In 1995, Palmer directed the play The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, which she co-wrote with Ann-Marie MacDonald. The play was performed by Theatre Columbus, a clown-inspired company created by Leah Cherniak and Martha Ross, and co-starred MacDonald, Cherniak, and Ross. The Attic was nominated for several Dora Mavor Moore awards in the Small Theatre division, including for Outstanding New Play or Musical and for Outstanding Direction. In 2011, Palmer and all of the original cast members except Cherniak, re-staged The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls with Tarragon Theatre. Palmer's first interaction with Toronto-based Nightwood Theatre was at the 1987 Groundswell Festival, where she performed with the improv group, Hysterical Women. Following that festival, Palmer directed two shows before joining Nightwood's leadership team. In 1993 Palmer and Diane Roberts were appointed co-artistic directors of Nightwood Theatre, succeeding Kate Lushington. In 1995, Palmer was appointed the sole artistic director of the company. Palmer's leadership at Nightwood was instrumental in confirming the company's move away from a collective to a "legitimate" theatre company. While working at Nightwood, Palmer directed such shows as Bridget McFarthing's Blatantly Sexual, Lisa Walter's Difference of Latitude, Sabina Fella's Fed by Fairies, Diane Flacks's Random Acts, a workshop production of Caryl Churchill's The Skirker, and Alex Bulmer's Smudge. Palmer also acted and wrote while with Nightwood. Palmer's play Wearing the Bone was performed by Nightwood Theatre as part of the 1993-94 season. In 1996, Palmer acted in Banuta Rubess's Froth: a spectacle about shopping & hysteria. Palmer co-wrote the book for the musical Anything That Moves with Ann-Marie MacDonald; Anything That Moves premiered at Nightwood under Palmer's direction as part of the 1999-2000 season. Palmer left Nightwood in 2001. Palmer has directed with the Shaw Festival for eight seasons from 2005 to 2012. At the Shaw Festival, Palmer directed several shows including Ann-Marie MacDonald's Belle Moral: A Natural History, Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George, Clare Boothe Luce's The Women, and Githa Sowerby's A Man and Some Women. In 2007, Palmer directed Caryl Churchill's Top Girls for Soulpepper Theatre. She won a Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for her direction of Top Girls. Palmer later directed Marsha Norman’s 'night, Mother for Soulpepper in 2008. Palmer was a resident director of Mirvish Productions' world premiere of The Lord of the Rings in Toronto. In 2016, Palmer directed Nick Green'sBody Politic for Buddies in Bad Times. Palmer is also the founder of Vita Brevis, a theatre company involved in the creation and promotion of new works. Palmer made her Stratford Festival debut in 2014, directing Noël Coward's Hay Fever. Palmer was scheduled to direct Hamlet-911, a modern adaptation of Hamlet written by MacDonald, as part of the 2020 Stratford Festival, but was postponed due to COVID-19.
Palmer first taught at the National Theatre School of Canada at the age of 23. At the time, Palmer worked primarily with francophone students. In 2007, Palmer directed Edward Bond's Restoration at the NTS. Palmer has been the artistic director of the English section of the National Theatre School since 2013. Palmer succeeded former directer Sherry Bie.
Plays
Wearing the Bone
Anything That Moves — Co-written by Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alisa Palmer, and Allen Cole
A Play About the Mothers of the Plaza del Mayo
The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls — Co-written by Ann-Marie MacDonald and Alisa Palmer
Personal life
Palmer met Canadian writer Ann-Marie MacDonald at the 1987 Groundswell Festival. Palmer and MacDonald married in July 2003 following the legalization of same sex marriage in Ontario. The two adopted a baby girl later that year. Palmer and MacDonald have two daughters.
