New International Ambassador

From Richard Ouzounian at the Toronto Star:

"The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is appointing Elizabeth Bradley as its senior artistic associate.

"Bradley, who was born in Toronto, has served in the past as the director of communications at Stratford, as CEO of the then-Hummingbird Centre and as head of the School of Drama at Carnegie Mellon University. She is currently in her first year as the head of drama at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

"Stratford describes her newly created position as one that will 'focus on international creative development, assist the festival in establishing relationships that will enable it to export productions, provide details of opportunities for collaborations and suggest new markets of interest.'

"Bradley, who is accepting the position for the first year as an unpaid volunteer, told the Toronto Star from her New York office that, 'This relationship re-establishes a professional dialogue with an organization that influenced my career profoundly. I look on this as the best possible way to make a positive offering of my skills and knowledge to the distinctive Canadian artistic excellence that the Stratford Shakespeare Festival represents.'

"Festival artistic director Des McAnuff said in a phone interview, 'I've always been impressed by Liz and her remarkable mind. I think she's one of the most articulate people I've ever met in any field. I think she'll do good diplomatic work for us out there in the field.'

"McAnuff and Bradley first worked together in 1974 when she was a high school intern working on his play Silent Edward at what was then known as Young People's Theatre. They have stayed in close contact over the years, with McAnuff serving on committees for her during her years at Carnegie Mellon.

"'I trust her and we have similar tastes,' McAnuff said.

"'We literally grew up together in the halls of the alternative Toronto theatre scene. I thinks she cares really deeply about Stratford. That, above all else, makes her a good candidate.'"

Read the official press release.