Lighthouse Festival has a new artistic director.
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Jane Spence brings 30 years of professional theater experience as a director and performer to the role, succeeding Derek Ritschel who has moved into a new position as director in residence.
“I was smitten as soon as I saw it,” Spence said of Lighthouse Festival where she first had parts in two productions in 2011. “(It was) my first time in Port Dover and working for the theater, and I just fell in love with the whole team.”
Having grown up in Calgary, she spent time in Vancouver before coming to the Stratford Festival Conservatory.
“I just stayed in Ontario because the theater scene is so vibrant here compared to anywhere else I had been in Canada.”
Spence shared how her mother used to read to her and would do voices for every single character and bring the stories to life. In university she began thinking about theater seriously and developed a passion for the arts.
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In her new role she will oversee artistic decisions for the company, the programming, play development, and the artistic staff comprised of designers, actors, and technicians that bring the art to life.
“I will read script submissions that come in, and go out to see as many shows as possible to see what might be suited for Lighthouse,” noted the artistic director. “Then I put together a list of my best choices for next year. We take it to the board for approval. Then we go seek rights for the shows and start putting the season promotion together, cast and staff it with the artists, and get sets built before the seasons begin.”
Each year Lighthouse Festival presents five main plays, a season topper, holiday panto, and a community show. Throughout the winter season the theater is often rented for music concerts.
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“I think our tagline is the home of the Canadian sense of humor,” Spence observed. “We have a focus on comedy and Canadian work, but we do leave ourselves a little bit of room to occasionally do a play from somewhere else. We like to consider our programming essentially comedy with heart.”
She directed two plays last year and will do so again this upcoming season, as will Ritschel along with the community show.
“I think Lighthouse Festival has been really successful in delivering the programming it has, so I’d like to continue giving the audience what they have come to love and expect,” Spence explained. “Also, I’d like to develop our play development program a little further.”
In February a writer-intensive play festival is planned that will provide one week of workshops for three plays – including the 2025 premier play – that will focus on rewrites and a public reading to take plays at the next stage of their development.
“I’m super grateful and excited to be in this position. The staff here is amazing,” Spence said. “I’m really excited to start on this next season. We’ve got some really fun shows coming up and great artists coming into town to be a part of it.”
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