Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
Grinhaus, Jack
Jack Grinhaus is a Canadian actor, director, and artistic director, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. He began working in theatre at the age of eight when he was noticed on a game show in Toronto, Just Like Mom, and began to work in commercials. He moved into television and theatre and toured numerous amateur and TYA shows, winning school and amateur awards.
He has a BA Honours and MFA in Theatre from York University, an Associate Degree in Acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and has studied with theatre artists Uta Hagen, Graham Maclaren, Edward Albee, Atom Egoyan, and Ann Bogart and the SITI Company.
Following his MFA in 2009, Grinhaus began a directing career, apprenticing with numerous Canadian directors including Sarah Garton Stanley (Seven – Theatre Passe Muraille); Morris Panych (ART – Canadian Stage, Ghosts – Soulpepper Theatre Company); and Robert Lepage (Jeux De Cartes – Ex Machina). He directed his own play, The Complex: A Toronto Tale in 2010.
He had a string of major hits at the Toronto Fringe, including the Best of Venue winning production of Saved, by Edward Bond, and was named by the Torontoist as one of the top ten things about the Toronto Fringe. He then directed the world premiere of The Nun’s Vacation by Tom Walmsley and was nominated for a SAT award for direction for his production of ART at Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon.
In 2004, along with actor and playwright Lauren Brotman, he co-founded the indie company Bound to Create Theatre. The company focused on niche and diverse issues and premiered important and vibrant productions like the North American premiere of Jamaican British playwright debbie tucker green’s dirty butterfly, as part of Obsidian Theatre Company’s 2013/14 Season; the world premieres of Phaedra’s Lust through Tapestry New Opera, Isitwendam (An Understanding), written by Meegwun Fairbrother and co-created and directed by Grinhaus and produced with Native Earth Performing Arts as part of its 2018/19 Season; and an adaptation of Hedda Gabler, Hedda Noir, which premiered at Theatre NorthWest.
Grinhaus was the Associate Artistic Director at Grand Theatre, London during its 2012/13 Season. There he developed the GAB artist mentorship program and directed the Playwrights Cabaret series and Taming of the Shrew.
He was the Artistic Director of Theatre NorthWest for five seasons, directing productions of ART, and Half Life by John Mighton, among others.
In 2022, he was appointed Artistic Director of Vertigo Theatre in Calgary Alberta.
Grinhaus has developed, workshopped, programmed, and produced over fifty productions, directing over half of them. He is well known nationally for his dark, intense, visceral, and highly theatrical productions that speak in the many languages of theatre. As artistic director, producer, and director, he has garnered numerous national award nominations. Recently, he directed the new Canadian adaptation of Gaslight by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson, which had numerous nominations for the 2023 Betty Mitchell Awards in Calgary.
Last updated 2023-08-31
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