Join the Theatre Ontario Talent Bank of Theatre Instructors

Looking to bring your skills as a professional theatre trainer to community theatres and educational organizations?

Join Theatre Ontario's roster of skilled theatre trainers and workshop leaders by becoming a member of the Theatre Ontario Talent Bank.  The application deadline is January 15.

Theatre Ontario is committed to connecting a theatre community that craves knowledge and growth with talented professional theatre trainers who can help them achieve their goals.  We believe that our Talent Bank of talented professional trainers can bring innovative, fresh, and energetic expertise to the development and learning of theatre craft for community theatre companies and educational organizations.

Read more about applying to Theatre Ontario's Talent Bank

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Getting Ready for the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (PDF) is today at 1pm: a free webinar providing a fast-paced, 101-level introduction focused for Ontario arts organizations
• Getting Started for Actors workshop with Mairin Smit on December 4 in Toronto: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting.  Joining Mairin at the workshop will be “guest actor” Claire Acott
• Targeting Your Audience: Surviving and Thriving on Less and Less full-day workshop on December 7 in London: How do you make the most with the minimal marketing resources? The world is changing quickly and the methods for reaching your audience are rapidly expanding. Is it the method or the message that makes the difference?
• Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture deadline for nominations is December 19, honouring individuals or collectives whose leadership, activism, and service has contributed to the development and strengthening of arts and culture in Ontario through innovative and practical initiatives

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including free grant writing information sessions across Ontario.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

OAC Theatre Creators Reserve at Odyssey Theatre

• Upcoming OAC Theatre Creators Reserve deadlines at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (November 29) and Odyssey Theatre (December 1)
• Lottery Applications for the Ottawa Fringe Festival are due on November 28
• Deadline to submit to Bottle Tree Productions One-Act Play Competition for unpublished plays is November 30
• Canada Council deadlines on December 1 for: Developmental Support to Aboriginal Theatre Organizations, the Molson Prize (distinguished contribution to the arts contributing to the cultural heritage of Canada), Theatre International, and Theatre Touring and Special Initiatives

New on The Bulletin Board

• 4th Line Theatre in Millbrook invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators Reserve.  Funding priority is for regional playwriting projects; secondary priority is projects that align with its artistic mandate: to preserve our Canadian cultural heritage through the development and presentation of regionally-based, environmentally-staged historical dramas.  Deadline is January 10.
• Hamilton Arts Council invites submissions from Hamilton-area artists for Market Value, aiming to build awareness of the value of artist labour by demonstrating creative work in the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. Over six days, artists practicing in various disciplines will work in a visible location that will draw attention to the time artists dedicate to creating art – often invisibly and without compensation.  Submission deadline is December 18.

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, job postings, and volunteer opportunities on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Congratulations to Fall 2013 Professional Theatre Training Program Recipients

We are pleased to announce the latest recipients of training grants through Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP).  We thank all those who applied to the program.  It was a competitive application round and we are happy to be able to support such a diverse group of artists.

$38,012 was awarded in total among the following recipients:

• Jessica Anderson to train in new play development with Lisa O’Connell at the Pat The Dog Playwright Centre (Kitchener)
• Ashley Comeau to train in producing with Paul Snepsts at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival (Toronto/Picton)
• Sophia Fabiilli to train in artistic producing with Kelly Thornton and Denyse Karn at Nightwood Theatre (Toronto)
• Natasha Greenblatt to train in directing with Sarah Garton Stanley at the National Arts Centre and Factory Theatre (Toronto/Ottawa)
• Crystal Jonasson to train in producing with Claire Calnan at the Hamilton Fringe Festival
• Luke LaRocque to train in general management and development with Gideon Arthurs at Tarragon Theatre (Toronto)
• Shaista Latif to train in directing with Nina Lee Aquino at Cahoots Theatre Company (Toronto)
• Annie Lefebvre to train in wig design with Amanda Mitchell at the Houston Ballet
• Marilo Nunez to train in directing with Richard Rose and Andrea Donaldson at Tarragon Theatre (Toronto)
• Zita Nyarady to train in directing with Renee Jaworski at Pilobolus Dance Theatre (Washington Depot, CT)
• Coman Poon to train in artistic producing with Erika Hennebury at Public Records Performance Projects (Toronto)
• Clare Preuss to train in artistic directing with Ross Manson at Volcano Theatre (Toronto)
• Andrea Thring to train in community-engaged theatre arts with Beth Helmers at Community Arts Guild (Scarborough)

The next application deadline for this program is March 3, 2014.

