Manitoba Theatre for Young People

Artistic Director Pablo Felices-Luna
Founding Artistic Director Leslee Silverman

Manitoba Theatre for Young People has been creating and presenting professional theatre productions for children and families since 1982, when Actors Showcase was reformed under Founding Artistic Director Leslee Silverman. MTYP has grown to become one of the most respected professional theatre companies in Canada, for children or adults.

MTYP’s artistry has been applauded not only as a theatre for young audiences, but also as an innovative and highly creative theatre company: “It’s the best of world theatre for children… a remarkable organization…” (Robert Enright, CBC Radio). Each season, MTYP presents touring companies from around the world, as well as contributing to the repertoire of Canadian theatre through the creation and development of new work.

Pablo Felices-Luna joined Manitoba Theatre for Young People as Artistic Director in 2014.

Located at The Forks in Winnipeg, MTYP’s home is a 28,000 square foot performance facility featuring a fully re-configurable theatre, classroom studios, and production and wardrobe shops.

In addition to its mainstage season and touring activities, MTYP also plays a key role in the development and delivery of theatre-in-education programs that concentrate on using theatre as an educational tool to illustrate and express ideas about social issues. The company also operates a Theatre School where over 1,500 children and teens learn the art and craft of theatre and related disciplines, and Native Youth Theatre, which offers free classes in theatre to Indigenous youth in Winnipeg.

Suzanne MunroeCHAIR

Peter JanzenVICE-CHAIR

Tyler SemanTREASURER

Walt NilssonSECRETARY

Louise PujoPAST CHAIR (ex officio)

Maria ColvinSamantha DubickiLeezann Freed-LobchukRichard FuJordan GrenierSangeetha NairBraiden PergisDr. Jayson Stoffman

STAFF

Pablo Felices-Luna headshot

Artistic Director: Pablo Felices-Luna

Pablo Felices-Luna joined Manitoba Theatre for Young People as Artistic Director in 2014. He was born and raised in Peru, and came to Canada more than 35 years ago to pursue a career in theatre. Throughout his career, Pablo has worked as a director, stage manager, technical director, production manager and translator. He has worked for reputed companies like Roseneath Theatre and Theatre Beyond Words, and toured shows into Young People’s Theatre, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Youtheatre and various Children’s Series in the U.S. Pablo co-founded Castlemoon Theatre, which he led from 2001 to 2006, to create original works for preschool-age children. He was previously Artistic Director of Carousel Players, a Theatre for Young Audiences company operating out of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Email Pablo Felices-Luna
204.947.0394  ext. 222

General Manager: Debra Zoerb

Debra Zoerb joined MTYP as its new General Manager on January 2, 2018. A veteran of over twenty years of arts management in Winnipeg’s arts and cultural community, Ms. Zoerb was previously Executive Director of Folklorama.

Ms. Zoerb brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having acted in her role at Folklorama for the past six years, as well as having worked for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Dance Manitoba and Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts.

“I am delighted and honoured to have the opportunity to work alongside Pablo Felices-Luna and the entire MTYP team,” says Ms. Zoerb. “MTYP is the largest theatre dedicated to young audiences in Western Canada and it’s a very special place. It’s a joyful, thought-provoking gem of a theatre right here in Winnipeg. It has an important role to serve for young people to dream, imagine and grow.”

MTYP is Manitoba’s only children’s Theatre Company, presenting seven professional plays every season for children of all ages, with performances both for schools and for the public. MTYP also tours to over 100 elementary and high schools every year and has an active Theatre School with more than 1,000 young students.

Email Debra Zoerb
204.947.0394  ext. 232

Marketing and Communications Director: Greg Klassen
204.954.1702

Development Director: Heidi Struck
204.954.1708

Development Associate: Rayna Masterton
204.954.1705

Customer Service Manager: Kerri Potter
204.942.8898

School Sales Coordinator: Jessica McGlynn
204.954.1704 

Accountant: Phu Nguyen
204.947.0394 ext. 234

Front of House and Facilities Manager: Susan Bohn
204.947.0394 ext. 238

Public Relations Coordinator: Riva Billows
204.947.0394 ext. 224

Customer Service Representatives: Anika Dowsett, Julie Wong, Austin Boulton, and Hailley Rhoda
204.947.0394 ext. 230

Artistic Associate: Sarah Flynn
204.947.0394 ext. 239

Production Manager: Jacqueline Easton
204.947.0394 ext. 637

Technical Director: Curtis Cushnie
204.947.0394 ext. 241

Head of Wardrobe: Kevin Maguire
204.947.0394 ext. 236

Head of Properties: Janelle Regalbuto
204.947.0394 ext. 237

Head Technician: Eric Bossé
204.947.0394 ext. 242

Head Scenic Carpenter: Christian Hadley
204.947.0394 ext. 241

School Director: Spenser Payne
204.954.1706

Drama Outreach Coordinator: Heather Russell-Smith
204.954.1712

Native Youth Theatre Co-Director: Ian Ross

Native Youth Theatre Co-Director: Nova Courchene
204.947.0394 ext. 246

MTYP 2022-2023 Annual Report
MTYP 2021-2022 Annual Report

2020-2021_Annual Report

MTYP Annual Report 2019-2020

MTYP has received numerous honours, including being the first English theatre to win the Canadian Institute of the Arts for Young Audiences Award in 1992. MTYP’s 1994 production of Comet in Moominland was nominated for the prestigious Chalmers Award and, in 1998, Old Friends received this same honour. In 2003, Founding Artistic Director Leslee Silverman received the first Arts Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council, recognizing the highest level of artistic excellence and distinguished career achievements by a professional Manitoba artist. In 2007, MTYP’s production of Comet in Moominland was invited to open the season at New York’s prestigious New Victory Theatre and, that same year, the production won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Production in the Theatre for Young Audiences category. In 2011, Leslee Silverman was awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement, Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts.

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