Bob Baker (director)

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Bob Baker (director)

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Bob Baker

(1952-05-11) May 11, 1952 (age 71)

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Nationality| Canadian
Other names| Robert Kenneth Baker
Education| Fine arts degree in theatre
Alma mater| University of Alberta
Occupation| Theatre Director (Retired)
Years active| 1974 - 2018
Known for| Artistic Director Citadel Theatre
Spouse(s)| Tom Wood

Bob Baker (born at Edmonton, Alberta 11 May 1952). Is a retired theatre director known most notably as the artistic director of the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta from 1998 - 2016.[1].

## Contents

* 1 Childhood and education
* 2 Career
* 2.1 Canadian stage company
* 2.2 Citadel theatre
* 3 Awards and honors
* 3.1 Honors
* 3.2 Awards
* 4 Personal life
* 5 In the media
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Childhood and education[edit]

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Bob Baker completed his bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre at University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta in 1974.

## Career[edit]

During his undergraduate studies Baker co-founded Alberta Barter Theatre in 1972. After graduating he spent time working at the Stratford Festival in Stratford from 1974 to 1979[2]. Baker returned to Edmonton in 1982 as the artistic director of Phoenix Theatre.

### Canadian stage company[edit]

In 1990 Baker became the artistic director of Canadian Stage.[3] While there Baker directed Into the Woods[3] by Stephen Sondheim. In 1997 he directed the entire seven-hour Tony Kushner epic Angels in America.[4] [3]

### Citadel theatre[edit]

In 1998 Baker moved back to Edmonton to become the 12th artistic director of the Citadel Theatre[5]. He would serve as the artistic director from 1999 until 2016. One of Baker's most lasting impacts was the direction of a new adaptation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic A Christmas Carol written by Baker's partner Tom Wood.[6] [7] This production was one of the the Citadel Theatre's most ambitious. [5] Playwright Tom Wood would also play the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. The production involved a large cast that included over a dozen youth performers. Baker & Woods adaptation would become an Edmonton holiday tradition, lasting 19 years.[8] During his tenure at the Citadel Theatre subscriptions and sales improved and the company developed several unique programs supporting artists, these included the Foote Theatre School[9] and the Robbins Academy. [10] Baker also over saw the development and success of the The Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program which offered professional actors and directors a month long residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity[11]. Participants spent a month in classes and workshops, and then formed the company of a production in the Citadel Theatre's mainstage season in Edmonton. The program was discontinued following Baker's retirement.

Bakers time at the Citadel ended in 2016 when he stepped away from his role as artistic director. He was succeeded by Daryl Cloran[12] Baker would remain with the Citadel in the role of artistic director ameritas until 2018. In June 2019, Baker was expelled from the Canadian Actors' Equity Association, in response to complaints from actors in Edmonton.[13]

## Awards and honors[edit]

### Honors[edit]

Bob Baker is a member of Edmonton's Cultural Hall of Fame, a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for exceptional service, excellence and community involvement; the University of Alberta’s Distinguished Alumni Award[14]; and a PACE award from Alberta Association of Colleges and Technical Institutes.[15]

### Awards[edit]

* Dora Mavor Moore Award's - 4 Nominations & 1 Win
* Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award's - 8 Nominations & 5 Wins

## Personal life[edit]

Bob Baker is married to actor and playwright Tom Wood. They have collaborated on many productions including Wood's adaptations of A Christmas Carol, Sense and Sensibility,The Servant of Two Masters and original plays: "Make Mine Love"[16] and "B Movie"[17]

## In the media[edit]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Baker, Bob". www.canadiantheatre.com.
2. ↑ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Stratford Festival". www.canadiantheatre.com.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Canadian Stage". Canadian Stage Website.
4. ↑ "Reviews of Canadian Stage Company 1996/97 Season". www.stage-door.org.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/theatre/bob-baker-looks-back-on-17-seasons-at-the-citadel-theatre/
6. ↑ "Tom Wood returns as Scrooge, better than ever: The Citadel Theatre's A Christmas Carol, review by GRAHAM HICKS". HicksBiz.
7. ↑ "Citadel to retire Tom Wood's "A Christmas Carol" this December". September 23, 2018.
8. ↑ Nicholls, Liz (December 3, 2019). "After two decades, the Citadel has a new Christmas Carol. A preview".
9. ↑ Staff, Theatre Alberta (September 14, 2018). "Classes (Edmonton): 2018 Foote Theatre School Fall Classes". Theatre Alberta.
10. ↑ "Dramaworks 2014 Partner: The Citadel Theatre-Robbins Academy". Theatre Alberta.
11. ↑ "Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program: Day One". Edmonton Journal.
12. ↑ "Artistic Director - Citadel Theatre". www.citadeltheatre.com.
13. ↑ "Former Citadel artistic director Bob Baker kicked out of actors' union". Edmonton Journal.
14. ↑ "Search Award Recipients | University of Alberta". www.ualberta.ca.
15. ↑ "Passionate artistic director awarded Medal of Excellence - MacEwan University". www.macewan.ca.
16. ↑ "Citadel playbill - Make Mine Love". Issuu.
17. ↑ "B-Movie, The Play details strains of moviemaking - The Tech". tech.mit.edu.

## External links[edit]

* Baker, Bob - Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
* Former Citadel artistic director Bob Baker kicked out of actors' union
* [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/bob-baker-5a525218 Bob Baker on linkedin
* Former Citadel Theatre artistic director expelled from Canadian Actors’ Equity Association
* Citadel Theatre's Bob Baker steps down as artistic director

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