Read more about Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program on our website

This program is funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

ONstage Openings for the week of November 25

In Southwestern Ontario
Nov. 28, Striking 12 at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
Nov. 29, Nuncrackers at Theatre Woodstock

In Toronto
Nov. 26, Jabber at Young People's Theatre
Nov. 27, Munsched at George Brown Theatre School
Nov. 27, Under Milk Wood at ACT II Studio Theatre
Nov. 27, King Lear at Ryerson Theatre School
Nov. 28, Parfumerie at Soulpepper Theatre, with a preview on Nov. 27
Nov. 28, Cinderella at Ryerson Theatre School
Nov. 28, The Community Arts Guild’s Lost And Found 3: Train Payanam from Jumblies Theatre

In Central Ontario
Nov. 26, Cinderella at Peterborough Theatre Guild
Nov. 28, The Sneeze at Talk Is Free Theatre (Barrie)
Nov. 29, A Snow White Christmas at Theatre Orangeville, with a preview on Nov. 28

ONstage Opening in Morrisburg
A Christmas Carol at Upper Canada Playhouse

In Eastern Ontario
Nov. 26, Christmas Belles at Ottawa Little Theatre
Nov. 26, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa)
Nov. 29, Jesus, My Boy at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott)
Nov. 29, Humbug at Mississippi Mudds of Carleton Place
Nov. 30, A Christmas Carol at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with previews from Nov. 28

In Northeastern Ontario
Nov. 29, The Snow Queen at Sudbury Theatre Centre

In Northwestern Ontario
Nov. 28, Great Expectations at Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay)

ONstage Now Playing in Toronto
The Gay Heritage Project at Buddies In Bad Times
Andrew Kushnir, Paul Dunn, Damien Atkins
Photo by Guntar Kravis

Check out last week’s openings

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

• One of the challenges for theatres (and any not-for-profit arts organization) is distinguishing between operating money and capital.  Andrew Taylor on The Artful Manager suggests that organizations need to understand better the difference between money to build, money to buy, and money to bolster
• All of my favourite stage combat instructors talk about how things like character and narrative inform the best fight direction.  On HowlRound, Meron Langsner talks about “fightaturgy”, understanding violence in a play, and how it informs effective stage combat

Theatre Ontario Talent Bank instructor Daniel Levinson
and stage combat training at Rapier Wit

From The Wire

• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts 2013 Audience Survey presentation is now available as a PDF—none of the five key findings really surprised me by themselves, but the overall case is quite compelling
• Toronto sound designer and composer Richard Feren revealed himself to be the author of the @TOMayorFrod parody Twitter account

TO Toasts

• Congratulations on the official opening of Artscape Youngplace

In Case You Missed It

• Health and safety awareness training is mandatory for Ontario’s theatres
• Deadline extended for nominations for the 2014 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture

You can also receive news from Theatre Ontario every month by email.  Our archives are online and the November issue is now available.

This column is off next week – we’ll see you on December 6th!

Health and Safety Awareness Training for Ontario's Theatres

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Occupational health and safety awareness training will be mandatory for all workers and supervisors in the province of Ontario starting July 1, 2014.  What does that mean for theatres?

The Ontario Ministry of Labour Advisory Committee for Health and Safety in Live Performance (of which I’m a proud member) is reviewing the requirements of the regulation for our industry.

Don’t panic!  If your theatre has an effective health and safety program (and took advantage of the free resources from Theatre Ontario’s "To Act In Safety" program in 2003) you may already comply with the requirement.  There are also a number of free resources available from the Ministry of Labour to assist you.


Read more about Theatre Ontario’s To Act In Safety program

Deadline Extended for Nominations for the 2014 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to announce that thanks to the generosity of Marinucci & Company, Chartered Accountants, the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture will now include a $1000 prize for the recipient(s) in addition to the traditional bronze statuette that has been awarded since the first presentation in 2000.

We are extending the deadline for nominations to December 19, 2013 for this exciting opportunity to recognize innovators in arts and culture in Ontario.

