Remembering Dorian Rankin

Theatre Ontario was honoured and grateful to receive a bequest from Dorian Rankin (1926-2011).  As reported at our 2013 Annual Meeting, this incredible gift will enable us to develop our webinar program which will benefit theatre groups and individuals across the province.  Margaret Shearman, a past Theatre Ontario Board member, shared some recollections of Dorian with us.

Dorian Rankin has remembered Theatre Ontario in her will.  One can’t talk about Dorian without including her husband Bill. Although she and Bill were solid Theatre Ontario and community theatre enthusiasts, there are many out there that did not know them very well.

Dorian and Bill were always together at the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festivals, and were members of several community theatre groups in Eastern Ontario.  They never missed a Theatre Ontario Festival, and they also travelled to the Theatre Canada Festival when the Tara Players of Ottawa production of Freedom of the City won the Theatre Ontario Festival Best Production in 1990.  They travelled with the production again when it was invited in 1991 to the Dundalk International Maytime Festival in Ireland.

Dorian’s background in theatre was in vaudeville.  At age thirteen, with her mother’s approval, she left home to join a vaudeville troupe.  She toured the English vaudeville trail as a singer and dancer for several years, playing with the likes of Ian Carmichael, until she met her first husband.

In the mid-1950s, they immigrated to Canada and bred boxer dogs in the Toronto area.  It was there that Dorian joined a community theatre group and met Bill. “Well, he thinks a lot of himself” was Dorian’s first impression.  Bill, an architect by profession, was going through a marriage break-up at the time and Dorian fell for him, another of those theatre romances that luckily worked out very well—they were married for nearly 35 years before Bill’s death in 2002.

Dorian came from Nottingham in England and had the lovely accent that goes with that part of the country.  It was sad that the vascular dementia she struggled with for the last ten years of her life left her voiceless for the last three.

I am sure that Bill would have supported Dorian’s legacy to Theatre Ontario, he himself was a Board Member of Theatre Ontario, and also a past chair of the Community Theatre Committee.  They both thought strongly of the importance of community theatre members to enter festivals as a learning experience, and for members to attend the Theatre Ontario Summer Courses.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Theatre Ontario is seeking an Education Assistant to assist our Education Coordinator with the preparation of our annual adult summer theatre courses and to support our membership, marketing and fundraising department.  In order to apply, you must be currently enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution or within six months of graduation, 15 to 24 years old (up to 29 years old for persons with a disability.)

Upcoming Workshops from Theatre Ontario

• Self-Start: The Basics of Producing, with Tim Chapman, on June 5 at 2:00pm in Toronto – 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 is a practical seminar facilitated by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator.
• NEW – Proposal Writing: Creative Approaches to Creative Proposals, with Denise Bolduc, on June 10 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Change the grant-writing nightmare to a positive creative experience by learning relevant tools and valuable information to improve your chances of success in this workshop for individuals and theatre organizations applying for funding and sponsorships.
• Business Basics: An Introduction to Planning for Artists, with Diane Davy, on June 11 at 3:00pm in Toronto – Planning your work & working your plan!  Your plan is your future, and whether you are a theatre company or an individual artist-entrepreneur, you will benefit by developing a clear business plan for your organization or your career.

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including marketing, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, our summer courses, and more.

Our next Community Theatre Discussion Forum is on June 17 at 7pm at Georgetown Little Theatre.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The Humber College Puppetry Intensive for artists and teachers who have previous experience in: theatre performance, theatre production, visual arts, dance, design, and/or writing begins June 3

New on The Bulletin Board

• Your Voice And You is running voice workshops beginning June 25—Learning Accents (Received Pronunciation and/or General American) and Clarity of Speech

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, funding opportunities, free community events, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Staging The Future at Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce that we have received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for “Staging The Future—Advancing Leadership to Ontario’s Theatre Community.”

This project is the next step in our comprehensive strategic branding and organizational review. We have received $45,400 over one year to hire external expertise and conduct an organizational review, branding and communications strategy to more effectively serve theatre artists and organizations across Ontario.  New programs to engage youth, cultural and regional communities will be created.

“Theatre is dynamic, relevant, and constantly evolving,” said Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director of Theatre Ontario.  “With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Theatre Ontario will be able to continue to evolve in order to meet the changing needs of our members and the theatre community.”

Ruby Lam, a member of the Board of the Directors of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, made the presentation at Theatre Ontario’s Annual Meeting on May 25.  In her presentation, she congratulated Theatre Ontario for both our community-building accomplishments and our recognition of the challenges we face.  She said that the OTF was “the producer behind the scenes” while we were “the stars out on stage, in the communities.”

Congratulations also to Theatre Ontario member organizations who received grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in this application round: Brant Theatre Workshops, Burl-Oak Theatre Group, Drayton Entertainment, The Greely Players, Native Earth Performing Arts, Owen Sound Little Theatre, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Sudbury Theatre Centre, and Westben Arts Festival Theatre.

Read more about the Ontario Trillium Foundation

ONstage Openings for the week of May 27

In Eastern Ontario
May 28, Steel Magnolias at Ottawa Little Theatre

In Northwestern Ontario
Jun. 1, Head A Tete / The Day Billy Lived at Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay)

In South Central Ontario
May 31, The Odd Couple, Female Version at Mississauga Players

In Southwestern Ontario
May 27, Romeo And Juliet at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
May 28, Fiddler On The Roof at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
May 29, Measure For Measure at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
May 29, Trifles at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) in previews
May 30, Tommy at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
May 30, Back In '59 at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, with previews from May 28
May 30, Quick Change at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
May 31, Mary Stuart at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
May 31, The Merchant Of Venice at The Edge Productions (Windsor)
Jun. 1, Blithe Spirit at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
Jun. 1, The Three Musketeers at Stratford Festival, currently in previews

In Toronto
May 30, 8th Annual Inspirato Festival at Theatre Inspirato
May 30, Lend Me A Tenor at Scarborough Theatre Guild

