Friday 30 October 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

A rehearsal for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at VOS Theatre.
Joel Varty is in the centre of the image, with
Bea Quarrie seated at the table on the right.


Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres


TO Toasts


In Case You Missed It

Thursday 29 October 2015

Uncovering Hidden Treasures Within the Play: Advanced Directing at Theatre Ontario’s Summer Theatre Intensive

by Kate O’Hearn

Fifth and final post in a series from participant’s at this year’s Summer Theatre Intensive

The 40 Year old “Summer Camp’ Virgin. That was me! As a 40th birthday present to myself, I enrolled in summer camp! But not just any ol’ summer camp. This was Advanced Directing: Uncovering Hidden Treasures Within the Play, with Virginia Reh! The only prerequisites: substantial directing experience (check), and a play to be directed in the near future which I wanted the opportunity to workshop (check). Armed with script in hand and a tad of trepidation, I made the trek to Waterloo.

I’ve been acting and directing for quite a while. I wanted to explore new ways of thinking about scripts, and thought it was time for a brush up and a challenge. I certainly knew how to hold auditions and block a show—or did I?  I knew how to work well with set, sound and lighting designers to develop a cohesive vision—or did I? I most certainly knew how to get the most out of my actors to ensure a successful and enjoyable run on stage—or (gulp) did I? Would I come out of the week questioning all I knew and trusted in my ability as a director? Would I lose my confidence? Would I feel out of my league in Virginia’s class? Did I really qualify as an ‘advanced’ director?

My hopes for that summer camp adventure were to develop my skills as a director, but the experience became so much more than that! Each day, three other theatre misfits and myself were given the opportunity, under Virginia’s superb facilitation, to workshop our scripts. We were encouraged to work on problem areas, exploring casting, set, and blocking challenges. Consistently bouncing ideas off one another, we took turns performing in each other’s scenes. As actors, turned directors, turned actors again, this collaboration gave us an amazing new perspective on our chosen plays.  

Did my vision occasionally clash with that of my classmates? Yes. Did I get frustrated? Yes. Did I, at points, want to throw in the towel? Yes. During class, were there raw eggs smashed on the ground, rocks thrown, all of us bound together with elastic bands? You may think I’m joking, but yes, yes, and yes. We all know that creativity and growth can be messy.  Virginia taught us to question ourselves, and to accept that, while there are no right or wrong ways to direct a production–there are always more effective ones.
Script work at the Advanced Directing
course at Theatre Ontario's Summer
Theatre Intensive.

I had fantastic conversations each day with other Theatre Ontario participants, and it is truly reassuring to learn that I am not alone in my experiences or in my quest for self-improvement. Nothing worth having comes easily, and this experience reiterated that to me. Did I grow as a director? Yes. Did I overcome my fears and rise to the occasion? Yes. Did this course, through Virginia’s tutelage, guidance and knowledge, meet my expectations?  No—it exceeded them in more ways than I can express. They say you never forget your first visit to summer camp. I know I won’t.

Kate O’Hearn will be performing in Markham Little Theatre’s upcoming production of The Heiress November 18-21, 2015. And the production of her chosen script, Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor, will be performed February 10-13, 2016. Both performances to take place at The Flato Markham Theatre.

Related Reading

Wednesday 28 October 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

  • Upcoming Ontario Cultural Strategy Town Halls are in Sudbury (October 29) and Ottawa (November 4).
  • Deadline for proposals for Play! A Symposium at World Festival of Children’s Theatre is November 1.
  • Deadline for applications for the Festival Players of Prince Edward County’s Theatre Creators Reserve is November 2.
  • Deadline for applications for Ontario Arts Council grants (COMPASS and Theatre Organizations—Summer Theatres) is November 3.
  • Register to apply for the next Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow Grants deadline by November 4 to guarantee your registration is processed.
  • ArtsBuild Ontario’s next Learn It | Build It | Manage It workshop is in Blue Mountains on November 4 and 5.

