The Artistic Director of Forte, Joe Slabe

...is a local composer with a long track record of writing musical theatre in Calgary and internationally. With a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre Composition from the University of London, Joe has seen his shows performed in London, Philadelphia, New York and Kananaskis as well as in his home town of Calgary. He was the winner of the 2004 Greg Bond Award for outstanding contributions to musical theatre in Calgary. Joe's most widely performed project, a musical entitled Austentatious, was highly touted at the 2007 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Austentatious opened in March 2009 at the Landor Theater in London, England and the Canadian premiere was produced by Forte in March 2010. Calgary audiences will be familiar with Joe's adaptation of Robert Munsch's classic children's book The Paper Bag Princess as well as 27D Dunsinane Drive, Mutiny on the Shackter and Shackter of Love for Alberta Theatre Projects' Playz on the Plaza. Joe was the musical director for Forte's critically acclaimed Canadian premiere of Austentatious and co-creator of but this IS my day job... for which he received a Betty Mitchell Award nomination for outstanding musical direction!