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

Behind The Scenes At Ontario’s Theatres

• Our Annual Meeting—featuring a Forum and Panel Discussion on Diversity, Engagement and Inclusion in Theatre—will be live-blogged on Saturday at 10:30am.  Our panels features Ravi Jain, Yvette Nolan, Soheil Parsa, and Trevor Schwellnus and is facilitated by charles c. smith, Project Lead of Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario
• The conversation about diversity is also taking place at HowlRound, where Carla Stillwell is working to redefine the conversation to move us past buzz words and into meaningful change

Conversations

• At what point does the marketing occur?  Adam Thurman reminds us when the real hard work of marketing takes place on Mission Paradox

From The Wire

• Drayton Entertainment’s newest venue, the Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, was profiled in the Globe and Mail Property Report—a 500-seat theatre that houses administration offices, production, performance space and short-stay residences for actors
• Toronto Arts Council will contribute $500,000 over the next two years to artsVest Toronto.  This matching incentive and sponsorship training program for small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations was developed by Business for the Arts. This matching incentive and sponsorship training program for small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations was developed by Business for the Arts, and will give them the skills training and tools to build relationships with the business community, to identify businesses that are a good fit with their organization, and to cultivate innovative partnerships

Migrations

• Lucy Eveleigh will become the new General Manager of the Toronto Fringe Festival

TO Toasts

• …to all of the 2013 Haroldees, honouring the independent and hard-working spirit of Toronto’s vibrant theatre community, an honour of the highest subversive order
• …to the 2013 MARTY Award winners from the Mississauga Arts Council
• …to the recipients of the Canada Council’s Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Awards, including Professional Theatre Training Program alumnae Donna-Michelle St. Bernard and Sandra Laronde.  The $15,000 annual awards recognize mid-career artists in the seven disciplines and arts practices funded by the Canada Council: writing and publishing, integrated arts, dance, media arts, theatre, visual arts and music
• ...and to the recipients of the 2013 Toronto Theatre Critics Awards

You can also receive news from Theatre Ontario every month by email.  Our archives are online and the May issue is now available.

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Congratulations to Spring 2013 Youth Theatre Training Program Recipients

We are pleased to announce the latest recipients of training grants through Theatre Ontario’s Youth Theatre Training Program (YTTP).  $22,100 was awarded in total among the following recipients:

• 4th Line Theatre (Millbrook) – TEAM Skills Workshops
• Acting Up Stage Company (Toronto) – One Song Glory
• Children’s Peace Theatre (Scarborough) – Youth CAST
• Festival Players of Prince Edward County – Youth Workshops
• Lookup Theatre (Owen Sound) – Grey-Bruce Circus Theatre
• Shadowland Theatre (Norfolk County) – Spirit Youth Workshops
• Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque) – Pathways to the Playhouse   

The next application deadline for this program is October 15, 2013.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Youth Theatre Training Program on our website.

This programs is funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

You are cordially invited to Theatre Ontario’s 2013 Annual General Meeting, followed by refreshments and the Forum and Panel Discussion on Saturday May 25th, 2013 from 10:30am to 1:00pm at Robert Gill Theatre, 214 College Street, Toronto.  charles c. smith will be moderating an engaging dialogue with four dynamic and innovative theatre panelists: Ravi Jain, Yvette Nolan, Soheil Parsa, and Trevor Schwellnus. Our panelists will share their success in nurturing inclusiveness to engage communities, foster collaboration, and develop audiences. Following the forum, there will be an opportunity to address the panelists with specific questions and issues.

Workshops from Theatre Ontario

• Under New Management: Transitioning to the New Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, with Sarah Farrell, on May 28 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Do you know how the new not-for-profit corporation acts are going to affect your theatre company?  With new laws for both provincially-incorporated and federally-incorporated not-for-profits, theatres may find they need new letters patent, supplementary letters patent, and by-laws, and may have other significant administrative requirements to meet.
• Self-Start: The Basics of Producing, with Tim Chapman, on June 5 at 2:00pm in Toronto – 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 is a practical seminar facilitated by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator.
• NEW – Smart Marketing, with Cheryl Ewing, on June 15 at 9:30am in Toronto – What do people expect from their night at the theatre?  How can you help them to meet their expectations?  How do you use your existing audience to help you find a new audience?  Our instructor will answer these questions and more.  By guiding you through a review of what you are currently doing, Cheryl will help you adapt your marketing to the new reality – a world where we are increasingly crunched for time, bombarded with messages, and feeling isolated.

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including business basics, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, our summer courses, and more.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Toronto Arts Council and Tarragon Theatre are hosting a grant writing workshop for playwrights on May 29, registration deadline is May 22
• The Toronto Fringe Festival invites applications for the Next Stage Festival, open to artists who have previously participated in any CAFF member festivals, seeking to move beyond the summer production model and showcase their work to a wider audience; application deadline is May 24
• Puppetmongers Fresh Ideas in Puppetry mini-conference and festival is on May 26
• Aluna Theatre’s next free Aluna Café is on May 27 in Oakville and will explore The Orgy by Colombian playwright Enrique Buenaventura

New on The Bulletin Board

• The Toronto Fringe Festival invites applications to join the 100—a professional development, mentorship, arts immersion and networking opportunity for emerging artists; application deadline is June 6
• Nightwood Theatre in Toronto is holding an Audition Technique Masterclass with Kelly Thornton on June 11 and June 12

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, funding opportunities, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of May 21

In Toronto
May 20, Kim's Convenience at Soulpepper Theatre
May 23, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Cats Mainstage Theatre Company
May 23, Over The River And Through The Woods at East Side Players

In Central Ontario
May 23, Dangerous Obsession at Huntsville Community Theatre Company
May 24, Scenes From A Bathhouse at Talk Is Free Theatre (Barrie) with a preview on May 23
May 24, Wingfield's Inferno at Algonquin Theatre (Huntsville)

In Eastern Ontario
May 24, Fiddler On The Roof at Suzart Productions (Ottawa)
May 24, Suds, the Rocking 60s Musical Soap Opera at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque)

In South Central Ontario
May 24, Steel Magnolias at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on May 23

In Southwestern Ontario
May 22, Time Stands Still at Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton)
May 24, Arsenic And Old Lace at Theatre Sarnia
May 24, Godspell at Theatre Woodstock
May 24, Calendar Girls at Guelph Little Theatre

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Festival Finalé

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Arriving on Saturday afternoon to catch the end of Festival, you feel like you’re playing catch-up—what’s have I missed, what’s been the source of the most buzz, what’s still to come.