Marinucci & Company’s support will also ensure that the Award will continue to be presented through to 2018.

The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture is presented annually to an individual or a collective whose leadership, activism, and service has contributed to the development and strengthening of arts and culture in Ontario through innovative and practical initiatives.  While Theatre Ontario administers this award, it recognizes achievements in all artistic and cultural disciplines.

The award was established in 1998 by friends and colleagues of Ms. Tulloch on her retirement as Executive Director of Theatre Ontario.  This award pays tribute to the outstanding contribution that Sandra Tulloch has made to the arts in Ontario.  For nearly twenty years, Ms. Tulloch played a pivotal role at Theatre Ontario, facilitating numerous visionary initiatives in the community, professional and educational theatre sectors.  As an arts administrator, producer, arts advocate, project leader, and community activist, she has continued to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to the arts throughout the province.

Past recipients of the award are Tim Jones & Susan Serran, Angela Rebeiro, Jane Marsland, Myles Warren, Jini Stolk, Claire Hopkinson, Peter Honeywell, Janis Barlow, Winston Morgan, Judy Harquail, and Heather Young.

Read more about the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Grant Writing Information Session on November 26 in Toronto: Looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council?  Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer of the Ontario Arts Council, will share her perspective, information, and tips about project grants, particularly the OAC’s three theatre project programs
• Getting Ready for the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (PDF) on November 27: a free webinar providing a fast-paced, 101-level introduction focused for Ontario arts organizations
• Collective Creations: Crafting a Performance Piece weekend intensive on November 29 to December 1 in London with Jim Warren and David S. Craig: Learn how to fine-tune your approach to developing new works of theatre with this introduction to the approach and tools needed to create and continue developing stories to perform on stage, whether individually or collectively with a group
• Getting Started for Actors workshop with Mairin Smit on December 4 in Toronto: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting.  We welcome Claire Acott, emerging actor and collaborator, as our “guest actor” at the workshop
• Targeting Your Audience: Surviving and Thriving on Less and Less full-day workshop on December 7 in London: How do you make the most with the minimal marketing resources? The world is changing quickly and the methods for reaching your audience are rapidly expanding. Is it the method or the message that makes the difference?

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Stage carpentry at Markham Little Theatre

• Markham Little Theatre is hosting an Introduction to Stage Carpentry workshop on November 23
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’ next TAPA Trade Series workshops are Photoshop for Social Media on November 21
• Young Associates upcoming workshop on Researching Your Database: Advancing Fundraising Through Prospect Research is on November 27
• Lottery Applications for the Ottawa Fringe Festival are due on November 28
• Upcoming OAC Theatre Creators Reserve deadline at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre is November 29

New on The Bulletin Board

• Theatre InspiraTO is expanding their Playwriting Academy for emerging playwrights; the application deadline is December 19 and the program starts on January 15

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, job postings, and volunteer opportunities on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of November 18

In South Central Ontario
Nov. 21, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Peel Panto Players (Brampton)

In Southwestern Ontario
Nov. 20, Elf at The Grand Theatre (London)
Nov. 20, Irving Berlin's White Christmas at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
Nov. 20, Peter Pan at Drayton Entertainment: Dunfield Theatre Cambridge
Nov. 22, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum at Theatre Ancaster (Hamilton)

Opening ONstage in Toronto
Needles and Opium at Canadian Stage
Marc Labrèche
Photo by Frank-Nicola Vachon

In Toronto
Nov. 18, UnCovered: Sting and The Police at Acting Up Stage Theatre Company
Nov. 19, Heaven Above, Heaven Below at Theatre Passe Muraille (currently in previews)*
Nov. 19, Ryerson Dances at Ryerson Theatre School
Nov. 20, Pieces Of Me at Promise Productions
Nov. 21, The Gay Heritage Project at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (currently in previews) - world premiere
Nov. 21, The Game's Afoot, or Holmes For The Holiday at Stage Centre Productions
Nov. 22, Needles And Opium at Canadian Stage

In Central Ontario
Nov. 20, West Side Story at Algonquin Theatre (Huntsville)
Nov. 22, Rapunzel - a hairy tale at Stirling Festival Theatre

In Northeastern Ontario
Nov. 20, A Christmas Carol at Take Two Theatre (Timmins) with a preview on Nov. 19

