Handsome Alice Theatre Announces Meg Farhall as New Artistic Director
The Board of Directors of Handsome Alice Theatre wishes to announce the departure of Kate Newby as Artistic Producer. Kate has been absolutely vital to the launch and growth of Handsome Alice, and we are extremely grateful for her energy, dedication and hard, hard work. Although we will miss Kate’s artistic vision, we are excited to support her in her new role with the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Stepping into the Artistic Director role will be Meg Farhall, who has been involved with Handsome Alice since 2013, first as a board member and artist, and most recently as Artistic Associate.
Kate has shaped the Company’s most exciting productions including, Good Night Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), The Tall Building, The Good Bride, inVISIBLE, Certified and A Chitenge Story. Under Kate’s leadership, Handsome Alice Theatre’s artists have garnered two Betty Mitchell Awards, ten Betty Mitchell Award nominations, three Critics Choice Award nominations and a FFWD Weekly Readers’ Choice Award nomination.
“We have been very fortunate to have Kate lead Handsome Alice’s rebranding from Urban Curvz and guide the Company over the past few years. She’s been an integral part of driving the conversation in Calgary around equality and finding space for all voices onstage and off. The board looks forward to seeing Meg continue to execute this vision and push the creative narrative. We have the utmost confidence that she will be successful,” stated Laura Parken, Handsome Alice Board Chair.
Meg Farhall commented, “After working with Handsome Alice as an artist, administrator and volunteer, I am delighted to step into the role of Artistic Director and looking forward to continuing the growth of Handsome Alice.”
Meg has long been a part of the Calgary community, as an actor and theatre-maker. She served as Artistic Associate with Handsome Alice Theatre, producing shows such as Certified and A Chitenge Story in 2018. Meg was formerly the artistic director of Alberta High School of Fine Arts (2008-2009) and is a founder and ensemble member of The Late, Late Breakfast Show; a company committed to developing provocative and inclusive sketch comedy (2006-present). Select credits include: inVISIBLE (Handsome Alice Theatre), A Streetcar Named Desire (Spirit Fire Theatre), The Club (Theatre Yes/High Performance Rodeo), Polar Express (Aspen Crossing), Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Love’s Labour’s Lost, 15-Minute Hamlet, Comedy of Errors (The Shakespeare Company). Select film & TV credits include: Tin Star (Kudos Film & Television), Circle of Steel (Kino Sum Productions) Falling Through the Cracks, Heartland, Wynona Earp and Young Drunk Punk (Seven24 Films).
Handsome Alice is proud to have both the inVISIBLE Ensemble and Makambe K. Simamba recognized as nominees in the upcoming Betty Mitchell awards.