Marketing and Publicity Help for Community Theatres

If you’re a community theatre company struggling with promoting your shows, then Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce that we are now partnering with STAF in order to offer you two cost effective packages for our community theatre members to assist with your marketing and publicity.

These packages will connect community theatres to STAF’s skilled team to help you create media kits, to prepare and distribute media releases, and to develop specific strategies.

Members can read more about the two packages available from STAF in the members-only section of the Theatre Ontario website

Announcing Two New Workshops on Governance

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce that we are offering two new workshops focused on theatre governance.

Is being a Board member of a theatre or cultural organization for you?  This is an interactive workshop facilitated by Brenda Barr-Worsnop.  Do you have a passion for theatre and the cultural sector?  Do you believe theatre is important to the cultural life of communities?  If you think you might have something more to offer the theatre sector and cultural sector, then Board membership might be for you!  Theatre companies and organizations always need skilled Board members.  Serving on a board is a dynamic and fulfilling way to support the theatre community.  Do You Want To Make A Difference? is running on November 16 at 2pm.

Suddenly you look around and realize that those running your organization represent a skilled, experienced and mature group.  What is going to happen when you don’t want the responsibility of running the organization, when all you want to do is create?  Succession planning is about strengthening your own skill as a leader while planning for that day when you don’t want to bear the responsibility of leadership. This workshop with Cheryl Ewing will guide you through strategies for strengthening your organization for today and tomorrow in a way that honours the past while moving into the future.  Keeping Your Theatre/Arts Board Healthy is running on November 17 at 10am.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

We still have a few spaces available in our Self-Start: The Basics of Producing workshop.  If you want to do a show but have never produced professionally before, and if you want to know what questions to ask first, this session is for you!  Self-Start: The Basics of Producing is on October 10

And don’t forget that we will presenting the Maggie Bassett Award to Dave Carley as part of the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Inaugural 2012 Awards Event, hosted by Damien Atkins, on October 22 at Stage West in Mississauga.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline to apply for the OAC Theatre Creators Reserve at Puppetmongers Theatre is October 1

New on The Bulletin Board

• Deadlines for OAC Theatre Creators Reserve at Aluna Theatre (October 3), Odyssey Theatre (October 15), and b current (November 30)
• The Toronto Fringe Festival is now open for applications to the new play festival (deadline of October 26), Fringe lottery (November 5),  Culturally Diverse Artists Projects (November 5), and Site-Specific Art (first-come, first-served)

Check out these items and all of our postings of workshops, calls for submission, opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of September 24

In Northeastern Ontario
Sep. 27, Henry And Alice: Into The Wild at Sudbury Theatre Centre

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to submit your listings, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Neil Munro Intern Directors Project for 2012 finishes this weekend.  The “Director’s Project” is the culmination of the Intern Director’s season and has become a very important event to the Shaw company as a whole.  It consists of a double-bill of two one-act plays directed by the two Intern Directors—Krista Jackson and Michael Wheeler.  Krista and Michael have been blogging about their experience on Praxistheatre.com
• Showboat Festival Theatre in Port Colborne announces they are ceasing operations
• In Kingston, both professional theatres (including Theatre Kingston) and amateur theatres (including Domino Theatre) are coming together to present The Library Chronicles in October, featuring plays by Kingston’s own Judith Thompson and “up-and-comer” Alex Dault—Toronto audiences who saw The Gladstone Variations will recognize the concept for the production
• And check out the flickr galleries of "The Toy Box" from Playground Studios - a fascinating project that included one of our Spring 2012 Professional Theatre Training Program recipients, Kat Misztal-McCubbing.  Two more days at Toronto City Hall, with a return to Theatre Passe Muraille in December

Conversations Across Borders

• Actor/producer Erynn Brook writes about the audition experience and how it’s not about you…but it is about you

From The Wire

• There is an open house on Saturday the 22nd at Toronto’s new Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre

Remember, you can also receive our news every month by email.  Our archives are online and the September issue is now available.

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Save-the-date for Showcase

We're pleased to announce that Theatre Ontario's Showcase 2013 will be held on January 20 and 21, 2013 at the Jane Mallett Theatre in the St. Lawrence Centre.  Showcase features post-secondary theatre school graduating classes from across Ontario, and the National Theatre School in Montreal.

