Alisa Palmer

Alisa Palmer is a Canadian theatre director and playwright. She was the artistic director of Nightwood Theatre from 1993 to 2001. Palmer is currently the artistic director of the English section of the National Theatre School of Canada.

Alisa Palmer
BornNew Brunswick, Canada
OccupationPlaywright, theatre director
NationalityCanadian
Alma materMcGill University
SubjectTheatre
SpouseAnn-Marie MacDonald[1][2]

Early life

Born and raised in New Brunswick, Canada, Alisa Palmer completed a degree in history at McGill University.[3] Her theatre education was based in Montreal and included training with Philippe Gaulier of L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq (Bouffon and Masque Neutre), Cirque du Soleil (acrobatics), L'École de Mime Corporel de Montréal under Jean Asselin as well as periods of study with Brazilian director Augusto Boal.

Career

Palmer's first interaction with Toronto-based Nightwood Theatre was at the 1987 Groundswell Festival, where she performed with the improv group, Hysterical Women. Following that festival, Palmer directed two shows before joining Nightwood's leadership team. In 1993 Palmer and Diane Roberts were appointed co-artistic directors of Nightwood Theatre, succeeding Kate Lushington. In 1995, Palmer was appointed the sole artistic director of the company. Palmer's leadership at Nightwood was instrumental in confirming the company's move away from a collective to a "legitimate" theatre company.[4]

In 1995, Palmer directed the play The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, which she co-created with Ann-Marie MacDonald, Leah Cherniak, Jennifer Brewin, and Martha Ross. The play was performed by Theatre Columbus, a clown-inspired company created by Leah Cherniak and Martha Ross, and co-starred MacDonald, Cherniak, and Ross.[5] The Attic was nominated for several Dora Mavor Moore awards in the Small Theatre division, including for Outstanding New Play or Musical and for Outstanding Direction.[6] In 2011, Palmer and all of the original cast members except Cherniak, staged a sequel to The Attic called More Fine Girls. More Fine Girls was performed at Tarragon Theatre.[7]

While working at Nightwood, Palmer directed such shows as Bridget McFarthing's Blatantly Sexual (1993), Lisa Walter's Difference of Latitude (1994), Sabina Fella's Fed by Fairies (1996), Diane Flacks's Random Acts (1997), a workshop production of Caryl Churchill's The Skirker (1998), and Alex Bulmer's Smudge (2000).[8] Palmer also acted and wrote while with Nightwood. Palmer's play Wearing the Bone was performed by Nightwood Theatre as part of the 1993–94 season. In 1996, Palmer acted in Baņuta Rubess's Froth: a spectacle about shopping & hysteria. Palmer co-wrote the book for the musical Anything That Moves with Ann-Marie MacDonald; Anything That Moves premiered at Nightwood under Palmer's direction as part of the 1999–2000 season. Palmer left Nightwood in 2001.[9]

Palmer has directed with the Shaw Festival for eight seasons from 2005 to 2012. At the Shaw Festival, Palmer directed several shows including Ann-Marie MacDonald's Belle Moral: A Natural History (2005),[10] Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George (2009),[11] Clare Boothe Luce's The Women (2010),[12] and Githa Sowerby's A Man and Some Women (2012).[13]

In 2007, Palmer directed Caryl Churchill's Top Girls for Soulpepper Theatre.[14] She won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for her direction of Top Girls.[15] Palmer later directed Marsha Norman's 'night, Mother for Soulpepper in 2008.[16]

Palmer was a resident director of Mirvish Productions' world premiere of The Lord of the Rings in Toronto.[17] In 2016, Palmer directed Nick Green's Body Politic for Buddies in Bad Times.[18] Palmer is also the founder of Vita Brevis, a theatre company involved in the creation and promotion of new works.[19]

Palmer made her Stratford Festival debut in 2014, directing Noël Coward's Hay Fever.[20] Palmer was scheduled to direct Hamlet-911, a modern adaptation of Hamlet written by MacDonald, as part of the 2020 Stratford Festival, but was postponed due to COVID-19.[21][22][23] Palmer's production of Hamlet-911 was moved to Stratford's 2022 season.[24]

Palmer and Hannah Moscovitch co-adapted Ann-Marie MacDonald's novel, Fall on Your Knees for the stage. The National Arts Centre is set to premiere the show, under Palmer's direction, in 2023.[25][26]

National Theatre School

Palmer first taught at the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) at the age of 23. At the time, Palmer worked primarily with francophone students.[27] In 2007, Palmer directed Edward Bond's Restoration at the NTS.[28] Palmer has been the artistic director of the English section of the National Theatre School since 2013.[29] Palmer succeeded former director Sherry Bie.[17]

Plays
  • Wearing the Bone
  • Anything That Moves (musical) — Co-written by Ann-Marie MacDonald (lyrics and book), Alisa Palmer (book), and Allen Cole (music)
  • A Play About the Mothers of the Plaza del Mayo
  • The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls — Co-written by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Leah Cherniak, Jennifer Brewin, Martha Ross, and Alisa Palmer
  • More Fine Girls — Co-written by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Leah Cherniak, Jennifer Brewin, Martha Ross, and Alisa Palmer
  • Body Politic[30]
  • Fall on Your Knees — Co-written with Hannah Moscovitch, adapted from Ann-Marie MacDonald

Personal life

Palmer met Canadian writer Ann-Marie MacDonald at the 1987 Groundswell Festival.[31] Palmer and MacDonald married in July 2003 following the legalization of same sex marriage in Ontario.[32] The two adopted a baby girl later that year.[33] Palmer and MacDonald have two daughters.[19]

