After graduating from University of Windsor with a BFA, Cimolino began his career as an actor at Stratford in 1988. He later switched to theatre management and stage direction when Richard Monette was appointed artistic director in 1994, becoming executive director in 1998 and general director in 2007. During the Monette years, Cimolino established funds to provide financial stability for the Festival, and helped secure funding to open the Festival's Studio Theatre in 2002. An accomplished director, Cimolino has staged successful Shakespearean productions in Stratford and Detroit.
Cimolino was selected to become the artistic director at Stratford Festival in 2013, taking over the position from outgoing artistic director, Des McAnuff.
Personal life
He is married to actress Brigit Wilson and has two children, Gabriel and Sophia. In December 2015, Cimolino was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for contributions to Canadian theatre and arts leadership.
2022 Hagey Lecture – Holding the Mirror up to Nature (Antoni Cimolino)
In the 2022 Hagey Lecture, Antoni Cimolino asks: Why, since the earliest democracy, have we gathered together to witness stories told?
Cimolino has been Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival since 2013. A champion of the arts and culture, Cimolino also served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada.
The Hagey Lectures are the University of Waterloo's premier invitational public lecture series since 1970, and are co-sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University of Waterloo. Learn more at https://uwaterloo.ca/hagey-lectures.
published: 31 Oct 2022
Shakespeare Lecture | Antoni Cimolino & Siamak Hariri on Stratford Festival’s Tom Patterson Theatre
The Friends of the McGill Library and Stratford Festival are delighted to partner on the 2022 Shakespeare Lecture.
Join Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, and Siamak Hariri, Founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects as they share insights into the process of facilitating the vision for the new Tom Patterson Theatre, discussing the inspiration and design elements that have gone into creating this innovative theatre space.
Audience questions can be emailed in advance or during the event to [email protected].
The 2022 Shakespeare Lecture is generously supported by Donald Walcot.
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published: 03 Feb 2022
Antoni Cimolino on Shakespeare Today
What would Shakespeare say about the financial crisis? How would he evaluate our political leaders? Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, explains why the plays of William Shakespeare are still relevant today and what lessons we can learn from the bard.
To find out more about our guest visit TVO.org: http://bit.ly/amQnxH
Read our blog post "The Agendas Family Literacy Day" on TVO.org: http://bit.ly/a8MAtp
published: 30 Jan 2010
Antoni Cimolino talks London Assurance with Jovanni Sy | Director's Notes
In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with host Jovanni Sy, director and co-playwright of Salesman in China. Listen as Cimolino provides an overview of 19th-century works while highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of Dion Boucicault, who wrote London Assurance when only 18.
Diving into the conventions of directing on the Festival’s famous thrust stage vs. directing on a proscenium like the Avon Theatre, Cimolino and Sy cover technique, creative inspiration and so much more! Watch or listen now.
London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Set and Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Francesca Callow
Composer - Wayne Kelso
Sou...
published: 28 Aug 2024
In Conversation with Antoni Cimolino, General Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
Antoni recounts his experience of the "real magic of Culture Days" when artists in Stratford came together to plan an activity for the inaugural Culture Days event weekend in 2010 and how the culmination of their planning was expressed in a large street fair where over 3500 people came together to celebrate the arts, artists and the Stratford community itself.
The In Conversation Video Series is presented by Culture Days' National Broadcast Partner, CBC.
published: 05 Sep 2011
In Good Company with Megan Follows and Antoni Cimolino
Geraint Wyn Davies interviews Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and his Juliet, Megan Follows, about their pairing as the star-crossed lovers of the Stratford Festival's 1992 production of Romeo and Juliet.
You can soon watch Romeo and Juliet on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
published: 10 Jul 2020
Antoni Cimolino: Can Theatre Reinvent an Economy?
