Our tEaM
Dian Marie Bridge
Artistic Director
Dian Marie Bridge (she/her) is an award-winning writer, director, dramaturge and creative producer who seeks to open spaces, provide platform, enrich community-bridge building. She was previously Associate Artistic Director at Luminato Festival Toronto, Artistic Director intern at Obsidian Theatre, Artist-in-Residence at Necessary Angel Theatre, Founding Artistic Producer of Cric Crac Collective, and 4LargeHeads multi-arts Collective, and a member of Stratford Festival’s Michael Langham Workshop for Classical Direction.
Dian holds a degree in Theatre Arts and Dramatic Literature from Brock University and was enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s Theatre Arts and Dance program (Twin Cities).Previous work includes Our Place; Vierge; Every Day She Rose (BTW), Beloved: A Celebration of Toni Morrison and Black Women Writers; Guided By Starlight; Golden Hour (Luminato Festival Toronto), The Mountain Top (Persephone Theatre), Made In Congo (Theatre Row United Solo Festival), Aneemah’s Spot (Cric Crac Collective /Motion Live), Geometry; Domesticity; Fuzz; Cotton Comes Home (4LargeHeads Collective)
Lora Campbell
Executive Director
Lora Campbell (they/them) is an award-winning producer, writer, director, arts administrator, and advocate dedicated to advancing equity, access, and creative sovereignty for marginalized communities. A disabled, transgender, non-binary cultural leader, Lora brings over two decades of experience creating and supporting spaces for artists historically excluded from mainstream cultural production.
They have worked as a facilitator, mentor, educator, and advisor with numerous arts organizations, supporting projects by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Trans, Disabled, and Deaf artists, among others. Lora has produced more than fifty film and theatre projects across Turtle Island, centering artistic excellence, collaboration, and community accountability across diverse cultural contexts.
A graduate of Memorial University and the Canadian Film Centre, Lora has held senior leadership roles including Artistic Director of ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto, Lead Creative at Waterford Valley Pictures, Mentorship Program Facilitator at Inside Out Film Festival, and Founder and CEO of Class Act Productions and Organic Water Productions.
Shannon Corenthin
Producer
Shannon (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary theatre artist focused on uplifting the voices of women of color on stage. After earning her BFA in Theater Performance at Chapman University in Southern California, she moved to New York City where she worked for various arts organizations such as The Vineyard Theatre, The Drama League, Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre and Dancewave.
During her tenure at Hedgepig Ensemble Theatre, from 2020 – 2023, Shannon grew from ensemble member to Director of Production and curator of the Expand the Canon project (ETC) (a program aimed at incorporating female identifying playwrights into the theatrical canon).
Laurie-Anne Jean-Baptiste
Marketing Manager
Laurie-Anne Jean-Baptiste (she/her) is an experienced marketing professional with a demonstrated history in the telecommunications and IT industry. Her love for performing arts has kept her involved on the Montreal musical theatre scene for many years, as a performer and as a board member (VP Promotion) for The Lyric Theatre. Her studies in Cinema & Communications and Creative Writing only reinforced the creativity she discovered and fostered in her youth. Her career and creative projects have made her an inspired and passionate storyteller.
Gabrielle Cole
Office Coordinator
Gabrielle Cole (she/her) is a writer originally from Southern Ontario and now residing in Montreal. She holds a B.A. in English literature from McGill University and is pursuing an M.A. in Creative Writing at Concordia University. Inspired by her grandfather, a notable Jamaican poet whose work cemented him as a leading voice of West Indian/Caribbean literature, Gabrielle is interested in fresh voices, and stories from elsewhere.
Her experience in customer relations, marketing, and publicity roles have lent themselves to a deftness in communication and administration and building strong relationships with those she works with.
Board of directors
Join our Board of Directors!
Black Theatre Workshop is currently seeking innovative board members to support the organization’s mission, strategic direction, and long-term operations.
Interested candidates who are passionate about the performing arts are encouraged to fill out this application form. If you have any questions, please contact board@theatrebtw.ca.
Andréa Springer
President
Andréa is a senior public relations and communications professional with close to 30 years of experience spanning corporate communications, media and investor relations, as well as international programme development. She is currently the Acting Managing Director at the World Design Organization, where she works closely with municipalities and global partners to develop strategies that communicate the value of design on quality of life.
