SCOTT A. HURST:  DIRECTOR

 A member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association

Director Head Shot by Bob Buckley of Perspectives, Barrie

I have recently been hired as the Artistic Director for Theatre By The Bay of Barrie. 

I am still available for freelance directing opportunities during certain times of the year.

I represent myself as a director and choreographer so please contact me directly regarding directing opportunities.

My Journey as a Stage Director . . .

In the summer of 1986 Stephen Schipper gave me an opportunity to direct a musical revue (which I'd had a hand in writing) for the second stage of the Huron Country Playhouse.  The show was titled BERNSTEIN ON BROADWAY and it had been created to showcase the many talents of actor/singer Aggie Cekuta-Elliot and the piano skills of Michael Mulrooney.  That production was a huge learning experience and so many of the lessons I learned that summer still factor into the work I do today both as a Director and Choreographer. (Thank you, Stephen!)

The next winter I wrote and directed the first of two musical revues for Best Western Hotels and the learning curve continued.

It was not, however, until 1991 that I would direct again and in this case it was for the Toronto Gilbert & Sullivan Society on the occasion of their 25th Anniversary; the show was RUDDIGORE and it was my first opportunity to stage a large cast musical (operetta).  It was also only my second major exposure to Gilbert & Sullivan.

In the early 1980s I was privileged to see the Stratford Festival productions of THE MIKADO, THE GONDOLIERS and IOLANTHE, and in 1985 I joined the company to play a rather confused pirate in Brian Macdonald's production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

Brian can stage a musical like nobody's business and he taught us all a lot about clarity, focus, creating a picture on the stage, moving large groups of people in an orderly fashion and, above all, how to invest a show with a definite joy, pace and humour.  And the designers he worked with opened my eyes to new worlds of possibility as well, I should add. (Thank you, Brian and Anne Wootten for allowing me through the door!)

Hopefully, some of what I observed in Brian's work translated into my work on RUDDIGORE and despite many growing pains in the rehearsal process I was immensely proud on opening night... it was a lovely production.

So in the eyes of at least a few of my colleagues and friends I was now  as much a director as I was an actor and to this day I continue to pursue both passions passionately and accept work each year in both arenas.  As a director I work professionally, semi-professionally and for community theatre.

Below I have included a list of the shows which I've directed as well as a few production shots to show you some of the shows with which I've been associated.  Of course, these photos truly only show you the actors and the craft of the design team, but I include them nonetheless, and I smile at each and every association... it's been a remarkable journey!

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Member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association

(listed from the most recent production)

THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - A Musical within a Comedy  (Apr. 7 - 24, 2011)

South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

URINETOWN - The Musical  (Nov. 20 - Dec. 7, 2008)

South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

  ARE YOU BEING SERVED? (August 2008)

Sunshine and Company, Orillia Opera House - Director

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

(July/August 2008)

Sunshine and Company, Orillia Opera House - Director

GUYS AND DOLLS May 17 - 20, 2007

The Kempenfelt Community Players, Barrie - Director/Choreographer

ME AND MY GIRL March 2006

The Kempenfelt Community Players, Barrie - Director/Choreographer

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES (2005)

The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown Director/Choreographer

 THE PAISLEY SISTERS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (2004) 

    Waterloo Stage Theatre - Director/Choreographer

INTO THE WOODS (2004)

The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD (2003)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

CABARET (2002)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

THE SOUND OF MURDER (2002)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director

CLOSER THAN EVER (in Concert) (2002)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director

THE MUSIC MAN (2001)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

GODSPELL (2001)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown Director/Choreographer

JITTERS (2001)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown Director

42nd STREET ⁽²⁰⁰⁰⁾

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown Director/Choreographer

LITTLE ME (2000)

    The South Simcoe Theatre, Cookstown - Director/Choreographer

DEATHTRAP (1999)

    Waterloo Stage Theatre - Director

SNOW WHITE - A PANTO (1998)

    The Orillia Sunshine Festival, Orillia  - Director/Choreographer

THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (1998)

    The Orillia Sunshine Festival, Orillia  - Director

RADIO DAZE (1998)

    The Orillia Sunshine Festival, Orillia Director/Choreographer

AULD TYME MUSIC HALL (1998)

    The Orillia Sunshine Festival, Orillia Director/Choreographer

DAMES AT SEA (1994)

    Best Western Highland Inn, Midland Director/Choreographer

FLINT & FEATHER (1992)

    Best Western Highland Inn, Midland Director/Choreographer

RUDDIGORE (1991)

    Toronto Gilbert & Sullivan Society Director/Choreographer

OKLAHOMA (1990)

    Theatre Kent, Chatham Choreographer

WEST END REVUE (1987)

    Best Western Wheels Inn, Chatham Director/Choreographer

BERNSTEIN ON BROADWAY (1986)

    Huron County Playhouse, Grand Bend Director/Choreographer

THE WINKLE PICKERS (1983)

    Muskoka Festival Touring Company Assistant Director