Keywords Born in 1952 Directors & Producers, Theatre

Baker moved to Vancouver in 1979, where he worked as a freelance director and teacher (1979-82). He was a founding member of the city's first Theatresports company and helped launch the Improvised Soap Company. In 1982, Baker was appointed artistic director of Edmonton's fledgling Phoenix Theatre, which under his direction became a vibrant and influential centre for contemporary theatre. Several of his productions went on to become landmarks of Canadian theatre in the 1980s, notably Tom Woods's B-Movie, The Play, which the Phoenix premiered. It went on to tour nationally and internationally, and won a Dora Mavor Moore Award. Baker was also active as a teacher and director at the University of Alberta Drama Department, and was the founder and director of Soap on the Rocks.

Baker became widely acknowledged for his talent for successfully programming edgy, passionate theatre about issues of the day, and he took his Midas touch to the CANADIAN STAGE COMPANY in 1990. Under his direction, Canadian Stage retired a $2.7 million deficit, more than doubled subscription sales and originated an annual program of new play development. Baker directed new productions by Canadian playwrights Tom Woods, Timothy FINDLEY and Raymond Storey. He directed Sondheim's Into the Woods and the successful Toronto run of Tony Kushner's Angels in America (Part One and Part Two), which went on to the NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE in 1997.

In January 1998, he was appointed artistic director of Edmonton's CITADEL THEATRE.

Baker, Bob
Bob Baker (photo by Ellis Brothers Photography).

Author PAMELA ANTHONY

Links to Other Sites
Citadel Theatre
The website for Edmonton’s grand Citadel Theatre. Check out the current theatre season, school programs and profiles of Bob Baker, current Artistic Director, and Joe Shoctor, founder of The Citadel Theatre.