Saturday night featured QUONTA’s representative, Espanola Little Theatre’s production of Looking.  I first heard about Espanola Little Theatre from my friends at Blackhorse Village Players who participated with them in 1997 at Theatre Ontario Festival in Cornwall—the Espanola production of A Woman Without A Name was legendary.  I met many members of the company for the first time in 2000 when I travelled to a QUONTA Festival in North Bay, and at my first Theatre Ontario Festival as a participant with The Curtain Club, we were warmly welcomed with a gift basket from our new friends at Espanola who were performing later that week.  I’ve seen a half dozen of director Walter Maskel’s shows; his attention to detail is one of the qualities that always inspires me as a director.

Looking is a comedy by Norm Foster about four people struggling with relationships—how to start one, whether they really want one, whether they deserve one.  Foster delivers two of his trademarks: good one-liners, and authentic, relatable characters for actors to inhabit.  The company of Jason Morrow, Dario Laurenti, Kathy Carré, and Theresa Laurenti delivered a recognizable and funny portrait of a search for meaningful connection.

At Sunday morning’s adjudication, John P. Kelly and Walter Maskel discussed the subject of abstract expressionism in set design, and how it was applied to Looking.  There is indeed a joy in personal interpretation that comes from abstract work, but there is also a challenge in being too abstract so that no connection is made at all.

John P. also praised the show for its recognition of the power of movement—that of the total of what audiences take in, 60% is visual, 30% is aural, and 10% is emotional.  He also praised the ability to communicate through attention to detail from the first moment of the play—with one character sweating profusely, the other not.  Walter and the team from Espanola were effusive in their praise for the team from the host theatre, Domino Theatre.

The adjudication wrapped up and we all travelled down to the hotel ballroom for the Awards Brunch.  We enjoyed a delicious meal then settled in for the awards presentations.

First, Joe O’Brien of Ottawa was honoured with this year’s Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre, and gave heartfelt thanks for being recognized for what he valued so much.

Then, John P was up to praise the participating companies and present his awards.  Theatre Night in Merrickville received three awards, Best Supporting Actor for Peter Crate, and Adjudicator’s Awards for the properties (including the turkey!) and the live musicians.

Theatre Ensemble received four awards: Best Actor for Jeff Bastien’s memorable performance, Adjudicator’s Awards for original music and juvenile (Stage Manager Kyla Chandler), and the Perry Short Award to set designer (Jeff Bastien again) with the grant for a training opportunity for him.

Markham Little Theatre received two awards: Best Supporting Actress to Anne-Maria Hurle, and Best Actress to Michèle Browne—her third Theatre Ontario Festival Best Actress award.

But the big winner was Espanola Little Theatre which took six awards back north—Best Director for Walter Maskel, Best Technical Achievement, Best Visual Presentation, Best Coordinated Production (chosen by Festival Stage Manager Bob Brooks), an Adjudicator’s Award for the best moment of theatre (the vocal choreography at the end of Act One), and the Elsie Award for Best Festival Production.

The full list of nominees is available on the Theatre Ontario website, as is the live-blog of the awards presentation.

The winners posed for photographs, new friends exchanged bittersweet goodbyes, and John L’Heureux of Sarnia extended a warm welcome to come to Sarnia for the next Theatre Ontario Festival.

We’ll see you May 14, 2014.

Day Three and Four at Theatre Ontario Festival 2013

By Anne Mooney, Community Theatre Coordinator

On Friday afternoon, Playwright-in-Residence and local Queens’ professor John Lazarus had a terrific reading of his most recent work.  Well, actually, a something he has been working on for on and off for about five years – Sex With Feminists.  Okay, so the title grabbed me.  I won’t explain why, but after listening to John as he read pages from the script and embellished the connecting sections, I can’t wait for the first production of this play.  It was a funny and raunchy and … well, you’ll just have to see the final product.

John also shared with the group some of the tools he uses when writing plays.  Through personal stories, he was able to explain how his writing process has evolved.  The group worked through a series of games in which we explored how plot and character were integrated within writing.  As a group we defined characters and created situations in which the characters affected each other, wrote these ideas on cards and then tried to group the cards as cause and effect to begin to create plot lines.  It was a shortened but intense workshop and the group came away excited about their next writing project.

Thank you to John Lazarus and the support of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Canada Council for a stimulating afternoon.

Friday night’s play was the first of two Norm Foster productions.  Markham Little Theatre presented Mending Fences.  Foster explores the relationship between father and son and uses flashback and comedy as his medium.  Actors played multiple roles – Terry Browne playing Harry and Harry’s father while Steve Birtles played Drew, Young Drew and Young Harry.  Admirable work by all.  I remember a rather stale joke that all great Canadian plays take place in Saskatchewan, in winter, in a snow storm – no snow storm here, but a hockey game – does that count?  While this play could have fit that old cliché, the writing, the performances, and the technical achievement all worked to make this production rise above any cliché to create an evening of thoroughly enjoyable theatre.

Saturday afternoon, Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director of Theatre Ontario and Deb Sholdice, General Manager of the Blyth Festival facilitated a Community Theatre Discussion Forum about the challenges facing community theatre groups in Ontario.  Representatives from EODL, WODL, and ACT-CO (members of QUONTA were busy putting a show on the stage) worked to define the issues and challenges.  Future workshops in the various regions will continue the work that began at this stimulating meeting.

Saturday afternoon also marked the arrival of my colleague, Brandon Moore, whose post will take us to the end of Festival.

ONstage Tonight At Festival: Espanola Little Theatre

Festival’s closing performance features the Espanola Little Theatre presentation of Looking, our second Norm Foster comedy of the week.

