Sally Han receives Harold Award (Toronto)

On Monday, May 15, thirteen theatre artists, technicians, producers and writers were feted at this year's Harold Awards. Among the very deserving winners was theatre director/dramaturg/producer Sally Han. Dedicated, energetic and talented, Sally has directed works on the mainstages of Young People's Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, Cahoots Theatre Projects. She is a much sought after dramaturg, and has made a profound impact on new play development in Canada, particularly through YPT, Cahoots and smaller independent companies. Sally is an accomplished radio producer for CBC Radio Drama, and is currently venturing into film and television producing. She has served on countless advisory committtes, boards and advisories, Theatre Ontario, The Fringe of Toronto, Nightwood Theatre, Ontario Arts Education Institute, Canadian Actors Equity Association, and most recently served as an officer for the Canada Council of the Arts.

Sally is currently juggling a number of projects but is also looking for feature film writers who need a really good story editor. Also, anyone needing for a producer for the OFDC Calling Card programme should contact Sally, as should good writers with good ideas for Out Front on CBC Radio. Email her at: <sally_han@hotmail.com>.

As always, Sally is on the look out for shows to direct, new plays that are "crazy, theatrical, mytho-poetic, needing actors who act... Shows that require the imagination and complicity of the audience." That says it all, doesn't it?

Sally is a woman with vision, talent, drive and integrity who should have received this award years ago, and for those of us who were there to celebrate with her it was a very VERY HAPPY night. It was a GREAT party. Awarded annually by the previous year's recepients, The Harold Awards are given in the name and spirit of Harold Kandel, the rather loud and outspoken theatre patron who rarely missed a show, and almost always made his presence in the audience be known.

Other Harold recepients this year were: former Fringe GM Sandra Hodnett, Michael Hollingsworth of VideoCabaret, Christine Moynihan of Equity Showcase Theatre, producer Gregory Nixon, front-of-house manager Natasha Parsons, director/designer Kim Purtell, technician Magda Rakov, technician/magician/genius Roger West, First Nation's actor Rose Stella, administrator Jennifer Watkins, artist Peter Nikolic, and actor Wendy Kreckler -- who, among other selfless acts in the name of art and love, donated a live-saving kidney to actor & best friend Michael Rawley.