Now playing ONstage in Cobourg
Broadway on the Rooftop at VOS Theatre

Check out last week’s openings

For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about our members discount tickets program

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Behind The Scenes At Ontario Theatre

• We were sorry to hear about the passing of Sharon Dyer, actor / singer / playwright and one of our former Professional Theatre Coordinators here at Theatre Ontario.  Scott White is performing in Smile Theatre's current production of Sweet Marie, one of Sharon’s shows, and remembered her in Goodnight, Sweet Sharon

Conversation Starters

• Canadian theatre has a youth problem, argues Holger Syme on Dispositio

From The Wire

• Kelly Nestruck reports in the Globe and Mail on the Stratford Festival’s plans for filming productions for worldwide theatre distribution

TO Toasts

• Congratulations to Nicolas Billon who won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama in English for his collection Fault Lines: Greenland – Iceland – Faroe Islands; his collaboration with Praxis Theatre on an adaptation of Brecht’s Senora Carrar’s Rifles is coming up at the Next Stage Festival in Toronto, a production with roots in the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival

Governor General's Literary Award recipient Nicolas Billon
with Ravi Jain, who directed all three Fault Lines premieres

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• We’re seeking unpaid Volunteer Youth Committee members: Theatre Ontario is currently undergoing major changes in order to become more accessible to young adults and young professionals (16-25).  In order to accomplish this, we are looking to form a Youth Advisory Committee. Application deadline is November 18.
• Self-Start: The Basics of Producing workshop with Mairin Smit on November 20 in Toronto: If you want to do a show but have never produced professionally before, and if you want to know what questions to ask first, this session is for you!  We’re thrilled to welcome Katherine Devlin (General Manager of Paprika Festival, General Manager of Outside the March Theatre Company, Associate Producer of Crow's Theatre) as our Guest Producer at the workshop
• Grant Writing Information Session on November 26 in Toronto: Looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council?  Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer of the Ontario Arts Council, will share her perspective, information, and tips about project grants, particularly the OAC’s three theatre project programs
• Collective Creations: Crafting a Performance Piece weekend intensive on November 29 to December 1 in London with Jim Warren and David S. Craig: Learn how to fine-tune your approach to developing new works of theatre with this introduction to the approach and tools needed to create and continue developing stories to perform on stage, whether individually or collectively with a group
• The deadline for nominations for the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture is November 30, honouring individuals or collectives whose leadership, activism, and service has contributed to the development and strengthening of arts and culture in Ontario through innovative and practical initiatives
• Getting Started for Actors workshop with Mairin Smit on December 4 in Toronto: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting.  We welcome Claire Acott, emerging actor and collaborator, as our “guest actor” at the workshop
• Targeting Your Audience: Surviving and Thriving on Less and Less full-day workshop on December 7 in London: How do you make the most with the minimal marketing resources? The world is changing quickly and the methods for reaching your audience are rapidly expanding. Is it the method or the message that makes the difference?

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Nightwood Theatre's project dramaturg, Erica Kopyto,
reviewing last year’s Theatre Creators Reserve applications

• Deadline for OAC Theatre Creators Reserves at Nightwood Theatre, Festival Players of Prince Edward County, and fu-GEN Theatre Company are all November 15
• Upcoming Ontario Arts Council deadline for the Northern Arts program is November 15
• ArtsBuild Ontario’s Energy Conservation Training in the Arts workshop is November 15 in Toronto
• Jumblies is offering micro-grants and internships for Toronto-based artists and arts managers interested in developing projects and skills in community-engaged arts; application deadline is November 15
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’ next TAPA Trade Series workshops are WordPress for Beginners on November 19 and Photoshop for Social Media on November 21
• Young Associates workshop on Managing Data: Policies and Procedures for Populating Your Database is November 20

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, job postings, and volunteer opportunities on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

A New Venue for Theatre Ontario Showcase 2014

There have been some exciting developments here at Theatre Ontario regarding Next Generation Showcase, our annual industry audition days for graduating students of post-secondary conservatory theatre training programs from across Ontario.

We're proud to announce that Next Generation Showcase 2014 has a new venue!

Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Michael Young Theatre
50 Tankhouse Lane, Toronto
Sunday, January 19th and Monday, January 20th, 2014

We are delighted to be partnering with the Young Centre and Soulpepper Theatre on this and look forward to creating a dynamic Showcase event for all participants!

To celebrate this exciting year for Showcase, we will be hosting a variety of events over the two days. Highlights include:

• Sunday night networking party sponsored by Soulpepper Theatre
• Sunday night “Business of Casting” panel discussion
• Monday night networking party sponsored by Sheridan College

Read more about Theatre Ontario's Next Generation Showcase on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of November 11

In South Central Ontario
Nov. 13, Private Lives at Markham Little Theatre
Nov. 14, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and then some) at Whitby Courthouse Theatre
Nov. 14, Pygmalion at The Oakville Players
Nov. 14, Rebel Daughter at Theatre Erindale (Mississauga)
Nov. 15, The Mouse House at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill)*

In Southwestern Ontario
Nov. 15, Having Hope At Home at Elmira Theatre Company
Nov. 15, Peter Pan at Elora Community Theatre (Fergus)

In Toronto
Nov. 13, The Valley at Tarragon Theatre (currently in previews)
Nov. 13, FireWorks at Alumnae Theatre Company – world premiere
Nov. 13, The Chosen at TEATRON Toronto Jewish Theatre
Nov. 14, Winners And Losers at Canadian Stage (currently in previews)*
Nov. 14, Annie (TYA) at Young People's Theatre, with previews from Nov. 11
Nov. 14, Is He Dead? at Amicus Productions
Nov. 14, The Crucible at Alexander Showcase Theatre
Nov. 14, Heaven Above, Heaven Below at Theatre Passe Muraille (in previews)*
Nov. 17, The Gay Heritage Project at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (in previews)

In Central Ontario
Nov. 15, Broadway On The Rooftop at VOS Theatre (Cobourg)

In Eastern Ontario
Nov. 12, HAMLET (Solo) at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa)

In Northeastern Ontario
Nov. 13, Hope Op at Gateway Theatre Guild (North Bay) – world premiere

Now playing on Ontario's stages:
Spamalot at Scarborough Music Theatre

Check out last week’s openings
For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about our members discount tickets program

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversations

• Brendan Healy, Artistic Director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, explores the question “why theatre?”
• How Canada is “holding its own” in new musical theatre development, from Acting Up Stage Company’s Musical Notes
• Gwydion Suilebhan explains the difference between waterfall and agile software development, and the benefit of applying that thinking to the way we create theatre and run theatre institutions on HowlRound
• Why children’s theatre matters: yes, we need to educate children to be able bridges, but we also need to educate them to imagine the bridge in the first place, and to create a different kind of bridge, and to ask whether we need to build a bridge at all
• Life lessons that the CEO of Twitter learned studying improv at The Second City
• I came back from holidays to an overflowing inbox of emails and notifications.  But among the mix of valuable messages, pointless garbage, and everything in-between, was a notification of a blog post by Sue Edworthy that in turn pointed me to a Globe and Mail article from Ivor Tossell on why email is broken.  While I don’t agree that all email is the enemy, I do think we need to challenge ourselves constantly on what we may be doing to contribute to our shared problem, and how we can be part of the solution

From The Wire

• Etobicoke Musical Production has had to cancel their November  production of Bye Bye Birdie as their performance facility, the Toronto District School Board’s Burnhamthorpe Auditorium, has been closed indefinitely due to safety issues; they had no other viable performance facility and all their production sets and equipment were in the theatre
• Unrelated: two new Health and Safety Guidelines for the Live Performance Industry in Ontario have been published by the Ministry of Labour—Application of Industrial/Construction Regulations and Flame Effects
• The Metcalf Foundation has engaged db 3rd Sector Consultancy to “study the feasibility of creating a shared platform for the arts and explore the greater potential for the arts community to share high quality administrative services”—and they want your input

