Tuesday 31 March 2015

PTTP Profiles: Exploring Projects Funded by the Professional Theatre Training Program

Eight individuals were chosen as recipients of Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program grants during our Fall 2014 application round.  This month we check in with three of the projects.

Sarah Kitz is training in Directing with Amiel Gladstone at Tarragon Theatre (Toronto)


The world premiere of Daniel MacIvor’s CAKE and DIRT is open at Tarragon and I am beginning to reflect on my time. The lessons will distill with distance, but what I know now is this:

I am grateful Andrea Donaldson asked me into this process and paired me with Amiel Gladstone as a director. He is a thoughtful artist with a deep care for his cast and crew. I have great respect for the open tone he set in the room. He made himself available to me, shared his thinking and gave many of my notes to the actors. He was gracious and easy in rehearsal and set an ego-less space in which to accomplish the hard work of playmaking. He allowed me to be a vital part of the process and that was invaluable.

Daniel said early on, before we entered rehearsal, the play will tell us.

The specific labour of bringing a new play to life is a particular act of acute listening and focused construction. There were the drafts of the play Daniel fashioned as the playwright and there were the drafts Amiel and the actors built on top. All of these shifted, altered and rearranged as we tested their sturdiness to find the best construction for CAKE and DIRT.
The cast of CAKE and DIRT
David Storch, Maggie Huculak, Laara Sadiq,
Patrick Kwok-Choon, Maria Vacratsis, Bethany Jillard.
Photo by Jeremie Warshafsky.

We listened to the play. We moved inside the play. We talked and fought and insisted and laughed about the play. We drew the delineations of the play out like a blueprint and moved carefully along the lines. We worked at solving the non-chronological equation. We circled the play like a wild animal we weren’t sure we’d caught and secured. We went back and back and back to the playwright. We talked with Daniel. We listened to Daniel. We disagreed and hashed it out with Daniel. We collectively solved problems with Daniel.

I gained a practical understanding of the importance of the director’s vision and process, the timing of giving notes to actors, the relationship of the director and the playwright, the director and the theatre, the playwright and the theatre. This knowledge will clarify my future work. I was fortunate enough near the end of my training to converse with Richard Rose, the artistic director at Tarragon, and hear his perspectives on directing, this play, and the micro and macro responsibilities and considerations of the director. The privilege of having conversations on these subjects with Amiel, Daniel and Richard makes me feel I was in the right place at the right time. This project has had a profound and positive impact on my understanding of how to shepherd a new play, how to work with a playwright, how to lead a cast through a new work, and how to collaborate with the producing theatre.

My time on CAKE and DIRT has clarified my directorial process, the way I think about the art, the reasons to make the art, and the relationships that surround and support the art. I am off to Winnipeg soon to direct a production of Antony and Cleopatra. Though not a new work we are re-visioning it and I take these lessons with me into that project, and the ones to come.

Thank you Theatre Ontario for supporting my career and continued development as a director. This opportunity has been a deep education and a great joy.

Julia Hune-Brown is training in Artistic Directing with Ruth Howard at Jumblies Theatre (Toronto)


I am sitting at the Jumblies Theatre Ground floor studio on a busy Wednesday afternoon. Behind me are a group of students from Alpha alternative school unbundling. Soon I’ll be leading them in a drama game before they start an art activity with a few of the other Jumblies artists. On the other side of the room is a group of women from the community chatting while embroidering cloth fish to be used in the Touching Ground Festival. In the far corner, statistics are being collected for impending grant deadlines while flyers for our new workshops are being printed.  In the middle of all of this, despite those impending grant deadlines, Ruth Howard, my mentor, manages to greet a collaborating composer from Tapestry Opera, while holding a participant’s baby, and making tea for everyone. This is the scene of the flourishing vibrant community arts company that is Jumblies Theatre. 

So far, my learning experience at Jumblies has been an amazing combination of supporting experienced artist as they facilitate, and leading my own workshops. I have been able to work across the city with some of Jumblies off-shoot companies, which has given me the opportunity to see how different artists facilitate and how projects can be adapted to different communities; an invaluable learning experience in itself. 

