MFA in Writing Grad Danielle Altrogge Named Head of Fringe Festival

Recent MFA in Writing graduate Danielle Altrogge just landed the position of executive director of 25th Street Theatre Centre, which include being named the new head of the PotashCorp Fringe Theatre and Street Festival.

“It seemed like kind of a dream job, really, and I feel so lucky to be added to the team,” Altrogge told Star Phoenix arts reporter Cam Fuller. “Arts administration is always something I’ve been passionate about, making a space for artists.”

Previously, she was executive director of the local weekly poetry night, Tonight It's Poetry. 

“I come from performance poetry and spoken word poetry so I’ve kind of always been interested in the intersections of art and especially how theatre and performance poetry intersect — that’s what I did my thesis on.”

Altrogge isn't the only recent MFA in Writing grad to land a prestigious position within the Saskatoon arts community. Katherine Lawrence, a fellow MFA in Writing grad, was named the new Writer in Residence for the Saskatoon Public Library, a position she will occupy until the end of May 2018.

The local poet and playwright was very grateful for the opportunity to assist aspiring writers with honing their craft and finding their unique literary voice.

“My message to the SPL is, ‘Thank you for making it possible for writers to gather with birds of the same feather,’ ” Lawrence said in a release. “My message to emerging and established writers is ‘Let’s fly.’ ”