TO Toasts

David Yee receiving the Carol Bolt Award from Playwrights Guild of Canada

• To the winners of the 2013 Tom Hendry Awards from Playwrights Guild of Canada, including David Yee who won the Carol Bolt Award for carried away on the crest of a wave, to Irene Sankoff & David Hein for Best Musical in Development for Come From Away (that aforementioned “Canada holding its own” show), and to Lucas Foss for Best Comedy in Development for Little Voices
• To Chris Abraham, Artistic Director of Crow’s Theatre, winner of the Siminovitch Prize, and to Mitchell Cushman, Artistic Director of Outside The March and Associate Artistic Director of Crow’s Theatre who Chris named to receive the protégé prize
• To the nominees for the Capital Critics Circle awards in Ottawa, including member theatres Great Canadian Theatre Company, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Ottawa Little Theatre, Kanata Theatre, and Orpheus Musical Theatre Society nominated in their respective Best Production categories for professional and community theatre.  The awards are December 2
• To Michael Hennessy, Talent Bank member, honoured with the City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Cultural Advisory Board 2013 Community Recreation Award for Performing Arts

In Case You Missed It

• Tom Mackan receives Theatre Ontario’s 2013 Maggie Bassett Award
• Join us on December 3 for GivingTuesday
• Training a new generation of adjudicators

Today is Arts Day in the City, and we send best wishes to our colleagues at the Toronto Alliance for Performing Arts, the Toronto Arts Council, and everyone participating in bringing this important message.

Bringing Together Theatre Lovers from Across the Province at Theatre Ontario Festival

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Theatre Ontario Festival is more than just a showcase, celebration, and classroom for dedicated community theatres artists—for some Ontario theatre lovers, it’s a destination as treasured as a visit to any summer theatre town.

Marilyn Fedorenko first learned about Theatre Ontario Festival when her local theatre hosted a regional final in 2005.  “We learned about an all-Ontario finals in Belleville,” Marilyn said, “and we decided that we wanted to go.”

For the Fedorenkos, Festival is a “wonderful holiday” to an Ontario community, five days of “affordable, top-notch theatre” in the evening, and an opportunity to tour the host community during the day.

The Fedorenkos will try to take advantage of local attractions, helped by whatever information is available in the Festival hospitality suite.  “It’s always helpful when there’s information available.  We like to tour the countryside.”

They always stay for the public adjudications after each show.  “We enjoy the new perspectives on what makes it so good,” Marilyn said.  “We don’t think the way an adjudicator does—when we like a show so much, the adjudicator can often explain and articulate some of the reasons why.”  She also commended many of the adjudicators she has seen at Festival.  “They’re working to make theatre better, not just to criticize—which is lovely.”

They don’t attend the awards presentation on Sunday (“we’re always heading home”) but they do make their own guesses and pick their favourites—and then check afterwards to find out who won.

Join us for Theatre Ontario Festival 2014 in Sarnia, from May 14 to 18.  Find out more at www.theatreontariofestival.ca

Congratulations to Tom Mackan, 2013 Maggie Bassett Award Recipient

We are thrilled to announce that Theatre Ontario’s Maggie Bassett Award for 2013 was presented to Tom Mackan.  The award, for a sustained and significant contribution by an individual to the development of theatre in Ontario, recognizes Tom and “the warm welcome and secure environment he fosters for those involved in the Hamilton-Burlington theatre community.”

Tom Mackan has been active in Hamilton-area community theatre since the 1960s.  He has worked as an actor and director with companies like the Players Guild of Hamilton, Dundas Little Theatre, Theatre Burlington, and has won over 30 awards for acting and directing.  He has also been a booster for area theatre, as a community reviewer for the Hamilton Fringe Festival, a regular writer for Hamilton’s View Magazine, an editor and publisher of a Greater Hamilton Area e-network, and a winner of 2007 City of Hamilton Arts Award for theatre.

"Tom is a wonderful personification of how theatre is a passion for life," said Carol Beauchamp, Theatre Ontario Executive Director.  "It’s a creative art form that you actively contribute to, and grow with, from one’s youth to being an elder statesman of community theatre."

“Winning this means that our area theatre companies matter,” said Tom to the Hamilton Spectator.  “And our umbrella group at Theatre Ontario wants us to know it.  It means we need to feel good about ourselves, to know that we are known and valued as serious participants in the arts community of Hamilton and Burlington.  We can take ourselves seriously.”

The Maggie Bassett Award is sponsored by Alumnae Theatre Company.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Maggie Bassett Award

Join us on December 3 for GivingTuesday

"People may know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday... now GivingTuesday is coming to Canada on December 3, 2013.  GivingTuesday is a National Giving Day.  It is a new Canadian movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Cyber Monday.  The "opening day of the giving season," it is a day where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others.”

