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The Grand Theatre cast a wide net in its search for a new executive director but ended up choosing someone within its ranks.
Lyndee Hansen, the theatre’s current producer, is being promoted to executive director, the theatre announced Wednesday.
“Lyndee is, by far, the best person to take on this role,” George Kerhoulas, president of the theatre’s board of directors, said in a release. “She is a remarkable leader in Canadian theatre, has nurtured innumerable industry relationships, regionally, and from coast-to-coast, and is one of the reasons that London’s Grand Theatre has remained a theatre of national significance for so many years.”
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Hansen, who holds a degree in theatre production from Toronto Metropolitan University, joined the Grand nine years ago. She had previously worked at Crow’s Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects and Geordie Theatre.
“When this position came up, it felt both exciting and the right time for me, and I was ready to move into this next phase of leadership in my career,” she said.
Being an internal candidate who’s known the London community and audience members has its advantages for Hansen. It makes the learning curve less steep, but that doesn’t mean she’s not open to learning.
“I want to take time to see the theatre through new eyes and lens in order to understand it and work in a new way,” Hansen said.
Hansen said her children, Molly, 10, and Josie, 6, and her partner were part of the decision to accept a new challenge in addition to the challenges that come with parenthood.
When Hansen’s children found out she had been selected as executive director, they immediately asked who would be in charge of the candy dish that sits on the executive director’s desk, she said.
Though her children have their eyes on the candy, Hansen said she’s keeping an eye on a different prize.
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“I wish for the continued increase of success we’ve seen this season, which has been met with an incredibly warm reception, increased ticket sales, and an excited theatre community,” Hansen said. “I want to continue to work with Rachel (Peake) to continue to grow that excitement for the theatre here in London.”
Peake took over as the Grand’s artistic director in October 2023 and will work side-by-side with Hansen, who will oversee the organization as its strategic leader.
Hansen is replacing Evan Klassen. A Winnipeg native, Klassen joined the Grand as executive director in 2022. Klassen is leaving London to become executive director of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in his hometown.
Hansen begins her new role at the Grand on July 29.
The Grand’s 2024-25 season launches Oct. 15 with an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, set in Canada’s Okanagan Valley in the 1960s.
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