The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres to Present Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award to Chuck Childs

The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres will present the fifth annual Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award to Chuck Childs.

Chuck Childs is a production manager and arts administrator who has worked in the Canadian Theatre community for over thirty years. A graduate of the inaugural Ryerson College Theatre program, Chuck then returned to his hometown of Montréal, where he was Production Manager at the Centaur Theatre Company for thirteen seasons before becoming General Manager. A stalwart supporter of both the Canadian theatre community and of PACT, Chuck has chaired PACT committees and negotiating teams and had been called upon to serve as interim treasurer numerous times. In 2005 Chuck helped establish the English Language Arts Network an organization supporting and promoting English-language Artists in Quebec in all disciplines, and is currently serving his second term as President. Chuck has also shared his invaluable knowledge and experience teaching production management at The National Theatre School and lecturing at McGill University and Concordia University, and is frequently consulted by emerging General Managers across the country.

In making the Award, the selection panel cited Chuck’s outstanding contribution to Canadian theatre, particularly his long-term commitment both to English-speaking theatre in Québec as well as to the Canadian theatre community as a whole. Chuck is well known for his passion and optimism, and for the ways in which he moves the theatre community forward. He is a mentor and confidante to theatre professionals across the country, and his longevity in the theatre industry is something his peers and colleagues admire.

Chuck was surprised and flattered to receive this recognition: “To receive an award which was created by this organization to recognize Mallory, whom I have known and hugely respected for over 30 years, is truly an honour. There is nothing so rewarding as receiving recognition from your peers.”

The $5000 award includes a $1000 portion presented to a protégé chosen by the Award winner, underlining the importance of skills and knowledge transmission in leadership building. The deserving protégé selected by Chuck is Adèle Benoit, a theatre administrator based in Montréal. A graduate of the MBA program at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University, Adele has worked at Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) in Montréal since 2005. Shortly after starting work at BTW the board of directors invited Adèle to become the General Manager, and has since worked alongside two Artistic Directors: Tyrone Benskin and Quincy Armorer.

Chuck is delighted to select a protégé: “After receiving Mallory’s call the first person I thought of for my protégé was Adèle. She is one of those next generation MBA GM’s, the kind that makes us old guys suspicious or maybe even nervous. But Adèle has impressed me time and time again at meetings and in discussions by her thoughtful comments and “let’s try” attitude. Theatre is in good hands.”

The award, named in honour of Mallory Gilbert - Tarragon Theatre’s General Manager for 34 years and former President of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) - celebrates and recognizes significant and valuable leadership within the Canadian Theatre community.

In an exceptional collaboration based on their deep appreciation for Mallory’s contribution to both organizations and their shared commitment to leadership in the theatre community, Tarragon Theatre and PACT Communications Centre initiated the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award in 2007.

The award ceremony took place on May 10 in Grand Bend, ON during the PACT annual conference, a highly regarded event that brings together theatre professionals from across the country.