Richard Ouzounian
Encyclopedia
Richard Ouzounian is a Canadian journalist
and theatre artist. He is currently the chief theatre critic for the Toronto Star
and the Canadian theatre correspondent for Variety
.
. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was adopted by an Armenian
-Italian-Finnish family. Ouzounian was educated at Regis High School
, and in 1970 received his B.A. in English Literature from Fordham University
. He completed his M.A. studies in Theatre and Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia
in 1972 and was made an honorary Doctor of Sacred Letters by Thorneloe University
in 2003. Ouzounian has worked professionally in the world of the performing arts and arts journalism for the past 35 years. In that time, he has written, directed, or acted in over 225 productions, served as Artistic Director of five major Canadian theatres, been an Associate Director of the Stratford Festival of Canada
for four seasons, and worked as Harold Prince's assistant on the original Toronto
production of The Phantom of the Opera
. He was President of the Board of the Arts Foundation of Toronto from 1996-1998.
He has served on the boards of Community Living Toronto and Surrey Place Foundation, as well as organizing fund-raising galas for both organizations, including the popular series of “Night of Stars” Concerts for Community Living Toronto, featuring artists like Colm Wilkinson
, Louise Pitre
and The Barenaked Ladies.
Ouzounian has taught and/or directed at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University
, the University of Winnipeg
, Dalhousie University
, George Brown College
and Sheridan College
.
Ouzounian lives in downtown Toronto and has been married since 1977 to his wife, Pamela. They have two children.
, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. Beyond his duties as theatre critic, he also writes numerous celebrity profiles, travel and restaurant features for the Star.
In the summer of 2003, McArthur & Company published Are You Trying to Seduce Me, Miss Turner?, a collection of the celebrity interviews he had conducted since joining the Toronto Star. A second volume of interviews, From Angela to Angelina: The A-List, is scheduled for publication in August 2007.
Since March 2002, Ouzounian has also been in charge of reporting on and reviewing the Canadian theatre scene for Variety
. In 2006, Toronto Life
referred to him as "the city's most influential critic".
The scripts to Dracula, Emily, and Larry's Party have been published by McArthur & Company.
He has written the book for another musical retelling of the famous vampire legend. This one is called Dracula - Entre l'amour et la mort
, starring Bruno Pelletier, and had its premiere in Montreal in February 2006 to rave notices and toured successfully throughout Quebec until December 2006.
His earlier works for the stage include the 1978 off-Broadway revue A Bistro Car on the C.N.R. and musical adaptations of "The Merry Wives of Windsor", "Two Gentlemen of Verona", "Macbeth", and "Love's Labour's Lost". Original musicals include "Olympiad", "O, Juan de Fouca!", "Reprise", "Cornucopia", "The Great Adventure" and "Hasten to Come Before Winter".
Ouzounian also wrote the plays "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are", "The Chekhov Kids", "British Properties", "The City Show", and "West". He has also written adaptations/translations of "Scapin", "Tartuffe
" and "Encore Brel".
's musical theatre program "Say It With Music" which aired every Sunday on CBC Radio 2 across Canada and worldwide on the internet. During the period from March 1991 through May 2000, he was also the Theatre Critic for CBC Radio One
Toronto (formerly CBLA) reviewing shows on a weekly basis.
From 1995 to 2000, he was Creative Head of Arts at TVOntario
, Canada's largest educational broadcaster, where his duties included hosting 104 episodes of the arts interview series, "Dialogue", and Executive Producing the three-time Gemini-nominated book series "Imprint".
He also served as producer/host/interviewer for CBC Television on a 13-part series about the 50 year history of the Stratford Festival entitled "Stratford Gold", which aired in the summer of 2002 and was published simultaneously in book form by McArthur & Company.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and theatre artist. He is currently the chief theatre critic for the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and the Canadian theatre correspondent for Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
.
Life and career
Ouzounian was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was adopted by an Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
-Italian-Finnish family. Ouzounian was educated at Regis High School
Regis High School (New York City)
Regis High School is a private Jesuit university-preparatory school for academically gifted Roman Catholic young men located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Annual class enrollment is limited to approximately 135 male students from the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area...
