Chris McHarge
Artistic Director, Director, Producer

Chris has been directing for more than 20 years and is currently the Artistic Director at Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover. He is also the former Artistic and Executive Director of Theatre on the Grand in Fergus, Ontario, as well as a former Artistic Associate at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, where he is credited with saving the Stage Write Series in the mid 1990s, and where he founded the new play-reading series Brave New Works. Additionally, Chris maintains an active schedule as a freelance director and producer, and has worked throughout Canada, in Europe and in the United States.

In his career, Chris has directed nearly 100 productions including 30 world premieres. Two of Canada’s more prominent playwrights have turned to Chris repeatedly to develop and stage first productions of their work. Chris directed the world premieres of Dave Carley’s THE EDIBLE WOMAN and TWO SHIPS PASSING, and produced the world premiere of Carley’s WRITING WITH OUR FEET, which was subsequently nominated for the Governor General’s Award.

More significantly, Chris has become the director of choice for Norm Foster, Canada’s most produced playwright. Over the last 10 years, he has collaborated with Foster to produce eleven world premieres including OLD LOVE, MENDING FENCES, JENNY’S HOUSE OF JOY, SITTING PRETTY, OUTLAW, RACE DAY, JASPER STATION, SMALL TIME, MAGGIE’S GETTING MARRIED, THE FOURSOME, and JUPITER IN JULY. These plays have since been staged numerous times both nationally and internationally, and one of them, THE FOURSOME, has become one of the most produced plays in Canada. This successful partnership with Foster has also taken Chris to Ann Arbor, Michigan where he directed the premiere staged reading of THE LOVE LIST at the Festival of New Works.

His interest in theatre isn’t limited to the dramatic arts. Chris is also the co-creator of a number of musical tribute shows, including BLUE SUEDE SHOES, MOTOWN MAGIC, SWEET SOUL MUSIC, COWBOYS & OUTLAWS, HEAVEN’S LITTLE HONKY TONK, VEGAS KNIGHTS, MEMORIES OF THE SUMMER OF LOVE, MEMORIES OF THE RAT PACK, DOOWOP TO MOTOWN, and MEMORIES OF HANK WILLIAMS & PATSY CLINE, which have toured not only in Canada and the United States, but in Europe as well.

Noted for his keen eye for spotting new talent, Chris has also helped launch many thriving careers in theatre. He premiered Hamilton playwright Kevin Land’s comedy WHOLE LOTTO LOVE, which was later produced in England to critical acclaim. He also gave St. Catharines playwright Ann Snead her first professional production when he staged her debut play THE JIGSAW PUZZLE at Theatre Aquarius. Ann Snead has since written several plays, and has won numerous playwriting competitions and awards in Canada.  In his capacity as director, he has taken chances on young directors, designers, actors and stage managers, many of whom are now busy pursuing successful careers. He has also had an interest in theatre at the grass roots level by visiting elementary and secondary schools as an artist in the classroom.

Chris has always been interested in promoting programs for youth, and has made it a point in his career to visit schools to promote theatre. At Lighthouse he has worked to develop educational outreach by expanding access to workshops and theatre camps, by increasing programming for young audiences, and by inviting senior drama students to observe the professional rehearsal process.

Chris also recognizes the importance of community outreach for an arts organization. Active community involvement and strong partnerships are integral to the health and vitality of any theatre. As a result, Chris always welcomes opportunities to work with local business owners, service clubs, and charities, and understands the importance of fostering good relationships with corporate leaders and government officials.

In his more than twenty years working in the industry, Chris has demonstrated the wide range of skills the position of artistic producer demands. In recognition of his directing ability, he has been nominated for a number of awards including the Eleanor and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre (2001 & 2004), the Township of Centre Wellington Artist of the Year Award, the Canada Council John Hirsch Award and the Pauline McGibbon Award for directing.