Domino Theatre Awarded the Elsie for Outstanding Production at Festival 2019

Domino Theatre's production of Outside Mullingar

Congratulations to Domino Theatre from Kingston, whose production of Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley was awarded the Elsie as Outstanding Production at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill. They represented the Eastern Ontario Drama League. This is their third Elsie Award, they were previously honoured in 2011 for their production of Trying by Joanna McClelland Glass, and in 2007 for their production of All My Sons by Arthur Miller.

The production received five awards and one honourable mention from adjudicator Carolee Mason.
Gore Bay Theatre, from Manitoulin Island, represented QUONTA, the northeastern Ontario community theatre association, presenting This Is How We Got Here by Keith Barker, and received four awards and one honourable mention.

Bloor West Village Players, from Toronto, represented the Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario, presenting Late Company by Jordan Tannahill, and received three awards and three honourable mentions.

Theatre Sarnia, represented the Western Ontario Drama League, presenting Girls Like That by Evan Placey, and received one award and one honourable mention. The production also received the award for Outstanding Coordinated Production, chosen by the Festival Production Manager.

The annual Theatre Ontario Festival is a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions, a symposium 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 2019 was hosted by The Curtain Club, in partnership with Theatre Ontario and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

Read the full list of Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Award Winners and Nominees on the Theatre Ontario website

ONstage Tonight at Festival: Theatre Sarnia

Theatre Sarnia's production of Girls Like That

Our Festival’s closing performances comes from the Western Ontario Drama League, as Theatre Sarnia presents Evan Placey’s Girls Like That. This marks Theatre Sarnia’s first return to Festival since 2016 in North Bay, when they presented 33 Variations by Moisés Kaufman.

The Drama Club of Sarnia was created in 1927 and grew under the leadership of Herman Voaden, Dr. R.K.Stratford, and D. Park Jamieson. After many years as the Sarnia Little Theatre, the organization is now known as Theatre Sarnia and is one of the oldest continuously operating theatre groups in Canada. Over the years, the group has hosted successful theatre festivals including the Dominion Drama Festival, the Theatre Ontario Festival, the Western Ontario Drama League Theatre Festival, and WODL Mini-Fest. Theatre Sarnia graduates have gone on to careers in various fields of the theatrical community and entertainment industry. Theatre Sarnia is also one of the few community groups to own their own theatre. The Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia originally opened as the Capitol Theatre on New Year's Eve 1936. It closed 52 years later and was left abandoned; however, Theatre Sarnia members and many volunteers accomplished the transformation of the movie house to a live theatre venue.

Girls Like That is an explosive play staring seven young women that explores the evolution of feminist consciousness and modern female friendships in the wake of advancing technology. It examines mob mentality, sexual insecurity, double-standards, and the struggle to define oneself in a crowd. The plot follows one class of girls, part of a prestigious school that takes only 20 students a year, guaranteeing they will remain in the same class from kindergarten to graduation. Jumping back and forth in time, the audience sees how societal pressures and expectations creep in and affect the dynamics of this group starting at their first meeting at five-years-old. As they near graduation, a naked photo of one of them gets sent around to the entire school and the other six girls explore what this means to their group, and themselves.

At WODL Festival 2019 in Guelph, Theatre Sarnia won the D. Park Jamieson Memorial Award for Best Production in Festival, Outstanding Direction (Henri Canino), Outstanding Ensemble Work, Outstanding Technical Achievement, Best Visual Production, Best Coordinated Production, and Adjudicator’s Awards for Sound Design (Henri Canino), Choreography (Jackie Burns), and Projection Design (Ian Alexander). In the WODL In and Out of Festival Awards it won Best Set Design and Execution (Henri Canino and Paul Baert) and Adjudicator’s Awards for Effective Scene Transitions and Special Theatre Effects (Ian Alexander, Projections) and nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Juvenile (Emma Van Barneveld and Chloe Brescia), Sound Design and Execution (Henri Canino), Lighting Design and Execution (Catherine Souliere), and Adjudicator’s Awards for Innovation in Stage Movement (choral work and choreography).

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

ONstage Tonight at Festival: Domino Theatre

Domino Theatre's production of Outside Mullingar

The last time Theatre Ontario Festival was held in Richmond Hill in 2011, Domino Theatre went home with the Elsie for Outstanding Festival Production for their production of Joanna McClelland Glass’ Trying. This year, they return as the representative of the Eastern Ontario Drama League—presenting John Patrick Shanley’s Outside Mullingar.

