John A. Russell

honour roll inductee

Biography

John Alonzo Russell began a career in theatre creating and mounting set designs for the Winnipeg Little Theatre, the University Glee Club, the University Dramatic Society as well as some pageants. He was awarded the Canadian Drama Award in 1938.

He became associated with the ballet company because of his interest in theatre, and served as its Artistic Director, a title then used for the scenic designer.  Mr. Russell gave his time and artistic ability to the scenic design of Kilowatt Magic, The Wager, Les Preludes, Queen of Hearts, Zigeuner, An American in Paris, Object Matrimony, Children of Men, Pasticcio, Through the Looking Glass, The Shooting of Dan McGrew, Rondel, as well as The Planets and Finishing School, whose costumes were designed by his wife, Shirley. He also designed the set and costumes for The Wise Virgins and Allegory. Russell served on the RWB Board of Directors from 1949 to 1966 and was President from 1951 to 1953.

At the time, no one was paid for their work and Mr. Russell probably purchased the materials for painting the sets, which were done on-site at the Playhouse (later known as the Pantages Playhouse) Theatre, out of his own pocket.

Educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mr. Russell accepted a position at the School of Architecture at the University of Manitoba in 1928. He later received a diploma from the Fontainbleu School of Fine Arts in 1932. He became director of the school in 1946 and was later appointed Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, which is now housed in the John A. Russell building.

As an educator, Mr. Russell included a scenic design course in the curriculum and introduced many students to the world of theatre. Mr. Russell was the Director of the Winnipeg Art Gallery and a board member of the Winnipeg School of Art. As such, he introduced other artists who would become involved with the RWB, including Robert Bruce and Dorothy Phillips. He also belonged to the Federation of Canadian Artists and served as professional advisor and jurist for several national architectural competitions. He was Dean of the College of Fellows, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Manitoba Society of Artists, the Association of Architectural Historians – United States and Great Britain, and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture. He was an honorary life member in the Manitoba Association of Architects, a Fellow of the International Institute of Arts and Letters, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  He maintained his interest and support of the RWB until his death in 1966.