Michael Green's last act: Calgary theatre innovator remembered

Calgary's arts community took to the stage Mondayto shine the spotlight on a life well-lived.

More than 1,200people came to celebrateOne Yellow Rabbit co-founder Michael Green at a memorial held at theJack Singer Concert Hall.

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"It seems he should be on the stage and in many ways he will be," said MaggieSchofield.

The 58-year-oldwas one of five people killed in amulti-vehiclehighway accident in Saskatchewan on Feb. 10.

The accident also claimed the lives ofLacy Morin-Desjarlais and Michele Sereda well-known members of Regina's arts sceneand Blood Tribe elderNarcisse Blood.

Green had been working on a project called "Making Treaty 7" and was on his way to a school on areservewhen the crash happened.

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshisaid Green was a fearless performer who left it all on the stage.

Green worked in the Calgary arts community for more than three decades. He co-founded OYR in 1982, which became one of Calgary's most innovative theatre companies. Green was alsothe curator and driving force behind the High Performance Rodeo, which is Calgarys annualmulti-theatre festival of the arts.

"He invited so many different types of people together to work and created an environment that was all about possibility and all about sharing," said Vicki Stroich of Alberta Theatre Projects.

The City of Calgarylit upprominent landmarks last week in ayellowglow asa small tribute to a man who was a pioneer of Calgary's theatre scene.

"To know that the National Arts Centre had their flags at half-mast with the loss of Michael this week tells us this is so much bigger than one individual, it's our whole country and whole community," said Shelley Switzer of the Edmonton International Street Performance Festival.

Green is survived by his wife and daughter.