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to be part of GivingTuesday - sharing the importance of giving to theatre in Ontario.  We will be thanking our supporters by sharing some inspiring stories of the amazing opportunities in Ontario theatre that have been created by our supporters, and encouraging people with a passion for theatre to give to Theatre Ontario and to our member theatres to create exciting opportunities for tomorrow.

Watch our blog, Facebook, and Twitter feeds on December 3 and join us for GivingTuesday.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator, at brandon@theatreontario.org or Mairin Smit, Program Coordinator at mairin@theatreontario.org, or call 416.408.4556.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Upcoming Community Theatre Discussion Forum in Merrickville on November 9: sharing and identifying opportunities to partner, and provide services and support such as advocacy, training, and resources
• Self-Start: The Basics of Producing workshop with Mairin Smit on November 20 in Toronto: If you want to do a show but have never produced professionally before, and if you want to know what questions to ask first, this session is for you!  We're thrilled to welcome Katherine Devlin (General Manager of Paprika Festival, General Manager of Outside the March Theatre Company, Associate Producer of Crow's Theatre) as our Guest Producer at the workshop
• Grant Writing Information Session on November 26 in Toronto: Looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council?  Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer of the Ontario Arts Council, will share her perspective, information, and tips about project grants, particularly the OAC’s three theatre project programs
• Collective Creations: Crafting a Performance Piece weekend intensive on November 29 to December 1 in London: Learn how to fine-tune your approach to developing new works of theatre with this introduction to the approach and tools needed to create and continue developing stories to perform on stage, whether individually or collectively with a group
• The deadline for nominations for the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture is November 30, honouring individuals or collectives whose leadership, activism, and service has contributed to the development and strengthening of arts and culture in Ontario through innovative and practical initiatives

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including targeting your audience

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Members of the Festival Players of Prince Edward County Young
Company workshop a script by Krista Dalby, which Festival Players
recommended for funding through the OAC Theatre Creators' Reserve

• Young Associates workshop on Sumac Basics: Building Contact Records is today and Sumac Basics: Building Donation Records is November 13 in Toronto
• Upcoming Ontario Arts Council deadline for the Northern Arts program is November 15
• Deadline for OAC Theatre Creators Reserves at Festival Players of Prince Edward County, fu-GEN Theatre Company, and Nightwood Theatre are all November 15
• ArtsBuild Ontario’s Energy Conservation Training in the Arts workshop is November 15 in Toronto
• Jumblies is offering micro-grants and internships for Toronto-based artists and art managers interested in developing projects and skills in community-engaged arts; application deadline is November 15

New on The Bulletin Board

• Markham Little Theatre is hosting an Introduction to Stage Carpentry workshop on November 23.
• The Arts & Letters Club is pleased to announce a call for submissions for its 2014 New Playwright’s Award.  This award is to be granted to a full-time secondary or post-secondary student within the GTA for the creation of a one-act play script.  The submission deadline is March 31.

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, job postings, and volunteer opportunities on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

New Theatre Ontario Youth Advisory Committee – Currently Seeking Volunteers

Youth Training Courses at Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario is currently undergoing major changes in order to become more accessible to young adults and young professionals (16-25).  In order to accomplish this, we are looking to form a Youth Advisory Committee. The Committee will be responsible for establishing and implementing a plan of action for the next twelve months with the aim of creating greater accessibility to young theatre artists and patrons, and students of theatre.

While this is an unpaid position, this is a great opportunity for networking, and to gain experience in theatre administration and the not-for-profit sector.

Who we’re looking for: Five (5) individuals between the ages of 16-25. Applicants should have a strong interest in theatre in Ontario/the GTA, meaning that they attend shows on a regular basis (5 times a year).

Read more about this volunteer opportunity at Theatre Ontario

Training a New Generation of Adjudicators

By Anne Mooney, Community Theatre Coordinator

The community theatre adjudication season has begun.  Adjudicators are travelling the province choosing the productions which will ultimately represent their regions at the Theatre Ontario Festival 2014, to be held in Sarnia from May 14 to 18.

