Kate Newby, Artistic Director
Calgary International Children's Festival

Ms. Newby has been a theatre professional since 1985. As an actor, director, administrator, and an educator, she has worked in the United States, Scotland, and across Canada. In Calgary, Kate has performed in such productions as Counsellor at Law, Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof for Theatre Calgary; August (playRites '08) and Angels in America Part I and II for Alberta Theatre Projects; The Bear for Lunchbox Theatre. Selected directing credits include How Do I Love Thee? (playRites'10) and The Goat for Alberta Theatre Projects; The Libertine for the University of Calgary; Oleanna for Ground Zero Theatre; Tornado Magnet, Office Hours and Kreskinned for Lunchbox Theatre; CRAVE for Blacklist Theatre Project; and Lion in the Streets for Sage Theatre. She is the recipient of a 2008 and 1998 Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Direction respectively and a 1987 Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category.

As the artistic director of the Calgary International Children's Festival and an active arts advocate Ms. Newby believes young people deserve to experience the very best in performing arts programming and strives to ensure the arts play an active role in their lives. As a representative of an international arts festival for young people that accommodates 50,000 patrons per year, Ms. Newby travels to national and international festivals, showcases, and conferences several times a year. Her time spent traveling across the country, Europe, and the United States is a valuable resource for viewing dance, music and theatre performance first hand. In addition to seeing hundreds of live performances annually, Ms. Newby also is an active member of The Canadian Children's Festivals Association, APPN (Asia Pacific Presenters Network) and sits on the IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth) Selection Committee.