Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• Resonant World Theatre Day messages (previously shared on Tuesday) from Kris Joseph and Travis Bedard
• Luminato’s role in the ecosystem of Toronto theatre is a frequent subject for debate; Michael Wheeler argues that the announcement of the 2012 Festival line-up is Luminato “walking away from Toronto theatre”
• The entire performing arts industry is to blame for the demise of the Vancouver Playhouse—opinion in the Toronto Star from Matthew Jocelyn, Artsitic Director of Canadian Stage
• And looking outside Ontario, J. Kelly Nestruck wrote a thoughtful analysis of the situation for the arts in Winnipeg, trying to determine if there was an impact from the return of the Jets

From The Wire

• Budget week, with new budgets from both the Ontario and Federal governments—a round-up of opinion on the latter from Micheline McKay at The Arts Advocate
• Hill Strategies has shared its “Provincial Profiles of Arts, Culture and Heritage Activities in 2010”—and Ontario residents are theatre goers (48% went in 2010 versus 44% of all Canadians)
• The MARProject is a collaborative project of CADA-ON (Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario), CARFAC Ontario (Canadian Artists' Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens), Canadian Music Centre—Ontario Region, Dance Ontario and Ontario Crafts Council.  They are investigating the possibility of a micro-credit program to support artists who cannot access conventional credit, in order to improve artists’ socio-economic status.  (This initiative falls within the emerging field of social finance.)  They’re surveying professional artists to assess the scope of the needs in this area.  The survey closes April 15.

Migrations

• Jillian Keiley will be the new Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Space Still Available In Theatre Ontario’s Self-Start Workshop For Producers

Are you interested in self-producing?  Theatre Ontario’s Self-Start workshop is for you.  If you want to do a show but have never produced professionally before, and if you want to know what questions to ask first, register for our next “Self-Start” workshop on April 4 at 2pm.

Self-Start is a practical seminar facilitated by Tim Chapman, our Professional Theatre Coordinator.  This workshop is designed for individuals thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company, and gives you the opportunity to ask questions and try out ideas, discover the questions you need to ask and answer, learn to organize your thinking and planning, work on scheduling and budget considerations, and find out about available resources and services.

Self-Start has no registration fee for Theatre Ontario individual members, and is $30 for non-members.  There is a $5 charge per participant for photocopies of the materials distributed at the workshop.  For more information, including how to register, please visit Self-Start: The Basics Of Producing on the TheatreOntario website.

Congratulations to the 2012 Michael Spence Award Recipients for Contribution to Community Theatre

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 Michael Spence Awards for Contribution to Community Theatre.  These awards are presented by Theatre Ontario on the recommendation of the regional community theatre associations to honour individuals for sustained contribution, generosity of spirit, and legendary commitment to community theatre in Ontario.

The 2012 Michael Spence Award recipients are Lawrie Bonanno of Burlington, Walter Maskel of Gore Bay, Margaret Shearman of Merrickville, and Jo-anne Spitzer of Aurora.

Lawrence "Lawrie" Bonanno has been a passionate member of the amateur theatre community since his arrival in Canada in the 1950s.  He has been an active member of Theatre Burlington serving in many capacities—especially in technical areas.  He has served many years on the Boards of Theatre Burlington and the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) and is a past President and Life Member of both organizations.  He was recently on the planning committee for the new Burlington Performing Arts Centre and has constructed WODL’s Festival Awards for many years.

Walter Maskel has acted, designed, directed or produced over 130 productions in northern Ontario.  The former Head of Performing Arts at Sudbury Secondary School and an arts consultant with the Ontario Ministry of Education, he has been a strong advocate for, and participant in, theatre across northern Ontario.  His productions have been honoured at both QUONTA and Theatre Ontario Festival, and have travelled to international festivals with productions from England, the U.S., Ireland, Italy, and Russia. Many of Walter’s former students are now working as arts educators, or in professional and community theatre.

