Denise Filiatrault passes the witness to another generation at the Théâtre du Rideau Vert, where Benoit McGinnis will succeed him this summer as an artistic director.
The great 93 -year -old artist, who spent 21 years in his duties within the institution founded in 1948, thus sold the rudder to the no less talented actor and 47 -year -old singer. He will embark on this new challenge on August 4, with a five-year term.
“People write to me to congratulate me and do not hide their surprises, but it’s been a long time since I have this desire,” said Benoit McGinnis at the QMI agency on Thursday.
Photo : Eric Myre
“I had so much roles in the theater, so I had wondered for a while how to continue to move forward and the artistic direction interested me. Having teams, bringing people together. “
It was he who raised his hand when we announced the departure of artistic director Denise Filiatrault and the general manager Céline Marcotte, on January 22.
Preparing your application has proven a stimulating step. “It forced me to position myself, to think in the middle of the theater, to verbalize my ideas,” said the artist with his usual enthusiasm.
• Read also: Denise Filiatrault will give up the artistic direction of the green curtain
Benoit McGinnis is, in 77 years of history at the Green Rideau, the fourth artistic director. He wants to bring his color and ensure the sustainability of the place of distribution of rue Saint-Denis, founded by Yvette Brind’amour and Mercedes Palomino.
“It comes at the right time. I said to myself: “Why wait until you are 65 to become artistic director”. I have things to say and that’s now! ”
The next season of the green curtain has already been announced, so the new artistic director will bring his touch to the next.
The director general, Céline Marcotte, and the artistic director, Denise Filiatrault, will leave the Théâtre du Rideau Vert at the same time on June 30. The first after 17 years in her post as director general and the second, after 21 years as artistic director.
Photo provided by the Théâtre du Rideau Vert
“I want to talk about things that resonate today, but how are we going to do it, with whom we are going to do it?” It is to go and find people who stimulate me, who interest me, to offer them shows as much as to receive proposals. I find it stimulating and all this has been in my head for months. The 2026-2027 season will be mine and, already, I have to make phones and reserve people! ”
In the green curtain, we are impatient that Benoit McGinnis brings “a resolutely contemporary vision, anchored in excellence and audacity”, it was indicated Thursday, praising his “immense talent”, his “artistic rigor” and his “affection for the arts of the scene”.
Benoit McGinnis played a few times on the boards of the green curtain, recently in To Machine de Turing. And as he does not become a player exclusive to this institution, he will shine in Quiichotteat TNM, in spring 2026.
“We are able to talk to each other, we respect ourselves from one theater to another. And it’s beautiful because in addition, at the moment, all artistic directors, it’s my gang, it’s my generation. Catherine Vidal in the Quat’Sous with whom I studied, Geoffrey Gaquère at TNM, Mani Soleymanlou at CNA. ”
And besides, there is no question for him to give up exercising his art.
“I don’t go to the cloister!” (laughs) I really want to continue working as an actor. It’s super important, because that’s how I feed myself. I have always done lots of things. ”
Finally, it should be noted that the process to find a successor to the director general Céline Marcotte continues. The call for applications ends on June 30.