Since its unusual beginning between feature films at the old Odeon Theatre in Kingston in 1952, Domino has grown to a full seven-play winter season. Each season offers an appealing mix of drama, comedy and mystery from the Canadian and world stages. People from all walks of life pool their skills to present productions of a consistently high calibre. As a member of the Eastern Ontario Drama League and Theatre Ontario, Domino is actively involved in the Ontario amateur theatre community and has acted as host to several annual festivals. Many Domino people and productions have been recognized for their excellence at the regional and provincial levels. With a Board of Directors elected by the membership, and with advertised auditions open to all, Domino welcomes the participation of interested volunteers both on stage and behind the scenes.

In Outside Mullingar, Anthony and Rosemary are two introverted misfits straddling 40. Anthony has spent his entire life on a cattle farm in rural Ireland, a state of affairs that, due to his painful shyness, suits him well. Rosemary lives next door and is determined to have him but is watching the years slip away. With Anthony’s father threatening to disinherit him and a land feud simmering between their families, Rosemary has every reason to fear romantic catastrophe. In this very Irish story with a depth of poetic passion, these yearning, eccentric souls fight their way toward some kind of happiness. Outside Mullingar is a compassionate, delightful work about how it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

At EODL Full-Length Festival 2018-2019, Domino Theatre won the Leslie M. Frost Award for Best Production, Best Actor in a Major Role (Geoff Johnson as Anthony Reilly), Best Cameo Performance (Linda Hamstra as the nurse in the Scene 3 to Scene 4 transition), Best Use of Speech (David Hurley as Tony Reilly), and Set Design (David L. Smith), with nominations for Best Director (Ian Malcolm), Best Actress in a Major Role (Dympna McConnell as Rosemary Muldoon),  Acting Excellence (David Hurley as Tony Reilly and Sandi Cond as Aiofe Muldoon), Outstanding Ensemble, Best Visual Presentation, and Best Costuming.

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

ONstage Tonight at Festival: Gore Bay Theatre

The company of Gore Bay Theatre's
production of This Is How We Got Here

Gore Bay Theatre returns to Theatre Ontario Festival as the representative of QUONTA, the northeastern Ontario community theatre association.  Last seen on the Festival stage in 2015 in Oshawa when the presented Agnes of God by John Pielmeier, this year Gore Bay Theatre presents This Is How We Got Here, written by Keith Barker (coincidentally our Theatre Ontario Festival Playwright-in-Person.)

Gore Bay is a small town of 800 residents located on beautiful Manitoulin Island. Gore Bay Theatre was established as a community theatre in 1992 with a mandate to produce Canadian theatre (if possible), primarily as a summer venue for the local and tourist audiences. It produced one comedy each summer until 2005, when the present Artistic Director was appointed. Since then, Gore Bay Theatre has produced three to four productions each year including comedies, dramas, musicals and children’s theatre. The summer theatre season now produces a comedy, a drama and sometimes a children’s production.  The productions are done in repertory to give audiences an opportunity to attend more than one performance on a weekend.

Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, This Is How We Got Here follows a close-knit family as they deal with an unexpected loss. The ties that keep a mother, father, aunt and uncle together as sisters, best friends and spouses are strained by grief and guilt. They must learn how to move forward after the trauma and re-learn how to interact with forgiveness, humour and love.

At QUONTA Festival 2019 in Sault Ste. Marie, Gore Bay Theatre received Outstanding Production, Outstanding Direction (Andrea Emmerton and Walter Maskel), Outstanding Technical Achievement, Outstanding Visual Presentation, and Adjudicators’s Awards for Outstanding Contribtuion (Vern Dorge, Music Composition and Performance) and for Ensemble, with nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role (Tara Bernatchez as Lucille and Shannon McMullan as Liset), Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role (John Robertson as Paul and Will Smith at Jim), and Adjudicator’s Awards for Stage Management (Andrea Emmerton and Walter Maskel), and Festival Heroes (Bill Viertelhausen.)

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

ONstage Tonight at Festival: The Bloor West Village Players

Bloor West Village Players' production of Late Company

Opening night of Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 features our Festival debutantes, as The Bloor West Village Players take the stage, representing ACT-CO, the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario with their production of Late Company by Jordan Tannahill.

