Gascon-Thomas Award 2001

Lorraine Pintal and Ann-Marie MacDonald:
Recipients of the 2001 Gascon-Thomas Award

Montreal, October 18, 2001 – The National Theatre School of Canada (NTS) is proud to announce that this year’s Gascon-Thomas Award is distinguished upon two remarkable women of theatre: actor and author Ann-Marie MacDonald, and actor, author, director and artistic director of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, Lorraine Pintal.

The Gascon-Thomas Award recognizes exceptional achievement in theatre. Each year, two artists are singled out who have not only helped to shape the world of theatre, but served as role-models to NTS students as well. The award was created in 1990 by the NTS’s Board of Governors in memory of two of the School’s founders, Jean Gascon and Powys Thomas. One Anglophone and one Francophone are chosen each year to receive the prize.

Lorraine Pintal

Upon graduation from the Conservatoire d'art dramatique in 1972, Lorraine Pintal has concerned herself with all aspects of theatrical creation. Trained as an actor, she has brought life to numerous characters in theatre, film and television. She has made a name for herself on Montreal’s stages with her outstanding achievements in direction of both original and classical work. She has been the General and Artistic Director of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde (TNM) since 1992. In that time, Lorraine Pintal has worked hard to make the TNM what it is today – a leader in the theatrical community – instilling it with a sense of joy and enthusiasm and renovating its building and theatre to its present glorious status.

Ann-Marie MacDonald

Ann-Marie MacDonald is everywhere. Her internationally best-selling and award-winning novel, Fall On Your Knees, has been translated into 14 different languages. Her play, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), has been produced over 100 times internationally and won her , among others, the Governor General’s Award. A graduate of the NTS’s Acting Program (1980), the Toronto-based actor and author has collaborated on a number of creations and continues to act in theatre, television and film (credits include I've Heard the Mermaids Singing, Where the Spirit Lives, and Better than Chocolate). She is currently working on a new novel.