Toronto theatre heavyweights boycott the Factory Theatre following Ken Gass’s dismissal

Atom Egoyan, Judith Thompson, Seana McKenna and George F. Walker are only some of the prominent members of the Toronto theatre community who have banded together to boycott the Factory Theatre—both as performing artists and patrons—after the abrupt firing of long-time artistic director Ken Gass last month. According to a petition to reinstate Gass (which has amassed an impressive 3,600-plus signatures and plenty of impassioned comments), the 25-year theatre vet was let go over a dispute with the board regarding how public funds would be used to develop the theatre. (The board cited the Factory’s need to move in a different direction as the reasoning behind his dismissal, while Gass’s own version of the story can be read on the boycott site). This could get interesting.

The full boycott letter:

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TO THE FACTORY THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS We, the undersigned, believe that the Factory Theatre Board of Directors showed astoundingly poor judgement [sic] in its firing of Artistic Director Ken Gass. We urge the board to reinstate Mr. Gass immediately, and to enter into meaningful negotiation to resolve the crisis that led to his firing. It’s our intention to boycott Factory Theatre, as artists and as patrons, until Mr. Gass is reinstated as artistic director. Sincerely, Maja Ardal Tom Barnett Nancy Beatty Morwyn Brebner Lora Senechal Carney Leah Cherniak Layne Coleman Sean Dixon Richard Donat Atom Egoyan David Ferry Barry Flatman Florence Gibson Dean Gilmour Janet-Laine Green Kyra Harper Deb Hay Michael Healey Martha Henry Fiona Highet Janelle Huchison Maggie Huculak Stuart Hughes Brooke Johnson C. David Johnson Arsinee Khanjian Janet Land Michelle Latimer Diana LeBlanc Paul Ledoux Patricia Ludwick Kate Lynch Ross Manson Matthew McFadzean Seana McKenna John Mighton Andrew Moodie Tony Nappo Lisa Norton Rebecca Picherak Gordon Pinsent Rena Polley Irene Poole Miles Potter Michael Redhill Fiona Reid Maria Ricossa Erika Ritter Lloyd & Nancy Robertson Rick Roberts John Roby Dani Romain Booth Savage Tyrone Savage Pamela Sinha Michelle Smith Tim Southam Judith Thompson Kristen Thomson RH Thomson Maria Vacratsis Patricia Vanstone George F. Walker Trudy Weiss Ron White

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UPDATE: Things are heating up in the ongoing Ken Gass vs. Board of Factory Theatre debacle: in an interview with the National Post, Gass revealed that he plans to take legal action against the theatre’s board of directors over the sketchy circumstances surrounding his termination. As Gass told the Post, “There are issues of accountability. The irregularities in the termination process are huge”—and it seems the now 4,000+ signatures dotting the petition for his reinstatement as artistic director would agree. [National Post]