Espanola Little Theatre is renowned for its ability to create small effective sets, easily transportable in a van or small truck.  That skill came especially in handy for this production.  Looking was first presented in partnership with the local Legion as dinner theatre.  When ELT’s planned QUONTA Festival production fell through, they decided to remount Looking, rehearsing in cast and crew members’ living rooms, and performing for two nights in a local high school before the remount in North Bay.  The stage in Kingston will be the fourth venue for this production.

Espanola Little Theatre are veterans of the Festival—most recently participating in 2011 in Richmond Hill with their production of David Fennario’s Balconville, and winners of the Elsie Award for Outstanding Production in 1997 in Cornwall for their memorable production of Romulus Linney’s The Woman Without A Name.

In Looking, Val’s an OR nurse, Andy’s in the storage business, Nina’s a police officer and Matt’s a radio morning show host.  They’re middle-aged, single and looking.  Val agrees to meet Andy after answering his personal ad in the newspaper.  Nina and Matt are coaxed into joining their friends for support.  High romance and contagious laughter are the result.

At QUONTA Festival 2013, Espanola Little Theatre received awards for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Director (Walter Maskel), Outstanding Actor (Jason Morrow), Outstanding Actress (Kathy Carré), and Outstanding Visual Achievement (Walter Maskel & Richard Gamelin).

Read more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 on our website

Festival Adjudications and Workshops are Underway

By Anne Mooney, Community Theatre Coordinator

As reported in my first blog, Theatre Night in Merrickville’s performance of Having Hope at Home had to be cancelled at the intermission on Wednesday due to a power outage throughout the neighbourhood.  Can you image how they must have felt?  The next morning the group was up bright and early (6am), and at the theatre to strike their set.  Then, they trouped over to the hotel for the detailed adjudication with John P. Kelly.  There was a sombre mood at the start of the adjudication.  John P. began with a figurative hug for all the cast and crew.  We were also informed that author David S. Craig, his wife, and “Dawn”—the midwife that a character in the play is based on—were in the audience.

For the adjudication, John P. treated the first act as if it was the entire play.  He and Director Margaret Shearman had a lively discussion of all the aspect of the production and the challenges the group faced from the script, and from moving from one venue to another.  They had to cut off 20 feet of their original set in order to fit it onto the Domino Theatre stage!  All the cast and crew were engaged with John P. in discussion of the production.  When I go to theatre, I find the use of music in a play particularly moving—this play had live music performed by Marcia Phillips and Gary Roberts.  While cast and crew may have been sombre at the beginning of the adjudication, much laughter and good discussion morphed the adjudication and the entire process into a much more positive experience.

John P.

In the afternoon, John P.  had a workshop/discussion with about 25 participants.  Entitled “Regrets? – I’ve had a few…” it was an open-ended and wide-ranging conversation about theatre.  Topics included a brief history of theatre; reality and its place in theatrical production; comparison of adjudication in Ireland, the United States, and Canada; pace; and, finally, movement.  Whoa!  Lively discussion by all made for a fascinating afternoon.

Thursday night brought us Theatre Ensemble’s production of Orphans by Dennis Kelly.  This is not an easy play to watch.  The audience are voyeurs (aren’t we always?) as the relationships between a husband, his wife, and her brother disintegrate in one evening.  Through it all, there was laughter, there were tears, and the audience’s sympathy was constantly changing as the story unfolded.  The tension in the audience was palpable and the devastation at the end was almost complete.  No belly laughs here, but strong performances by all three actors.

At the Friday morning adjudication, John P. spent time talking to the cast/directors about the rehearsal process.  Orphans had four directors—the three cast members and the stage manager are all listed in the program as directors.  It was not what was originally planned for the production, but an actor had to drop out, the original director stepped into a role, and as a group they decided to try to share the directing.  It was fascinating to hear how they worked collectively to create the show.

John P. also discussed with the group the choice to change the setting of the play from England to Windsor, Ontario and the script changes that came out of this choice.  The group was able to explain the process they went through to make changes, their reasons why, and even some of the difficulty that came when seeking permission to make these changes.  When they had first started working on the play, Dennis Kelly was a fairly unknown writer and they were able to call and email him directly.  However, he is the same Dennis Kelly who wrote the book for Mathilda the Musical, which has become a sensation on Broadway.  Needless to say, he is harder to reach these days.

With Playwrights Canada Press now in Kingston with scripts for sale in the hospitality suite, John Lazarus reading Friday afternoon (thank you to Playwrights Guild of Canada and the Canada Council for support for his presentation), and Friday night’s presentation from Markham Little Theatre, when will I find time to eat?

ONstage Tonight At Festival: Markham Little Theatre

It’s the first of the Festival’s two Norm Foster plays tonight, as Markham Little Theatre presents Mending Fences.

Markham Little Theatre has been active since 1966.  In the Spring of 2006, through the hard work of corporate fundraising and applying for municipal and provincial grants, they were able to purchase and renovate a building on the grounds of the Markham District Heritage Museum to create “Backstage”—a rehearsal hall, workshop, storage, and office space.  They rent the 530-seat Markham Theatre for a four-night run of their shows.  Markham Little Theatre last represented the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario (ACT-CO) in 2008 in North Bay, with a presentation of another Norm Foster show—Outlaw.

In Mending Fences, Harry Sullivan hasn't seen his son Drew in thirteen years. And now Drew is coming to Harry's Saskatchewan ranch for a visit. This poignant comedy tells the story of two men who are too stubborn to give in to feelings of the heart.

At the ACT-CO Festival, Markham Little Theatre was awarded Best Production of a Comedy, Best Performance by a Male in Leading Role in a Comedy (Terry Browne), and Best Performance by a Female in a Leading Role in a Comedy (Michèle Browne), with nominations for Best Director (Kathryn DeLory), Best Stage Management (Julia Guthrie), Best Lighting Design (John Sellens), and Best Costume Design (Maria Cerone).