Bridging both her professional work and personal beliefs is an understanding in the power of the creative industries to drive social, cultural and economic impact. Since joining Black Theatre Workshop in 2019, Andréa has been committed to supporting the growth and appreciation of the performing arts, bringing a perspective shaped by her leadership experience in design and her passion for creative expression as a catalyst for community development.
Maria Weekes
Treasurer
Maria brings a passion for theatre, education and care for culture to her role on the BTW Board. With a love for the performing arts and specifically local theatre, she sees performance as both community engagement and edutainment—a site where creativity sparks dialogue, reflection and connection. While her ministry isn’t acting, she has dabbled in monologue writing and even benefitted from BTW Summer Workshop back in 2010.
Maria’s professional work in education is guided by the principle of care—centering learners’ cultural realities while fostering critical thought.
Her outlook results from holding a BA in Political Science and a much earlier one in Modern languages & Linguistics. These foundational studies set the stage for her MA in Educational Studies, where her academic and professional paths merge around questions of language, identity and social transformation.
Finally, Maria is committed to collaborating on BTW matters
addressing mission, sustainability and impact.
Carolyn Griffith
Board Member
Carolyn Griffith is the director of finance and operations for a Quebec organization committed to serving the needs of the legal community and has her CPA designation. Carolyn is native Montrealer. Carolyn has over 20 years of progressive experience as a compliance professional within the financial services industry. She is a believer in being proactive rather than reactive. Carolyn is a proud graduate of both Concordia University and McGill University. She brings to the board extensive experience in identifying, evaluating and mitigating risk in a heavily regulated industry. She comes with a proven track record within the compliance function in analysis, implementing and testing controls. Carolyn recently joined the board of directors of the Black Theatre Workshop in 2022. She is delighted to be part of the board and is excited to contribute to the living legacy of the Black Theatre Workshop.
Danielle Fortas
Outgoing Treasurer
Ms. Fortas has over 35 years of experience focused on technology implementations at BMO. With an emphasis on enterprise wide initiatives in Finance and Data Analytics, she has held multiple senior IT roles. Her latest management position has been in Back Office Operations where she has enabled process change within business units. Danielle immigrated from France to continue her university studies. She holds a degree in Economics from Paris X and a Bachelor of Commerce (Option MIS) from Concordia. She followed the University of Waterloo Program for BMO Technologists and the Project Management Program from York University. She is a member of the BMO Alliance for Women in Canada and the Black Professional Network. Danielle is passionate about arts, the development of black culture in Montreal and the sustainability of black community institutions within Quebec and Canada.
Tara Roberts, BComm., LL.L, JD Board Member
Tara Roberts is a seasoned legal professional with over a decade of experience in corporate, commercial, and contract law. As Senior Legal Counsel at Englobe Corp., she advises on strategic legal matters across Canada, leads privacy initiatives, and contributes to national operational committees. Tara holds law degrees in both common and civil law from the University of Ottawa and is licensed in both Ontario and Quebec. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in International Business from Concordia University. Her governance experience includes serving as a condominium syndicate president and mentoring emerging legal professionals through national programs. Tara brings a collaborative, culturally aware, and business-minded approach to her role on the Board of the Black Theatre Workshop.
Cheryl-Ann Lilieth
Board Member
Ms. Lilieth began her theatre training with BTW’s inaugural Summer Workshop Program. She went on to major in voice performance at McGill University and is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Ms. Lilieth has performed in both classical and musical theatre works in Canada and the United States, and has previously worked with Opéra de Montreal, The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, l’Orchestre Classique de Montréal, and Tapestry Opera. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from McGill University.
Patricia Blackett
Board Member
Patricia Blackett has a B.Ed. from McGill University and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, Cultural Studies from Queen’s University. She has worked as a classroom teacher for over twenty-five years, for the Kahnawake Education Center and the Lester B. Pearson School Board, at both the primary and secondary levels. She currently works in the Educational Services Department of the Lester B. Pearson School Board as the EDDI (Equity, Diversity, Dignity & Inclusion), Anti-Racist Pedagogical Consultant, and is responsible for the anchoring of Dignity in EDI. She spearheads the LITerary Advisory Committee and the DARE (Developing Anti-Racist Educators) group. Using stories as the medium and a joy-centric lens, she presents her “Becoming Antiracist” program to students in K4 to Grade 7 enrolled in LBPSB schools and presents workshops on the development of racial literacy, representation, and culturally responsive pedagogy to teachers across the province through the LCEEQ (Leadership Committee for English Education in Quebec) organization.