The Arts Club is mourning the loss of one its greatest artists, Janet Wright, who passed away this morning after years of health struggles.
Artistic Managing Director Bill Millerd says, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of actress, director, and multi-talented Janet Wright. She was a powerful actor and inspired director who created intelligent and challenging theatre for our audiences. We will miss her immense talent, her caustic wit, and her incredible strength in facing tragedy. Our love and condolences go out to the Wright family.”
Wright’s career at the Arts Club began in 1967, when she performed as one of the Pigeon sisters in The Odd Couple. What followed was a nearly 50-year career as a rigorous and respected actor and director of more than 30 Arts Club productions combined. As a director, she was skilled at nuanced texts such as the 1987 Jessie Award–winning production of Glengarry Glen Ross and more recent critically acclaimed American plays like August: Osage County, Clybourne Park, The Mountaintop, and Disgraced.
While loyal to Vancouver audiences and deeply connected to the Arts Club, Wright built a national theatre career that spanned work from Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre to Toronto’s Canadian Stage, including multiple returns acting at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Arts Club artists who have worked directly with Wright are deeply affected by this loss. Crystal Balint, who performed in Wright’s The Mountaintop says, “She was a force, a true artist and a gift to our community. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to work with her.”
“Janet Wright was a real badass,” says director Chelsea Haberlin, who served as Wrights’ assistant director on a number of productions. “She was fierce and uncompromising. She paved the way for future generations of women to be leaders in theatre and to do so as their true, honest selves. I don't think Janet knew how to be anything but supremely honest. She was hilarious and led a rehearsal room full of heated debate and hysterical laughter. I was very fortunate to have her as a mentor and she will be deeply missed.”
The Arts Club will hold a celebration of life for the Vancouver theatre community, with details to be released on the company website and social media channels.