Read more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 on our website

The Stage Manager’s Nightmare (or, The Night The Lights Went Out In Kingston)

by Anne Mooney, Community Theatre Coordinator

We’ve all heard of the “actor’s nightmare”–walking on stage naked, in the wrong play, at the wrong theatre and having forgotten all your lines.  Yes, actors have nightmares…but what would be the Stage Manager’s Nightmare?

Well, Wednesday night at the opening of Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 in Kingston, I think we found out.

It started as such a lovely evening.  The Opening Reception and Ceremonies went off without a hitch.  Mayor Mark Gerretsen brought greetings from the city of Kingston.  Lily Baird, President of the Eastern Ontario Drama League, and Sandie Cond, President of Domino Theatre, welcomed everyone to the region and to the Festival.  Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director of Theatre Ontario, presented Domino Theatre with a framed certificate celebrating the group’s 60th Anniversary.  John P. Kelly regaled us with the same hilarious speech he wrote when he adjudicated the Theatre Ontario Festival in 2008 in North Bay.  One of the crew from Merrickville spontaneously and publicly thanked the crew of Domino Theatre for their assistance during the day.  Domino Theatre are fabulous hosts; the reception was joyous.

Everyone was looking forward to the play.  Theatre Night in Merrickville were on stage with their production of Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig.  There was live music, the set was beautiful, the actors were cooking—literally and metaphorically.  (The props people must be commended—I haven’t seen that much food on stage, including a fully-cooked turkey, in a long time.)

Then it happened.  The Stage Manager’s nightmare.  The lights went out!

The emergency lights came on and the actors continued to the end of the first act.  They were on stage, in shadowy darkness for less than five minutes, but I’m sure it felt like forever.  The stage manager, Bronwen McKnight, told us later that among all the thoughts she was going through, one of the most important was: How is the audience going to know the play is over in the dark?  So she gamely left her booth and started the applause when the scene was over.  The audience erupted in applause for a job well done.

At this point Festival Stage Manager Bob Brooks took charge.  It was announced from the stage that the lights were out in the entire neighbourhood.  Bob went into safety mode—How long would the emergency lights last?  How long would the lights be out?—and calls were made to the city: What do we do with the audience?  Can the show continue?  What do we do if this is a major black out?  What if it’s not?

Theatre Ontario Staff, Domino Theatre Committee Chair Sandra Baird, and Bob made the decision that the show could not go on.  The audience was asked to leave.  The set was left on the stage.  Contingency plans were made by Bob and Bronwen about what to do if there were lights on in the morning, and what to do if there were not.  Also in the mix were members of the crew of Theatre Ensemble who were performing on Thursday.  Decisions made on Wednesday night would affect them as well.

Bob stayed in the theatre, in the dark with some of his crew, hoping the lights would come back on.  The crews of Theatre Night in Merrickville and Theatre Ensemble went back to the hotel to strategize.  Everyone was supportive.  Volunteers were coming out of the woodwork with ideas, offers to help with strikes and setups for the next day, and copious amounts of alcohol.

Luckily, the lights did come back on at the theatre at about 10:30pm.  Theatre Night in Merrickville crew were at the theatre at 6am with a huge crew from Domino Theatre to help with the strike of their set, and Theatre Ensemble was in the house at 8am ready to go.

On reflection, while this incident appeared to be a nightmare at the time, what was really reinforced last night was the strength of the theatre community to overcome adversity, the supportive nature of other theatre groups—including the other competing groups, and the intelligence and quick wits of Stage Managers.

ONstage Tonight At Festival: Theatre Ensemble (Theatre Intrigue Society)

Windsor's Theatre Ensemble makes their Theatre Ontario Festival debut tonight with their presentation of Dennis Kelly’s Orphans.  Theatre Ensemble (formerly Theatre Intrigue Society) is celebrating its 15th year as a non-profit theatre organization. Throughout this time, they have developed from a small local theatre group to that of a vibrant production company that has toured across Ontario, and developed new commissioned work.  They have recently re-branded to better describe their focus as “an ensemble of cast and crew working together towards a common goal.”

Working on Orphans was one such collaboration.  When one actor had to drop out, the director stepped into the role, and the cast directed each other.  Crew were invited to all rehearsals, providing feedback to the actors as well.  It was rehearsed in church basements, and they rented the Capitol Theatre for their performances.

Theatre Ensemble’s focus is two-fold working with young people and developing original works.  In the summer, the youth wing will be presenting Shakespeare In The Park, and they have received a grant to perform an original War of 1812 musical at three re-enactments this summer.

In Orphans, Helen and her husband Danny's night in is interrupted by Helen's brother Liam, who arrives covered in blood claiming to have found a young lad injured on the street.  When Liam's recollection of the event begins to change under questioning, suspicions are aroused followed by increasing concern that he may have been more involved than first thought.  This play premiered at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and is described as a riveting and violent exploration of urban fear and a moral dilemma.

At the Western Ontario Drama League, Theatre Ensemble received the D. Park Jamieson Memorial Award for Best Production in Festival, awards for Outstanding Ensemble Work and Outstanding Direction (The ensemble), and nominations for Outstanding Technical Achievement and Outstanding Visual Production.

Read more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 on our website

ONstage Tonight At Festival: Theatre Night In Merrickville

It’s opening night in Kingston, as Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 kicks off in The Davies Foundation Auditorium with Theatre Night In Merrickville’s presentation of Having Hope At Home.

Theatre Night in Merrickville was informally established in 1975 in an effort to raise funds for the local community medical centre.  The group of volunteer actors and actresses had so much fun during their first production that an official theatre group was born.  TNIM's first full length play was Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, which was revived again on their tenth and twenty fifth anniversaries. Six of the cast members performed in all three productions.

Merrickville is an artist’s community of a thousand people about one hour from Ottawa, and is known as “the Jewel of the Rideau.”  TNIM rents the local community hall, moving into an empty black box on a Sunday with their equipment and their seating, and moving out a week later after the Sunday matinee.  Having Hope At Home was closing on the same day as the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival Awards Brunch in Belleville.  Director Margaret Shearman had to call Merrickville from the awards venue with the message, “Don’t trash the set!”

