Catherine Russell

Catherine is the co-founder and Artistic Producer of Young at Heart Theatre, now in its 21st year. Young at Heart Theatre is a charity organization dedicated to enriching lives of seniors on PEI by bringing professional, original musical productions to long-term care, community care and other places where seniors gather. Catherine served as Artistic Director for the Harbourfront Theatre Summer Festival for three seasons, and most recently, Interim Executive Director at the Kings Playhouse in Georgetown, PEI. She is an actor, director, writer and producer and is a long-time member of Canadian Actor’s Equity Association and ACTRA. Catherine has worked in theatres across Canada and spent several seasons performing in the Charlottetown Festival, playing various roles including most recently Rachel Lynde in Anne of Green Gables, and The Female Authority Figure in Hairspray. Catherine has written plays and a concert series for Young at Heart Theatre. Her play, Fascinating Ladies, was also produced by Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary. Catherine was instrumental in developing the Fresh From the Island Festival, along with Playwright’s Atlantic Resource Centre(PARC) and Kings Playhouse. The Festival celebrates Island playwrights by giving them an opportunity to have their plays workshopped with professional dramaturgs and actors, including a final public reading. Catherine is active in volunteer work with arts and environmental organizations. She has served on the board of Creative PEI, Citizen’s Alliance of PEI and currently serves as chair of the Coalition for the Protection of PEI Water and treasurer of PARC.