If you build a theatre, will an economy come? Stratford Festival Director Antoni Cimolino and the Festival's initiatives to rebuild an El Salvadorian city.
published: 15 Mar 2011
Antoni Cimolino | Ivey School of Business: Art - Creativity and Empathy
Stratford Shakespeare Festival General Director Antoni Cimolino address students at the Ivey School of Business.
published: 16 Mar 2011
My Shakespeare: Antoni Cimolino
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published: 17 May 2016
Creating the world of 2016's Macbeth with Julie Fox and Antoni Cimolino
Director Antoni Cimolino and designer Julie Fox share their thoughts about the Stratford Festival's 2016 production of Macbeth and how they staged it with the Festival's Literary and Editorial Director David Prosser.
Watch Macbeth on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
In the 2022 Hagey Lecture, Antoni Cimolino asks: Why, since the earliest democracy, have we gathered together to witness stories told?
Cimolino has been Art...
In the 2022 Hagey Lecture, Antoni Cimolino asks: Why, since the earliest democracy, have we gathered together to witness stories told?
Cimolino has been Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival since 2013. A champion of the arts and culture, Cimolino also served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada.
The Hagey Lectures are the University of Waterloo's premier invitational public lecture series since 1970, and are co-sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University of Waterloo. Learn more at https://uwaterloo.ca/hagey-lectures.
In the 2022 Hagey Lecture, Antoni Cimolino asks: Why, since the earliest democracy, have we gathered together to witness stories told?
Cimolino has been Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival since 2013. A champion of the arts and culture, Cimolino also served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada.
The Hagey Lectures are the University of Waterloo's premier invitational public lecture series since 1970, and are co-sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University of Waterloo. Learn more at https://uwaterloo.ca/hagey-lectures.
The Friends of the McGill Library and Stratford Festival are delighted to partner on the 2022 Shakespeare Lecture.
Join Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of t...
The Friends of the McGill Library and Stratford Festival are delighted to partner on the 2022 Shakespeare Lecture.
Join Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, and Siamak Hariri, Founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects as they share insights into the process of facilitating the vision for the new Tom Patterson Theatre, discussing the inspiration and design elements that have gone into creating this innovative theatre space.
Audience questions can be emailed in advance or during the event to [email protected].
The 2022 Shakespeare Lecture is generously supported by Donald Walcot.
sm
The Friends of the McGill Library and Stratford Festival are delighted to partner on the 2022 Shakespeare Lecture.
Join Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, and Siamak Hariri, Founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects as they share insights into the process of facilitating the vision for the new Tom Patterson Theatre, discussing the inspiration and design elements that have gone into creating this innovative theatre space.
Audience questions can be emailed in advance or during the event to [email protected].
The 2022 Shakespeare Lecture is generously supported by Donald Walcot.
sm
What would Shakespeare say about the financial crisis? How would he evaluate our political leaders? Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespea...
What would Shakespeare say about the financial crisis? How would he evaluate our political leaders? Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, explains why the plays of William Shakespeare are still relevant today and what lessons we can learn from the bard.
To find out more about our guest visit TVO.org: http://bit.ly/amQnxH
Read our blog post "The Agendas Family Literacy Day" on TVO.org: http://bit.ly/a8MAtp
What would Shakespeare say about the financial crisis? How would he evaluate our political leaders? Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, explains why the plays of William Shakespeare are still relevant today and what lessons we can learn from the bard.
To find out more about our guest visit TVO.org: http://bit.ly/amQnxH
Read our blog post "The Agendas Family Literacy Day" on TVO.org: http://bit.ly/a8MAtp
In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with ho...
In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with host Jovanni Sy, director and co-playwright of Salesman in China. Listen as Cimolino provides an overview of 19th-century works while highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of Dion Boucicault, who wrote London Assurance when only 18.
Diving into the conventions of directing on the Festival’s famous thrust stage vs. directing on a proscenium like the Avon Theatre, Cimolino and Sy cover technique, creative inspiration and so much more! Watch or listen now.