Since 1974, Toronto’s Bloor West Village Players have produced both entertaining and thought-provoking theatre. As a non-profit group it aims to offer professional production quality, at a modest cost. It is an active part of the community and provides opportunities for training and participation in all aspects of theatre. They produce a season of five Mainspace plays in their 162-seat theatre, from September to May. Their Reading Committee spends the year reading, then presents a long-list of recommendations to the Board, which chooses five. The Board of Directors then co-ordinates the team for each show; directors, producers, stage managers, designers, operators, and the balance of the team are all pulled from their large volunteer base.

In Late Company, two families come together in an attempt to reach an understanding a year after the death of the son of one of the couples. Family secrets are revealed, as everyone deals with issues of coping with grief and guilt. This leads to them ask questions about how well we know ourselves, those closest to us, and especially our children. As so often happens, it is a case of “we don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” Late Company was written when Jordan Tannahill was 23 (he’s now 30, twice winner of the Governor General’s Award for English-language drama) and is based on an actual incident.

At ACT-CO Festival 2018/19, The Bloor West Village Players won Best Production of a Drama and Best Set Design (Theresa Arneaud), with nominations for Best Direction (Valary Cook), Best Performance by a Female in a Leading Role (Lydia Kiselyk as Debora), Best Lighting Design (David Nicholson), Best Sound Design (Samantha De Vries), and an Adjudicator’s Award for Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (Rob Candy).

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Welcome Bloor West Village Players and Domino Theatre to Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to welcome the final two productions that will perform at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill. These productions are chosen from Ontario’s regional community theatre festivals, and are a showcase of outstanding community theatre from across the province.

Bloor West Village Players' production of Late Company
(standing) Rob Candy, Lydia Kiselyk
(seated) Andrew Horbatuik, Dylan Mills-Capote, Andrea Lyons

On Wednesday, May 15, Bloor West Village Players from Toronto will present Jordan Tannahill’s Late Company, representing the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario. This will be their first time at Theatre Ontario Festival, and they were chosen as the Best Production of a Drama by adjudicator Janet Kish from ACT-CO Festival 2018/2019.

Since 1974, Toronto’s Bloor West Village Players have produced both entertaining and thought-provoking theatre. As a non-profit group it aims to offer professional production quality, at a modest cost. It is an active part of the community and provides opportunities for training and participation in all aspects of theatre. They produce a season of five Mainspace plays in their 162-seat theatre, from September to May. Their Reading Committee spends the year reading, then presents a long-list of recommendations to the Board, which chooses five. The Board of Directors then co-ordinates the team for each show; directors, producers, stage managers, designers, operators, and the balance of the team are all pulled from their large volunteer base.

In Late Company, two families come together in an attempt to reach an understanding a year after the death of the son of one of the couples. Family secrets are revealed, as everyone deals with issues of coping with grief and guilt. This leads to them ask questions about how well we know ourselves, those closest to us, and especially our children. As so often happens, it is a case of “we don’t see things as they are, but as we are.” Late Company was written when Jordan Tannahill was 23 (he’s now 30, twice winner of the Governor General’s Award for English-language drama) and is based on an actual incident.

Domino Theatre's production of Outside Mullingar
David Hurley, Geoff Johnson, Sandie Cond

On Friday, May 17, Domino Theatre from Kingston will represent the Eastern Ontario Drama League with their production of Outside Mullingar by John Patrick Shanley. Domino returns to Festival for the first time since 2011 when they presented Trying by Joanna McClelland Glass and received the Elsie for Outstanding Production in Festival—coincidentally, 2011 was the last time Theatre Ontario Festival was held in Richmond Hill. Domino was chosen as recipient of the Leslie M. Frost Award for Best Production in the EODL Festival by adjudicator Carey Nicholson.

Since its unusual beginning between feature films at the old Odeon Theatre in Kingston in 1952, Domino has grown to a full seven-play winter season. Each season offers an appealing mix of drama, comedy and mystery from the Canadian and world stages. People from all walks of life pool their skills to present productions of a consistently high calibre. As a member of the Eastern Ontario Drama League and Theatre Ontario, Domino is actively involved in the Ontario amateur theatre community and has acted as host to several annual festivals. Many Domino people and productions have been recognized for their excellence at the regional and provincial levels.

