New award honours Elinore Siminovitch

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Autumn, 2001

Earlier this year pioneering Canadian geneticist Lou Siminovitch announced the creation of an award for Canadian theatre artists. With a value of $100 thousand, assured through an endowment fund of more than $1 million, the Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize may be the largest of its kind in this country.

It honours Lou Siminovitch's wife Elinore, who died in 1995, leaving behind a large body of plays. The jury is headed by Urjo Kareda, artistic director of Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, and includes Linda Gaboriau of Montreal; Christopher Newton, former artistic director of the Shaw Festival; Vancouver's Kathryn Shaw, and Mary Vingoe of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. On Monday, October 29 a Canadian theatre director in mid-career is to be chosen by jury to receive $75 thousand. An additional $25 thousand will be directed to the portege of the recipient's choice. In 2002 and 2003 the award will be presented to a playwright and a designer respectively, with the three-year cycle repeating in perpetuity: a generous and lov ing tribute to one woman's love for Canadian theatre. For more information, contact www.siminovitchprize.com.