, and in 1970 received his B.A. in English Literature from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
. He completed his M.A. studies in Theatre and Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1972 and was made an honorary Doctor of Sacred Letters by Thorneloe University
Thorneloe University
Thorneloe University is a federated school of Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. Affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada, the university offers programs in fine arts , religious studies, classical studies, women's studies and theatre arts...
in 2003. Ouzounian has worked professionally in the world of the performing arts and arts journalism for the past 35 years. In that time, he has written, directed, or acted in over 225 productions, served as Artistic Director of five major Canadian theatres, been an Associate Director of the Stratford Festival of Canada
Stratford Festival of Canada
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized annual celebration of theatre running from April to November in the Canadian city of Stratford, Ontario...
for four seasons, and worked as Harold Prince's assistant on the original Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
production of The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. He was President of the Board of the Arts Foundation of Toronto from 1996-1998.
He has served on the boards of Community Living Toronto and Surrey Place Foundation, as well as organizing fund-raising galas for both organizations, including the popular series of “Night of Stars” Concerts for Community Living Toronto, featuring artists like Colm Wilkinson
Colm Wilkinson
Colm Wilkinson is an Irish tenor, best known for originating the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and for playing the title role in The Phantom of the Opera .Due to his association with these musicals, he reprised the role of...
, Louise Pitre
Louise Pitre
Louise Pitre is an actress in musical theatre on Broadway and in Canada. She is best known for her role as Donna Sheridan in the ABBA-themed musical Mamma Mia!, which earned her a 2002 Tony Award nomination.-Biography:...
and The Barenaked Ladies.
Ouzounian has taught and/or directed at the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
, the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
, Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
, George Brown College
George Brown College
George Brown College is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three full campuses in downtown Toronto, Ontario...
and Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
.
Ouzounian lives in downtown Toronto and has been married since 1977 to his wife, Pamela. They have two children.
Journalism
Ouzounian is a journalist whose work has been seen in major Canadian publications and is a public speaker. Since 2000, he has been the chief theatre critic for the Toronto StarToronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, Canada’s largest daily newspaper. Beyond his duties as theatre critic, he also writes numerous celebrity profiles, travel and restaurant features for the Star.
In the summer of 2003, McArthur & Company published Are You Trying to Seduce Me, Miss Turner?, a collection of the celebrity interviews he had conducted since joining the Toronto Star. A second volume of interviews, From Angela to Angelina: The A-List, is scheduled for publication in August 2007.
Since March 2002, Ouzounian has also been in charge of reporting on and reviewing the Canadian theatre scene for Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
. In 2006, Toronto Life
Toronto Life
Toronto Life is a monthly Canadian magazine about entertainment, politics and life in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto Life also publishes a number of annual special interest guides about the city, including Home Decor, Stylebook, Eating & Drinking, Real Estate and Weddings. Established in 1966,...
referred to him as "the city's most influential critic".
Theatre credits
Recent musical theatre credits, written with music by his longtime collaborator Marek Norman, include:- "Dracula: A Chamber Musical": (Book/Lyrics): The original production (directed by Ouzounian) played to record houses at the Stratford Festival for six months after its June 1999 opening. It later televised for international sale, broadcast on CBC-TV and won a Gemini awardGemini AwardThe Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for its leading actor, Juan Chioran. It received its American premiere at the North Shore Music TheatreNorth Shore Music TheatreNorth Shore Music Theatre is the largest operating regional theater in New England. It is located in Beverly, Massachusetts and is one of the few remaining theatre-in-the-round stages left in the United States.-History:...
in BeverlyBeverly, MassachusettsBeverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 39,343 on , which differs by no more than several hundred from the 39,862 obtained in the 2000 census. A resort, residential and manufacturing community on the North Shore, Beverly includes Beverly Farms and Prides...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in October 2002, and was seen at the Charlottetown Festival in the summer of 2003.
- Emily (based on the Emily of New MoonEmily of New MoonEmily of New Moon is the first in a series of novels by Lucy Maud Montgomery about the development of a writer. It was first published in 1923.-Plot summary:...
trilogy by Lucy Maud MontgomeryLucy Maud MontgomeryLucy Maud Montgomery OBE , called "Maud" by family and friends and publicly known as L.M. Montgomery, was a Canadian author best known for a series of novels beginning with Anne of Green Gables, published in 1908. Anne of Green Gables was an immediate success...
