Robert Blacker

On Friday, August 30, the theatre community lost dramaturg Robert Blacker, who passed away suddenly at the age of 71. Longtime collaborator Des McAnuff, who worked with Blacker at La Jolla Playhouse and Stratford Shakespeare Festival, writes a tribute to his friend below:

Eight distinguished Canadian theatre artists have arrived in Stratford for the Festival's 12th annual Playwrights Retreat. Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and Bob White, the Director of the Foerster Bernstein New Play Development Program, are delighted to welcome: Katherine Cullen, Sina Gilani, Falen Johnson, Sarena Parmar, Christine Quintana, Phoebe Tsang, Norman Yeung and Marcus Youssef.

Eight acclaimed playwrights have been chosen by the Lucille Lortel Foundation as the recipients of eight $50,000 fellowships

Ralph Bryan, President of the Board of Trustees of La Jolla Playhouse today announced that Artistic Director Des McAnuff will not be renewing his contract, scheduled to expire in 2007.