With a Board of Directors elected by the membership, and with advertised auditions open to all, Domino welcomes the participation of interested volunteers both on stage and behind the scenes.
In Outside Mullingar, Anthony and Rosemary are two introverted misfits straddling 40. Anthony has spent his entire life on a cattle farm in rural Ireland, a state of affairs that, due to his painful shyness, suits him well. Rosemary lives next door and is determined to have him but is watching the years slip away. With Anthony’s father threatening to disinherit him and a land feud simmering between their families, Rosemary has every reason to fear romantic catastrophe. In this very Irish story with a depth of poetic passion, these yearning, eccentric souls fight their way toward some kind of happiness. Outside Mullingar is a compassionate, delightful work about how it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

As previously announced, Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 will feature detailed adjudications with Carolee Mason, a Playwright-in-Person reading with Keith Barker, workshops, awards and parties celebrating community theatre in Ontario.

The annual Theatre Ontario Festival is a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions; a symposium 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 2019 runs May 15 to 19, and is hosted by The Curtain Club with performances at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

Join us at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Congratulations to Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny, Recipients of the 2019 Michael Spence Award

We are excited to announce that the 2019 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented to Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny of Toronto. This award is presented by Theatre Ontario from the nomination by Burl-Oak Theatre Group, and on the recommendation of ACT-CO, the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

The award honours individuals for sustained contribution to community theatre, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment to community theatre that is legendary within their region, helping community theatre flourish. Chantal and Tim will receive their award on May 19 at the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Luncheon in Richmond Hill at the Langstaff Community Centre.

“I am delighted to congratulate Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny on being this year’s 2019 Michael Spence Award recipients,” said Linda Lyons, President of ACT-CO.  “Together since their return to the BurlOak Theatre Group in 2012, this creative and talented dynamic duo have continued to breathe new life and excitement in both the theatre, and the community.”

Learn more about the 2019 Michael Spence Award recipients

Welcome Gore Bay Theatre and Theatre Sarnia to Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to welcome the first two productions that will perform at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill. These productions are chosen from Ontario’s regional community theatre festivals, and are a showcase of outstanding community theatre from across the province.

On Thursday, May 16, Gore Bay Theatre from Manitoulin Island will represent QUONTA (the northeastern Ontario community theatre association) with their production of This Is How We Got Here by Keith Barker. Gore Bay Theatre returns to Theatre Ontario Festival for the first time since 2015 when they presented Agnes of God in Oshawa. This Is How We Got Here was awarded Outstanding Production by adjudicator Bea Quarrie at QUONTA Festival in Sault Ste. Marie. Keith Barker is also our Festival Playwright-in-Person for 2019.

The cast of Gore Bay Theatre's production of This Is How We Got Here
Will Smith, John Robertson, Shannon McMullan, Tara Bernatchez

Gore Bay is a small town of 800 residents located on beautiful Manitoulin Island. Gore Bay Theatre was established as a community theatre in 1992 with a mandate to produce Canadian theatre (if possible), primarily as a summer venue for the local and tourist audiences. It produced one comedy each summer until 2005, when the present Artistic Director was appointed. Since then, Gore Bay Theatre has produced three to four productions each year including comedies, dramas, musicals and children’s theatre. The summer theatre season now produces a comedy, a drama and sometimes a children’s production.  The productions are done in repertory to give audiences an opportunity to attend more than one performance on a weekend.

Simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming, This Is How We Got Here follows a close-knit family as they deal with an unexpected loss. The ties that keep a mother, father, aunt and uncle together as sisters, best friends and spouses are strained by grief and guilt. They must learn how to move forward after the trauma and re-learn how to interact with forgiveness, humour and love.

On Saturday, May 18, Theatre Sarnia will present Girls Like That by Evan Placey, representing the Western Ontario Drama League. Theatre Sarnia most recently represented the region at Festival in 2016, presenting 33 Variations in North Bay, and were awarded Best Production in Festival at WODL Festival in Guelph by adjudicator Maja Ardal.

The Drama Club of Sarnia was created in 1927 and grew under the leadership of Herman Voaden, Dr. R.K.Stratford, and D. Park Jamieson. After many years as the Sarnia Little Theatre, the organization is now known as Theatre Sarnia and is one of the oldest continuously operating theatre groups in Canada.Over the years, the group has hosted successful theatre festivals including the Dominion Drama Festival, the Theatre Ontario Festival, the Western Ontario Drama League Theatre Festival, and WODL Mini-Fest. Theatre Sarnia graduates have gone on to careers in various fields of the theatrical community and entertainment industry. Theatre Sarnia is also one of the few community groups to own their own theatre. The Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia originally opened as the Capitol Theatre on New Year's Eve 1936. It closed 52 years later and was left abandoned; however, Theatre Sarnia members and many volunteers accomplished the transformation of the movie house to a live theatre venue.

Theatre Sarnia's production of Girls Like That
Cassandra Lynn Smith, Kyra Knight, Tayler Hartwick, Julie Cushman,
Hala Miller, Chloe Brescia, Emma Van Barneveld

Girls Like That is an explosive play staring seven young women that explores the evolution of feminist consciousness and modern female friendships in the wake of advancing technology. It examines mob mentality, sexual insecurity, double-standards, and the struggle to define oneself in a crowd. The plot follows one class of girls, part of a prestigious school that takes only 20 students a year, guaranteeing they will remain in the same class from kindergarten to graduation. Jumping back and forth in time, the audience sees how societal pressures and expectations creep in and affect the dynamics of this group starting at their first meeting at five-years-old. As they near graduation, a naked photo of one of them gets sent around to the entire school and the other six girls explore what this means to their group, and themselves.

As previously announced, Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 will feature detailed adjudications with Carolee Mason, Playwright-in-Person readings with Keith Barker, workshops, awards and parties celebrating community theatre in Ontario.

The annual Theatre Ontario Festival is a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions; a symposium 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 2019 runs May 15 to 19, and is hosted by The Curtain Club with performances at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

Join us at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Welcome to Keith Barker as Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Playwright-in-Person

Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 is excited to welcome Keith Barker as “Playwright-in-Person” at this year’s Festival. Keith will be reading from his work on Friday, May 17 at 1:30pm at The Curtain Club in Richmond Hill.

Keith Barker is an Algonquin Métis playwright, actor, and theatre director from Northwestern Ontario, and the current Artistic Director at Native Earth Performing Arts. He was a finalist for the Governor General’s Award for English Drama in 2018 for his play, This Is How We Got Here. Keith received a Saskatchewan and Area Theatre Award for Excellence in Playwriting and a Yukon Arts Award for Best Art for Social Change for his play, The Hours That Remain. Prior to taking the job at Native Earth, Keith served as a Theatre Program Officer for the Canada Council for the Arts.

We are particularly excited to welcome Keith, as This Is How We Got Here will be presented by Gore Bay Theatre on Thursday, May 16 as the Festival entry on behalf of QUONTA, the northeastern Ontario community theatre association. This is the first time since Theatre Ontario Festival 2007 that our Playwright-in-Person has also been the author of an entry chosen from a regional festival.

Playwright-in-Person has been part of Theatre Ontario Festival since 1999. The program brings professional playwrights to Festival communities for script readings, Q&A, and more. Playwright-in-Person is made possible by a grant from the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s “Play Connect” program, funded by the Canada Council. Recent Playwrights-in-Person include Lisa Codrington, Erin Shields, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, and Damien Atkins.

We are also excited to welcome Playwrights Canada Press who will be bringing plays for sale on Thursday through Saturday of Festival, with their usual Festival discount—30% off one or two books, 50% off for three or more.

Theatre Ontario Festival is our annual celebration of community theatre in the province. It’s a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions, a symposium for passionate and dedicated community theatre artists, a celebration of excellence in community theatre, and a destination bringing together theatre lovers from across the province. Festival 2019 is hosted by The Curtain Club, with performances at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, in partnership with Theatre Ontario and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Join Us at Theatre Ontario Festival 2019

Our annual Theatre Ontario Festival returns to Richmond Hill—and welcomes one of Canada’s most acclaimed actors, RH Thomson, as our Festival Honorary Chair. Tickets and accommodations are now on sale.

Opening May 15, and running until May 19, our annual Festival is a celebration of community theatre—featuring performances, adjudications, workshops, awards, and parties that bring together theatre lovers from across the province. The Festival is hosted by The Curtain Club, with performances at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (RHCPA), the venue of Theatre Ontario Festival 2011. Early-bird passes at a discounted rate are available until January 31.

We are thrilled to welcome Richmond Hill-born actor RH Thomson as our Festival Honorary Chair. In 2015, Canadian stage and screen actor RH Thomson was awarded the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement and the ACTRA Award of Excellence. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2010 and has been given an Honorary Doctorate from Trinity College, University of Toronto. He has appeared in theatres across Canada and has filmed in Canada, the US, Greece and the Czech Republic. He has earned Gemini, Genie, Dora and Merritt awards for his work and recently directed The Crucible at Theatre Calgary and is performing in The Message at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. He is currently playing Matthew Cuthbert in the CBC/NETFLIX series Anne with an E for which he received the Canadian Screen Award. As well as being an advocate for the arts, he has worked on many history / education / arts projects. For the First World War Centenary, he built the multi lingual project The World Remembers-Le Monde Se Souvient, an international WWI Commemoration with installations across Canada and in eight other nations - www.theworldremembers.ca.

“Theatre Ontario is part of theatre’s essential nutrients since live theatre can only thrive with live participation,” said RH Thomson. “Seducing people away from their screens in order to enter the spaces where they can explore the art form called theatre is one of our main challenges. Festivals, like Theatre Ontario’s, is one of the ways we can do that.”

The Festival Hotel is the "Holiday Inn Express and Suites Toronto-Markham" in Richmond Hill. Festival guests will receive preferred rates.

For booking information of tickets and accommodations, visit www.theatreontariofestival.ca.

Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 is hosted by The Curtain Club, in partnership with Theatre Ontario and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

For 65 years, The Curtain Club has provided quality theatre at an affordable price to the citizens of Richmond Hill, Ontario and has been recognized as a centre for developing artistic appreciation, creativity, personal growth, and friendship.

Related reading

• Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival
• Meet Carolee Mason, our Festival Adjudicator
• New to Festival? Catch-up on stories from Theatre Ontario Festival 2018

Honouring Contribution to Community Theatre in Central Ontario

Do you know someone whose sustained contribution, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment within the Central Ontario region has helped community theatre flourish?

Theatre Ontario is now inviting nominations for the 2019 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 2019 is Central Ontario.

The 2018 Michael Spence Award presentation to Sue Perkins

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, Bev Dietrich, John Storey, Murray Finn, and David Parry. The 2018 award was presented to Susan M. Perkins of London.

The 2019 award will be presented to an individual from the Central Ontario community theatre region, which includes the City of Toronto, Durham Region, Halton Region (except the City of Burlington), Peel Region, York Region, Dufferin County, Simcoe County, and the District of Muskoka.

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 31, 2019.

Learn more about Theatre Ontario’s Michael Spence Award for Community Theatre and download the award guidelines and nomination form

Welcome Carolee Mason as Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Adjudicator

Carolee Mason

Theatre Ontario welcomes Carolee Mason as adjudicator for Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill. Carolee most recently adjudicated as the Western Ontario Drama League Festival preliminary adjudicator in 2017/18 and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario (ACT-CO) Festival in 2015/16. This will be her first time adjudicating Theatre Ontario Festival, and marks the first Theatre Ontario Festival adjudicated by a graduate of Theatre Ontario’s Adjudicator Training Program, initiated in 2010.

Carolee has taught in the Theatre Department at Brock University, instructed practicing teachers and teacher candidates with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and has been the teacher/director of generations of high school drama students and countless community theatre groups. She is a frequent workshop leader with the Council of Drama and Dance Educators of Ontario, and has presented for drama educators internationally with the American Alliance of Theatre Educators and the International Drama and Education Association.

“Creative collaboration is one of the most engaging of human endeavours,” said Carolee. “Couple that with the spirit of community and discovery at the Theatre Ontario Festival, and the experience is heady! I am thrilled to adjudicate the 2019 Festival, to foster learning, and to celebrate achievements with my theatre colleagues from around the province.”

Learn more about Carolee Mason

Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 will be held in Richmond Hill from May 15 to 19, 2019 and is co-hosted by Theatre Ontario, The Curtain Club, and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.

Learn more about Theatre Ontario Festival

Save the Date for Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill

Theatre Ontario Festival is an annual destination for theatre-lovers from across the province. Next year we travel to Richmond Hill for Theatre Ontario Festival 2019, running May 15 to 19, 2019. Festival will be hosted by The Curtain Club, in partnership with Theatre Ontario and the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario (ACT-CO). The Curtain Club previously hosted Festivals in Richmond Hill (2011) and Newmarket (1999).

Theatre Ontario Festival showcases outstanding community theatre productions from across the province, chosen from regional festivals that run from October 2018 to March 2019. Achievements in community theatre are celebrated with artistic awards, and with the Michael Spence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community Theatre.

Festival also features detailed adjudications open to all Festival attendees, workshops, and play readings that bring together Canadian playwrights and communities. Festival is one of the province’s premiere educational experiences for dedicated community theatre artists.

Find out more about the Theatre Ontario Festival experience by reading about Festival 2018