TORONTO, November 1, 1996-- Christopher Newton, artistic director of the Shaw Festival, will give the 10th Annual Wendy Michener Lecture at York University on Thursday, November 7.

In his address, titled "Upward into a Wide Prairie", Newton will look at the construction of the imaginary landscape, and the theatre's responsibility as an explorer.

Newton has been a major contributor to Canadian theatre for more than 30 years. After establishing his acting career with the Manitoba Theatre Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Shaw and Stratford festivals, and on Broadway, he became the founding artistic director of Theatre Calgary. He subsequently served as artistic director of the Vancouver Playhouse and, in 1979, was appointed artistic director of the Shaw Festival.

During his 17 seasons, Christopher Newton has directed many of the Shaw Festival's major productions, bringing to the stage works not only by Shaw and his famous contemporaries, but also by lesser-known playwrights of the era. He also instituted the Shaw Festival's internationally renowned resident Acting Ensemble, and a professional development program for the company. Newton is the creator of a variety of public outreach programs and international alliances between the Shaw Festival and other theatre companies, including professional exchange programs for affiliated designers, craftspeople and administrators.

Christopher Newton's keynote address at York University opens a four-day meeting of the executive of the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT). Being held in Canada for the first time ever, this meeting will bring together delegates from more than 14 countries as far afield as Chile, Finland and Japan.

The Wendy Michener Lecture was established at York University in memory of Canadian arts critic and journalist Wendy Roland Michener. It provides an annual forum for discussion of issues and developments in the Canadian cultural scene, past and present.

The Wendy Michener Lecture is co-sponsored by the Faculty of Fine Arts and Winters College. It will take place Thursday, November 7 at 4 p.m. in the Harry Crowe Room, 109 Atkinson College, York University. The lecture is open to the public; admission is free. York University is located at 4700 Keele St. (at Steeles Ave.) in North York. For general information about the lecture, call (416) 736-5136.

For more information, call:

Mary Ann Horgan
Media Relations
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086

Brigitte Kleer
Faculty of Fine Arts
(416) 736-2100, ext. 77143
YU/057/96