On May 13 the staff, board, friends, family, and colleagues celebrated the incredible career of Shadow Theatre’s founder, John Hudson.
John’s career is wildly impressive not only due to his many accomplishments, but also because he built an incredible community around him, creating a long lasting legacy.
In his three decades at Shadow Theatre John hired 479 artists, directed 137 shows, produced 41 world premieres, and won 25 Sterling Awards.
As John's youngest daughter Bella so eloquently put, "From my father I have learned not just what it means to be an artist but what it means to be a member of a community. He has taught me how important it is to show up for others, to be kind and compassionate and to always respect and celebrate the work other people do. He has taught me that art is rarely a solitary act.”
Countless artists can be grateful to John for launching their careers, and every single person who walks through the doors of the new Varscona Theatre has John to thank, as he did the lion’s share of the fundraising. Without him, there would be no new Varscona. Without him, many of us wouldn’t have careers in the arts.
Actor, former general manager, and dear friend of John’s, Coralie Cairns, reminisced: “The hours and passion he gave to building the new theatre were breathtaking. The old theatre was falling apart and snow would fall on the stage from a hole in the roof. We could see our breath onstage. Our loyal subscribers would bring sleeping bags to the shows to keep warm. At the same time as the construction of the new building, we were creating a new temporary theatre in the Arts Barns so the companies could continue their seasons without disruption, plus we were also moving our administrative belongings into a storage closet that Holy Trinity church had generously offered us... as an office. AND somehow…we survived to tell this tale!”
In addition to John’s career as an artist and entrepreneur, he also spent much of his career being a community builder. When John wants things to change he takes action, and that led him to run for office, running twice for the Alberta Party in 2012 and 2015. He has always worked tirelessly to make the world a better place and to contribute to his community in a quantifiable way.
As Former Shadow Theatre Board Chair Kieran LeBlanc said: “There are many reasons that motivate people to run for political office. Some are rooted in an ego that is looking for some kind of gratification or the fulfilment of a personal agenda; for others it is a blind partisan alliance. And then there are those people who run because they actually want to make a difference. John was one of those.”
His contributions to Edmonton were also honoured when in 2016 he was inducted into the City of Edmonton’s Cultural Hall of Fame.
It’s going to be strange without John’s big tall friendly presence around the theatre every day. We are so grateful for all he has done to set Shadow up for another 30 successful years. His legacy will be carried on by Lana, Karen, and the incredible troop of artists who rally to make Shadow Theatre’s gorgeous productions, continuing to positively impact Edmonton’s thriving theatre scene.
Past President, Donal O’Beirne, said it best: “You were right to push us. You were right to dream bigger than our bank account… You are leaving us with a stronger board, a gorgeous theatre, and a community that knows how to dream a little louder because of you.”
What’s next for John? Well, he’s already busy in the theatre world. You can catch him in Opera Nuova’s production of Brigadoon, directing at Spotlight Cabaret, and directing Shadow’s final show of our 2026/27 season, The Golden Anniversaries. Plus there’s travel, pickleball, more time with his family...and of course playing with his two adorable dogs Boo and Dolly.
As long-term collaborator and actor John Sproule said in his remarks:
“A great line from a recent play I got to do with John – Bloomsday – captured some essence of the tapestry of John’s contributions.
My character said:
‘Time is not a series of neat single notes we call “the present” — one played after another … Time is a chord: many notes, past-present-future. All real, all alive, and all played at once.’
John you have given us all a fantastic legacy of many notes – past, present, and future! All real, all alive – and they will continue to be played in our memories.”
On July 20th, John will be celebrated by the entire theatre community as he has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Edmonton Theatre Award.
Thank you, John. For your rigor, big dreams, determination, kindness, courage, and the incredible legacy you have built for us. Your contributions will continue to resonate through the artists, audiences, and community you've helped build. Take a moment to look back at John's legacy with this video by Marc Chalifoux.