TNIM have led a nomadic existence in recent years, as previous rehearsal spaces have been sold or re-purposed.  Having Hope At Home was rehearsed in a community centre in nearby Eastons Corners, and the set was built in an unused bay of a local volunteer fire department.

Having Hope At Home is by long-time Theatre Ontario member David S. Craig.  The play is a side-splitting look at a family learning to love again.  On a winter night in a drafty farmhouse a baby is about to arrive.  But modern medicine meets midwifery head on in a torrent of family feuding.  As tensions rise between three dysfunctional generations, so does the laughter.

At the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival, in addition to winning the Leslie M. Frost Award for Best Production (for the first time in thirty years), Theatre Night In Merrickville received awards for Best Production of a Canadian Play and for Acting Excellence (Amber Anderson as Carolyn Bingham) with honourable mentions for Best Director (Margaret Shearman), Best Visual Presentation, Best Set Design (Rod Fournier and Vicki Graham), and an Adjudicator’s Award for Technical Achievement (Peter Boire for the Soundscape.)

Read more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 on our website

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Do you know an outstanding student who has made a commitment to the drama/theatre community in his or her school?  Teachers and schools can honour those students with Theatre Ontario's Certificate of Excellence—with commencement season approaching, now is a terrific time for recognition.

Workshops from Theatre Ontario

• Under New Management: Transitioning to the New Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, with Sarah Farrell, on May 28 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Do you know how the new not-for-profit corporation acts are going to affect your theatre company?  With new laws for both provincially-incorporated and federally-incorporated not-for-profits, theatres may find they need new letters patent, supplementary letters patent, and by-laws, and may have other significant administrative requirements to meet.
• Self-Start: The Basics of Producing, with Tim Chapman, on June 5 at 2:00pm in Toronto – 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 is a practical seminar facilitated by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator.
• Business Basics: An Introduction to Planning for Artists, with Diane Davy, on June 11 at 3:00pm in Toronto – Planning your work & working your plan!  Your plan is your future, and whether you are a theatre company or an individual artist-entrepreneur, you will benefit by developing a clear business plan for your organization or your career.

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, our summer courses, and more.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Nominations for the Patrick Conner Award from Theatre Rusticle, honouring individuals in the areas of the performing arts and sustainable/green living, are due today
• Nominations for Ottawa Little Theatre’s Cornerstone Project, honouring outstanding past volunteers, are also due today
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Lyric Writing for Theatre workshop for individuals interested in the basic principles of writing lyrics for theatre starts May 21
• Toronto Arts Council and Tarragon Theatre are hosting a grant writing workshop for playwrights on May 29, registration deadline is May 22

New on The Bulletin Board

• Aluna Theatre’s next free Aluna Café is on May 27 in Oakville and will explore The Orgy by Colombian playwright Enrique Buenaventura
• Great Canadian Theatre Company is now inviting submissions for undercurrents 2014, showcasing the best independent theatre from Ottawa and across the country.  Submission deadline is July 5

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, free community events, funding opportunities, awards, and much more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion in Theatre

By charles c. smith, Project Lead/Cultural Pluralism in Performing Arts Movement Ontario

Ravi Jain, Yvette Nolan, Soheil Parsa, Trevor Schwellnus – what do they have to say to us about theatre today?  Is what they have to say important?   And if it is, why?  This panel discussion, Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion in Theatre, is part of the timely conversations happening across Ontario.  Co-sponsored by Theatre Ontario and Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), it takes place alongside conversations held by Magnetic North, CAPACOA, CCI—Ontario Presenting Network, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries, Flato Markham Theatre, MT Space and its biennial IMPACT Festival, and others who have been interested in exploring the challenges and opportunities of pluralism and diversity in contemporary Canadian arts.

This conversation is part of the fabric of reflecting upon and creating content that addresses changes in Canadian society and innovations in theatre, looking at diversity in both form (the bodies we see on stage) and content (i.e., the stories revealed, their uniqueness and universality, and how they open doors to histories and experiences of the world that come from the deep reservoirs of Aboriginal and ethno-racial artists, are central to our times and how we see the world through the lens of theatre.)

As well, this conversation is central to the drive to engage communities who want to see theatre that is immediate to them, that brings to the stage stirring content, enabling them to see the diversity of expression presented by artists from Aboriginal and diverse communities and, through this, to see the fullness of our society, its peoples and how they contribute to artistic expression in ways that are stimulating, challenging, sad, humourous—the full spectrum of human experiences.

CPAMO is honoured to partner with Theatre Ontario to share ideas and thoughts that will likely emerge in this conversation.  Together with the artists who will be on this platform, CPAMO and Theatre Ontario are committed to exploring and providing valuable insights into changes taking place within Canadian cultural activities and to inviting others into this conversation.  Our collective goal is to highlight some of the key issues and models for developing and supporting the important contributions to theatre being made by Aboriginal and ethno-racial artists and how this enriches theatre and our communities.

In convening this session, CPAMO and Theatre Ontario are looking to initiate a conversation amongst theatre practitioners that will grow over time and become a common reference point for the theatre community.

Read more about CPAMO on its website

Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion in Theatre will be part of Theatre Ontario’s Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 10:30am.  Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Annual Meeting on our website

charles c. smith is a published poet, playwright, and essayist.  He won second prize for his play Last Days for the Desperate from Black Theatre Canada. He has edited three collections of poetry, has one published book (Partial Lives), and his poetry has appeared in numerous journals and publications.  charles is also Lecturer, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts at the University of Toronto Scarborough and Project Lead for Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario.  Further, he is a Research Associate with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, board member FUSE Magazine and advisory board member for the Regent Park Arts and Cultural Centre and the Scarborough Arts Kaleidescope Program.