Awards
Year Award Category Work Result Notes Ref.
1994 Chalmers Canadian Play Award General Theatre A Play About the Mothers of the Plaza del Mayo Won [34]
1995 Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Small Theatre) Outstanding New Play or Musical The Attic, The Pearls, And Three Fine Girls Nominated with Ann-Marie MacDonald and Theatre Columbus [6]
Outstanding Direction Nominated
1998 Dora Mavor Moore Awards (General) Outstanding Direction of a Play Quartet Nominated
2000 Outstanding New Musical Anything That Moves Won With Ann-Marie MacDonald and Allen Cole [35]
2002 Outstanding Direction of a Musical Won
2004 Siminovitch Prize Director n/a Nominated [36]
2008 Dora Mavor Moore Awards (General) Outstanding Direction of a Play Top Girls Won [15]

References
  1. Cole, Susan G. (September 25 – October 1, 2003). "Ann-Marie MacDonald". Now Toronto. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  2. "Ann-Marie Macdonald". Random House of Canada. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012.
  3. Van Paassen, Kevin (October 19, 2012). "Alisa Palmer named to National Theatre School". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  4. Scott, Shelley (2010). Nightwood Theatre: A Woman's Work is Always Done. Athabasca University Press. pp. 159–161. ISBN 978-1-897425-55-8 – via Google Books.
  5. Wagner, Vit (March 1, 1995). "The Attic's material often quite funny The Attic, The Pearls And 3 Fine Girls 538-0988 Created by Leah Cherniak, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Martha Ross. Directed by Alisa Palmer. Set and costumes by Dany Lyne. Lighting by Andrea Lundy. Music by Allen Cole and John Millard. To March 19 at Theatre Centre West, 1032 Queen St. W.: [Final Edition]". Toronto Star. p. D1. ISSN 0319-0781.
  6. "Nominees". TAPA. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  7. Ouzounian, Richard (March 14, 2011). "These Fine Girls haven't aged well". Toronto Star. p. E.3. ISSN 0319-0781.
  8. Scott, Shelley (2010). Nightwood Theatre: A Woman's Work is Always Done. Athabasca University Press. pp. 256–266. ISBN 978-1-897425-55-8 – via Google Books.
  9. "Production History". Nightwood Theatre. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  10. Alec, Scott (2005). "THEATRE". Toronto life. Vol. 39, no. 8. ISSN 0049-4194.
  11. Citron, Paula (August 10, 2009). "Shaw Festival 2009 – Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George". www.classicalfm.ca. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. Zinoman, Jason (August 17, 2010). "In Canada, Shaw Plays Well With Others". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  13. Kaplan, Jon (July 26, 2012). "A Man And Some Women". NOW Magazine. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  14. Cameron, Leah (2007). "Women on Top". Toronto Life. Vol. 41, no. 7. p. 124. ISSN 0049-4194.
  15. Posner, Michael (July 1, 2008). "Canstage shines at the Dora Awards". Globe and Mail. p. R2. ISSN 0319-0714.
  16. Walker, Johnnie (May 28, 2008). "Middle-Aged Suicide (Don't Do It!)". Torontoist. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  17. "Alisa Palmer named new Artistic Director of the National Theatre School of Canada's English section". Canadian NewsWire. PR Newswire Association LLC. October 19, 2012 – via ProQuest.
  18. Maga, Carly (June 2, 2016). "Body Politic connects Toronto gay community's past and present: review". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  19. "Alisa Palmer named National Theatre School's new artistic director". National post. October 25, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  20. Donnelly, Pat (August 20, 2013). "Stratford Festival Opts for Madness, Double Dream and Gershwin in 2014". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  21. "Tickets go on sale for Stratford Festival's 2020 season". CBC News. January 3, 2020. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  22. Porter, Ryan (January 20, 2020). "World premieres, a 'Chicago' coup and a venue to unite acting greats". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  23. Peters, Diane (May 6, 2020). "When there's no live theatre, we all lose". TVO.org. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  24. Keith, Tomasek (2022-02-11). "Stratford Festival 2022 Playbill". Stratford Festival Reviews. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  25. Wheeler, Brad (2022-05-17). "The National Arts Centre's upcoming season includes Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bruce Liu and a double dose of Margaret Atwood". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  26. "Theatre adaptation of Ann-Marie MacDonald's novel Fall on Your Knees to hit stage in 2023". The Globe and Mail. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  27. Rockne Corrigan, David (May 29, 2013). "Q&A: Alisa Palmer hopes to make Canada's theatre community a little smaller". National Post. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  28. Donnelly, Pat (October 19, 2012). "National Theatre School: Alisa Palmer New English A.D." Montreal Gazette. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  29. News, Postmedia (October 25, 2012). "Alisa Palmer named National Theatre School's new artistic director". National Post. {{cite news}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  30. Wheeler, Brad (2016-05-29). "Director Alisa Palmer on her new play Body Politic and LGBT identities". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  31. Scott, Shelley (2010). Nightwood Theatre: A Woman's Work is Always Done. Athabasca University Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-897425-55-8 – via Google Books.
  32. Cassidy, Sara. "Flying High An Interview with Ann-Marie MacDonald". Herizons. Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2007.
  33. Nurse, Donna Bailey (November 24, 2003). "Send in the clowns". Publishers Weekly. No. 47. pp. 37–38. ISSN 0000-0019.
  34. "[* Playwright Alisa Palmer: Winner of a 1994 Chalmers Canadian ...]: [MET Edition]". Toronto Star. May 26, 1994. p. D7. ISSN 0319-0781.
  35. "Recipients". TAPA. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  36. Crew, Robert (September 28, 2004). "Toronto director in race for Siminovitch; Alisa Palmer's credits include Pal Joey, Oren Safdie play In all, five easterners bidding for theatre's biggest prize: [ONT Edition]". Toronto Star. p. C06. ISSN 0319-0781.
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