YPT's Nancy Webster Receives Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award & Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award

Young People's Theatre (YPT) has announced that for the first time, the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award and the Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award have been presented to the same individual in a single season: Nancy Webster, Executive Director of Young People's Theatre.

The first award, named in honour of Mallory Gilbert - Tarragon Theatre's General Manager for 34 years and Past President of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) - celebrates and recognizes demonstratedoutstanding administrative or managerial leadership within the Canadian Theatre community. The award, administered by PACT, includes a presentation to a protege chosen by the Award winner, underlining the importance of skills and knowledge transmission in leadership building. The protege selected by Ms. Webster is Katie Pounder, General Manager of Tapestry Opera. The Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award - named for the celebrated owners of Toronto's Theatrebooks, which they co-founded in 1975 - is presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts to recognize the important work of theatre, dance and opera administrators.

A passionate advocate of theatre in Canada, Nancy Webster has a wide range of experience in senior management, including Managing Director, English Theatre, at Canada's National Arts Centre. She served for 13 years on the Executive of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, including as its volunteer President. Nancy's resume includes experience as the Producer of the Toronto Fringe Festival, Managing Director of Factory Theatre, and a grants officer for the Trillium Foundation. She has previously received the Vital People Award from the Toronto Community Foundation, the Victor Polley Award for Arts Administration, and the Harold Award for contributions to the Toronto theatre community. Nancy currently serves as aconsultant to the George Cedric Metcalf Foundation and is a member of the Cultural Strategic Advisory for the provincial Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport.

Nancy was Managing Director at YPT from 2004 to 2009 during which time she oversaw a transformation of the company, establishing financial stability, new audiences, and expanded educational programming. Before leaving YPT to join the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Nancy completed the early stages of designing a new vision for YPT's facility in partnership with YPT's Board of Directors. She has returned to YPT as Executive Director to fulfill that vision.

Nancy was thrilled to learn of the unprecedented news: "I am honoured to be acknowledged within a long line of talented administrators and producers, many of whom have been mentors to me over my career. It is especially meaningful to be recognized with awards bearing the names of Leonard, John, and Mallory - individuals for whom I have massive respect."

This extraordinary achievement caps off YPT's landmark 50th Anniversary Season, a year filled with milestones and memories including receiving the Arts for Youth Award at the 2016 Mayor's Arts Lunch, the creation of The Ada Slaight Education Centre at YPT, and 19 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations, along with box office attendance and revenues beyond anything on record for the past 15 years.

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