{{Short description|Canadian choreographer and theatre director}} {{Infobox person | name = Donna Feore | image = Donna Feore CTM Interview 2024.jpg | alt = | caption = Feore in 2024 | birth_name = Donna Starnes | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|6|20}} | birth_place = Dawson Creek, British Columbia | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Choreographer, theatre director | years_active = | spouse = {{marriage|Colm Feore|1994}} | children = 2 | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Donna Feore''' (née Starnes,<ref name="nuvo" /> born June 20, 1963) is a Canadian choreographer and theatre director, most noted for her work with the National Arts Centre and the Stratford Festival.<ref name=nuvo>{{cite web |last=Ouzounian |first=Richard |title=Colm and Donna Feore: A most contemporary couple |url=https://nuvomagazine.com/magazine/spring-2006/colm-and-donna-feore-arts |website=NUVO |date=February 1, 2006}}</ref>
== Early life == Donna Starnes was born in Dawson Creek, British Columbia on June 20, 1963. She grew up in Prince George, British Columbia. She began training in ballet at age seven and, after moving to Vancouver, studied at the Pacific Ballet Theatre.<ref name="nuvo" />
== Career == After being seen by Brian Macdonald in a revue at the Imperial Lounge at Toronto's Royal York Hotel, Feore was cast to make her Stratford debut, as Donna Starnes, in 1990 as a featured dancer in ''Guys and Dolls''. That season, she was asked by Richard Monette to choreograph the feast of the Lupercal in his production of ''Julius Caesar''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Nestruck |first=J. Kelly |date=2017-05-26 |title=Musical theatre director Donna Feore is Stratford's secret weapon |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/musical-theatre-director-donna-feore-is-stratfords-secret-weapon/article35127326/ |access-date=2022-09-13}}</ref>
Feore has directed many musical theatre productions at Stratford, including ''Crazy for You'',<ref>{{cite web |title=The crazies shine this summer in Stratford |url=https://windsorstar.com/entertainment/the-crazies-shine-this-summer-in-stratford |website=Windsor Star |date=August 8, 2014}}</ref> ''The Sound of Music'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Ouzounian |first=Richard |title=Donna Feore is serious about The Sound of Music |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2015/05/15/donna-feore-is-serious-about-the-sound-of-music.html |work=Toronto Star |date=May 15, 2015}}</ref> ''Guys and Dolls''<ref>{{cite news |title=Female directors take the spotlight at Stratford: Next year's festival aims to boost its diversity programs, focus on Canadian identity |work=Toronto Star |date=June 15, 2016}}</ref> and ''A Chorus Line''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Last chance for best of the fests: With several extended shows, theatre lovers still have time to see those Stratford and Shaw must-sees |work=Toronto Star |date=October 6, 2014}}</ref>
Feore has also worked with the National Arts Centre (NAC) in Ottawa, the Detroit Symphony, and the Canadian Opera Company. For the NAC, she was creative producer and director of ''Life Reflected'', described as "an immersive symphonic experience celebrating youth, promise and courage, revealed in the compelling and diverse portraits of four women". She was also director of ''The Hockey Sweater'' and ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' by Felix Mendelssohn, and the creator of the NAC's ''Undisrupted'' series for CBC Gem.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lederman |first=Marsha |title=National Arts Centre Orchestra's eclectic new CBC Gem series showcases Canadian talent |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/art-and-architecture/article-national-arts-centre-orchestras-eclectic-new-cbc-gem-series-showcases/ |website=The Globe and Mail |date=September 1, 2021}}</ref>
In addition to her work in the theatre, Feore has choreographed for film and television. She served as choreographer for the ''Eloise'' tv movies (''Eloise at Christmastime'' and ''Eloise at the Plaza'') and the film ''Mean Girls''.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Robin Wong TIFF Schmooze Colm Feore 2007.jpg|thumb|300px|Donna and Colm Feore at TIFF 2007]] In 2022, Feore announced she would be taking a break from the Stratford Festival.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fricker |first=Karen |date=2022-08-14 |title=Acclaimed musical theatre director and choreographer Donna Feore taking a break from Stratford Festival in 2023 |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2022/08/14/acclaimed-musical-theatre-director-and-choreographer-donna-feore-taking-a-break-from-stratford-festival-in-2023.html |access-date=2022-09-13}}</ref> In 2023, she directed and choreographed the world premiere of the musical ''Summer Stock'' at the ''Goodspeed Opera House''.<ref>[https://www.goodspeed.org/summer-stock-cast]</ref>
==Personal life== Donna Feore met actor Colm Feore in 1990 while Donna had just started as a dancer at the Stratford Festival. They have been married since 1994. Together they have two children,<ref name="nuvo" /> Anna and Tom. Feore also has a step-son, Jack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Antoniak |first=Jane |date=2019-03-05 |title=Dabbling in Wonderful: Donna Feore on Work, Parenting & Inspiration |url=https://eatdrink.ca/dabbling-in-wonderful-donna-feore-on-work-parenting-inspiration/ |access-date=2022-09-13 |website=eatdrink Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{IMDb name|1113943}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Feore, Donna}} Category:1963 births Category:Canadian choreographers Category:Canadian musical theatre directors Category:People from Dawson Creek Category:Living people Category:Canadian women choreographers