Gestures and Stories workshop at Jumblies Theatre
Part of my role at Jumblies Ground Floor studio is shadowing Ruth as we participate in weekly meetings and workshops. Through this, I have learned about a variety of community outreach tactics that introduce and invite community the to the workshops and projects at the Ground Floor.  I have been able to apply many of these outreach tactics while promoting my own workshop, Gestures and Stories.  Gestures and Stories looks to explore personal stories told through movement. I have been coming together with community members to develop movement pieces based on their family member’s life stories. The pieces will then be performed at Jumblies Touching Ground festival at the end of March. Before starting this 6-week project, I was able to pilot this workshop model with the Arts4all players in the fall and with Jumblies oral history and arts making group in January. Having had the opportunity to work with these two very different groups provided me with valuable feedback and insight into how to adapt the workshop for different demographics.

Recently, I have also been spending time with the Community Arts Guild  (CAG) in Scarborough. The CAG are in rehearsals for the remount of their production Train Payanam, an intergeneration production based on a Tamil senior’s story of a train ride in Sri Lanka. The intergenerational cast is made up of individuals from the Scarborough community. Being part of the casting process of a community arts production for the first time was particularly interesting. Having come from a traditional theatre background, it was refreshing to be part of a casting process that aimed to be inclusive and was organized as a workshop of the different acting and production roles, rather than an audition.  The most exciting part has been seeing people who have never been part of a theatrical production be given the opportunity to try out different theatre roles and experiment together. From an 80-year-old musical performer to a 10-year-old puppeteer, the different generations coming together for this production is particularly joyful.

During our meeting this week, Ruth and I talked excitedly about plans for the Touching Ground workshops, Jumblies nationwide tour Train of Thought, and future collaborations with Jumblies. I feel very grateful to be learning from Ruth Howard whose ongoing support and guidance has allowed me to explore and grow. I am very much looking forward to the next 6 weeks of working together and to future collaborations.

Mariel Marshall is training in Directing with Ross Manson at Volcano Theatre (Toronto)


We are midway through rehearsals for the world premiere of Hannah Moscovitch’s new play, Infinity, and it’s been a unique and challenging experience.  I've taken on the role of assistant director, under the mentorship of director Ross Manson (Artistic Director of Volcano Theatre).
What’s been most significant for me in the process has been learning alternative methods of doing character exploration with actors. Ross uses a lot techniques developed by Michael Chekov for character work. This is often used in place of, or in addition to, script work, which has proven to be very successful in developing characters. Central to the Chekov method is treating the actor’s instrument as both physical and psychological. In rehearsals, the actors have been working with a Chekov archetype exercise, which involves the group coming up with archetypes for each character. The actors then develop a gesture and word for each archetype. This sequence is then simplified and distilled into a smaller gesture and incorporated into scene and movement work within the play. 

Another interesting aspect of this process has been the influence of expert consultants. I’ve been speaking with neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Bernstein, who has been assisting us with elements of the medical world in the play. He’s been incredibly useful in helping us to get the facts of a character’s brain cancer diagnosis accurate, as well as the look of post-surgery treatment options. I’m learning how important it is to ask experts about specifics, as the saying goes “the devils in the details.” 

Next week we enter tech week, and I’m excited to transition the work from the rehearsal hall to the Tarragon Extra Space.  Using tape on a rehearsal room floor to demarcate set pieces and doors is a necessary, albeit infuriating aspect of the rehearsal process. My goal over the next week will be to witness and become familiar with the new space, and to assist the actors in adapting staging to the Extra Space stage. I’ll also be involved in the technical elements of the process (the lighting hang and focus, cueing etc), and I look forward to learning the ropes of the Extra Space.

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, 2015.


Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program is funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.


Monday 30 March 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 30

ONstage Now Playing in Toronto
The Unplugging from Native Earth
Performing Arts and Factory Theatre
Allegra Fulton and Diana Belshaw
Photo by Akipari
In Toronto
Mar. 31, Our Country's Good at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts
Apr. 1, QueerCab at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Apr. 4, Snow White at Solar Stage Children's Theatre

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website


Friday 27 March 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Happy World Theatre Day!

We are pleased to welcome Rebecca Ballarin as Interim Program Coordinator through to the end of August 2015.  Rebecca is very excited to return to Theatre Ontario in this role and is replacing Erin Keating who is moving on to pursue other opportunities.

Conversation Starters
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres



Migrations
In Case You Missed It
We're off next week for Good Friday but "Ontario Off Stage" will be back in two weeks.

Thursday 26 March 2015

Welcoming Our First Two Productions to Theatre Ontario Festival 2015

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Theatre Ontario Festival 2015 in Oshawa is taking shape as two of our four productions have been chosen from regional festivals.  We also welcome our Festival Honourary Chair, and invite you to check out some of the fun things to do in Oshawa while you’re attending Festival.

On Thursday, May 14, Gore Bay Theatre from Manitoulin Island will represent QUONTA (the northeastern Ontario community theatre region) with their presentation of John Pielmeier’s Agnes of God.  Of note, this production will feature our former Community Theatre Coordinator, Andrea Emmerton, as co-director of the production.

On Saturday, May 16, Theatre Sarnia will present Sarah Ruhl’s The Clean House, representing the Western Ontario Drama League.  Theatre Sarnia was our fantastic host community theatre at last year’s Festival.

Norm Foster
We’re excited to welcome Norm Foster as our Honourary Festival Chair.  Norm Foster has been called Canada’s preeminent comic playwright.  He is the most produced playwright in the history of the country and he receives, on average, an astounding one hundred and fifty productions of his plays each year.  It has been said that on any given day of the year, there is a Norm Foster play either in rehearsal or in performance somewhere in the world.

Oshawa is our host community this year, and there are many local attractions for Festival goers to check out between performances, adjudications, and workshops.  Art lovers can visit the Robert McLaughin Gallery for the latest contemporary and historical collections including abstract Canadian works; and car enthusiasts will want to visit the Canadian Automotive Museum, recognizing the city’s history as a national centre for auto manufacturing.

As previously announced, Festival will also feature a reading by Playwright-in-Person Damien Atkins, adjudications by Ron Cameron-Lewis (in his penultimate appearance as an adjudicator), and the presentation at the Awards Brunch of the Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre to John Storey of Markham.

The annual Theatre Ontario Festival is a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions; a classroom for passionate, dedicated community theatre artists; a celebration of excellence in community theatre; and a destination bringing together theatre lovers from across the province.  Theatre Ontario Festival 2015 is co-hosted with Oshawa Little Theatre and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario, and runs May 13 to 17.

Join us at Theatre Ontario Festival 2015

Wednesday 25 March 2015

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
Humber College Puppetry Intensive - Earlybird deadline is Apr. 1
  • Deadline for nominations for PACT’s Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award is March 27
  • Deadline for applications for director, musical director, and choreographer at Theatre Unlimited is March 31.
  • Upcoming Ontario Arts Council grant deadline on April 1 for Arts Education Organizations, Community-Engaged Arts Organizations, Community Arts Councils, Multi and Inter-Arts Organizations, National and International Residency, and Playwright Residency.
  • Early-bird registration deadline for the Humber College Puppetry Intensive is April 1
  • Deadline for applications for the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto International Artist Residencies is April 1.
  • Deadline for nominations for the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’ Dora Ancillary Awards (Silver Ticket, George Luscombe Award for mentorship, Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for administrators) is April 1.
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Applications are now open for The Grand Theatre’s High School Project in London, with opportunities for actors/vocalists (auditions begin Apr. 9), orchestra (Apr. 9), and backstage (Apr. 29)
  • Applications for the North Bay On the Edge Fringe Festival Lottery are due on April 29.
  • The Shakespeare Globe Centre of Canada is seeking nominations of actors for the Christopher Plummer Fellowship award of Excellence; the deadline is May 1.
  • Registrations are now open for PACTCON 2015, the annual conference from the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, running May 20 to 23 in Toronto.  Discount rates are available for Theatre Ontario members.
Check out these items, and other postings from our members of funding opportunities, workshops, calls for submission, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access auditions and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Tuesday 24 March 2015

Join Us at Our Summer Theatre Intensive

Theatre Ontario is offering five exciting courses at this year’s Summer Theatre Intensive, running August 9 to 15 in Waterloo at Wilfrid Laurier University.  Experience a week away from all distractions and immerse yourself in a unique theatrical learning experience. You will learn new skills, meet passionate theatre people, enrich your theatre capacity, and flex your creative muscle!

For 2015, we are offering the following courses:

For Performers
For Directors
For Playwrights
Your Summer Theatre Intensive package includes buffet-style meals daily (including vegetarian fare), a single air-conditioned room in the King Street Residence, a performance at the Stratford Festival, and the opportunity to share your enthusiasm, experience, and passion for theatre, while meeting other like-minded, talented, and creative people.

Register for Theatre Ontario’s Summer Theatre Intensive

Monday 23 March 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 23

ONstage Opening in Eastern Ontario
The Lion in Winter at Kanata Theatre
Carl Cachero, Shane Bouchard,
Marko Pilic, Dale MacEachern
Photo by Wendy Wagner
In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 24, Goodbye, Piccadilly at Ottawa Little Theatre
Mar. 24, The Lion in Winter at Kanata Theatre
Mar. 25, Divas, Duets and Quartets: A Musical Cabaret at Bottle Tree Productions (Kingston)
Mar. 27, Take Me Back to Jefferson at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa), with previews from Mar. 25

In Northeastern Ontario
Mar. 27, Red at Sudbury Theatre Centre, with a preview on Mar. 26

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 26, Down Dangerous Passes Road at Theatre Aurora
Mar. 26, Jesus Christ Superstar at Oshawa Little Theatre
Mar. 27, Rough Justice at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill), with a preview on Mar. 26*

ONstage Opening in Southwestern Ontario
Peg and the Yeti at Carousel Players
Jennifer Balen
In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 26, Peg and the Yeti at Carousel Players (London / St. Catharines)

In Toronto
Mar. 27, New Voices Festival at Ryerson Theatre School
Mar. 29, Duets at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

In Central Ontario
Mar. 26, Emergency #21 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (Peterborough)

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Discount Tickets program

Friday 20 March 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Gina Paradis (WODL President), Bruce Pitkin,
and Yvonne Korince (WODL Festival Chair)
At opening night of the Western Ontario Drama
League Festival in Owen Sound.
Photo by Denis Langlois of
the Owen Sound Sun Times
Conversation Starters
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
In Case You Missed It
You can also receive news from Theatre Ontario every month by email.  Our archives are online and the March issue is now available.

Thursday 19 March 2015

Two Days to Celebrate Theatre in Ontario and Across the World

World Theatre Day is coming up on March 27… and the World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is tomorrow, March 20.

How can you celebrate?

Mieko Ouchi
The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, l’Association des theatres francophones du Canada, and the Playwrights Guild of Canada have commissioned a Canadian message by Mieko Ouchi and translated by Mishka Lavigne

Similarly, a Canadian message was written for the World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People by Allen MacInnis, Artistic Director of Young People’s Theatre in Toronto.

There is also going to be an Edit-a-Thon for the Canadian Theatre Wiki by SpiderWebShow – join online at 12pm to 4pm EST, 11am to 3pm CST and help celebrate the multiplicity of voices Canadian theatre has to offer.

Are you doing something special for World Theatre Day?  Let us know – we’ll be curating more opportunities across Ontario on our blog on March 27.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Workshops at Theatre Ontario
  • Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp workshops on March 28 in Toronto in partnership with STAF: Learn necessary skills to produce creative works in a one-day session covering promoting theatre on social media, leveraging your online presence, getting a grip on grant writing, and participating in a mock grant jury
  • Launching Your Career recorded webinar on April 15: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting
Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
  • ArtsBuild Ontario’s next Learn It | Build It | Manage It workshop for not-for-profit arts organizations is March 23 in Chatham-Kent
  • Deadline for nominations for PACT’s Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award is March 27
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Native Earth Performing Arts invites applications for Weesageechak Begins to Dance, celebrating dance, theatre, and inter-disciplinary works reflecting Indigenous performing arts in Canada and internationally; the deadline is April 15
Check out these items, and other postings from our members of funding opportunities, workshops, calls for submission, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access auditions and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Tuesday 17 March 2015

Congratulations to John Storey, Recipient of the 2015 Michael Spence Award

John Storey
Theatre Ontario is thrilled to announce that the 2015 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented to John Storey of Markham.  This award is presented by Theatre Ontario from the nomination by Markham Little Theatre, and on the recommendation of the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario (ACT-CO.)   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.  John will receive his award on May 17 at the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Brunch in Oshawa.

John has been a member of Markham Little Theatre (MLT) since 1970, and continues to be a leader, mentor and inspiration to the membership.  He worked directly with Tony Roman, then-Mayor of Markham, to help build the Markham Theatre, and then led the fundraising campaign to build MLT’s “Backstage” facility for rehearsal, building, and storage.  He currently serves on MLT’s 50th Anniversary committee as they prepare for the upcoming season of celebration, and serves as liaison to the City of Markham, negotiating an interest-free mortgage on behalf of the theatre company.  He has been honoured with a Province of Ontario Volunteer Award and the Markham Arts Council’s Mackie Award.  His work as a community theatre artist at MLT has been honoured with awards for directing and acting.

He served on the Board of the Central Ontario Drama League, and oversaw the constitutional transformation of the organization into ACT-CO.  He is a former President of Theatre Ontario, serving on the Board for six years, and in 1987, he served as Chair of the Theatre Ontario Festival in Markham.

“I am very excited and honoured to be the recipient of the Michael Spence Award.  I have been fortunate to know Michael for some time,” said John.  “My experiences with Markham Little Theatre have been wonderful, rewarding, and happy ones.”

The Michael Spence Award honours legendary contributions to community theatre in Ontario, and 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.

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

Join Us at the Award Presentation at Theatre Ontario Festival 2015

Monday 16 March 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 16

In Central Ontario
Mar. 20, Skin Flick at Blackhorse Village Players (Tottenham), with a preview on Mar. 18

In Northeastern Ontario
Mar. 19, QUONTA Festival 2015 in Sault Ste. Marie
Mar. 20, La Boheme at Theatre Cambrian (Sudbury)

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 19, Game Show at The Oakville Players
Mar. 20, The Full Monty at City Centre Musical Productions (Mississauga)

In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 16, Western Ontario Drama League Festival 2015 in Owen Sound
Mar. 20, Dream a Little Dream at The Grand Theatre (London), with previews from Mar. 17

ONstage Opening in Toronto
The Daisy Theatre at Factory Theatre
by Ronnie Burkett
Photo by Alejandro Santiago
In Toronto
Mar. 16, Big Bad Wolf vs Lord Underwearface von Schtinker at The Second City
Mar. 17, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts
Mar. 18, The Daisy Theatre at Factory Theatre*
Mar. 19, The Unplugging at Factory Theatre / Native Earth Performing Arts, currently in previews*
Mar. 19, Pack of Lies at Stage Centre Productions
Mar. 22, The Gospel According to Mark at Soulpepper Theatre, with previews from Mar. 18
Mar. 22, Subway Stations of the Cross at Soulpepper Theatre, with previews from Mar. 18

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Discount Tickets program

Friday 13 March 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters
Morro and Jasp
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
  • The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts showed some wonderful industry leadership with “Theatres Leading Change”, a partnership with ARTS Action Research to examine all aspects of theatre organizational culture.  The final report “Seizing Permission” is now available online (scroll down to find it)
  • The Toronto Arts Council announced the inaugural “TAC Cultural Leaders Lab Fellows” mobilizing Toronto’s arts leadership talent to tackle pressing challenges facing the sector and the City.  It’s an impressive group
Migrations
In Case You Missed It

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
Canada's National Voice Intensive led by David Smukler.
The application deadline is March 15.
  • Deadline for emerging artists to register for Canadian Stage’s workshop on taxes led by Rova Epp of Artbooks is March 12.
  • Deadline to apply for Canada’s National Voice Intensive, led by Artistic Director (and long-time Talent Bank member) David Smukler is March 15.
  • Deadline for Ontario Arts Council grant applications for Theatre Organizations and Multi and Inter-Arts Projects is March 17.
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Nightwood Theatre is holding two masterclasses: Writers Ink with Maja Ardal (a member of Theatre Ontario’s Talent Bank) on April 11 and 12 for anyone interested in playwriting; and an Audition Techniques Masterclass with Kelly Thornton and Michelle Alexander on April 25 and 26 for emerging and professional actors.
  • The Paprika Festival is launching The Intersection, a one-day conference for the new generation of artists consisting of education, professional networking, dinner, and debate—all happening on May 1
Check out these items, and other postings from our members of funding opportunities, workshops, calls for submission, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access auditions and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Tuesday 10 March 2015

PASO Coalition Participating in Provincial Pre-Budget Submission Process

Theatre Ontario is a member of PASO—the Coalition of Provincial Arts Service Organizations.  PASO has made a pre-budget submission for 2015 to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

PASO priorities are 1) Confirm commitment to the arts by increasing investment, 2) Strengthen cultural policy framework through consultation, 3) Support youth employment, and 4) Invest in adequate and affordable facilities.

The full submission is available as a PDF on our website.

Monday 9 March 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 9

In Toronto
Mar. 10, How To Kill A Comedian at The Second City
Mar. 11, New Ideas Festival 2015 at Alumnae Theatre Company
Mar. 13, Blood Wedding at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre / Aluna Theatre, with previews from Mar. 11
Mar. 14, The Unplugging at Factory Theatre / Native Earth Performing Arts, in previews*

ONstage Opening in Mississauga
Living Curiosities, or What You Will at Theatre Erindale
Brittany Miranda, Hannah Vanden Boomen, Mercedes Morris
Photo by Jim Smagata
In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 11, TOUGH! at Algonquin College (Ottawa)*
Mar. 12, The Best Brothers at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa), with previews from Mar. 10

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 13, Living Curiosities, or What You Will at Theatre Erindale (Mississauga), with a preview on Mar. 12

In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 13, Dead Metaphor at Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton), with previews from Mar. 11

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Discount Tickets program

Friday 6 March 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters
  • International Women’s Day is March 8.  Equity in Theatre has launched two cool new initiatives as part of their work to redress gender inequities in the theatre industry.  One is a Women Practitioners Database, the second is a Hackathon.
  • Meanwhile, Joseph Recinos (a past Professional Theatre Training Program grant recipient who mentored in producing with Marilo Nunez at Alameda Theatre Company) challenged Toronto’s theatre community in NOW Magazine: Where are the minority voices in theatre?
  • (ICYMI: Joe wrote about his training experience on our blog as part of PTTP Profiles series - at the beginning, la mitad, and the end.)
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
TO Toasts

Wednesday 4 March 2015

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Social Media as a Professional
Tool for Individual Artists
Workshop on March 16
Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
  • The deadline for nominations for the Mississauga Arts Council’s MARTY Awards has been extended to March 6.
  • Deadline for emerging artists to register for Canadian Stage’s workshop on taxes led by Rova Epp of Artbooks is March 12.
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Canada’s National Voice Intensive is coming to Toronto in May, led by Artistic Director (and long-time Talent Bank member) David Smukler.  Applications are due on March 15.
  • PACT invites nominations for the 2015 Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, honouring outstanding leadership in Canadian theatre.  Nominations are due March 27.
  • Theatre Unlimited invites applications for volunteers directors, choreographers, and musical directors .  Applications are due March 31.
Check out these items, and other postings from our members of funding opportunities, workshops, calls for submission, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access auditions and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Tuesday 3 March 2015

Save the Date for Theatre Ontario’s Summer Theatre Intensive

We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Summer Theatre Intensive for 2015.  It will run August 9 to 15 in Waterloo.

Theatre Ontario's Summer Theatre Intensive brings together theatre people from all over the province for a week-long rigorous educational experience.  For nearly forty years, our courses have earned praise from drama teachers, theatre schools, community and professional theatres, agents, and actors getting started in the business.

Read more about last year’s Summer Theatre Intensive

Monday 2 March 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 2

ONstage Opening this week in Toronto
Beneath the Banyan Tree at Theatre Direct Canada
Photo by Naz Afsahi
In Toronto
Mar. 3, Pinocchio at Young People's Theatre
Mar. 4, Beneath the Banyan Tree at Theatre Direct Canada
Mar. 4, Balm in Gilead at Ryerson Theatre School
Mar. 4, QueerCab at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Mar. 5, Harper Regan at Canadian Stage, currently in previews*
Mar. 6, Choreographic Works at Ryerson Theatre School
Mar. 7, Spoon River at Soulpepper Theatre

In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 5, Obaaberima at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa), with previews from Mar. 3
Mar. 6, Young Frankenstein at Orpheus Musical Theatre Society (Ottawa)

In Northeastern Ontario

Mar. 4, Snapshots at Sault Theatre Workshop (Sault Ste. Marie)

In Northwestern Ontario
Mar. 6, Doubt: A Parable at Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay), with a preview on Mar. 5
ONstage Now Playing in Toronto
The Mouse House at Bloor West Village Players
Doug Tindal and Trevor Marlatt
Photo by Jennifer Etches

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk
Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Discount Tickets program