David Cheoros

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David Cheoros, Producer of LitFest

Kathleen Renne talks to David Cheoros

David Cheoros is a cultural manager, curator and multidisciplinary artist with more than fifteen years of service in the city of Edmonton. Prior to coming to Edmonton, he pursued a BA (Theatre/Business joint honours) at the University of Waterloo, and a MFA in Theatre Directing at the University of Victoria. He worked with such organizations as the Stratford Festival, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Tapestry Opera, Esprit Orchestra and the Writers Trust of Canada. He also produced and directed two productions that toured the Canadian
Fringe circuit, and took three productions to the Adelaide Fringe.

He came to Edmonton in 1997 to become Festival Director of the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival. Over his five years, he also premiered the presentation of film at the festival, expanded the family programming, created the Beyond the Fringe adult presentation series, and increased both artist and audience participation in the Fringe.

In 2000, David co-founded the Comedy Arts Festival with Pamela Anthony, and was co-producer for the first two festivals. David then stepped into a board membership role with the organization, supporting Ms. Anthony in the festival’s two subsequent incarnations.

In 2001, David became Executive Director of the Film and Video Arts Society — Alberta. During his time, the film/video coop increased membership and expanded into professional-quality editing and video production gear.

In 2004, David was appointed General Manager of Theatre Network, where he remained until 2007. He also worked as an independent arts consultant, providing advice on governance, fundraising and grant- writing to individual artists and organizations throughout the city of Edmonton. He also spearheaded the development of a comprehensive $750M programming plan for the city’s bid to host EXPO in 2017.

In December of 2007, David became Producer of LitFest: Edmonton’s Nonfiction Festival. In its five years, LitFest has grown from 500 patrons to 2,500; from seven authors to 42; from 4 days to 11; and from a regionally focused event to become Canada’s premier festival of nonfiction.

David is an active volunteer with a dozen arts organizations. In the last 15 years, he has served on the boards of the Alberta Arts Festivals Association, Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals, Concrete Theatre, Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Capital Region Tourism Partnership, Edmonton Community Services Advisory Board, Film and Video Arts Society, Professional Arts Coalition of Edmonton, and the Winter Light Society.

David also remains a practicing theatre and film artist: he has written 5 plays in the last decade, directed a dozen theatre works, directed 2 short films and produced 2 others, and acted in two films and a Fringe production. With his wife, Karen Simonson, he curates a venue at the Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival, which presents a slate of text-centric work at the Strathcona Public Library.

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