. As curator of FUSE: The Enbridge New Play Development Program, she has overseen the creative development of seven new play premieres at Theatre Calgary: W.O. Mitchell’s Jake and the Kid, Skydive, Beyond Eden, Lost – A Memoir, A Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, and Liberation Days. Over more than 25 years as a professional director, producer, dramaturg and actor, Shari has worked with a wide variety of companies including Bard on the Beach, Vertigo Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary, Stage West, Lunchbox Theatre, Forte Musical Theatre, Blacklist Theatre Project, Quest Theatre, Swallow-A-Bicycle, Shadow Productions and Dirty Laundry – Calgary’s improvised soap-opera.

Garnhum, Theatre Calgary’s longest-serving artistic director, will leave the company on September 9, 2016. Theatre Calgary’s board of directors have created a formal search committee, and will begin an extensive search to choose a permanent successor for Garnhum. More news will be released in the coming months.

To read the complete Media Release, please click here.

Photo: Shari Wattling by Trudie Lee.