Little Lake Theatre Company’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Artistic Director Search Committee to appoint Patrick Cannon of Pittsburgh as Little Lake’s new Artistic Director. While the committee received impressive applications from across the country, Cannon’s values, along with his unique and diverse experience, stood out. His vision perfectly aligns with Little Lake’s goal to create thoughtful and entertaining productions that grow and nurture talent and engage our audience.
In his new role, Cannon will helm one of the region’s oldest and longest running theater companies. His appointment concludes a four-month long search for a new artistic director led by the Board of Directors, with input from Little Lake Theatre’s leadership and staff. Cannon succeeded Jena Oberg following her six-year tenure and joined the company at the beginning of March. Cannon’s first season of programming will take place in 2023 for what will be Little Lake’s 75th Anniversary Season.
“We are thrilled that Patrick Cannon has joined the Little Lake family and will be guiding our artistic vision,” said Board Chair Melissa Struzzi. “Patrick’s extraordinary and wide-ranging talent brings a new energy to Little Lake. His commitment to inclusivity, outreach, and education will expand opportunities for artists to connect with each other, our audience, and fellow creators of all backgrounds and experiences. Patrick’s artistic leadership will be invaluable as Little Lake moves forward during this pivotal time in theater and we recognize the importance of the arts to provoke thought and understanding in our community.”
“Over the course of nearly seventy-five years, Little Lake Theatre Company has proven to be a vital and prolific asset to Western Pennsylvania. It is a deep honor to join the staff, volunteers, artists, and Board of Directors in building upon the legacies and great history of Little Lake as we carry the torch into a new chapter,” says Cannon. “My vision for Little Lake is rooted in a commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well as a new work development program consisting of workshop and reading initiatives, and, lastly, deeper collaborative partnerships with businesses in our community. With this work, it is my goal for Little Lake to not only be respected as the premier Community Theater in the area, but respected as one of the top theater companies in the region. Not simply because of the caliber of work we do on our stage, but because of our clear commitment and value to our community. Little Lake will continue to be a home not merely for expression, but curiosity and understanding as well. I’m delighted to dive in.”
Patrick Cannon is a writer, producer, director, and actor born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. His film projects, Submit it to Festivals (director/writer), Mulligan (creator/actor), and We Are Nowhere (actor/producer) have been Official Selections in five Academy Award Qualifying Film Festivals. Patrick’s play, The Tragedy of Yorick: A Comedy, won second place in the 2019 Writer’s Digest Script competition, was a Screencraft Quarterfinalist, and was named a second-rounder at Austin Film Festival. He has worked with theater companies throughout the country including Pittsburgh Public Theater, City Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Front Porch Theatricals, Boomerang Theater Company, No Name Players, Bricolage, Drury Lane Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Garage Rep, Barnstormers, Strange Tree Group, Mountain Playhouse, St. Vincent, and Cape May Stage. He most recently appeared on stage in Pittsburgh Public Theater’s productions of Sweat and Little Shop of Horrors. Cannon holds a BA in Theater from Columbia College Chicago, a MFA in Screenwriting/Playwriting from Point Park University, and is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association.
Little Lake Theatre Company is a regionally acclaimed community theater founded by Will Disney in 1949. The theatre produces a mix of classics and contemporary works each season and serves close to 19,000 patrons annually. Little Lake Theatre offers theatre camps and acting classes that provide educational opportunities to students of all ages and experience levels. Little Lake is committed to ensuring people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds can experience the power of live theatre. www.littlelake.org
Categories: Feature Stories
Mazel Tov!!