This year, you might want to add to your theatrical experience by attending a trial adjudication.  For the third time in recent years, Theatre Ontario held the Introduction to Adjudication course for people interested in the art of adjudication.  While not everyone “graduates” or choose to pursue adjudication further, seven new adjudicators applied and were accepted to the Theatre Ontario Talent Bank after the first two courses.  The most recent course took place last year at the Western Ontario Drama League Festival in Guelph, and was five days of intensive study and practice with the highly respected adjudicator, Ron Cameron-Lewis.

As part of their training, each “trial adjudicator” has the chance to work with a community theatre company and present a public and detailed adjudication after one of the theatre’s regular performances.  The trial adjudicator benefits from the practice and from the input of an adjudicator mentor and the theatre company.  The company benefits from the chance to get feedback from an adjudicator and the audience benefits from hearing more about the production they just viewed.  Boards of the regional theatre groups, and in particular Adjudication Chairs, are invited to attend to get the chance to see these potential adjudicators in action.

There are nine participants who are in the process of having trial adjudications.  Several adjudications have been completed: Heiner Piller adjudicated a performance of The Odd Couple—Female Version produced by Mississauga Players in June, and Rita Huschka worked with the cast and crew of Theatre Woodstock’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace.  Thank you to all the groups who have opened their productions to the trial adjudication process.

Deanna Clatworthy adjudicated 1-900-DEE-LITE at Aylmer Community Theatre.  “Having Deanna provide a trial adjudication was an absolute pleasure,” said Sandy Loponen, the first-time director of 1-900-DEE-LITE.  “The cast and crew gained an objective, third-party assessment of the show from someone who had really done their homework.  Deanna keenly observed the production, and came well-prepared with questions regarding characters and the production’s design.  In turn, we felt that we were able to give Deanna some practice at providing an adjudication to improve her process.  By providing this experience, we are supporting Theatre Ontario’s ability to train professionals who will encourage community theatre groups to continue to meet high standards in production value.”

Sandy Macdonald and Deanna Clatworthy meet
following her trial adjudication.

Sandy Macdonald served as the mentor at Aylmer Community Theatre.  “Increasing the number of adjudicators will be of great benefit to regions and groups,” Sandy said.  “The trial adjudication program is an excellent way to facilitate increasing the numbers.  I am pleased to be part of the process.”

I am working with other Theatre Ontario community theatre members to provide more trial adjuducations.  If your group is interested in having a trial adjudication please contact me at anne@theatreontario.org

Tentative adjudications are set for Colin Legge at Elmira Theatre Company on November 28 for Having Hope at Home and for Carey Nicholson at Northumberland Players in Cobourg on December 7 for It’s a Wonderful Life.  I hope to see you there!

ONstage Openings for the week of November 4

In South Central Ontario
Nov. 7, The White Rose at Shadowpath Theatre Productions (Vaughan)
Nov. 7, Peter Pan at Brampton Music Theatre
Nov. 8, Skin Flick at Georgetown Little Theatre

In Southwestern Ontario
Nov. 6, Kim's Convenience at Theatre Aquarius (Hamilton)
Nov. 7, Stepping Out at Theatre Tillsonburg
Nov. 8, Ebenezer at Grey Wellington Theatre Guild (Harriston)

In Toronto
Nov. 4, Moss Park at Theatre Passe Muraille (currently in previews)*
Nov. 6, Twelfth Night at Hart House Theatre*
Nov. 6, The Valley at Tarragon Theatre (in previews)
Nov. 6, An Ideal Husband at George Brown Theatre School
Nov. 7, Monty Python's Spamalot at Scarborough Music Theatre
Nov. 7, The Game's Afoot, or Holmes For The Holidays at NAGs Players
Nov. 8, The Gravitational Pull Of Bernice Trimble at Factory Theatre (currently in previews)*
Nov. 8, Murder Mistaken at Bloor West Village Players
Nov. 10, Winners And Losers at Canadian Stage (in previews)*
Nov. 10, The Company We Keep Cabaret Series at Theatre 20

In Central Ontario
Nov. 6, Les Miserables at Owen Sound Little Theatre

Now playing on Ontario's stages:
Alligator Pie at Soulpepper Theatre
Raquel Duffy, Ins Choi, Mike Ross & Ken MacKenzie
Photo by Jason Hudson

Check out last week’s openings
For more information on these shows and other theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about our members discount tickets program