Stratford artistic director to stay for two more years

Stratford Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Monday June 26, 2006. (CP PHOTO/Frank Gunn)

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The Canadian Press
Published Saturday, June 4, 2011 3:52PM EDT

STRATFORD, Ont. - Theatre titan Des McAnuff will helm the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for two more years.

McAnuff, artistic director of the theatre festival in southwestern Ontario, made the announcement today as the festival released its playbill for 2012.

The Tony Award-winning director says he already has some ideas for the 2013 season, but will be moving on to other projects afterwards.

Lee Myers, chair of the festival's board of governors, says McAnuff has made his mark on the event over the last four years.

Among other things, he says McAnuff has strengthened Stratford's acting company and increased its diversity.

Stratford's next season will include three Shakespeare plays, a tragedy by Sophocles, a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and a selection of other musicals.