Bob BakerArtistic DirectorBob Baker graduated from the University of Alberta, Department of Drama, in 1974 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting) Honors degree. In 1972 he co-founded and was co-director of Edmonton’s Alberta Barter Theatre. From 1974 to 1979 he was in the Acting Company of The Stratford Festival in Ontario. In 1979 he became a faculty member of Vancouver Community College and taught Professional Acting Classes in Vancouver and Edmonton. In 1982, he was appointed Artistic Director of Edmonton’s cutting-edge Phoenix Theatre where he directed such plays as Cloud Nine; Key Exchange; Torch Song Trilogy; Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You and The Actor’s Nightmare; The Zen of an Intelligent Machine; As Is; B-Movie, The Play; The Curse of the Werewolf and North Shore Live, which he co-wrote, along with Tom Wood and Nicola Cavendish. The years 1987-1989 saw Mr. Baker directing around the world in places such as The Shaw Festival, Alberta Theatre Projects, The Vancouver Playhouse, The Canadian Stage Company, and Harbourfront Theatre in Toronto, The Edinburgh International Theatre Festival, The National Arts Centre, The Cleveland Playhouse, The Wilbur Theatre in Boston, and The Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. In 1989 he became a member of the faculty at Ryerson Theatre School in Toronto. In 1990 he was appointed Artistic Director of The Canadian Stage Company in Toronto where he directed such plays as Breaking the Code; The Dreamland; Henry VI; Richard III; La Bête; Once On This Island; Into the Woods; The Glorious 12th; Angels in America Parts I and II and Claptrap. This 2010-2011 Season marks Mr. Baker’s 12th year as Artistic Director at the Citadel Theatre. Past directing credits include Into the Woods; Popcorn; Picasso at the Lapin Agile; Little Shop of Horrors; the World Premiere of A Christmas Carol (9 years); Cabaret; “Art”; Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You and The Actor’s Nightmare; the World of Premiere of Servant of Two Masters; Who Has Seen the Wind; Present Laughter; The Shape of Things; Grease; Measure for Measure; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; West Side Story; the World Premiere of Vanya; Blithe Spirit; the World Premiere of Peter Pan; The Pillowman; The Constant Wife; Oliver!; Noises Off; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Pride and Prejudice; The Wizard of Oz; Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Mr. Baker has received four Dora Award (Toronto) nominations for Outstanding Direction (Breaking the Code; Into the Woods; Angels in America Part I and Angels in America Part II) and received the award for directing B-Movie, The Play. Locally, Mr. Baker has three Sterling Awards (Edmonton) for Best Director (Popcorn, Cabaret and The Pillowman) and three nominations for Best Director for “Art”; Measure for Measure and West Side Story. |
Penny RitcoExecutive DirectorPenny Ritco’s life in the theatre began as a high school student in a fine arts program at Central Collegiate in Regina. Her art teacher, Mac Hone, suggested she apply to the National Theatre School (NTS) of Canada in Montreal — the best advice she ever took. Penny graduated from NTS’s Production Section then worked for over 15 years as a stage manager, production manager, tour coordinator and producer of theatre, dance and music productions as well as festivals and industrials. The work ranged from new Canadian plays to the Moscow Circus taking Penny to a variety of theatres, concert halls and arenas across Canada and the US. She later returned to NTS as the Director of its English Production Section. In the mid-eighties, Penny crossed over to film, joining the National Film Board in Montreal. And with her mentor, Wolf Koenig (of the renowned NFB Unit B team) produced several award-winning documentary and drama programs. In 1995, she moved to Edmonton to join Great North Productions which later became an Alliance Atlantis Company. As the Vice President of Production, she was responsible for dozens of hours of documentary television programs each year with coproduction partners world-wide for broadcaster in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia. Many of these programs garnered awards and recognition both at home and abroad. Penny joined the Citadel in 2003, reconnecting with Bob Baker with whom she had worked at the Stratford Festival many years earlier. As the Citadel’s joint CEOs, they share an artistic, organizational, and business vision and have a highly successful working relationship. Penny’s long and varied experience in the arts makes her a strong leader, able to appreciate and direct the many activities of a major arts organization and a large facility. She received the Maclab Enterprises Award for Excellence in Arts Administration at the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts in 2006. Penny is a passionate participant in and supporter of the arts in all their forms and is active in arts advocacy efforts at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. She believes that the arts are integral to daily life and to a healthy society and strives to increase public and political awareness about the importance of the arts. The arts are a part of Penny’s family life as well. She is married to actor/director, Brian Dooley, and they have two highly artistically engaged daughters, Bevin and Quinn. |