Nina Lee Aquino Named New Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Projects

Press Release from Cahoots Theatre Projects:

The Board of Directors of Cahoots Theatre Projects is pleased to announce that Nina Lee Aquino has been appointed as Artistic Director effective September 8, 2009. Board President Colette Johnson-Vosberg says, "We are ecstatic to have Nina take over the reins. She is someone who can build on Cahoots’ successes, and has the vision to take us to new and exciting places."

Nina Lee Aquino has worked with Cahoots over the years in a variety of active roles, including playwright-in-residence. She is an accomplished director, dramaturge, and playwright, a founding member and Artistic Director of fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company, former Associate Artistic Director of Factory Theatre, as well as the Artistic Producer of the CrossCurrents Festival. Nina’s zeal for new play creation, dramaturgy and inspiring emerging artists has kept her on the cutting edge of Canadian theatre. She is the editor of Canada’s first Asian-Canadian drama anthology (Playwrights Canada Press, 2009). She is the recipient of the Ken McDougall Award for directing (2004), the Canada Council John Hirsch Prize (2008), and has received Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations for Outstanding Direction (Singkil, fu-GEN Theatre Company 2007; People Power, Carlos Bulosan Theatre 2008). Nina co-wrote Miss Orient(ed) and her monologues have been published in Beyond the Pale (Yvette Nolan, ed.) and She Speaks (Judith Thompson, ed.).

She brings both a seasoned understanding of the role of artistic director and a wealth of connections across the Canadian theatre community to her new position at Cahoots. Her passion for developing new work and her dedication to the spirit of interculturalism in theatre ensure the company, under her leadership, will maintain its level of excellence while breaking new ground and blazing new trails through the Canadian theatrical landscape. Nina will remain at fu-GEN as the Outgoing Artistic Director for the 2009-2010 Season, to ensure a smooth and effective transition in leadership.

Under the strong leadership of current Artistic Director Jovanni Sy (appointed in 2004), Cahoots has produced or co-produced six world premieres including three national tours, received four Dora Mavor Moore Awards (with ten total nominations) and a Governor General’s Literary Award nomination for our productions and artists. We have participated in international theatre conferences or workshops in Edinburgh, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles. Jovanni will continue to pursue new artistic challenges, beginning with the world premiere of A Taste of Empire as part of Cahoots’ 2009-2010 Season.

The Board and staff of Cahoots extend a warm welcome to Nina, and wish Jovanni tremendous success in all of his future endeavors.