FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12th, 2026
Common Boots Theatre Announces New Leadership under Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson
Toronto, ON — Common Boots Theatre is excited to announce a new chapter in its evolution, welcoming Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson as its new leadership.
Throughout our four decades of history, Common Boots Theatre has maintained a strong history of producing provocative, incisive, new Canadian theatre and creating a supportive environment for unique voices to thrive. Under the stewardship of Morgan and Alex, the theatre will continue to create live performance through a boundless sense of play and wonder, with a myriad of inspirations and collaborators, meeting at multiple access points for audiences to enjoy. The company will continue this mission while expanding its commitment to experimental creation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and artist-centered practices.
Morgan and Alex are no strangers to the Common Boots Theatre community: Alex was on the board from 2014 to 2022, and together they have collaborated with several of the company’s leading artists. They are co-founders of Animacy Collective, a performance collective known for its imaginative, genre-defying work and deep investment in process, play, and collaboration. Their approach emphasizes curiosity, care, and ecological embeddedness . These values align closely with the spirit of Common Boots Theatre and as such, they were a natural fit into the roles. Morgan and Alex have been heavily inspired by the feminist clown work and collaborative leadership model of Common Boots Theatre founders Martha Ross and Leah Cherniak, with Martha directing their first show together as a duo. They are also the creators of A Raccoon Solstice, a new co-production with Common Boots Theatre and Theatre Direct, inspired by Common Boots Theatres’ legacy of The Winter Shows under Jennifer Brewin’s leadership.
“We are so honoured to be invited to join this community that has meant so much to our development as physical theatre artists. Leading a company that has such a strong reputation of site-specific storytelling, feminist comedy, and collaborative creation is a dream come true for us!” – Morgan Brie Johnson and Alexandra Simpson
As Common Boots Theatre enters this new phase, audiences and collaborators can expect a continuation of its adventurous programming, alongside new opportunities for experimentation, partnerships, and community engagement guided by fresh vision.
Further announcements regarding upcoming projects, programming, and opportunities will be shared in the coming months. This shift comes as we say a sad farewell to outgoing Artistic Director Derek Kwan as he steps down from his tenure to make space to pursue new projects and inspirations.
For more information, please contact:
Patricia Allison
Communications Manager
[email protected]
www.commonbootstheatre.ca