Actor, director and playwright Guy Mignault will be the new artistic director of Theatre Francais de Toronto (TfT), beginning in February after he completes his acting stint in La Compagnie Jean Duceppe's L'Expulsion De Lily Barton.

For the past eight years, Mignault has served as artistic director and producer of Theatre de la Chevrerie in Quebec. He has appeared in such productions as Je N'Aime Que Toi, Au Secours, Les Beaux-Freres and Snack Bar. He's written 15 plays, several for young audiences. He has directed at such venues as the Maison du Citoyen, Palais des Congres de Hull, Theatre d'ete' du Mont Avila and Salon du Livre de l'Outaouais.

Mignault has been quoted as saying that "being a story teller is close to being a magician. If I am coming to Toronto, it is because I believe that I have been called by a kind of magic."

TfT was founded in 1967 by Claudette Gobeil and other theatre enthusiasts. It went under the name Theatre du P'tit Bonheur (TPB) for 20 years before changing its title to TfT to mark the troupe's two decade anniversary. Artistic directors have included John Van Burek, Eugene Gallant and previous artistic director, Diana Leblanc, who left June 1996 to pursue an outside acting and directing career.

Two other plays will fill out Theatre Francais De Toronto's 29th season: Helene Pedneault's drama, The Deposition (Feb. 12-March 1) and Robert Marinier's solo, Insomnia (April 18-May 3). For tickets and information call (416)534-7303. -- By David Lefkowitz