Read more about Theatre Ontario's Showcase on our website

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Theatre Ontario has five workshops coming up in the next two weeks:

• Are you an actor? Set designer? Production manager? Technician? If you work in theatre and you don't already have one, you've probably asked yourself, "Do I really need a website?"  In this workshop, professional web designer, Paul Snepsts shows you why the answer is an emphatic, "Yes you do!" The name of the game is "Get more work…and better work."  Bah – I Don't Need A Website! Right?: Anatomy of a Successful Web Presence is on September 25 at 9am
• Where does your social media content come from? What ‘voice’ should be representing your organization online? What’s the latest with live-blogging/live-tweeting? How can online tools and presence assist instead of distract from the work? Since 2006, praxistheatre.com has been a key hub for live performance and online engagement in Canada. Praxis Theatre Artistic Director Michael Wheeler investigates the pitfalls and opportunities organizations encounter when they integrate with the internet.  Live Performance and Online Engagement is on October 3 at 9am
• Our Adjudicators Symposium is a professional development opportunity for established adjudicators.  It will allow them to compare techniques and practices, discuss their training needs and opportunities, and network.  The Adjudicators Symposium is on September 29 at 9:30am
• Both our Grant Writing Information Session for Individual Artists (on September 19) and our Getting Started for Actors (on October 3) are full—however we do keep a waiting list if spaces come available, and for planning future workshops.

Also, there are just under two weeks left until the next application deadline for our Professional Theatre Training Program, providing financial support for mentorships.  The application deadline is October 1.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline to apply for Buddies In Bad Times’ Young Creators Unit—for queer-identified artists 25 and under—is September 21
• Marcia Johnson’s playwriting workshop for established, emerging, and new playwrights starts on September 25

New on The Bulletin Board

• OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve calls for submissions from Puppetmongers Theatre in Toronto deadline is October 1
• The Paprika Festival in Toronto is now inviting submissions for their programs; deadline is October 12
• Acting Up Stage Company in Toronto is now inviting applications to audition for One Song Glory, their free professional music theatre training program for performers under 19; audition dates are October 14 and 27

Check out these items and all of our postings of workshops, calls for submission, opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of September 17

In Southwestern Ontario
Sep. 18, My Fair Lady (High School Project 2012) at The Grand Theatre (London)
Sep. 19, Just A Ticket at Century Church Theatre (Hillsburgh)
Sep. 21, First Dance at Tottering Biped Theatre (Burlington)
Sep. 21, The 39 Steps at London Community Players
Sep. 21, Wrong For Each Other at Theatre Burlington
Sep. 21, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) at Theatre Ancaster (Hamilton)

In Toronto
Sep. 19, No Great Mischief at Tarragon Theatre (currently in previews)
Sep. 21, The Role Model at August Productions Theatrical
Sep. 21, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead at Hart House Theatre
Sep. 21, February at Alumnae Theatre Company

In Central Ontario
Sep. 17, Wingfield Lost And Found at Theatre Collingwood
Sep. 20, You Give Me Fever at Theatre Orangeville

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to submit your listings, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Blyth Festival is holding a playwriting workshop with Beverly Cooper on September 15, for playwrights who have “hit the wall” or are having trouble starting
• Deadline for submissions to the New Ideas Festival at Alumnae Theatre in Toronto is September 15

New on The Bulletin Board

• Alameda Theatre Company in Toronto invites submissions for the 2013 De Colores Festival of New Works, featuring works-in-progress by Canadian Latin American artists—deadline is November 15
• More calls for the OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve—from Festival Players of Prince Edward Country (deadline November 30) and Alameda Theatre Company (deadline January 15)

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, calls for submission, opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board (including information on how to submit) on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of September 10

In Central Ontario
Sep. 11, Henry And Alice: Into The Wild at Orillia Opera House
Sep. 14, Steel Magnolias at Algonquin Theatre (Huntsville)

In Eastern Ontario
Sep. 14, The Secret Mask at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa) with previews from Sep. 11
Sep. 15, Hay Fever at Ottawa Little Theatre

In South Central Ontario
Sep. 12, Proof at Markham Little Theatre
Sep. 13, Looking at West End Studio Theatre (Oakville)
Sep. 14, The Long Weekend at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on Sep. 13

In Southwestern Ontario
Sep. 12, Blue Suede Shoes: Memories Of The King at Drayton Entertainment: Drayton Festival Theatre, with a matinee preview
Sep. 13, The Love List at Drayton Entertainment: Schoolhouse Theatre (St. Jacobs) with previews from Sep. 12
Sep. 13, Harvest at Elmira Theatre Company
Sep. 13, The Horribly Horrifying Fun House of Death at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre

In Toronto
Sep. 11, No Great Mischief at Tarragon Theatre, in previews
Sep. 12, The Queen West Project at Theatre Passe Muraille
Sep. 12, Toy Box at Theatre Passe Muraille
Sep. 15, Obaaberima at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to submit your listings, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• Brendan Healy’s Facebook note “Four thoughts for my future self (that are not about Ken Gass or the Factory Theatre but that have certainly been affected by Ken Gass and the Factory Theatre)” has been circulated widely, with good reason.  I am grateful that our community has leaders like him
• Talent Bank Member Lindsay Price reflects on an article about costume designer Jane Greenwood reminding us both how prepared we must be, and how we must also be prepared to throw it all away because things change
• Marshall Botnivick observes on HowlRound that the theatre community—which “prides itself on progressive values”—is part of the “war against youth” by hoarding resources, exploiting labour through unpaid internships, and getting rich off the high cost of education; thankfully, he also proposes some solutions

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The 2012 Shaw Directors Project is nearing its conclusion, with the Intern Directors deep in rehearsal for their one-act plays; Michael Wheeler shares one aspect of his process as he reflects on his choices for “songs of international brigades” in Brecht’s Senora Carrar’s Rifles
• Both Canadian Stage in Toronto and the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott reported record audiences this summer—clearly the good Ontario weather this summer has had a positive effect for outdoor theatres

From The Wire

• The City of Ottawa wants to hear from community groups hoping to run the theatre at Arts Court
• Jamie Bradburn profiles Herbert Whittaker on Torontoist, longtime drama critic and one of the first recipients of our Maggie Bassett Award for his contribution to the development of theatre in Ontario

Migrations

• Nina Lee Aquino and Nigel Shawn Williams will be taking on the role of Interim Artistic Team at Factory Theatre

TO Toasts

• The Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology presented its annual awards—among the honoured were long-time Theatre Ontario members Janet Sellery (the Ron Epp Memorial Award for Professional Achievement) and Peter MacKinnon (the Education Achievement Award), and our peers at Theatre Alberta (Honorary Membership).  These recognitions were all well-deserved!

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Bringing adjudicators together at our Adjudicators Symposium

In 2009, in response to feedback from the membership, Theatre Ontario set out to improve the quality of adjudication in the province.  This has focused in a number of areas such as training new adjudicators, improving trial adjudications, and exploring methods for gathering feedback.

We’ve also been creating professional development opportunities for existing adjudicators through our annual Adjudicators Symposium.  We are pleased to announce our annual Theatre Ontario Adjudicators Symposium will be held on September 29 at 9:30am.  The Symposium is a professional development opportunity for established adjudicators, allowing them to compare techniques and practices, discuss their training needs, and network.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Adjudicators Symposium on the Theatre Ontario website

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Many individual artists may not have a web presence at all.  Many organizations have a presence, but struggle with online engagement.  Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce two new workshops to help you with these challenges.

Are you an actor?  Set designer?  Production manager?  Technician?  If you work in theatre, and you don't already have one, you've probably asked yourself "Do I really need a website?"  Paul Snepsts will help you answer this question.

What are the pitfalls and opportunities that organizations encounter when they integrate with the internet?  Since 2006, praxistheatre.com has been a key hub for live performance and online engagement in Canada.  Join us for this workshop with Praxis Theatre Artistic Director Michael Wheeler and explore various ways existing and new technologies can be adapted.

Our grant writing workshops with the Ontario Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council for organizations and collectives and individuals are now full, but we are keeping a waiting list in case spaces become available.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for the submissions for the 34th Rhubarb Festival at Buddies In Bad Times in Toronto is Friday, September 7

New on The Bulletin Board

• Signs of fall: Leaves starting to turn, children back in school, theatres sending out their calls for applications for their OAC Theatre Creators Reserve programs.  The Toronto Fringe Festival is the first out of the gate (perhaps inspired by their own frantic poster sprint); their application deadline is October 3.

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, calls for submission, opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board (including information on how to submit) on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of September 4

In Toronto
Sep. 4, The Second City's Improv All-Stars at The Second City
Sep. 8, Death Of A Salesman at Soulpepper Theatre (with previews from Sep. 5)

In Eastern Ontario
Sep. 8, A Nice Family Gathering at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with previews from Sep. 6
Sep. 8, Henry And Alice: Into The Wild at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque) with a preview on Sep. 7

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to submit your listings, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.