): (Book/Lyrics) Debuted in 1999 at Charlottetown FestivalCharlottetown FestivalThe Charlottetown Festival is a seasonal Canadian musical theatre festival which runs from late May to mid-October every year since 1965.Named after its host city, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, since its inception the festival has showcased Canada's most popular and longest-running musical,...
of Prince Edward IslandPrince Edward IslandPrince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and returned for a second season in 2000. A new revised version of the show was produced by Talk Is Free Theatre, BarrieBarrie, OntarioBarrie is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada, located on the western shore of Lake Simcoe, approximately 90 km north of Toronto. Although located in Simcoe County, the city is politically independent...
, OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in May 2006, directed by Ouzounian. "Emily" was also mounted by Gateway Theatre, RichmondRichmond, British ColumbiaRichmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, in December 2006 and will be revived in Barrie in November 2007.
- "Larry's Party" (based on the novel by Carol ShieldsCarol ShieldsCarol Ann Shields, CC, OM, FRSC, MA was an American-born Canadian author. She is best known for her 1993 novel The Stone Diaries, which won the U.S. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction as well as the Governor General's Award in Canada.-Biography:Shields was born in Oak Park, Illinois...
novel): (Book/Lyrics) Commissioned by the Canadian Stage Company of Toronto, starring Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winner Brent CarverBrent CarverBrent Carver is a Canadian actor.Carver is known for a variety of stage and film roles, including The Wars, Kronborg: 1582, Lilies, Larry's Party, Elizabeth Rex, Millennium, Shadow Dancing, and Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love...
, "Larry's Party" broke box office records in Toronto before enjoying equally successful runs in OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and WinnipegWinnipegWinnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
as well as being nominated for a Dora Award for Best New Musical.
The scripts to Dracula, Emily, and Larry's Party have been published by McArthur & Company.
He has written the book for another musical retelling of the famous vampire legend. This one is called Dracula - Entre l'amour et la mort
Dracula - Entre l'amour et la mort
Dracula – Entre l'amour et la mort is a Québécois musical created by Bruno Pelletier. Lyrics are written by Roger Tabra; music is by Simon Leclerc; the original concept is credited to Bruno Pelletier and Richard Ouzounian.The musical ran in Quebec from January 13, 2006, to December 16, 2006.The...
, starring Bruno Pelletier, and had its premiere in Montreal in February 2006 to rave notices and toured successfully throughout Quebec until December 2006.
His earlier works for the stage include the 1978 off-Broadway revue A Bistro Car on the C.N.R. and musical adaptations of "The Merry Wives of Windsor", "Two Gentlemen of Verona", "Macbeth", and "Love's Labour's Lost". Original musicals include "Olympiad", "O, Juan de Fouca!", "Reprise", "Cornucopia", "The Great Adventure" and "Hasten to Come Before Winter".
Ouzounian also wrote the plays "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are", "The Chekhov Kids", "British Properties", "The City Show", and "West". He has also written adaptations/translations of "Scapin", "Tartuffe
Tartuffe
Tartuffe is a comedy by Molière. It is one of his most famous plays.-History:Molière wrote Tartuffe in 1664...
" and "Encore Brel".
Radio and television
From January 1990 through June 2004, Ouzounian was the host of the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
's musical theatre program "Say It With Music" which aired every Sunday on CBC Radio 2 across Canada and worldwide on the internet. During the period from March 1991 through May 2000, he was also the Theatre Critic for CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
Toronto (formerly CBLA) reviewing shows on a weekly basis.
From 1995 to 2000, he was Creative Head of Arts at TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
, Canada's largest educational broadcaster, where his duties included hosting 104 episodes of the arts interview series, "Dialogue", and Executive Producing the three-time Gemini-nominated book series "Imprint".
He also served as producer/host/interviewer for CBC Television on a 13-part series about the 50 year history of the Stratford Festival entitled "Stratford Gold", which aired in the summer of 2002 and was published simultaneously in book form by McArthur & Company.
External links
- Reviews and columns from The Toronto Star
- Reviews and columns from Variety
- Richard Ouzounian at the Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
- Richard Ouzounian at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...