Margaret Shearman has worked in community theatre almost her entire life, starting her career as a young teenager in her native England.  She was first involved with the East York Theatre Guild, co-founded the Camp Petawawa Players, and has acted, directed and produced for Kemptville Players, Ottawa Little Theatre, and her local theatre group Theatre Night In Merrickville.  She stage-managed the first Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) One-Act Festival, created the EODL website, served as newsletter editor, and helped develop an evaluation system for choosing EODL Festival groups.  She is also a past President of EODL.

Jo-anne Spitzer first joined Theatre Aurora in 1971, and is now a Life Member, has been an actor and producer, and served as President, VP Operations, Marketing And Communications Director and Box Office Manager.  She served for over ten years on the Board of the Association of Community Theatres of Central Ontario and has been active in Theatre Ontario Festivals held in Richmond Hill and Newmarket where her phenomenal networking skills have helped increase the profile and awareness of theatre, and raised funds for various projects.  She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the York Region Arts Council.

The Michael Spence Awards for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented at Theatre Ontario Festival 2012 on May 20 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Read more about the Michael Spence Awards for Contribution to Community Theatres

Celebrating World Theatre Day

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

World Theatre Day is celebrating its 50th anniversary today.  There is an official International Message, written by John Malkovich, and a Canadian Message, written by Daniel David Moses and translated by David Baudemont.  I saw a message from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival [PDF] (and if any other Ontario theatres produced something that I missed, please add it to the comments...)  But of all the reflections that I’ve seen so far today, two in particular connected with me personally.

First, in “Just Another Day” on 2amtheatre.com, Travis Bedard reminds us that it’s what we ourselves bring to it that makes the day, and he offers an eloquent theatre wish for the coming year.

But my favourite is “Snakes and tails and Theatre Day grails.”  Kris Joseph writes about recent events that have “done more for the visibility and impact of theatrical practice than the current form of World Theatre Day can muster”—and how in order to be meaningful, the declarations of the value of theatre shouldn't be coming from us.

ONstage Openings for the week of March 26

In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 27, Friends, With Benefits at Kanata Theatre (Ottawa)
Mar. 28, The Sound Of Music at The Greely Players (Ottawa)
Mar. 29, Play It Again, Sam at Belleville Theatre Guild

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 29, Chess at Oshawa Little Theatre
Mar. 30, Willow Quartet at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on Mar. 29
Mar. 30, Our Show Of Shows at Ovation Performing Arts Academy (Stouffville)
Apr. 1, Innocence Lost at Ovation Performing Arts Academy (Stouffville)

In Toronto
Mar. 26, Remembrance Of Julio Cortazar (Staged Reading) at Aluna Theatre
Mar. 27, Was Spring at Tarragon Theatre in previews
Mar. 29, Bliss at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, with previews from Mar. 27
Mar. 29, Miss Saigon at Curtain Call Players
Mar. 29, Femcab 2012 at Nightwood Theatre

In Central Ontario
Mar. 30, Wingfield Lost And Found at Theatre Orangeville, with previews from Mar. 28
Mar. 30, Great Expectations at Talk Is Free Theatre (Barrie), with previews from Mar. 29

On Tour
Mar. 29, Spelling 2-5-5 at Carousel Players (on tour)

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit the ONstage theatre listings on the Theatre Ontario website.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Fixt Point is proud to present Philippe Gaulier’s “Le Jeu and Clown” beginning on April 2
• April 2 is also the deadline for both the Aboriginal Arts Awards from the Ontario Arts Council and the legacy awards, including The Silver Ticket, from the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts

New on The Bulletin Board

• The final Siminovitch Prize in Theatre will be presented this year in the Design discipline; nomination deadline is June 8

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, calls for submission, and opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Theatre Ontario Announces New Marketing Workshop

How do you use your existing audience to help you find a new audience?

What do people expect from their night at the theatre?

How can you help them to meet their expectations?

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce that Cheryl Ewing will help answer these questions and more at our “Smart Marketing” workshop, being held on Saturday, June 16 in Toronto.

