Performing Arts Lodges of Toronto

	nurturing the life and spirit of our performing arts community...

PAL Toronto's Board Members:

Marguerite Andersen:

Dale Barnes:

Ken Gass: Ken is the current President of the Board. Ken brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the theatre scene. He is the artistic and founding director of Factory Theatre, a company he began with a commitment to do only Canadian plays, ran for 10 years, then returned to rescue it from collapse. Since the purchase of the Factory's heritage property, the company's long-term future is secure. Ken is also a playwright, director, and teacher at the U.C. Drama Program at U of T.

Kevin Hammond: Kevin is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Humber River Shakespeare, having directed Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing. Kevin spent five years as Artistic Director for Toronto's Shakespeare in the Rough (2001-2005) and continues his work with the Bard as a co-founder of the Toronto Shakespeare Workout. Kevin also coaches and teaches Shakespeare too many young actors. In addition, Kevin also works at The Actors' Fund of Canada, an organization dedicated to helping entertainment industry professionals in times of emergency. Kevin has also worked as the coordinator for The Dora Mavor Moore Awards and The Toronto Arts Awards. Producing credits include Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare in the Rough), Hosanna (Shockalot Productions), The Two Gentlemen of Verona, David Warrack's Treasure Island (StarkNakedMad). Kevin has also worked as Office Manager for the Performing Arts Lodges of Canada, as an Arts Publicist in New York, a production assistant at Harbourfront, and assistant company manager in the early years of Soulpepper Theatre.

Dan Lyon: Dan has worked over the years as an actor, playwright, theatre producer, entertainment lawyer, film distributor, movie producer and (currently) Feature Film Executive for the Ontario office of Telefilm Canada. In this job, he has developed and financed great Canadian films such as the Oscar-nominated "Away From Her", "One Week", "YPF", "Splice", and "The Bang Bang Club". During his years as producer and owner of Dandelion Entertainment Ventures Inc., his fim "Twist" was nominated for four 2004 Genie awards and won one. Dan also won a Peabody award for the 2003 TV movie "The Interrogation of Michael Crowe". His other features include "Everything's Gone Green", written by acclaimed Canadian writer Douglas Coupland. As a distributer, Dan was awarded the Golden Reel for "The Art of War", and was the first independent buyer in the world (at the screenplay stage) of Roman Polanski's "The Pianist", which went on to win the Palme d'Or and three Academy Awards. Dan was a founding member of the Producers' Roundtable of Ontario (PRO) and remains a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Gene Mack:

Bernard Martin: After graduating from Wilfred Laurier University and articling with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Bernard obtained his CA designation. He spent some time in practise in Bermuda and since then has specialized in Toronto in servicing small and medium businesses. He was born in France and emigrated to Canada when he was eight. Bernard is Treasurer of PAL Toronto.

Vivienne Muhling: As a teenage actress, Vivienne was elected V.P. of Northern British Equity. When she first came to Canada she worked as a stage manager for Dora Mavor Moore, subsequently ran two theatre businesses, Vivienne Stenson Concerts and Vivienne Stenson Publicity, both of which she continued in New York from 1962 to 72. She return to Toronto as AGO's Communications Director, then on to Factory Theatre, Toronto Free and Passe Muraille. She won a DORA as producer of Indigo, served on the Boards of the Performing Arts Publicists' Association and of Performing Arts Lodges, where she became a resident in 1999 and has served since at every PAL Board level. Vivienne is Chair of the SCRABBLEÂ Â® with the Stars fundraising committee.

Patty Gail Peaker: A singer and actor, Patty Gail helped spearhead the concept of Performing Arts Lodges of Canada and was the first vice-president on its founding Board of Directors. She has served on subsequent PAL Boards and was co-founder of Supporting Cast, where she currently serves as Chair and coordinates its activities and volunteers at PAL Place and beyond.

Paul Shaw:

Gary Shortliffe: Gary made his film debut (and ended his professional career at age 10) in a resoundingly unsuccessful CBC melodrama. After university, Gary moved to Toronto, attended law school and for the past twenty-four years he has practiced the lesser performing art of trial litigation. He remains keenly interested in the real performing arts, and brings his skills to the Board and to its Residential Accommodation Committee on which he serves.

Marlene Smith:

Bob Underwood:

Past Presidents:

2005 - 2007 Nigel Napier-Andrews

2003 - 2005 Celia Hamilton

2001 - 2003 Dan MacDonald

1998 - 2001 Roy Wordsworth

1996 - 1998 Theresa Kowall Shipp

1993 - 1996 Elsa Franklin

1987 - 1993 Roy Wordsworth

If you are interested in serving on PAL Toronto's Board in the future, please email with a letter of introduction and a brief biography.