Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Flu linked to artist's death
By CLARA HO
Last Updated: 7th November 2009, 4:59am
A well-known member of the local theatre arts community and founder of Grant MacEwan University's musical theatre program died Thursday night from complications related to the H1N1 virus.
Tim Ryan, 62, died after battling a heart condition, pneumonia and the virus, family members said on Facebook.
Students and faculty members were notified of Ryan's death yesterday and took the news very hard, said university spokesman David Beharry.
"There was a lot of grief," he said, adding counselling services will be made available to students and staff.
Before Ryan arrived at Grant MacEwan in 1979, he worked in theatre in Ohio, directing and performing in operas, plays and musicals.
He founded the MacEwan theatre arts program in 1980, directing a number of productions such as The Alchemist, The Oresteia and A Dream Play.
"Under his tutelage, his students blossomed," said Colin MacLean, who reviews theatre and arts in Edmonton for Sun Media and met Ryan in 1980, adding many of his graduates now sing on Broadway, in Las Vegas, on tour boats and in touring companies across North America.
Ryan was also the artistic director of the local Leave It to Jane Theatre Company, directing productions such as Measure for Measure, Violet and Saturday Night.
MacLean said Ryan's family was also deeply involved in the local theatre community. His two daughters Bridget and Kate and his ex-wife Maralyn are well-known actors and his wife Laurie Fumagalli is a pianist who has accompanied Ryan's works.
"This is truly a loss not only for MacEwan," said Beharry, "but for the city of Edmonton."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/swineflu/2009/11/07/11667996-sun.html
By CLARA HO
Last Updated: 7th November 2009, 4:59am
A well-known member of the local theatre arts community and founder of Grant MacEwan University's musical theatre program died Thursday night from complications related to the H1N1 virus.
Tim Ryan, 62, died after battling a heart condition, pneumonia and the virus, family members said on Facebook.
Students and faculty members were notified of Ryan's death yesterday and took the news very hard, said university spokesman David Beharry.
"There was a lot of grief," he said, adding counselling services will be made available to students and staff.
Before Ryan arrived at Grant MacEwan in 1979, he worked in theatre in Ohio, directing and performing in operas, plays and musicals.
He founded the MacEwan theatre arts program in 1980, directing a number of productions such as The Alchemist, The Oresteia and A Dream Play.
"Under his tutelage, his students blossomed," said Colin MacLean, who reviews theatre and arts in Edmonton for Sun Media and met Ryan in 1980, adding many of his graduates now sing on Broadway, in Las Vegas, on tour boats and in touring companies across North America.
Ryan was also the artistic director of the local Leave It to Jane Theatre Company, directing productions such as Measure for Measure, Violet and Saturday Night.
MacLean said Ryan's family was also deeply involved in the local theatre community. His two daughters Bridget and Kate and his ex-wife Maralyn are well-known actors and his wife Laurie Fumagalli is a pianist who has accompanied Ryan's works.
"This is truly a loss not only for MacEwan," said Beharry, "but for the city of Edmonton."
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/swineflu/2009/11/07/11667996-sun.html