Donna Feore

Donna Feore (née Starnes,[1] born June 20, 1963) is a Canadian choreographer and theatre director, most noted for her work with the National Arts Centre and the Stratford Festival.[1]

Donna Feore
Donna and Colm Feore at TIFF 2007
Born
Donna Starnes

(1963-06-20) June 20, 1963
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)Choreographer, theatre director
Spouse
​
(m. 1994)​
Children2

Early life

Donna Starnes was born in Dawson Creek, British Columbia on June 20, 1963. She grew up in Prince George, British Columbia. She began training in ballet at age seven and, after moving to Vancouver, studied at the Pacific Ballet Theatre.[1]

Career

After being seen by Brian Macdonald in a revue at the Imperial Lounge at Toronto's Royal York Hotel, Feore was cast to make her Stratford debut, as Donna Starnes, in 1990 as a featured dancer in Guys and Dolls. That season, she was asked by Richard Monette to choreograph the feast of the Lupercal in his production of Julius Caesar.[2]

Feore has directed many musical theatre productions at Stratford, including Crazy for You,[3] The Sound of Music,[4] Guys and Dolls[5] and A Chorus Line.[6]

Feore has also worked with the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, the Detroit Symphony, and the Canadian Opera Company. For the NAC, she was creative producer and director of Life Reflected, described as "an immersive symphonic experience celebrating youth, promise and courage, revealed in the compelling and diverse portraits of four women". She was also director of The Hockey Sweater and A Midsummer Night's Dream by Felix Mendelssohn, and the creator of the NAC's Undisrupted series for CBC Gem.[7]

In addition to her work in the theatre, Feore has choreographed for film and television. She served as choreographer for the Eloise tv movies (Eloise at Christmastime and Eloise at the Plaza) and the film Mean Girls.[2]

In 2022, Feore announced she would be taking a break from the Stratford Festival.[8]

Personal life

Donna Feore met actor Colm Feore in 1990 while Donna had just started as a dancer at the Stratford Festival. They have been married since 1994. Together they have two children,[1] Anna and Tom. Feore also has a step-son, Jack.[9]

References
  1. Ouzounian, Richard (February 1, 2006). "Colm and Donna Feore: A most contemporary couple". NUVO.
  2. Nestruck, J. Kelly (2017-05-26). "Musical theatre director Donna Feore is Stratford's secret weapon". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  3. "The crazies shine this summer in Stratford". Windsor Star. August 8, 2014.
  4. Ouzounian, Richard (May 15, 2015). "Donna Feore is serious about The Sound of Music". Toronto Star.
  5. "Female directors take the spotlight at Stratford: Next year's festival aims to boost its diversity programs, focus on Canadian identity". Toronto Star. June 15, 2016.
  6. "Last chance for best of the fests: With several extended shows, theatre lovers still have time to see those Stratford and Shaw must-sees". Toronto Star. October 6, 2014.
  7. Lederman, Marsha (September 1, 2021). "National Arts Centre Orchestra's eclectic new CBC Gem series showcases Canadian talent". The Globe and Mail.
  8. Fricker, Karen (2022-08-14). "Acclaimed musical theatre director and choreographer Donna Feore taking a break from Stratford Festival in 2023". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
  9. Antoniak, Jane (2019-03-05). "Dabbling in Wonderful: Donna Feore on Work, Parenting & Inspiration". eatdrink Magazine. Retrieved 2022-09-13.
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