Mary left us on July 21st, 2021 at Ross Memorial Hospital in Lindsay, Ontario, a short distance from her home at Balsam Lake, Coboconk at the age of 90. She is predeceased by her loving parents Madeleine and Stuart Webb, who encouraged and supported her in her love of music and theatre. Her early years were spent in Cobourg, Ontario, after which she went to Toronto to study piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Mary was the Queen of Canadian Theatre Publicists. When people asked her what she did, she would laughingly say “I put bums in seats.” She helped forge the success and popularity of Canada’s prestigious Stratford Festival from 1968 to 1975. Responsible for all press contacts, she travelled with the company on tour in Canada, the United States, and Europe. Mary directed the company’s international advertising campaigns, and led the first international tour to Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland and Russia.
During Canada’s Centennial Year, Webb was responsible of publicity for coast-to-coast tours of Canada by The National Ballet of Canada, the New York Philharmonic with Leonard Bernstein, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the National Theatre of Great Britain with Sir Lawrence Olivier, Frances’s famous Ballet Roland Petit, Canada’s Neptune Theatre, Theatre de Nouveau Monde, Les Feux Follets and Charlottetown Festival’s Anne of Green Gables, among other companies. Mary later acknowledged the importance of this tour as it brought Canadian companies to Canadian towns who would never have been able to afford them without the 1967 government subsidy. Mary Webb had connections with many seminal Canadian theatres during an important period when chain of Canadian playhouses was operating cross the country. Early in her career, she realized good relationships were of key importance with journalists and always maintained a close relationship with members of the media.
After obtaining some experience with amateur theatre groups in Toronto, her first professional theatre position in 1961-1962 was as press representative for Vineland Garden Centre Theatre, a summer stock venue where she worked with many famous stars from film, television and the Broadway theatre, including such luminaries as Claudia MacNeil, Edward Everett Horton, Martha Raye, Eve Arden, Fabian, Alexis Smith and Craig Stevens, Arlene Francis and Eartha Kitt. Her stories about those happy days are both prolific and hilarious. She should have written a book about her adventures in these golden days of summer stock and star power. They would have made a terrific book if Webb had ever stopped long enough to write one.
From 1964 to 1968 Webb was publicity director for another prestigious Canadian theatre, The Manitoba Theatre Centre under artistic directors John Hirsch and Jean Gascon, and general manager Bill Wylie. Mary was forever grateful for the theatre knowledge that she gained from these three theatre giants. Widely acclaimed productions during her time at MTC included Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf starring Kate Reid and Donald Davis, Mother Courage with Australian star Zoe Caldwell, and the celebrated first English language production of The Dance of Death with Jean Gascon and Denise Pelletier, famous stars not only in Quebec but throughout Canada.
Before that, closer to home, from 1962 to 1964, Webb was publicity director for the legendary Crest Theatre Foundation promoting the company’s seasons at the wonderful old Crest Theatre and guiding the publicity for such Canadian stars as Kate Reid, Barbara Hamilton, Bruno Gerussi, Murray Davis, Barbara Chilcott, and Broadway star Zoe Caldwell. During this period, Mary Webb wrote informative articles about the theatre in Canada for the iconic British publication Theatre World Annual. These articles remain a source of historic interest to theatre-goers in Canada today.
Prior to her lengthy theatre career, Mary Webb taught on the piano faculty of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Later she became a booking publicist for the international talent management agency Columbia Artists Management.
Webb’s final assignment before retirement was at Hamilton Place Theatre from 1976 to 1992 where she supervised all public relations, working closely with guest artists such as Harry Belafonte, Nana Mouskouri, Johnny Dankworth, Charles Aznavour, Tony Bennett, Eartha Kitt, Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton among many others. Mary also had the distinction of promoting the Bolshoi Ballet’s much anticipated North American debut at Hamilton Place.
Mary’s great love of theatre continued throughout her lifetime. In addition to her close relationships with journalists, she had great respect for the many staff members that she supervised. A woman of many colours, Mary was an avid reader, loved cooking, and found time to enjoy skiing, canoeing, and tennis. Keeping a sharp eye on the stock market, Webb’s life was a fulfilling and rewarding one outside of her work.
After retiring, she moved up North and settles at Balsam Lake, Coboconk, a part of the country she had always loved – ideal for her as other retired friends were already settled there. Her friendships were lifelong and meant a great deal to her. She had a dear companion most of her life until he passed away in 2019.
A bright intelligent woman, capable of taking charge when necessary, she was also a person that could make you laugh. Her knowledge of the theatre was huge and her stories about her life were warm and witty. No matter how many times Mary had health or personal issues; she never let things get her down. An upbeat person, her glass was always three-quarters full. “I lived life to the fullest”, Mary said. “I loved life and held onto it. I just loved people, all people. Life has been good to me. You could say – I was fortunate and a fascinating trip.”
Mary will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours. Family would like to thank Evelyn, Ann & Bob, Jackie, Dave and Bonnie for their caring support and above all, a most grateful thank you to Linda for her selfless devotion, utter courage, and dear friendship.
Remembered by Gary Smith, Edited by Kathryn Burgess
“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Donations to the Hamilton Theatre hamiltontheatre.com/donate/ would be appreciated.
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Wednesday July 21st 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Mary Elizabeth Webb Wednesday July 21st 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Fenelon-Falls, Province: Ontario