London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Set and Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Francesca Callow
Composer - Wayne Kelso
Sound Designer - Ranil Sonnadara
Fight Director and Intimacy Director - Anita Nittoly
Choreographer - Adrienne Gould
Additional text - Richard Bean
00:00 Intro
01:12 What made Antoni want to program London Assurance, as well as direct it?
01:49 It says something about human nature
02:44 Plot Synopsis
03:23 What was the challenge of discovering the 18th century play?
05:21 Dion Boucicault creating the playwright royalty
06:28 How Antoni created the comedy bits in this production.
08:04 Working the production for the festival stage
08:57 Establishing the conventions
09:42 How to negotiate stretching the limits of concurrently without losing the audience
11:22 Reference to Shakespeare's career
12:42 Spoiler alert
13:25 Brian Bedford's production inspirations
15:11 Design challenges
18:21 Thrust stage vs proscenium stage
20:36 Antoni's director journey
21:55 Antoni's director mentors
23:14 A great thing about Stratford Festival
26:23 How's it going on Salesman in China
29:20 What Antoni hopes the audience will walk away with from watching “London Assurance”
In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with host Jovanni Sy, director and co-playwright of Salesman in China. Listen as Cimolino provides an overview of 19th-century works while highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of Dion Boucicault, who wrote London Assurance when only 18.
Diving into the conventions of directing on the Festival’s famous thrust stage vs. directing on a proscenium like the Avon Theatre, Cimolino and Sy cover technique, creative inspiration and so much more! Watch or listen now.
London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Set and Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Francesca Callow
Composer - Wayne Kelso
Sound Designer - Ranil Sonnadara
Fight Director and Intimacy Director - Anita Nittoly
Choreographer - Adrienne Gould
Additional text - Richard Bean
00:00 Intro
01:12 What made Antoni want to program London Assurance, as well as direct it?
01:49 It says something about human nature
02:44 Plot Synopsis
03:23 What was the challenge of discovering the 18th century play?
05:21 Dion Boucicault creating the playwright royalty
06:28 How Antoni created the comedy bits in this production.
08:04 Working the production for the festival stage
08:57 Establishing the conventions
09:42 How to negotiate stretching the limits of concurrently without losing the audience
11:22 Reference to Shakespeare's career
12:42 Spoiler alert
13:25 Brian Bedford's production inspirations
15:11 Design challenges
18:21 Thrust stage vs proscenium stage
20:36 Antoni's director journey
21:55 Antoni's director mentors
23:14 A great thing about Stratford Festival
26:23 How's it going on Salesman in China
29:20 What Antoni hopes the audience will walk away with from watching “London Assurance”
Antoni recounts his experience of the "real magic of Culture Days" when artists in Stratford came together to plan an activity for the inaugural Culture Days ev...
Antoni recounts his experience of the "real magic of Culture Days" when artists in Stratford came together to plan an activity for the inaugural Culture Days event weekend in 2010 and how the culmination of their planning was expressed in a large street fair where over 3500 people came together to celebrate the arts, artists and the Stratford community itself.
The In Conversation Video Series is presented by Culture Days' National Broadcast Partner, CBC.
Antoni recounts his experience of the "real magic of Culture Days" when artists in Stratford came together to plan an activity for the inaugural Culture Days event weekend in 2010 and how the culmination of their planning was expressed in a large street fair where over 3500 people came together to celebrate the arts, artists and the Stratford community itself.
The In Conversation Video Series is presented by Culture Days' National Broadcast Partner, CBC.
Geraint Wyn Davies interviews Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and his Juliet, Megan Follows, about their pairing as the star-crossed lovers of the Stratford F...
Geraint Wyn Davies interviews Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and his Juliet, Megan Follows, about their pairing as the star-crossed lovers of the Stratford Festival's 1992 production of Romeo and Juliet.
