Theatre Aquarius announces Mary Francis Moore as new artistic director

Theatre Aquarius has announced Mary Francis Moore as its new artistic director.

She'll replaceRon Ulrich, who will retire after filling the role since 2008. His announcement came last year amidcriticism about the theatre's lack of diversity, though he denied that this decision to leave was connected.

Moore is currently the associate artistic director of The Charlottetown Festival in P.E.I. and artistic curator of the Junior International Children's Festival at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.

She'll start in the position on July 5, 2021.

"I am thrilled to be returning to Hamilton. I have a rich history not only with the theatre but with the city itself," said Moore in a release.

"My parents live here and both of my brothers live, work and raise their families here. There is a vitality and creative energy in Hamilton that I can't wait to become a part of."

A return to Hamilton

Moore is an award-winning actor, director, dramaturge and educator. She's also no stranger to Theatre Aquarius: Moore taught at the Theatre Aquarius school and has staged her work at the company. Most recently, she directed Hairsprayin 2019.

Moore specializes in developing new Canadian work and in particular, musicals.Along with Annabel Fitzsimmons and Alison Lawrence, she co-wrote Bittergirl: The Musicalthe most-produced Canadian musical in 2017.

She co-created the Canada 150 Dream Catchers Project in 2016 withMi'kmaq artist Nick Huard and Mohawk carver Watio Splicer.

It was a "series of cross-country workshops for youth that explored the effects of colonization." Those workshops inspired a Confederation Centre of the Arts musical, which toured in 2017.

Moore will take on leadership of the company after a year of its noticeable absenceboth from live performance due to the pandemic, but also from social media.

Theatre Aquarius's last interaction on Facebook dates back to a Black Lives Matter post in June 2020, which was met from criticism from Hamilton artists, who didn't buy the message.

Two months later, Theatre Aquarius commented on that same postacknowledging that the company has"had a system that perpetuates barriers of access to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC)."

Parts of the job posting for the artistic director position called for someone who collaborated with artists from diverse theatre communities. It also said that they would help the company move toward becoming a place where relationships between diverse populations are built.

Chair of the Theatre Aquarius board of directors, Annette Hamm, said the search involved "dozens" of talented and impressive theatre professionals across the country. She said they're delighted to welcome Moore and hinted at opportunities for local artists.

"We look forward to working with Mary Francis. Her values, talent and leadership will shape Theatre Aquarius' artistic vision, opening the doors to new collaborations with local artists and communities," she said.

The release also stressedthat"Moore believes that inclusion means welcoming all artists and audiences into spaces by dismantling systemic barriers."

"Theatre has always been a place for me to create stories and expand my community," Moore said."As artistic director, I look forward to cultivating relationships, listening to stories, and ensuring that the theatre is a creative hub for the entire community of Hamilton."