Toronto International Festival
This gigantic 4 year project launched my career in Arts Administration. I was actually writing a cabaret revue with Muriel Sherrin in 1981when she was invited to devise a grand festival celebrating Toronto's sesquicentennial in 1984. She asked me to take minutes at her first brain-storming session with Nicholas Goldschmidt, John Cripton and others, and so began my long and happy association with both of those entrepreneurs. For the TIF, I was first an administrative assistant (which I hated), then happily a production assistant. John introduced us to computers - a new-fangled way to keep track of things. The festival showcased outstanding Canadians but also brought performers from all over: Sankai Juku (Japan) hung upside down on ropes gradually lowered down the face of the Hydro building; Pina Bausch (Germany) had a peacock in her dance work that had its own dressing room and a grass covered stage that had to be watered nightly. The Hamburg Ballet. New York's Metropolitan Opera presented 7 different full operas. Green faced Kathakali dancers (India). The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, great jazz, children's entertainers, and the first (and small) version of John Wyre's and NEXUS' world drums event called Supercussion. What a way to kick off a career! No wonder I was hooked.