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