Drayton Entertainment Announces Artistic Leadership Shift
November 11, 2024
Transition to Support Theatre’s Multi-Year Succession Plan
CAMBRIDGE – Alex Mustakas, founding Artistic Director & CEO of Drayton Entertainment, as supported by the award-winning charitable arts organization’s volunteer Board of Directors, has announced a leadership transition as part of the theatre’s multi-year succession plan.
Under Mustakas’ continued mentorship and guidance, David Connolly, Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education for the organization’s burgeoning new Youth Academy, will be appointed Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment commencing January 1, 2025.
In making this decision, Mustakas noted, “For the past 8 years, David Connolly has been instrumental in many of our artistic successes. He has the vision, passion, and knowledge of our history to lead Drayton Entertainment’s continued growth while staying true to our core values, and our enduring commitment to quality theatre programming, affordability, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility.”
Connolly, a self-described “theatre artist who also happens to be a double amputee,” has directed and choreographed over 30 productions during his tenure with Drayton Entertainment, including this year’s production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, along with the Canadian regional theatre premieres of The Prom (2023), Kinky Boots (2020 & 2023), and Mamma Mia! (2016 and 2023), and the perennially popular holiday pantos like Peter Pan, Cinderella, and many more.
Connolly will be responsible for developing and implementing an imaginative and compelling vision that will shape the direction for all artistic programs, including the continued growth of the Youth Academy, community engagement, and the development of new works while focused on the organization’s overall advancement.
As an actor, Connolly made his Broadway debut in Shenandoah, becoming the first amputee to have performed there. Having used prosthetic legs since childhood, Connolly is a disability and inclusion advocate, serving as a member of Drayton Entertainment’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion committee of community and industry stakeholders, overseeing program development and outreach, and project engagement and consultation with the indigenous community.
Earlier this fall, Connolly was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Changemaker Award for the 2024 Equity Honours, presented by the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (the association of performers in English Canada who are engaged in live performances in theatre, opera, and dance) for his sustained dedication in furthering the values of diversity and inclusion in the live performing arts.
A recipient of the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence for his outstanding contributions to the field of applied arts and community service, Connolly is an official ambassador for both The War Amps’ Child Amputee Program and The Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.
“In the many years I’ve known Alex Mustakas, I've been in complete awe of his unique and history-making trajectory of changing the landscape of live theatre in Canada,” says Connolly. “To continue being mentored by him in this new role is the greatest honour of my life. I look forward to continuing to serve our communities throughout the province in alignment with Drayton Entertainment's mission and mandate.”
Mustakas to Continue as CEO
As the founder of Drayton Entertainment, Alex Mustakas has been the singular visionary responsible for the theatre’s unprecedented success. Starting with one venue in 1991, one employee, and a humble operating budget, Mustakas’ artistic and business acumen created one of the largest and respected charitable arts organizations in Canada.
Drayton Entertainment now offers 20 productions annually across 7 venues to an audience surpassing 250,000, while generating $82.8 million in economic spin-off to the broader community. The organization contracts over 400 artists annually along with 175 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. This self-sustaining theatre model is studied across Canada and around the world
As Mustakas approaches his 35th year in consecutive leadership, he is regarded as one of the longest-serving Artistic Directors in Canadian theatre history.
While Mustakas may be stepping out of the limelight as Artistic Director, he will continue his tenure behind-the-scenes as Drayton Entertainment’s CEO for the next several years. The role will enable him to continue with mentorship across all departments of the organization, including artistic, production, and administration. It will also allow him to focus on future artistic and business endeavours, including sourcing new programming, artists, and voices, as well as developing more Canadian creations and hitting the road more often to review theatrical trends and best practices across the world.
“At the heart of his decades-long problem-solving ability, audience engagement success, and bottom-line focus on affordability within the arts, is Alex’s remarkably pure insight – to maintain an authentic identity for each theatre, rooted in strong community ownership, with additional business and artistic synergies. This will continue for many more years to come,” says Willy Heffner, Chair of Drayton Entertainment’s Board of Directors.
For more information please contact:
Steven Karcher, Executive Director
Phone: 519-621-5511 ext.234. Email: steven@draytonentertainment.com
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