You can soon watch Romeo and Juliet on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
Geraint Wyn Davies interviews Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and his Juliet, Megan Follows, about their pairing as the star-crossed lovers of the Stratford Festival's 1992 production of Romeo and Juliet.
You can soon watch Romeo and Juliet on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
If you build a theatre, will an economy come? Stratford Festival Director Antoni Cimolino and the Festival's initiatives to rebuild an El Salvadorian city.
If you build a theatre, will an economy come? Stratford Festival Director Antoni Cimolino and the Festival's initiatives to rebuild an El Salvadorian city.
If you build a theatre, will an economy come? Stratford Festival Director Antoni Cimolino and the Festival's initiatives to rebuild an El Salvadorian city.
Click here to subscribe to Maclean's on YouTube: http://bit.ly/macleanssubscribe
Check out our full video catalogue: http://bit.ly/macleansvideos
Videos, stori...
Click here to subscribe to Maclean's on YouTube: http://bit.ly/macleanssubscribe
Check out our full video catalogue: http://bit.ly/macleansvideos
Videos, stories, interactives, charts, and more: http://www.macleans.ca
Download Maclean's Daily App for mobile and tablet: http://bit.ly/macleansapp
Like Maclean's on Facebook: http://fb.com/macleans
Follow Maclean's on Twitter: http://twitter.com/macleansmag
Follow Maclean's on Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@MacleansMag
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macleansmag/
Check out our Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/macleansmag/
Click here to subscribe to Maclean's on YouTube: http://bit.ly/macleanssubscribe
Check out our full video catalogue: http://bit.ly/macleansvideos
Videos, stories, interactives, charts, and more: http://www.macleans.ca
Download Maclean's Daily App for mobile and tablet: http://bit.ly/macleansapp
Like Maclean's on Facebook: http://fb.com/macleans
Follow Maclean's on Twitter: http://twitter.com/macleansmag
Follow Maclean's on Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@MacleansMag
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macleansmag/
Check out our Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/macleansmag/
Director Antoni Cimolino and designer Julie Fox share their thoughts about the Stratford Festival's 2016 production of Macbeth and how they staged it with the F...
Director Antoni Cimolino and designer Julie Fox share their thoughts about the Stratford Festival's 2016 production of Macbeth and how they staged it with the Festival's Literary and Editorial Director David Prosser.
Watch Macbeth on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
Director Antoni Cimolino and designer Julie Fox share their thoughts about the Stratford Festival's 2016 production of Macbeth and how they staged it with the Festival's Literary and Editorial Director David Prosser.
Watch Macbeth on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
In the 2022 Hagey Lecture, Antoni Cimolino asks: Why, since the earliest democracy, have we gathered together to witness stories told?
Cimolino has been Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival since 2013. A champion of the arts and culture, Cimolino also served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada.
The Hagey Lectures are the University of Waterloo's premier invitational public lecture series since 1970, and are co-sponsored by the Faculty Association and the University of Waterloo. Learn more at https://uwaterloo.ca/hagey-lectures.
The Friends of the McGill Library and Stratford Festival are delighted to partner on the 2022 Shakespeare Lecture.
Join Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival, and Siamak Hariri, Founding Partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects as they share insights into the process of facilitating the vision for the new Tom Patterson Theatre, discussing the inspiration and design elements that have gone into creating this innovative theatre space.
Audience questions can be emailed in advance or during the event to [email protected].
The 2022 Shakespeare Lecture is generously supported by Donald Walcot.
sm
What would Shakespeare say about the financial crisis? How would he evaluate our political leaders? Antoni Cimolino, general director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, explains why the plays of William Shakespeare are still relevant today and what lessons we can learn from the bard.
To find out more about our guest visit TVO.org: http://bit.ly/amQnxH
Read our blog post "The Agendas Family Literacy Day" on TVO.org: http://bit.ly/a8MAtp
In this episode, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino discusses his experience directing London Assurance—an unusual comedic creation from the 19th century—with host Jovanni Sy, director and co-playwright of Salesman in China. Listen as Cimolino provides an overview of 19th-century works while highlighting the achievements and accomplishments of Dion Boucicault, who wrote London Assurance when only 18.
