History

The seeds for Stephenville Theatre Festival were sewn in the mid-1970′sduring a provincial drama festival in Stephenville. Adjudicator Maxim Mazumdar was very impressed with the caliber of performers who had gathered from across the province. A dedicated group of volunteers lured Maxim to return to Stephenville, which he did, establishing the Provincial Drama Academy in 1978/79. The Academy was a place to learn about theatre, work with established theatre professionals and practice the craft.

From this emerged the Stephenville Theatre Festival in April, 1979, to become the first professional summer theatre festival in Newfoundland and Labrador. Founded on the principle of bringing mainstream professional theatre to Western Newfoundland, STF has become one of Atlantic Canada’s most eclectic producers of theatre. Perhaps Maxim’s cleverest move was enlisting the help of local businesswoman Cheryl Stagg as Executive Producer of the Festival, creating a dynamic partnership destined for success. With only five or six people on payroll that first season, they still managed to produce MacBeth and The Man Who Came To Dinner at the Arts and Culture Centre in Stephenville, drawing a wide range of audiences.

The Stephenville Theatre Festival grew to a further level in 1984 and 1987 when Maxim Mazumdar and his company toured Jesus Christ Superstar and Cyrano de Bergerac to Halifax and St. John’s. The shows were a huge hit ‘on the road’ and this was a wonderful time for STF. It was not to last. STF was dealt a severe blow as it approached its 10th Anniversary season when founder Mazumdar died suddenly in April 1988.
In 1989, the well known Irish born actor Sean Mulcahy was named Artistic Director. Mulcahy tried dropping the repertory approach, which was rejected by STF audiences, and the festival suffered severe financial losses.

From 1990 to 1993, STF alumnus Cliff LeJeune filled the role of Artistic Director. He combined musical theatre such as Patsy Cline and Idyll Gossip, with Newfoundland plays such as Janis Spence’s Catlover. Musical theatre was the mainstay of the season when LeJeune was Artistic Director. The musical Nunsense in 1992 was an unprecedented hit.

Another actor from Mazumdar’s years, Edmund Maclean, was Artistic Director from 1994 to 2000. MacLean produced a smaller, shorter program and began producing more Canadian drama and fewer Broadway style musicals. From 2001 to 2005, Newfoundland actor and writer Jerry Doyle was Artistic Director. Jerry created and directed a wide variety of homegrown productions as well as musicals and fringe theatre events. During his final season Jerry directed CHICAGO, and appeared in Ring of Fire, a tribute to Johnny Cash. STF welcomed Eva Moore as its first Executive Director in March, 2005. With a 30 year career as a theatre professional, Moore had been recognized nationally and internationally for her contributions to the arts.

2011 will see a change with a new Artistic Director, Keith Pike. With a season featuring shows never been produced in Stephenville, the Festival is prepared for a summer committed to the production of the highest quality Theatre.