ONstage Openings for the week of May 13

In Southwestern Ontario
May 16, Blithe Spirit at Stratford Festival, in previews
May 17, Sullivan & Gilbert at London Community Players
May 18, Measure For Measure at Stratford Festival, in previews
May 18, The Three Musketeers at Stratford Festival, in previews
May 19, Peace In Our Time: A Comedy at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) in previews

In Toronto
May 14, Of A Monstrous Child: A Gaga Musical at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
May 15, The Barber of Seville at Soulpepper Theatre (currently in previews)

In Central Ontario
May 17, The Tank Range Project at Meaford Hall

In Eastern Ontario
May 14, Miss Caledonia at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa)
May 14, A Flea In Her Ear at Kanata Theatre (Ottawa)
May 17, No Sex Please, We're British at Seaway Valley Theatre Company (Cornwall)

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• When we talk about “authenticity” in theatre what does that mean?  Are we really talking about vulnerability?  Jacob Wren writes on Praxis Theatre about “live” performance and the search for imperfection
• Theatre organizations are always told that they need to evolve—but as Andrew Taylor reminds us on the Artful Manager using the ecosystem metaphor: individual organisms don’t evolve, they cope
•  I’d be curious to see statistics on the use of fight directors—Melissa Hillman reminds us on why fight directors should always be part of the production, and how it’s not just about safety (although that’s a good reason by itself) but that it’s also about artistry

From The Wire

• Stage West Theatre in Mississauga is closing after 27 years
• CAPACOA has released a study on The Value of Presenting: A Study of Performing Arts Presentation in Canada.  It reveals that performing arts are valued by the vast majority of Canadians – across socio-economic differences – and it provides a new perspective on younger Canadians’ interest in live performing arts. Most importantly, the study identifies a broad range of public benefits associated with performing arts presentation, including better health and well-being, greater energy and vitality in communities, and a more caring and cohesive society.

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Congratulations to Joe O'Brien, recipient of the 2013 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to announce that the 2013 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented to Joe O’Brien of Ottawa.  This award is presented by Theatre Ontario from the nomination by Ottawa Little Theatre, and on the recommendation of the Eastern Ontario Drama League.  The award honours individuals for sustained contribution to community theatre, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment to community theatre that is legendary within his/her region, helping community theatre flourish.  Joe will receive his award on May 19 at the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Brunch in Kingston.

Joe O’Brien's passion for, support of, and commitment to community theatre began in the mid-1950s when, as a youth, he organized a drama club at Cambridge Community Centre where his acting and directing talents led him to win awards at the Eastern Ontario Drama League Festival.  Continuing his theatre studies at the Ottawa Little Theatre, he became a regular member of the famed Saturday Players, performing in and working backstage in Theatre for Children, graduating to the main stage at OLT in the late 1950s.  While learning and developing artistically, Joe conceived the idea and convinced the City of Ottawa to form the Ottawa Community Players as a direct program of the City's neophyte arts programming.

By the 1960s, Joe’s passion for community theatre saw him develop and promote Lakeside Theatre Productions, again under the auspices of the City of Ottawa. The group, growing from the original Community Players and attracting other local community theatre personnel, performed theatre for children throughout the Ottawa/Carleton region and the Ottawa Valley, and performed adult main stage productions for fifteen years.

Recognized for his contributions to the local community theatre scene, Joe was hired by the City of Ottawa as an instructor of theatre arts and creative drama.  As well as teaching children and youth, Joe produced, directed, and adjudicated city-run youth talent festivals, a birthplace for many local artists and performers.  In 1966, Joe was hired by the City to further develop the arts programs within the community.  Following an ever-evolving career in arts administration, Joe retired as Director of Culture for the City of Ottawa where he oversaw the delivery of arts funding and provided advice and resources to local community theatre groups. He returned to Ottawa Little Theatre to act, direct, and work backstage. He represents OLT as a group member of the Ottawa Community Theatre Association and at the Eastern Ontario Drama League, of which he is an active long-time member and supporter, acting for several years as its Northern Section Chair.

“Looking at the list of past recipients, I’m rather shocked and humbled,” said Joe.  “This award is more exciting to me than receiving a Best Director or Best Actor award; this award is about what I’ve been trying to do for fifty years.  I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”

The Michael Spence Award honours legendary contributions to community theatre in Ontario.  Past recipients of the Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre are Betty Coates, Joan McRae, Lillian Sievanen, Sharon Sproule, Anne Wilson, David Glover, Harry Houston, Hans Warmenhoven, Vince Mathewson, Arlene Watson, Gabe Ferrazzo, Val Hadley, Maureen Lukie, Beth McMaster, Ken Stephen, Lawrie Bonanno, Walter Maskel, Margaret Shearman, and Jo-anne Spitzer.  The award is named after Michael Spence, the founding President of Theatre Ontario.  Michael was active in community theatre at Hart House Theatre, London Little Theatre, and the University Alumnae Dramatic Club (now known as Alumnae Theatre.)  He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Dominion Drama Festival, a past President of Arts Etobicoke, and he continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.

Read more about Theatre Ontario's Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Tim Chapman, our Professional Theatre Coordinator for the past seven years, will be retiring from Theatre Ontario in July 2013.  We are now beginning the challenging task of finding his successor.  Reporting to the Executive Director, the Program Coordinator oversees the daily operation of Theatre Ontario's programs and services and serves as the organization's key liaison with the professional theatre and post-secondary theatre education communities in Ontario, as well as providing career counselling, the development and provision of workshops and seminars to support the professional community, developing and implementing special projects, and contributing to news and stories of interest for and about the theatre community.  Read the full posting on our website

Upcoming Workshops From Theatre Ontario

• Financial Literacy: What Self-Employed Artists Need To Know, with Tessa-Marie Shillingford, on May 13 at 10:30am in Toronto – Providing some basic skills will enable you to take control of your finances and make the best possible money decisions, including setting financial goals, managing on a low & erratic income, making a spending plan, dealing with debt, credit and credit cards, smart banking, and planning for retirement.
• Getting Started for Actors, with Tim Chapman, on May 15 at 2:00pm in Toronto – For actors beginning their professional careers, answering the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting including the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, agents and casting directors, auditioning, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.
• Under New Management: Transitioning to the New Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and Ontario’s Not-For-Profit Corporations Act, 2010, with Sarah Farrell, on May 28 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Do you know how the new not-for-profit corporation acts are going to affect your theatre company?  With new laws for both provincially-incorporated and federally-incorporated not-for-profits, theatres may find they need new letters patent, supplementary letters patent, and by-laws, and may have other significant administrative requirements to meet.