By guiding you through a review of what you are currently doing, Cheryl will help you adapt your marketing to the new reality—a world where we are increasingly crunched for time, bombarded with messages and feeling isolated.  We will take a look at recent advances in values-based marketing and relationship building, and we will explore how we can encourage people, using the most cost-effective methods, to invest in their mental health by attending your theatre.

Visit our website for more information about Theatre Ontario’s Smart Marketing workshop

Welcome Gore Bay Theatre and Guelph Little Theatre to Festival 2012

We are pleased to welcome the first two community theatre companies who have been chosen to participate in Theatre Ontario Festival 2012 in Sault Ste. Marie.

Representing QUONTA—the northeastern Ontario community theatre association—will be Gore Bay Theatre, presenting The Attic, The Pearls And Three Fine Girls by Jennifer Brewin, Leah Cherniak, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alisa Palmer & Martha Ross.  Gore Bay Theatre last participated in our Festival in 2009 in Ottawa, with their presentation of Half Life.  Gore Bay opens the Festival on Wednesday, May 16.

From the Western Ontario Drama League, Guelph Little Theatre brings their production of Picasso At The Lapin Agile by Steve Martin.  They will perform on Friday, May 18.  This is Guelph’s first time at Festival since their production of Cosi won the Elsie Award as Outstanding Festival Production at Festival 2003 in Oshawa.

Productions representing the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario and Eastern Ontario Drama League will be announced after the weekend of April 14/15.

For more information about Theatre Ontario Festival 2012, please visit the Theatre Ontario website

ONstage Openings for the week of March 19

In Central Ontario
Mar. 21, Jenny's House Of Joy at Blackhorse Village Players (Tottenham)

In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 20, Self Help at Ottawa Little Theatre
Mar. 23, East Of Berlin at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa) with a preview on Mar. 21

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 23, Lucy at Durham Shoestring Performers (Oshawa)
Mar. 23, The Drowsy Chaperone at City Centre Musical Productions (Mississauga)

In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 22, An Infinite Ache at Lost And Found Theatre (Kitchener)

In Toronto
Mar. 22, My Granny The Goldfish at Factory Theatre (currently in previews)

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit the ONstage theatre listings on the Theatre Ontario website.

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• The news about the closure of the Vancouver Playhouse provoked a number of reflections: Praxis Theatre curated some of the reactions; Sabrina Evertt of Twenty Something Theatre wrote two honest and emotional responses; while Jacob Zimmer of Small Wooden Shoe explored when the time is right for a theatre company to close and the everlasting nature of theatre companies
• Tony Adams, Artistic Director of Halcyon Theatre, proposed a “remodelling project” for theatre organizations.  Arguing that flawed organization structures cause most problems for arts organizations he suggests we need to Tear Down These Walls

From The Wire

• As Facebook Timeline is being rolled out onto Pages, Scarborough Music Theatre used it as an opportunity to illustrate 50 years of their history

Migrations

• Antoni Cimolino was announced as the new Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival

TO Toasts

• The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for 2012 were announced; recipients included Des McAnuff and Mary Walsh

Remember, you can also receive our news every month by email.  Our archives are online and the March issue is now available.

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

One Space Still Available In "Getting Started" For Actors

We have one space remaining in next week's "Getting Started" workshop, held on March 21 at 2pm.

Theatre Ontario's Getting Started sessions are for actors beginning their professional careers. In this two-hour workshop, Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator answers the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting. Find out about the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, agents and casting directors, auditioning do’s and don’ts, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.  Getting Started has no registration fee, and is available to members of Theatre Ontario only.  There is a $5 charge per participant for photocopies of the materials distributed at the workshop.  For more information, including how to register, please visit Getting Started For Actors on the Theatre Ontario website.