New on The Bulletin Board

  • Burl-Oak Theatre Group is launching the Page to Stage Student One-Act Playwriting Contest for Halton area secondary school students. As part of the contest are two free workshops: Create a scene on November 7 and Playwriting Lab on December 12.
  • ArtsBuild Ontario and TAPA are hosting a workshop on SpaceFinder’s booking features (for venues that provide rentals) on November 10.
  • Playwrights Canada Press is hosting a drama workshop for high school teachers in Toronto on November 12.
  • Jumblies Theatre in Toronto invites applications for the Theatre Creators Reserve program. Their funding priorities are community-engaged arts projects. The deadline is November 15.
  • ArtsBuild Ontario is hosting a workshop Dollar to $ense–Energy Conservation for venues on December 1.
  • GCTC in Ottawa invites applications for the Theatre Creators Reserve program. Their funding priorities are playwrights/collectives based in or originating from the National Capital Region. The deadline is December 4.
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


Tuesday 27 October 2015

Save the Date for Next Generation Showcase

We're pleased to announce that Theatre Ontario's Next Generation Showcase 2016 will be held on January 17 and 18, 2016 at Native Earth’s Aki Studio Theatre at Daniels Spectrum.

Last year's Theatre Ontario Next Generation Showcase. This year
we will be Native Earth's Aki Studio Theatre at Daniels Spectrum
Theatre Ontario’s Next Generation Showcase is our annual event that provides graduating students of post-secondary conservatory theatre training programs across Ontario with the opportunity to audition for industry professionals. The event is attended by artistic directors, freelance directors, casting directors, and agents who are signed to the EIC or members of TAMAC.

Besides the students showcasing their talent for you in this intimate venue, we will also have several opportunities for students, faculty, and industry professionals to meet and network with each other at our networking parties which will be held in the Artscape Lounge immediately following Showcase each night.

Monday 26 October 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of October 26

This week’s openings on Ontario’s stages

In South Central Ontario

Oct. 29, The Sunshine Boys at Mississauga Players

In Southwestern Ontario

Oct. 30, Jack of Diamonds at Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton), with previews from Oct. 28
Oct. 30, All the Kings Women at London Community Players, with a preview on Oct. 29

In Toronto

Oct. 27, Groundswell Unplugged: A Festival of Contemporary Women's Theatre at Nightwood Theatre
Oct. 31, Hallowe'en Howl at Solar Stage Children's Theatre

In Central Ontario

Oct. 30, Vimy at Peterborough Theatre Guild

In Eastern Ontario

Oct. 27, Flare Path at Ottawa Little Theatre
Oct. 27, Midnight Hour: Memories of Rhythm and Blues at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg)
Oct. 29, Jake’s Gift at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa), with previews from Oct. 27
Oct. 30, The Mountaintop at Theatre Kingston, with a preview on Oct. 29

ONstage Now Playing in Toronto
Wonder of the World at East Side Players
Kearsten Johansson, Nicole Marie McCafferty
Photo by Dave Fitzpatrick

In Northeastern Ontario

Oct. 28, Bus Stop at Sault Theatre Workshop (Sault Ste. Marie)

In Northwestern Ontario

Oct. 29, Night of the Living Dead Live at Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay), with previews from Oct. 26


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

Friday 23 October 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

  • The #CdnCult Times from SpiderWebShow launched Volume 6 with three articles about the Federal Election—curated and written before Monday. Michael Wheeler’s post on “the Opportunity for Arts and Culture” under a Trudeau Government is particularly compelling reading.
  • Alexis Gordon, who appeared as Julie Jordan in the Stratford Festival production of Carousel this past summer, met with students from Original Kids Theatre in London—where she got her start in acting.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

John Storey

Migrations


TO Toasts


In Case You Missed It

  • Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program: Catherine Ballachey trained in dramaturgy with Laurie Steven at Odyssey Theatre, Courtenay Stevens is training in artistic producing with Jennifer Brewin at Common Boots Theatre, and Susan Cuthbert is training in directing with Robert McQueen at Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company.
  • Stories from the Summer Theatre Intensive: Joan Burrows took our playwriting intensive "There's No Such Thing As Writer's Block" with Maja Ardal
You can also receive news from Theatre Ontario every month by email.  Our archives are online and the October issue is now available.

Wednesday 21 October 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

  • Upcoming Ontario Cultural Strategy Town Halls are in Thunder Bay (October 22) and Sudbury (October 29).
  • Deadline for applications for Factory Theatre's Theatre Creators Reserve is October 23.
  • The Shaw Festival’s Fall Teachers Day for professional development is on October 23.
  • Sudbury Theatre Centre’s Introduction to Acting and Introduction to Stage Management workshops are on October 24. (UPDATED - Sudbury Theatre Centre reports that Intro to Stage Management has been postponed.)
  • The Playwrights Guild of  Canada’s Tom Hendry Awards will be presented on October 25 in Toronto.

New on The Bulletin Board

  • Native Earth Performing Arts invites applications for their Theatre Creators’ Reserve. Funding priorities are for emerging and established multidisciplinary theatre creators with a special interest in Indigenous artists, women, and artists-of-colour. The application deadline is December 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 20 October 2015

Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.) These are some of the current and recent participants' experiences.

Catherine Ballachey trained in dramaturgy with Laurie Steven at Odyssey Theatre in Ottawa


I guess things have come to an end for my residency with Odyssey Theatre here in Ottawa. How did that happen? It feels like summer completely flew by! Now that I have a moment to reflect on my mentorship over the past few months, I can see clearly that things have a come a long way. In general, I feel confident about what I can contribute as a dramaturg, and I have a better sense of how that can work within the setting of a professional theatre company. I know I have a long way to go before I’m working consistently as a professional dramaturg, but I feel like I’ve laid the foundation for my work to come.
The Things We Do For Love at Odyssey Theatre
Mark Huisman, Alan K. Sapp, William Beddoe
Photo by Maria Vartanova

In my last two posts, I talked a lot about the difficulty I experienced in finding my way into the creative process as a dramaturg, but now I know that negotiating your role in rehearsal is an important part of the process. I had the opportunity to debrief thoroughly with me mentor, Laurie Steven, about how we’ve been working together since May. During the rehearsal process, things were quite hectic. The company was mounting three challenging new plays and integrating mask work, set design, puppetry, fight choreography, and many other different elements. At times, I felt like there was no room for dramaturgy, but I tried my best to chime in where I could and offer suggestions to help things integrate as smoothly as possible. 

At the end of the rehearsal process, I regretted that I didn’t chime in more, and although I attended rehearsals as much as we originally planned, I feel like I missed some important work. It is important for a dramaturg to maintain a bit of distance from an artistic process in order to offer suggestions and feedback with an impartial eye. However, I felt that I hadn’t integrated into the process enough, and that I could have done more to help this ambitious night of theatre come together. After discussing this with Laurie, I now realize that I influenced the process more than I originally thought. 

In short, it was enough for Laurie to have someone by her side from time to time to check in with her and discuss ideas. She admitted that it helps to have another person with which to speak her ideas out loud. When we moved into the final phase of the mentorship, it became clear that dramaturgy is about more than just feedback and textual analysis. It’s about artistic relationships and support. As we discussed the future of Odyssey’s New Play Creation program, I learned that a dramaturg is more like a confidant to a playwright or director. In addition, each process is unique and a dramaturg’s job is to be adaptable and support the distinctive rhythm of every project they embark on.

In June, I attended a conference of the Literary Manager and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA), and they always described the role of the dramaturg as “creative midwifery”. At the time, I thought that was a bit extreme, but now I completely understand what they meant. Sometimes it can be enough to hold the hand of a playwright and advocate for their artistic process. After my experience with Odyssey Theatre, I now feel confident to embark on a career in dramaturgy. The feedback and encouragement I received from Laurie was positive, and I feel passionate about helping directors and playwrights guide their creative process. Maybe my cautious and encouraging voice could be the right one to help directors and playwrights get to the bottom of their artistic message.

Courtenay Stevens is training in artistic producing with Jennifer Brewin at Common Boots Theatre in Toronto


Like many of you I love performing.  It satisfies so many aspects of my creative self and yet I crave more; more variety, more stability, more stimulation. This has led me to seek out other opportunities in the arts and that has landed me on this blog writing about my PTTP project in artistic producing at Common Boots Theatre in Toronto.

Jennifer Brewin is the current artistic director of Common Boots Theatre and she has a remarkable ability to bring people together for a common cause. Her folksy leadership allows space for people to be challenged and excel, and she’s been very supportive of my performing career over the years.  
She’s also been very encouraging of my development beyond performance and has brought me into the fold as an associate artist with the company. Training as artistic producer is a huge step in my development as a theatre practitioner.

For this grant I’ll be working closely with Jennifer setting up the infrastructure for the company’s annual winter play at Evergreen Brickworks. I’ll have the opportunity to attend meetings with partnering organizations, witness and collaborate on strategic planning, and see the inner workings of this ambitious theatre company while developing my leadership skills.

The winter show is fantastically crazy. It’s an outdoor performance that winds the audience through various sites at Evergreen Brickworks in December. I’ve performed in it twice and I find the sense of community that develops around performing outdoors in the darkest month of the year exhilarating.
I have some ideas about where my new adventure will take me and I’m preparing for lots of meetings, coffee and laughter and like all good adventures; I’m expecting a lot of surprises.

Susan Cuthbert is training in directing with Robert McQueen at Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company in Toronto


Artistic Director Robert McQueen has the unique combination of what it takes to be a director of music theatre. He has one of the most generous natures I’ve ever come across, a highly developed creative mind, knowledge of music theatre history and practical theatre experience to make anyone in the room that he’s working with, feel like anything is possible. I’ve already learned a lot from him- and we haven’t even started rehearsals yet! 

I am Robert’s intern on The Immigrant with the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, but already I’ve had a taste of things to come with auditions and pre-production meetings. I thought I was mostly going to be a ‘fly on the wall’ taking notes, and learning by watching, but Robert has invited me already to offer ideas and be part of his audition process.

As an actor, I know what an audition is—I prepare the character/text/music, but as a Director, and in this case as an intern,  I wasn’t sure what I was expected to do. I tried to make myself as useful as possible without getting in the way. Robert would show up and make me feel like I belonged there, even if I wasn’t sure.

At the call-backs, I saw my chance to be useful, and offered to be a reader for the female roles—being the only female in the room—it seemed like a good idea. I learned first-hand Robert’s process, by doing, not just by watching. He has a clear idea of the scene and world of the piece and communicates clearly these ideas and invites people into that world. A playground where the performers are free to invent. He then steps back and watches the actors explore. Stepping in at times to ask questions or add layers to the scene.  Sometimes I’ve noticed with the best directors, it’s not only what they say, but when they say it and how they say it to each individual so they are receptive. And knowing when to step back, to allow the performers to take ownership. He did this effortlessly in the auditions and I can’t wait to watch him develop this rapport during rehearsals.

In the pre-production meetings I thought I’d probably just sit there silently watching the set designer discuss with Robert set and costume ideas. And learn how they collaborate. But was excited and at the same time anxious to find out Robert wanted the set designer and I to read the script aloud and listen to the music with him, while discussing the context of the piece with regards to the look and tone of the show. I thought having that kind of communication with your set/costume designer makes the piece even more cohesive. That’s something that makes so much sense and hopefully I will be able to do when collaborating in the future.

Watching the whole creative and production team during meetings and auditions I realized how  exceptional everyone is at what they do and it hit me: this is the perfect time, place and people to be working with.

To be honest, I can’t believe though that at this late stage in my life, that I am attempting this career transition from performer to director—but how amazing is this opportunity? That through PTTP and Theatre Ontario I’m awarded this grant—AND that Robert agreed to be my mentor—AND that I’m working on this wonderful project with wonderfully talented and skilled people! Wow!!

Looking forward to learning from Robert ways to apply his years of directing experience and techniques to my own voice and skills. Yeah, this is the start of an amazing ride!

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is March 1, 2016.


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

Monday 19 October 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of October 19

This week’s openings on Ontario’s stages

In South Central Ontario

Oct. 21, Perfect Wedding at West End Studio Theatre
Oct. 22, A Nice Family Gathering at Theatre Aurora
Oct. 23, Orestes at Theatre Erindale (Mississauga), with a preview on Oct. 22

In Southwestern Ontario

Oct. 23, Dearly Beloved at Aylmer Community Theatre, with a preview on Oct. 22
Oct. 23, Shorthanded at Theatre Sarnia

In Toronto

Oct. 21, BARAM and SNIECKUS You and Me Both - A Sketch Comedy Review at Theatre Passe Muraille*
Oct. 22, Wonder of the World at East Side Players
Oct. 23, Age of Arousal at Factory Theatre, with previews from Oct. 20*

In Central Ontario

Oct. 21, "Freud's Last Session" at Peterborough Theatre Guild
Oct. 23, Harvey at Northumberland Players (Cobourg)
Oct. 24, The Wild Guys at Lindsay Little Theatre

In Eastern Ontario

Oct. 20, Next to Normal at indie women productions (Ottawa)
Oct. 23, The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa), with previews from Oct. 21

ONstage Now Playing in Southwestern Ontario
Mrs. Parliament's Night Out at Theatre Woodstock
Vanessa Giuliano, Elizabeth Durand
ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

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



Thursday 15 October 2015

There’s No Such Thing as Writer’s Block! at Theatre Ontario's Summer Theatre Intensive

By Joan Burrows

Fourth in a series of posts from participants at this year’s Summer Theatre Intensive

After taking two other playwriting courses with Maja Ardal, I knew that this one would be both creative and beneficial for me. As an instructor, Maja is both endearing and a great task master!

We began each day with physical warm-ups to stimulate blood flow not just to our bodies but especially to our brains. Then Maja introduced  silent writing exercises for ten or twenty or thirty minutes or longer. Sometimes the writing was done immediately in the classroom, sometimes we were free to leave the room and find quiet places on campus to write in solitude. All the writing was shared each day so that we could hear each other’s work and Maja’s always positive critique of what had been written.

Our writing exercises took various forms
—descriptive passages for sense awareness; character dialogue; interior and spoken monologues; topical stories as a source for playwriting; scene building. We wrote both in and out of class time. Sometimes Maja would interrupt our quiet writing with an imposition of something or someone which now had to be added to the scene. One of my favourite exercises was writing silently with a partner where we passed the computer screen back and forth and built an entire scene without saying a word to each other but by reading and responding only in our characters’ dialogue. All of these exercises allowed us to build a final scene which we were able to write, edit, print and hear others read aloud as a first draft. For many of the participants, this was the first time they had ever gone through this process. The writing was amazing!

Each day, Maja built a list of playwriting “isms” on the board for us to consider as we started or finished reading our writing assignments. It was fascinating to watch the board fill up over the course or the week. Here is what I’m taking from Maja Ardal as I continue on my playwriting journey—“Be Brave! Speak the unspeakable!” and also, “Your play is an agreement with the audience that trouble is happening right now and plot is the evolution (not imposition) of how people deal with the trouble in the play!”

It was a very creative and fun week. I personally came away with several ideas to develop into scene work and met fantastic writers!

Related Reading

Wednesday 14 October 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

  • Deadline for applications for Paprika Festival’s 2016 Festival programs (Productions, Creators Unit, Resident Company, Playwriting, Advisory Board, Director’s Lab) is today.
  • Deadline to register for Alumnae Theatre's Playwriting Jumpstart workshop with Marcia Johnson is October 16.
  • Upcoming Ontario Cultural Strategy Town Hall sessions are in Hamilton (October 15) and Thunder Bay (October 22).
  • Deadline for applications for Ontario Arts Council’s Jets de theatre and Multi and Inter-Arts Projects grants is October 15.
  • The Shaw Theatre School in Niagara-on-the-Lake for grades 3 to 12 begins October 17.
  • Deadline for applications for Canada Council’s Theatre International grant is October 15.
  • Deadline for applications for Canadian Stage’s RBC Emerging Artist Program: Director Development Residency is October 19.
  • Deadline for applications for Canadian Stage’s RBC Emerging Artist Program: Company in Residence is October 20.
  • Deadline for applications for Factory Theatre's Theatre Creators' Reserve is October 23.
  • The Shaw Festival’s Fall Teachers Day for professional development is on October 23.
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 13 October 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of October 13

This week’s openings on Ontario’s stages

In Northeastern Ontario

Oct. 15, Les Liaisons Dangereuses at Sudbury Theatre Centre

ONstage Opening in Southwestern Ontario
2 Pianos, 4 Hands at The Grand Theatre
Richard Todd Adams, Bryce Kulak

In Southwestern Ontario

Oct. 15, Anne of Green Gables at Drayton Entertainment: Dunfield Theatre Cambridge, with previews from Oct. 14
Oct. 15, Love Letters at Baby Gumm Productions (Hamilton)
Oct. 16, 2 Pianos 4 Hands at The Grand Theatre (London), with previews from Oct. 13
Oct. 16, Mrs. Parliament's Night Out at Theatre Woodstock
Oct. 17, Bob Milne's Ragtime at Century Church Theatre (Hillsburgh)

In Toronto

Oct. 13, Baobab at Young People's Theatre
Oct. 13, Huff at Native Earth Performing Arts, currently in previews
Oct. 15, Beckett Trilogy: Not I / Footfalls / Rockaby at Canadian Stage, with previews from Oct. 13*

In Central Ontario

Oct. 16, Jonas and Barry in the Home at Theatre Orangeville, with a preview on Oct. 15
Oct. 17, Last Hour, Last Day (Play Reading) at VOS Theatre (Cobourg)

In Eastern Ontario

Oct. 14, Fort Mac Attack! With Lucien and Jimmy the Janitor at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg)
Oct. 15, Sadie Flynn Comes to Big Oak at Smiths Falls Community Theatre


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


Friday 9 October 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters


  • I always enjoy reading "outside" impressions of spaces we know and love well. Raphael Martin wrote about The Theatre Centre in Toronto for HowlRound: “From Impulse to Audience
  • ArtsVote Toronto has produced a video for the Federal election encouraging young people to vote.


