Gateway Theatres Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Jovanni Sy as the Theatres new Artistic Director. Mr. Sy will take up the post in mid-April, replacing outgoing Artistic & Executive Director Simon Johnston.
Jovanni Sy brings twenty years of artistic experience as a director, dramaturg, performer, writer, and teacher to the Gateway. For six seasons, he was the Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Projects in Toronto, a company dedicated to producing culturally diverse theatre.
Jovanni has performed with theatre companies across Canada including Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland (St. Johns), The Grand Theatre (London), The Citadel (Edmonton), The Banff Centre, Theatre Junction (Calgary), Globe Theatre (Regina), Nakai Theatre (Whitehorse), and Soulpepper, Canadian Stage, Theatre Passe Muraille, and Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. His most recent appearance was in Fear of Flight at the East Vancouver Cultural Centre during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Among his numerous film and television credits are regular roles on two CBC seriesRiverdale and Side Effects.
In 2010, Jovanni was the Playwright-in-Residence at the Shaw Festival where he worked on The Birth of the American Empire (as told by those who received the Blessings of Liberty), an epic drama set during the Spanish-American War. In July 2010, Jovanni wrote and performed his one-man play, A Taste of Empire which was nominated for two Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including Outstanding New Play.
I'm very excited to be working at one of Canada's premiere theatres. I'm also very humbled to be following in the giant footsteps of Simon Johnston. His cultural legacy and contributions to the City of Richmond are too long to list. I'm looking forward to working closely with General Manager Suzanne Haines to create some memorable theatre for the people of Richmond, said Mr. Sy.
Outgoing Artistic & Executive Director Simon Johnston said, Im delighted that Jovanni has accepted the position. His experience and personality are exactly what we need to take the
Gateway to the next level. General Manager Suzanne Haines added, Jovannis rich history of diverse practice, his skills as a leader and his warm and welcoming personality are a great fit for the Gateway Theatre.
