Marvin Ishmael, the Assistant Professor of Theatre- Acting at the UTT’s Academy for the Performing Arts has been announced as the new President of the National Drama Association of Trinidad and Tobago (NDATT).
In a media release to the T&T Performing Arts Network, the NDATT said, “The Executive Committee (EC) unanimously agreed to appoint Ishmael (the former Vice President) as its President for the remainder of its tenure. “
The position of President became vacant following the sudden death of NDATT President Edwin Erminy on December 31, 2018. The decision to fill the vacancy was made at the NDATT’s monthly statutory meeting of the Executive Committee on January 16th.
Marvin’s term, and the tenure of the current EC will end at the NDATT’s Annual General Meeting in November 2019. The position of Vice President will remain vacant until this time.
About Marvin Ishmael
Marvin L. Ishmael graduated from York University (Toronto) where he received his MFA in directing. He obtained his BFA from Ryerson University (Toronto.) He is the former founder and artistic director of We Are One Theatre Productions, which was the first Canadian Company of color to be invited to perform at The Du Maurier World Stage Festival. He has written sixteen plays all produced in Canada and the USA, he received a Chalmers Award for “Forever Free” and a Dora Mavor Moore Award for “My Father, My Hero”.
He has guest starred on episodic television including, King, Sanctuary, The Border, Blue Murder, Night Heat, Counterstrike was a regular on the series Testees, recurs on De Grassi The Next Generation, and has just completed Season Three of Ces Gars La, Television series shot in Montreal, in which he plays the father of comedian Sugar Sammy. He has appeared in over seventy television spots and commercials. Full television resume can be seen on IMDB.
On Stage he has appeared in All’s Well That Ends Well, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Othello, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, Macbeth, David Hare’s A Map of the World, Guru Gantaal in The Matka King at the Arts Club, as well as key roles in The Odd Couple, Wipe That Smile, Playboy of The West Indies, and Sweet Pan. He has played at The National Art Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Centaur, The Grand, Arts Club, Sudbury Theatre Centre, Carousel, Young Peoples’ Theatre and The Factory Theatre.
In 2004, he was in the Broadway musical, Bombay Dreams, music by AR Rahman, playing one of the principal performers Madan.
In 2014 he toured in the smash hit with David Suchet “The Last Confession”. He is also in the Encyclopedia of Who’s Who in Canadian theatre.
He was nominated for a 2016 Gemini Award as Best Actor in a supporting role /Comedy for his work in Season 2 and 3 – Ces Gars La(Montreal).
In addition to acting, Marvin Ishmael has directed over fifty productions.
Marvin L Ishmael returned to Trinidad and Tobago in 2014 as an Assistant Professor of Theatre- Acting at the UTT’s Academy for the Performing Arts. His aim was to assist, foster and grow the next generation of Trinidadian artists who would be able to take their places within the artistic community worldwide.
See Marvin’s Acting Reel below.
The Trinidad and Tobago Performing Arts Network 
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