James MacDonald (actor) explained

James MacDonald is a Canadian theatre director, actor, and the artistic director of Western Canada Theatre.[1] He was the first artistic director of Edmonton's FreeWill Shakespeare Festival[2] (1997-2001). From 2006-2016, he was the associate artistic director of the Citadel Theatre.

Early years

MacDonald was born in Montreal and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He was trained at the Banff School of Fine Arts, and graduated from the University of Alberta's Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program in 1989. In 1989, he was a co-founder of the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. In 2002, he directed The Old Ladies by Rodney Ackland and then made his Citadel Theatre directing debut in 2004 with Stones in His Pockets, starring John Ulyatt and John Kirkpatrick.

Career

MacDonald works as a director, actor, educator, and dramaturge for new Canadian stage plays.[3] His work as a director includes productions at the Stratford Festival (Julius Caesar), the Shaw Festival (The Old Ladies), the Canadian Stage Company (Fire, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It), The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (A Few Good Men, Sherlock Holmes and the case of the Jersey Lily), and over 15 productions at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre (Clybourne Park, Vimy, God of Carnage, Venus in Fur). As a director, dramaturge, and actor, MacDonald has been involved in the development of over 35 new Canadian plays, including his direction of Vimy (Citadel Theatre), Miss Shakespeare (Musical TheatreWorks), With a Twist (Lunchbox Theatre, Calgary), and Conni Massing's Myth of Summer (Alberta Theatre Projects), and his dramaturgy for Firehall Arts Centre's production of Chelsea Hotel: the Songs of Leonard Cohen—which has toured nationally, most recently to the Belfry Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Theatre Calgary and the Banff Centre.

As an actor, he has worked for theatres both across Canada and internationally. He created the role of Einstein in Einstein’s Gift at The Citadel Theatre. He played the main role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Citadel Theatre's annual production of A Christmas Carol from 2011-2015. He is a regular guest instructor/director for the University of Alberta’s BFA Acting Program[4] and teaches workshops in Shakespearean text[5] and the audition process. MacDonald is a former national Councilor for the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, and former Secretary of the Edmonton Performers’ Branch of ACTRA.

Awards

Stage productions

Director (select)

Actor (select)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HOME: Western Canada Theatre. www.wctlive.ca. 2017-04-15.
  2. Web site: Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Freewill Shakespeare Festival. en-US. 2016-04-10.
  3. Web site: Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia. Canadian Theatre. www.canadiantheatre.com. 2016-04-07.
  4. Web site: Episode 14: Interview with Actor and Director James MacDonald. Dramatic Impact: Acting and Theatre in Alberta. 2016-04-10.
  5. Web site: James MacDonald, Artistic Associate, Talks Shakespeare with the Young Companies. Edmonton Journal. en-US. 2016-04-11.
  6. Web site: Dora Awards. TAPA. en-US. 2016-04-07.
  7. Web site: Betty Mitchell Bettys – The Betty Mitchell Awards. www.bettymitchellawards.com. 2016-04-07.
  8. Web site: THE ELIZABETH STERLING HAYNES AWARDS. www.sterlingawards.com. 2016-04-07.
  9. News: Curious Incident to open Bob Baker's final season at Citadel. The Globe and Mail. 2 February 2016 . 2016-04-10.
  10. Web site: Edmonton's Citadel Theatre announces 2016-2017 season. Edmonton Journal. en-US. 2016-04-11.
  11. Web site: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? back in superb form at Citadel. Edmonton Journal. en-US. 2016-04-10.
  12. Web site: Home. Miss Shakespeare. en-CA. 2016-04-07.
  13. Web site: Vancouver Theatre: Miss Shakespeare. Review From The House. 2016-04-10.
  14. Web site: Press. Miss Shakespeare. en-CA. 2016-04-07.
  15. Web site: Theatre preview: Venus in Fur a funny, fast, sexy play. Edmonton Journal. en-US. 2016-04-07.
  16. Web site: MacLean: Venus in Fur at Edmonton's Citadel Theatre is marvelous. Edmonton Sun. 2016-04-11.
  17. Web site: Salute to Sorkin. www.winnipegfreepress.com. 20 October 2012 . 2016-04-07.
  18. Web site: Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia. Canadian Theatre. www.canadiantheatre.com. 2016-04-07.
  19. Web site: Shakespeare gets French dressing. Canoe.com. canoe.com. 2016-04-11.
  20. Web site: CANOE -- JAM! - 'Vimy' fights to go beyond the war. Canoe.com. jam.canoe.com. 2016-04-07.
  21. Web site: Of Scrooge and classic "Rock": Christmas traditions. Nicholls. Liz. 2013-12-17. Edmonton Journal. 2020-05-23.

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