Steve Ballantine: 1952-2007

The following tribute to Steve Ballantine, founder of the Sault Youth Theatre, was submitted by Wendy Hamilton:

************************* Family, friends and colleagues are mourning the sudden illness and death of theatre artist and teacher, Steve Ballantine, founder of The Sault Youth Theatre, who has left an indelible legacy on the arts community of this area since his arrival 21 years ago.

Steve first came to Sault St. Marie from Toronto as a guest director for Stage North in 1986.

An avid outdoorsman, Steve fell in love with the area, and moved here in 1988, mentored by the Sault Opera Society’s, Arno Ambel, who assisted Steve in staging a number of modern musicals, such as Billy Bishop Goes to War, Rock and Roll, 18 Wheels and Little Shop of Horrors.

During the early years of the Sault Youth Theatre, Steve set out to create a program of training for local youth through winter productions and a summer touring company, touring such children’s classics as The Little Prince and Winnie the Pooh to communities throughout the north.

He seized every opportunity to introduce his students to the professional theatre world, regularly bringing in professional artists to conduct workshops.

His three-week intensive training program on St. Joseph Island, which affectionately became known as “The Dream on the Island”, brought Shakespeare to life in a startling outdoor setting at the Algoma Music Camp each year.

Steve also created a fascinating body of work in partnership with Algoma University Theatre, staging difficult plays from the world theatre marked by his signature set designs (many will remember his 1998 production of Eurydice, framed by hundreds of suitcases donated by the community, covering the walls and ceiling of the theatre.)

In recent years the company has been run by Steve’s long-time protégée and friend, Loretta Durat while Steve has been working in the schools conducting workshops for both teachers and students in a style of theatre creation known as “forum theatre”.

Steve was an active fighter for professional development in the local arts scene, serving on the boards of directors of the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie, the RAPIDS community planning process, the Cultural Advisory Board and the Community Theatre Centre management board.

In 1992 he spearheaded the establishment of Soothfest, a high-school level theatre competition that continues to this day.

He was an intrinsic part of the Summer Playhouse during its three year run, and was a driving force behind the KCTC Summer Theatre School, which is now starting its second season.

He also taught at Algoma University and Lake Superior State.

In his own life, Steve never stopped being a student of theatre craft.

He held a degree from the University of Windsor and was a scholarship student at the Banff School of Fine Arts, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London England) and the Tukak Theatre in Denmark.

In 2000 he received his Masters in Applied Theatre from the University of Manchester.

Steve’s commitment to this community is perhaps best summed up in his own words.

“I have never believed that ‘It’ must come out of Toronto or New York or some other ‘great beyond’ to be of merit and warrant our respect."

"If there is, and I believe there is, such as thing as a Canadian cultural identity, it is right here under our noses."

"All it requires is the sweat and fortitude to dig it out."

"The work I do, and my fellow artists do here in Sault Ste. Marie, we are the cultural pioneers.”

Steve is survived by his life companion, Angela Scullino and his beloved stepchildren and grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday June 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a service the following day at 1pm at Arthur Funeral Home.

Friends and Sault Youth Theatre alumni, many living in far flung parts of the continent, plan to hold a celebration of Steve’s life as an artist later in the year.

Steve Ballantine was 55 years old.

************************