Wednesday 6 November 2013

Congratulations to Tom Mackan, 2013 Maggie Bassett Award Recipient

We are thrilled to announce that Theatre Ontario’s Maggie Bassett Award for 2013 was presented to Tom Mackan.  The award, for a sustained and significant contribution by an individual to the development of theatre in Ontario, recognizes Tom and “the warm welcome and secure environment he fosters for those involved in the Hamilton-Burlington theatre community.”

Tom Mackan has been active in Hamilton-area community theatre since the 1960s.  He has worked as an actor and director with companies like the Players Guild of Hamilton, Dundas Little Theatre, Theatre Burlington, and has won over 30 awards for acting and directing.  He has also been a booster for area theatre, as a community reviewer for the Hamilton Fringe Festival, a regular writer for Hamilton’s View Magazine, an editor and publisher of a Greater Hamilton Area e-network, and a winner of 2007 City of Hamilton Arts Award for theatre.

"Tom is a wonderful personification of how theatre is a passion for life," said Carol Beauchamp, Theatre Ontario Executive Director.  "It’s a creative art form that you actively contribute to, and grow with, from one’s youth to being an elder statesman of community theatre."

“Winning this means that our area theatre companies matter,” said Tom to the Hamilton Spectator.  “And our umbrella group at Theatre Ontario wants us to know it.  It means we need to feel good about ourselves, to know that we are known and valued as serious participants in the arts community of Hamilton and Burlington.  We can take ourselves seriously.”

The Maggie Bassett Award is sponsored by Alumnae Theatre Company.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Maggie Bassett Award

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