Diving into the conventions of directing on the Festival’s famous thrust stage vs. directing on a proscenium like the Avon Theatre, Cimolino and Sy cover technique, creative inspiration and so much more! Watch or listen now.
London Assurance
By Dion Boucicault
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Set and Lighting Designer - Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer - Francesca Callow
Composer - Wayne Kelso
Sound Designer - Ranil Sonnadara
Fight Director and Intimacy Director - Anita Nittoly
Choreographer - Adrienne Gould
Additional text - Richard Bean
00:00 Intro
01:12 What made Antoni want to program London Assurance, as well as direct it?
01:49 It says something about human nature
02:44 Plot Synopsis
03:23 What was the challenge of discovering the 18th century play?
05:21 Dion Boucicault creating the playwright royalty
06:28 How Antoni created the comedy bits in this production.
08:04 Working the production for the festival stage
08:57 Establishing the conventions
09:42 How to negotiate stretching the limits of concurrently without losing the audience
11:22 Reference to Shakespeare's career
12:42 Spoiler alert
13:25 Brian Bedford's production inspirations
15:11 Design challenges
18:21 Thrust stage vs proscenium stage
20:36 Antoni's director journey
21:55 Antoni's director mentors
23:14 A great thing about Stratford Festival
26:23 How's it going on Salesman in China
29:20 What Antoni hopes the audience will walk away with from watching “London Assurance”
Antoni recounts his experience of the "real magic of Culture Days" when artists in Stratford came together to plan an activity for the inaugural Culture Days event weekend in 2010 and how the culmination of their planning was expressed in a large street fair where over 3500 people came together to celebrate the arts, artists and the Stratford community itself.
The In Conversation Video Series is presented by Culture Days' National Broadcast Partner, CBC.
Geraint Wyn Davies interviews Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino and his Juliet, Megan Follows, about their pairing as the star-crossed lovers of the Stratford Festival's 1992 production of Romeo and Juliet.
You can soon watch Romeo and Juliet on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
If you build a theatre, will an economy come? Stratford Festival Director Antoni Cimolino and the Festival's initiatives to rebuild an El Salvadorian city.
Click here to subscribe to Maclean's on YouTube: http://bit.ly/macleanssubscribe
Check out our full video catalogue: http://bit.ly/macleansvideos
Videos, stories, interactives, charts, and more: http://www.macleans.ca
Download Maclean's Daily App for mobile and tablet: http://bit.ly/macleansapp
Like Maclean's on Facebook: http://fb.com/macleans
Follow Maclean's on Twitter: http://twitter.com/macleansmag
Follow Maclean's on Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@MacleansMag
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macleansmag/
Check out our Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/macleansmag/
Director Antoni Cimolino and designer Julie Fox share their thoughts about the Stratford Festival's 2016 production of Macbeth and how they staged it with the Festival's Literary and Editorial Director David Prosser.
Watch Macbeth on STRATFEST@HOME:
https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome
After graduating from University of Windsor with a BFA, Cimolino began his career as an actor at Stratford in 1988. He later switched to theatre management and stage direction when Richard Monette was appointed artistic director in 1994, becoming executive director in 1998 and general director in 2007. During the Monette years, Cimolino established funds to provide financial stability for the Festival, and helped secure funding to open the Festival's Studio Theatre in 2002. An accomplished director, Cimolino has staged successful Shakespearean productions in Stratford and Detroit.
Cimolino was selected to become the artistic director at Stratford Festival in 2013, taking over the position from outgoing artistic director, Des McAnuff.
Personal life
He is married to actress Brigit Wilson and has two children, Gabriel and Sophia. In December 2015, Cimolino was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for contributions to Canadian theatre and arts leadership.