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including self-producing, business basics, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, our summer courses, and more.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Early-bird registration deadline for the Directing In The Performing Arts symposium and workshop is May 10, with the workshop running June 15 to 16
• Nominations for the Patrick Conner Award from Theatre Rusticle, honouring individuals in the areas of the performing arts and sustainable/green living, are due on May 15
• Nominations for Ottawa Little Theatre’s Cornerstone Project, honouring outstanding past volunteers, are also due on May 15

New on The Bulletin Board

• Toronto Arts Council and Tarragon Theatre are hosting a grant writing workshop for playwrights on May 29, registration deadline is May 22
• Puppetmongers Fresh Ideas in Puppetry mini-conference and festivals will be held on May 26
• Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre’s Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition invites submissions of plays with a Jewish focus, depicting some aspect of Jewish life.  Deadline is July 2
• City of Toronto Cultural Services invites applications for the Culture Build Investment Program funding shovel-ready infrastructure repair projects for small and medium-sized cultural facilities.  Deadline is July 15

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, community events, funding opportunities, volunteer opportunities, awards, and much more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of May 6

In Southwestern Ontario
May 8, The Songs Of Sinatra at Drayton Entertainment: Drayton Festival Theatre
May 9, Old Love at Elgin Theatre Guild (St. Thomas)
May 9, Lady Windermere's Fan at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) in previews
May 10, Major Barbara at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) currently in previews
May 11, Our Betters at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) currently in previews
May 11, Guys And Dolls at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) currently in previews

In Toronto
May 6, La Fugue at Young People's Theatre
May 8, The Golden Mean (Live) at Canadian Stage
May 8, Big Ideas at Alumnae Theatre Company
May 9, Stopheart at Factory Theatre (currently in previews) – world premiere
May 9, The Barber of Seville at Soulpepper Theatre in previews

In Central Ontario
May 10, The Team On The Hill at Theatre Orangeville, with a preview on May 9 – world premiere

In Eastern Ontario
May 7, White Rabbit Red Rabbit at Company of Fools (Ottawa)

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Conversations on Community Theatre

There’s clearly an enthusiasm in the community theatre sector to collaborate.  Nearly forty people came together in Aurora on a recent Monday evening for our first Theatre Ontario Community Theatre Discussion Forum to help articulate the challenges the sector is facing.

This Forum was co-hosted by the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario, and facilitated by Lucy White, Executive Director of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, and Carol Beauchamp, our Executive Director.

With participants representing theatres from Aurora, Beaverton, Caledon, Georgetown, Keswick, Markham, Newmarket, North York, Orangeville, Oshawa, Port Perry, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, and Tottenham, they explored the question “What challenges can we identify that we can collectively address to work towards a successful future?”

Primary challenges were identified, defined, categorized and named.  As this is the first of our series of Forums, we’re keeping the specific discussion “under our hats” for now—we want each Forum to start with an empty page in front of it.

But, as Lucy shared afterwards, “I guess it’s not surprising that all theatres share common challenges.”  Our long-term goal will be to build the partnerships that can address these challenges.

Our next Forum will be in Kingston at Theatre Ontario Festival on Saturday, May 18 at 2pm.  Join us in the Ontario Room of the Days Inn (the Festival Hotel.)  We’ve also begun conversations with the Eastern Ontario Drama League, QUONTA, and the Western Ontario Drama League about future Forums in each region.

Read more about our Theatre Ontario Community Theatre Discussion Forums on our website

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming Workshops from Theatre Ontario

• Financial Literacy: What Self-Employed Artists Need To Know, with Tessa-Marie Shillingford, on May 13 at 10:30am in Toronto – Providing some basic skills will enable you to take control of your finances and make the best possible money decisions, including setting financial goals, managing on a low & erratic income, making a spending plan, dealing with debt, credit and credit cards, smart banking, and planning for retirement.
• Getting Started for Actors, with Tim Chapman, on May 15 at 2:00pm in Toronto – For actors beginning their professional careers, answering the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting including the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, agents and casting directors, auditioning, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.
• NEW – Business Basics: An Introduction to Planning for Artists, with Diane Davy, on June 11 at 3:00pm in Toronto – Your plan is your future, and whether you are a theatre company or an individual artist-entrepreneur, you will benefit by developing a clear business plan for your organization or your career. This workshop covers the basics of creating a plan, including: practical insights into goal setting, marketing and promotion, management, measuring outcomes; and more.

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including the new not-for-profit corporations act, self-producing, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, our summer courses, and more.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Application deadline for the Wuchien Michael Than Foundation Theatre Projects – Production grant is TODAY!  This grant helps fund production of new works by Asian-Canadian playwrights between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2014.
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s An Introduction to the Craft of Writing for the Musical Theatre (Or - All the Rules You Can Decide to Ignore Later!), with Jim Betts on May 4 to 5, for beginners, or anyone unfamiliar with the vocabulary of musical theatre
• York University’s Fight Directors Canada Stage Combat Certification Intensive starts May 6
• Ryerson University – Chang School of Continuing Education’s Arts and Entertainment Administration: Audience Outreach and Engagement course begins May 6, for arts managers, potential arts managers, and individual artists

New on The Bulletin Board

• Humber College is hosting, in partnership with Dalhousie and Acadia Universities, a symposium and workshop devoted to the Art of the Director on June 15 to 18 in Toronto. It will be an intensive program of interactive workshops, open forum dialogues, performances, screenings, and paper presentations, all dedicated to exploring the director’s art across the spectrum of the performing arts. Theatre Ontario members are eligible for the discount rate, and there is an early-bird registration deadline of May 10.

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, community events, funding opportunities, awards and recognition, and much more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website