November 14, 2006 -

Ottawa -- On Wednesday, November 15 at 20:00 in the Studio at the National Arts Centre, Canada’s favorite Mountie, actor, producer Paul Gross, will sit down with celebrated arts journalist and television personality Laurie Brown to begin the first in a series of chats to explore the role of the Artist in Canadian Society, as part of the National Arts Centre English Theatre 2006-2007 season.  Chats are approximately 60 minutes, followed by a 30 minute question and answer session with the audience.  Tickets for this event are $20 and are available at the NAC Box Office or through Ticketmaster at (613) 755 1111, or online via the Ticketmaster link at www.nac-cna.ca (a surcharge applies to all tickets purchased through Ticketmaster.)  Subscriptions to the entire Celebrity Speakers Series are only $45 and are available at www.nac-cna.ca/subscribe or by calling (613) 947 7000 ext. 620.

The Celebrity Speakers Series was conceived when NAC English Theatre Artistic Director Peter Hinton was reunited with Laurie Brown when she interviewed him as part of the 2005 CAPACOA Conference in Ottawa. (The two had previously met when Laurie Brown was performing in theatre productions with the Graduate Centre for the study of Drama in Hart House at the University of Toronto.) The subject of the CAPACOA interview was The Artist in Society (coincidentally, also the theme for Peter Hinton’s first season at the NAC.) Peter Hinton recalls,

“During the interview I was reminded how articulate, informed and genuinely passionate Laurie is about this topic. As our planning for the season progressed, Laurie expressed an interest in continuing the dialogue we had begun. We thought it would be great to set up a series of intimate and personal interviews with Canadians who not only have a lot to say about the Artist in Society, but who would also add to the discussion of the season from yet another point of view.” 

Both Peter Hinton and Laurie Brown are delighted that their illustrious guests in this season’s Celebrity Speakers Series are Paul Gross, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Michael Ondaatje.

Paul Gross.  Known foremost as an actor, Canadian Paul Gross is also a writer, producer and director. His portrayal of Constable Benton Fraser on Due South, a drama series he co-wrote and executive produced,won international acclaim. His directorial debut, Men with Brooms, broke Canadian box office records. Paul was the recipient of a Golden Nymph Award for Best Lead Actor at the Monte Carlo Television Festival for his role in H2O, a Whizbang mini-series that he also co-wrote and executive produced. For his portrayal of Geoffrey Tenant in the critically acclaimed series Slings & Arrows Paul recently picked up his fourth Gemini Award. His portrayal of Romeo garnered him a Dora Award, and a career highlight was playing Hamlet to record-breaking audiences at the Stratford Festival in 2000.  Paul served as Playwright-in-residence at Stratford and the National Arts Centre, and has won numerous playwriting and screenwriting awards. Currently Paul Gross is producing the sequel to H2O, Trojan Horse which he also co-wrote and will star in.  He is also preparing to direct Passchendaele, a feature film script which he penned to pay tribute to the sacrifice made by Canadian Soldiers in the World War I.

Laurie Brown is a passionate advocate for the arts and artists in Canada.  She has built a reputation as an accomplished interviewer and seasoned broadcaster by bringing out the best in Canadian artists.  After leaving the CBC, she created, wrote, co-directed and hosted the 90-minute live homage to Peter Gabriel for Harbourfront’s Creative World Leaders Festival. 

At CBC, Laurie delivered critical reviews, interviews, documentaries and essays with attitude for four seasons on CBC Newsworld’s lively arts and entertainment series ON THE ARTS WITH LAURIE BROWN.  Also as Senior Arts Correspondent for CBC News, Laurie has covered music, theatre, arts, dance, film and books for CBC since 1990 when she joined THE JOURNAL.  Previously, she was co-host and associate producer of CityTV’s THE NEW MUSIC. In 1987 she combined those duties while Vjing for MUCHMUSIC.

Author of SUCCESS WITHOUT COLLEGE – Days and Nights in Rock ‘n Roll Television, published by Penguin Books, Laurie is now directing TV projects, hosting a biography series for Rogers Television and is finishing her second book, a novel.

Coming up in the Celebrity Speakers Series, Laurie Brown chats with celebrated Canadian author, playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald on Monday January 29 at 20:00 in the Studio.  And on Monday May 14 at 20:00 in the Studio (from the set of 7 Important Things) Michael Ondaatje, internationally acclaimed novelist and screenwriter, joins Laurie Brown on the podium.

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For more information, please contact:
Laura Denker, Communications Officer
NAC English Theatre
(613) 947 7000 ext. 389
ldenker@nac-cna.ca