Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas, at its July 2011 conference hosted by the Denver Center Theatre Company at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, awarded the organization’s prestigious G. E. Lessing Career Achievement to DD Kugler, Theatre, School for the Contemporary Arts, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. DD Kugler has had a distinguished career as a freelance dramaturg and arts educator, and in 2010 he received an Excellence in Teaching Award through student nominations at Simon Fraser University. Currently he is serving a three-year term as Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies. Throughout his career, he has sought to bring new voices and modern adaptations to Canadian theatre and dance.

DD's prolific freelance career includes work as director/dramaturg at Arts Club (Vancouver), Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary), Battery Opera (Vancouver), Canadian Opera Company (Toronto), Caravan Farm Theatre (Armstrong, BC), Globe Theatre (Regina), Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay), Mulgrave Road Theatre (Nova Scotia), Nakai Theatre Ensemble (Whitehorse), the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Ottawa Shakespeare Festival, Pacific Theatre (Vancouver), Playwrights Theatre Centre (Vancouver), Playwrights Workshop Montreal, Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre, The Stratford Festival,The Theatre Centre (Toronto), Touchstone Theatre (Vancouver), and Twenty-Fifth Street Theatre (Saskatoon).

A long-time member of Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas and the organization’s first Canadian member, he also served a two-year term as LMDA's first President (2000-2002) from Canada. Congratulations to DD on becoming the fifth Lessing Lifetime Achievement Award winner in LMDA’s history and the first freelance dramaturg to be selected for this honor.

For further information, contact Board Chair, Cynthia SoRelle