ONstage Openings for the week of March 12

In Toronto
Mar. 12, The Brick Bros. Circus at Puppetmongers Theatre
Mar. 14, New Ideas Festival at Alumnae Theatre Company
Mar. 17, My Granny The Goldfish at Factory Theatre in previews

In Eastern Ontario
Mar. 16, Penny Plain at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa) with previews from Mar. 14
Mar. 17, The Foursome at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with a preview on Mar. 16

In Northeastern Ontario
Mar. 15, Lawrence & Holloman at Sudbury Theatre Centre

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 15, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory at Peel Panto Players (Brampton)

In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 13, Tempting Providence (Theatre Newfoundland Labrador's production of) at The Grand Theatre (London)

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit the ONstage theatre listings on the Theatre Ontario website.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The Mississauga Arts Council has extended the deadline for nominations for the Marty Awards to March 16
• PACT’s next Strategic Planning for your Career workshop is on March 19
• Theatre Collingwood’s next Adult Drama Training begins March 20

New on The Bulletin Board

• The Toronto Arts Foundation is now inviting nominations for its 2012 Awards; deadline is April 12
• Tarragon Theatre is now inviting submissions for the RBC Tarragon Emerging Playwrights’ Competition, open to those with less than five years professional playwriting experience; deadline is April 27

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, calls for submission, and opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of March 5

In Southwestern Ontario

Mar. 8, 9 To 5: The Musical at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse with previews from Mar. 7

Mar. 10, A Deadly Incentive at Dunnville Community Theatre

In Toronto

Mar. 5, Troubador at Bad Dog Theatre Company

Mar. 6, Dancing With Rage at Theatre Passe Muraille

Mar. 7, The Happy Woman at Nightwood Theatre with previews from Mar. 5

Mar. 7, The Small Room At The Top Of The Stairs at Tarragon Theatre

Mar. 8, The Innocent Eye Test at Scarborough Players

In Eastern Ontario

Mar. 6, We Want Life! at Ottawa Theatre School

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit the ONstage theatre listings on the Theatre Ontario website.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for the Mississauga Arts Council’s “Martys” is Friday, March 9

New on The Bulletin Board

• Aluna Theatre has announced three workshops as part of their Panamerican Routes/Rutas Panamericanas: A Festival of Theatre and Human Rights: Puppetry and Visual Theatre with Federico Restrepo on May 7 to 11, Getting Close to the Scene with Carlos Satizabal the week of May 14, and The Body: Territory and Border on May 21 to 23

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, calls for submission, and opportunities for recognition on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• SummerWorks interviewed Tina Rasmussen of Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage—a fascinating chat with “a severe and playful force” in Toronto’s theatre community
• Why we should broadcast theatre performances in Seeing The Forest by David J. Loehr on 2AMt
• Changing the paradigm of how we connect playwrights and theatres, by turning submitting into searching on The New Play Oracle from Gwydion Suilebhan on HowlRound
• Don’t just put your season brochure online, use the technology to make a true transmedia experience, from Trisha Mead, also on 2AMt

From The Wire

• Creative Trust commissioned detailed energy conservation audits at six Toronto venues: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Factory Theatre, Tafelmusik, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and Toronto Dance Theatre/STDT—the report is now available
• The latest edition of PACT’s Theatre Listing—A directory of Canadian professional theatre is also online

Migrations

• Ashlie Corcoran will become the new Artistic Director of Thousand Islands Playhouse (PDF); Tim Chapman, our Professional Theatre Coordinator profiled Ashlie last July on our blog; she is also a past participant of the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival

TO Toasts

• Nominees have been announced for the 5th Annual Prix Rideau Awards for Ottawa professional theatre
• The short list of nominees for the 2012 Gina Wilkinson Prize for an Emerging Female Director has been announced: Krista Jackson of Winnipeg (participating this year in Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival), Ann-Marie Kerr of Halifax and Kelly Straughan of Toronto
• Two theatre companies are finalists for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Great Grants Awards in the Arts and Culture category: Jumblies Theatre in Toronto and The MT Space in Waterloo

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator