by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator
I want, belatedly, to acknowledge the death of James (“Jimmy”) Douglas on December 29, 2009. James Douglas (1929-2009) had a long and successful career as an actor, producer, director and writer. I first saw Jimmy in a performance at the Red Barn Theatre in 1970 when Bill Glassco was Artistic Director. That same year gave us the wonderful comedy M.A.S.H. directed by Robert Altman with Jimmy as Col. Merrill. I remember being very impressed that I could see a Canadian actor at the Red Barn who I had just seen in a very successful American movie.
Later I got to know Jimmy when he served on Theatre Ontario’s Youth Theatre Training Committee for many years. That’s when I learned to appreciate his enthusiasm for theatre and the fun he had in everything he did. He was still doing his one-man show An Evening with Stephen Leacock in his final year. James Douglas was Artistic Director of the Gryphon Theatre in Barrie in the 1980s. In the 1990s, he premiered the new musical War Brides at Theatre Orangeville where he later directed his own adaptation of W. O. Mitchell’s Jake and the Kid. He lived for many years in nearby Belfountain. I will never forget the smile on his face and the glint in his eyes.
Wednesday, 14 July 2010
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Long Live The Doras!
by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator
The Dora Awards for 2010 have come and gone. The Awards were in the news more this year as Toronto Star readers will know. Richard Ouzounian wrote a couple of columns sniping at the Doras in the weeks leading up to their presentation night on June 28. Also Globe and Mail theatre critic J. Kelly Nestruck has addressed the Doras in three separate blog entries on Nestruck On Theatre. So I thought I would give you my take on the Doras.
The Dora Awards for 2010 have come and gone. The Awards were in the news more this year as Toronto Star readers will know. Richard Ouzounian wrote a couple of columns sniping at the Doras in the weeks leading up to their presentation night on June 28. Also Globe and Mail theatre critic J. Kelly Nestruck has addressed the Doras in three separate blog entries on Nestruck On Theatre. So I thought I would give you my take on the Doras.
Monday, 12 July 2010
ONstage Openings
With seasons opening at Theatre Collingwood, Century Church Theatre (in Hillsburgh) and Starbright Summer Festival (in Sarnia), all of the ASTRO Summer Theatres are now up and running for 2010. Here are this week's openings:
In Northeastern Ontario:
July 16, The Mating Game at Theatre Cambrian (Sudbury)
In South Central Ontario:
July 16, I Ought To Be In Pictures at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on July 15
In Southwestern Ontario:
July 13, Do Not Go Gentle at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
July 13, Ivanka: The True Story at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
July 14, Sadie Flynn Comes To Big Oak at Century Chuch Theatre (Hillsburgh)
July 16, Broadway Baritones at Starbright Summer Festival (Sarnia)
July 17, Driving Miss Daisy at Starbright Summer Festival (Sarnia)
July 18, King Of Thieves in previews at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
In Toronto:
July 12, A Month In The Country at Soulpepper Theatre Company [pictured at left, Jeff Lillico and Tal Gottfried, photo by Cylla von Tiedemann]
In Central Ontario:
July 12, The Love List at Theatre Collingwood [pictured at right, Kris Ryan as Leon, Jonathan Whitaker as Bill, and Laura Adamo as Justine, photo by Bryan Davies Photography]
July 14, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)
July 15, Dating By The Book at Port Hope Festival Theatre
In Ottawa and Eastern Ontario:
July 14, Macbeth at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott) [pictured at left, Kris Joseph as Macbeth and Kerry Ann Doherty as Lady Macbeth]
For all the theatre current playing across Ontario, or for information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit ONstage on the Theatre Ontario website.
In Northeastern Ontario:
July 16, The Mating Game at Theatre Cambrian (Sudbury)
In South Central Ontario:
July 16, I Ought To Be In Pictures at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on July 15
In Southwestern Ontario:
July 13, Do Not Go Gentle at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
July 13, Ivanka: The True Story at Victoria Playhouse Petrolia
July 14, Sadie Flynn Comes To Big Oak at Century Chuch Theatre (Hillsburgh)
July 16, Broadway Baritones at Starbright Summer Festival (Sarnia)
July 17, Driving Miss Daisy at Starbright Summer Festival (Sarnia)
July 18, King Of Thieves in previews at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
In Toronto:
In Central Ontario:
July 14, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)
July 15, Dating By The Book at Port Hope Festival Theatre
In Ottawa and Eastern Ontario:
For all the theatre current playing across Ontario, or for information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit ONstage on the Theatre Ontario website.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Professional Development for Adjudicators
Both community theatres and adjudicators themselves have told us that they need professional development opportunities for adjudicators. Theatre Ontario is committed to serving both sectors through our Adjudicators Symposium. Scheduled for September 18 in Toronto, this one-day special event will bring together adjudicators to network, and to discuss techniques and practices.
Read more about the Adjudicators Symposium on the Theatre Ontario website.
Read more about the Adjudicators Symposium on the Theatre Ontario website.
Monday, 5 July 2010
ONstage Openings
A very busy week of openings for summer theatres: Bancroft Village Playhouse, Highlands Summer Festival in Haliburton, Brampton's Rose Theatre, Stirling Festival Theatre, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott, tours for Driftwood Theatre Company and Humber River Shakespeare Company, and a special mention of the opening of the new Classic Theatre Festival in Perth. Plus a new production from Cahoots Theatre Company in Toronto.
In Ottawa and Eastern Ontario:
July 6, Take A Number, Darling at Bancroft Village Playhouse [pictured at right]
July 7, Driving Miss Daisy at Stirling Festival Theatre
July 9, Blithe Spirit at Classic Theatre Festival (Perth)
July 10, Trouble On Dibble Street at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott)
July 10, The Long Weekend at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with a preview on July 9
In South Central Ontario:
July 8, Shear Madness at Stage West Theatre (Mississauga)
July 9, 7 Stories at The Rose Theatre (Brampton)
In Southwestern Ontario:
July 8, Paradise Island at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
July 8, Harvest at Lighthouse Festival Theatre (Port Dover) with previews from July 6
July 8, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks at Showboat Festival Theatre (Port Colborne)
July 9, The Doctor's Dilemma at the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
July 10, John Bull's Other Island at the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) [pictured at left]
July 10, Half an Hour at the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
In Toronto:
July 6, A Taste of Empire at Cahoots Theatre Company [Jovanni Sy pictured at right]
July 6, A Month In The Country in previews at Soulpepper Theatre Company
July 8, Who's Under Where? at Scarborough Theatre Guild
In Central Ontario:
July 5, The Goodbye Girl at Highlands Summer Festival (Haliburton)
July 9, Classic Albums Live: The Beatles White Album at Meaford Hall
Touring:
July 6, The Taming Of The Shrew from Humber River Shakespeare Company
July 11, Twelfth Night from Driftwood Theatre Company (with previews from July 8)
For all the theatre current playing across Ontario, or for information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit ONstage on the Theatre Ontario website.
In Ottawa and Eastern Ontario:
July 7, Driving Miss Daisy at Stirling Festival Theatre
July 9, Blithe Spirit at Classic Theatre Festival (Perth)
July 10, Trouble On Dibble Street at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott)
July 10, The Long Weekend at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with a preview on July 9
In South Central Ontario:
July 8, Shear Madness at Stage West Theatre (Mississauga)
July 9, 7 Stories at The Rose Theatre (Brampton)
In Southwestern Ontario:
July 8, Paradise Island at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
July 8, Harvest at Lighthouse Festival Theatre (Port Dover) with previews from July 6
July 8, Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks at Showboat Festival Theatre (Port Colborne)
July 9, The Doctor's Dilemma at the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
July 10, Half an Hour at the Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
In Toronto:
July 6, A Month In The Country in previews at Soulpepper Theatre Company
July 8, Who's Under Where? at Scarborough Theatre Guild
In Central Ontario:
July 5, The Goodbye Girl at Highlands Summer Festival (Haliburton)
July 9, Classic Albums Live: The Beatles White Album at Meaford Hall
Touring:
July 6, The Taming Of The Shrew from Humber River Shakespeare Company
July 11, Twelfth Night from Driftwood Theatre Company (with previews from July 8)
For all the theatre current playing across Ontario, or for information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit ONstage on the Theatre Ontario website.
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