OLT president and frequent leading man Geoff Gruson dies

Ottawa Little Theatre has announced the death of president and longtime actor/director Geoff Gruson on Dec. 19.

“Only three days earlier, Geoff had completed a run in the title role of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley,” the theatre said in a Facebook appreciation this week.

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Gruson was a member of the theatre’s board of directors for 20 years, while acting in 51 plays since 1981 and directing 24 others.

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The appreciation had a long list of Gruson’s OLT duties over the years, ranging from “fight director” to set designer.

“He brought a wealth of experience from the professional world — both in management as well as in professional film, TV and stage, and presidency of ACTRA — into the community theatre world of OLT,” the theatre’s tribute said.

“He strengthened partnerships with other community theatres in particular: Orpheus Musical Theatre Society, Linden House, Tara Players and Kanata Theatre.”

As an actor, he was frequently the leading man, but “he also played supporting roles and stepped in at the last minute in emergencies.

“When he directed, his actors learned an enormous amount from his tireless insistence on achieving the best possible performances. He also mentored up-and-coming directors”

As a member of the board of directors, Gruson “helped initiate and guide the strategic vision that transformed the OLT in 2008-09.

“After becoming president in 2017, he led the OLT back to being the volunteer-run community theatre it is today and then guided us through the pandemic to the 100 per cent sold-out houses of A Christmas Carol.”

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Outside the theatre, Gruson had more than 28 years experience in strategic planning and performance management — in both the public and private sectors — with clients including IBM, Health and Welfare Canada, Citizenship and Immigration, Human Resource Development Canada, Customs and Excise, and PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting. His CV cites a focus on a variety of strategy-focused management systems, performance measures and organizational change “readiness”, among others.

He was also a part-time consultant for Interpol, the international police organization.

Gruson was a Recipient of the Queen’s “Diamond Jubilee Medal” in recognition of contribution to Canadian policing for a number of strategy and management initiatives.

He is survived by his partner and fellow actor, director and OLT worker Venetia Lawless.

A celebration of life will take place at the Ottawa Little Theatre on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. with a reception in the theatre lobby to follow. All are welcome.

With Postmedia files

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