New Faces at Presentation House Theatre

There are some new faces at Presentation House Theatre in North Vancouver. Last fall, Kim Selody left his position as a Theatre Officer with the Canada Council to become Artistic Director of Presentation House Theatre. He has now made some dramatic changes to his staff.

Joining Kim are Denise Lysak as Managing Director and John McHenry as Director of Marketing & Communications. Both Ms. Lysak and Mr. McHenry bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their respective roles:

Denise Lysak (Managing Director) has worked at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation, the Manitoba Children’s Museum, and the Winnipeg Arts Council. In 2006, Ms. Lysak returned to Manitoba Theatre for Young People as the General Manager with a commitment to preserving and protecting the special nature of theatre for young audiences and the unique role MTYP plays in the cultural life of Winnipeg. In her tenure at MTYP, she was especially proud of the new plays she had a hand in developing including House at Pooh Corner by Kim Selody, Russell's World by Herbie Barnes, and most recently Rick: The Rick Hansen Story by Dennis Foon. “I’m thrilled to join Presentation House Theatre and welcome the opportunity to work with the dedicated staff and Board as it ushers in a new era in the City of North Vancouver,” she says.

John McHenry (Director of Marketing & Communications) joins the staff at Presentation House Theatre after three years as marketing and communications with the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company. He has also held similar positions at Theatre Aquarius, Huron Country Playhouse, and Sudbury Theatre Centre. John has a wide and varied theatrical career that includes being an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, and stage manager. “I’m so looking forward to working with Kim, Denise and everyone at Presentation House Theatre. It’s an exciting time for all of us,” he says.

Kim Selody (Artistic Director) has worked as a writer, director and actor in Canadian theatre for 35 years. He has directed over 100 productions, many being world premiers for adult and young audiences. He has written several plays including Silverwing, The Hobbit, Fool’s Angel, Synthetic Energy, Ingenious Speculations, Suddenly Shakespeare, The Last Drop and most recently, L’en vol du L’ange and The Cat Came Back. For the past five years Kim was a Theatre Officer with the Canada Council. From 1999 to 2006, Kim was Artistic Director of Carousel Players in Southern Ontario and from 1991 to 1996 he was the Artistic Director of the Playwrights Theatre Centre in Vancouver. He has studied clown with Philippe Gaulier, movement with Monika Pagneau, and theatre with Ugenio Barba. For seven years he wrote and performed with Vancouver’s Axis Theatre. “Theatre is a collaborative art-form; I now have my senior management dream team,” he says. 

The 2012/2013 Presentation House Theatre season kicks off October 4 when Warren Kimmel chronicles his remarkable career in the eclectic, funny, and bitter-sweet musical cabaret, Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You (OCT 5 & 6). The season also includes My Mother’s Story (OCT 17-28, 2012) – true, local stories about the relationships we hold with the most important woman in our lives, compiled by Marilyn Norry and Jenn Griffin, directed by Heidi Specht; Where the Wild Things Are (NOV 14-25, 2012) – Maurice Sendak’s beloved story comes to life in Kim Selody’s Dora nominated production; One Man in His Time (NOV 23-25, 2012) – Antony Holland recalls his time in North Africa during WWII; The Secret Mask (JAN 31-FEB 10, 2013) – a story of fathers and sons and how a funny reconciliation happened on the way to getting even, by Rick Chafe, starring Jay Brazeau.  

Presentation House Theatre believes that professional theatre is for everyone. Every show we present or produce will be of the highest professional standard while also appealing to the diversity of the North Shore. We are proud to offer programming for children and youth, adults young and old, the music aficionado and innovative and emerging dancers. We are the cultural hub in your own backyard.  

For more information: 

John McHenry
Director of Marketing & Communications
604.990.3473
marketing@phtheatre.com
www.phtheatre.com