Mitchell Marcus is the Executive Director, Site Activation & Programming at Toronto-based Northcrest Developments, the lead developer of YZD. Mitchell is responsible for establishing and overseeing a creative placemaking vision for YZD, the 370-acre former Downsview Airport lands. Under his leadership, YZD has implemented a robust “Meanwhile Use” strategy, welcoming over 100,000 attendees in the first year for a range of cultural and creative experiences that balance free community programming in collaboration with local organizations and large international activations.
Prior to joining Northcrest, Mitchell was the Founding Artistic Director and CEO of The Musical Stage Company. Under his leadership, it became the largest and leading not-for-profit musical theatre company in Canada, earning 23 Dora Awards and 19 Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards. Mitchell was the Associate Producer for the inaugural six years of Luminato, collaborating with theatre, dance, film and music organizations from around the world. He has held arts management roles with the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize, University of Toronto, Ryerson University, and the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts.
Mitchell was one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 honourees; has received The Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Administration and was a finalist for the Roy Thomson Hall Award. He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Luminato Festival and Paul Penna DJDS.