TO Toasts


  • ... to the finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards for Drama in English: Beth Graham (The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble), Tara Grammy and Tom Arthur Davis (Mahmoud), Bryden MacDonald (Odd Ducks), David Yee (carried away on the crest of a wave), and Marcus Youssef and James Long (Winners and Losers)  Also a tip of the hat to Emil Sher—our Playwright-in-Person at Theatre Ontario Festival 2011 in Richmond Hill—a finalist in Children’s Literature—Text.
I will be away next week, but Ontario Off Stage will return on Friday, October. 23.

Wednesday 7 October 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

The Paprika Festival
Deadline for applications for 2015 programs is October 14.
  • Deadline for applications for Outside the March’s Forward March (for creators of large-scale immersive performance) is October 9.
  • Deadline for applications for Theatre InspiraTO’s Playwriting Academy is October 10.
  • Upcoming Ontario Cultural Strategy Town Hall sessions are in Barrie (October 13) and Hamilton (October 15).
  • Deadline for applications for Paprika Festival’s 2016 Festival programs (Productions, Creators Unit, Resident Company, Playwriting, Advisory Board, Director’s Lab) is October 14.
  • Deadline for applications for Ontario Arts Council’s Jets de theatre and Multi and Inter-Arts Projects grants is October 15.
  • Deadline for applications for Canada Council’s Theatre International grant is October 15.

New on The Bulletin Board

  • Canadian Stage invites applications for their RBC Emerging Artist Programs.  The Director Development Residency has a deadline of October 19, and the Company in Residence program has a deadline of October 20.
  • Festival Players of Prince Edward County invite submissions for their Theatre Creators’ Reserve, with funding priorities for rural and/or epic themes.  The submission deadline is November 2.
  • Mississauga Players is seeking a volunteer lighting designer for The Sunshine Boys.
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

Monday 5 October 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of October 5

This week’s openings on Ontario’s stages

In Eastern Ontario

Oct. 8, Calendar Girls at Belleville Theatre Guild, with a preview from Oct. 6

In Southwestern Ontario

Oct. 8, The Pirates of Penzance at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, with previews from Oct. 7
Oct. 9, Steel Magnolias at London Community Players, with a preview on Oct. 8

ONstage Now Playing in St. Jacobs
Sexy Laundry at Drayton Entertainment:
St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre
Gabrielle Jones, Sheldon Davis
Photo by Darlene O'Rourke

In Toronto

Oct. 8, Hana's Suitcase at Young People's Theatre, with previews from Oct. 5
Oct. 8, Don't Dress for Dinner at Scarborough Theatre Guild
Oct. 10, Huff at Native Earth Performing Arts
Oct. 10, Sleepy Hollow at Solar Stage Children's Theatre


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

Friday 2 October 2015

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport announces the
Ontario Culture Plan initiative.  (Photo by Executive Director
Bruce Pitkin at the launch event.)

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres


In Case You Missed It

Thursday 1 October 2015

Honouring Contribution to Community Theatre in Northeastern Ontario

Do you know someone whose sustained contribution, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment within his/her region has helped community theatre flourish? Theatre Ontario is now inviting nominations for the 2016 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre. The award is presented annually to an individual from the region that is hosting the Theatre Ontario Festival—which in 2016 is Northeastern Ontario.

John Storey, the 2015 recipient of
Theatre Ontario's Michael Spence Award
Past recipients of the award are Joan McRae, Anne Wilson, Lillian Sievanen, Sharon Sproule, Betty Coates, Arlene Watson, Vince Mathewson, David Glover, Harry Houston, Hans Warmenhoven, Beth McMaster, Val Hadley, Maureen Lukie, Ken Stephen, Gabe Ferrazzo, Margaret Shearman, Lawrie Bonanno, Jo-anne Spitzer, Walter Maskel, Joe O’Brien, and Bev Dietrich. The 2015 award was presented to John Storey of Markham.

The 2016 award will be presented to an individual from the northeastern Ontario community theatre region, which includes the Districts of Parry Sound, Nipissing, Manitoulin, Sudbury (and the City of Greater Sudbury), Algoma, Timiskaming, and Cochrane.

The award was established in 1997 by Theatre Ontario on the occasion of Theatre Ontario's 25th Anniversary. Multiple awards were presented on the quinquennial anniversaries of Theatre Ontario until 2012, when it became an annual award. The award is named in honour of 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 continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.

The nomination deadline is January 29, 2016.