Browsing The Bulletin Board

Training from Theatre Ontario

• Do you want to expand your skills as an actor or director, flex your creative muscle, and spend time with people who share your passion for theatre?  If this is your idea of a thrilling week away, then this is your last chance to register for our Summer Theatre Intensive, starting August 11 in Waterloo.

Workshops for Emerging Playwrights and Emerging Plays

• Playwriting: Idea to First Draft, with Lindsay Price on September 14 in Toronto – Sometimes the hardest step in the playwriting process is the first. Where do I find inspiration? How do I develop an idea? What if my idea fizzles out halfway through?
• Playwriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique, with Lindsay Price on September 15 in Toronto – Plays are not written in the first draft. Plays come to life in rewrites. But re-write how? What if we don't know how to move our work forward? What if we don't know how to critique our own work? What if we aren't sure how to process feedback from others? This workshop offers tools and techniques for playwrights who have a play “under construction.”

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including proposal writing and marketing.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Upcoming Ontario Arts Council deadlines: Theatre Projects (August 1)
• Next in the Young Associates Summer Seminar series—Organizational Cashflow is today, Managing Your Data: Making It Work For You And Your Organization is August 7
• Jumblies Theatre’s The Art Of Community starts on August 8 in Sudbury, for participants from any arts discipline, tradition or related field with an interest and/or background in community-engaged arts

Jumblies Theatre's The Art of Community
Photo by Katherine Fleitas

New on The Bulletin Board

• Buddies In Bad Times is inviting submissions for Strange Sisters: The Redux.  They are seeking new, not previously produced performances (10 minutes or less), durational pieces, and multidisciplinary art work. Submissions are encouraged from both established and emerging artists working in the areas of theatre, drag, performance art, dance (including aerial, pole dancing and twerking) and movement, sonic art and music, interdisciplinary, and hybrid forms. Of particular interest are projects engaged in acts of self-worship and celebration no matter how fraught with complications and contradictions they are. We want to see the ways that you adore your ugly, how you spoil yourself and sin in order to resist, cope or revolt.  The submission deadline is August 19.
• The 2013 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre will be awarded to professional directors who, in the preceding 10 years, have made a significant creative contribution to no fewer than three noteworthy theatre projects in Canada.  The nomination deadline is September 16.
• Buddies is also inviting applications for their Young Creators Unit for queer-identified artists 25 and under.  Submission deadline is September 20.

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, funding opportunities, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

The Revival of the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

At first, it sounded too good to be true.

When a brand new Twitter account started reaching out to members of the theatre sector in May with the news that the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre was returning, there was good reason for skepticism.  The media reports in 2012 seemed quite definitive that the Prize was ending.

Elinore and Lou Siminovitch

A nagging voice in the back of my head said that this was a social media prank: a theatre community always desperate for good news was being punked by someone with too much time on their hands and a fake social media account.  I was delighted to chat with Katherine Siminovitch—daughter of Lou and Elinore Siminovitch, the Prize’s namesakes—who confirmed that it was indeed true.  Canada’s largest theatre Prize will be awarded on October 21, 2013.

“The initial funding lasted for twelve years,” Kathy explained.  “We were amazed by the feedback from the community, the incredible difference the Prize has made to people’s lives.  Many people, particularly the past prize winners and other supporters of theatre in Canada, wanted to find a way to keep it going.”

Supporters of the Prize worked to secure new partnerships with the University of Toronto and the RBC Foundation.  The $25,000 Protegée Prize is supported this year by the RBC Emerging Artist Project.  The supporters are also exploring ways to expand the Prize’s impact beyond the recipients themselves.  “We intend to get more involved in the theatre community,” Kathy said.  “We’re planning things like workshops by the prize recipients, and the University of Toronto and Hart House Theatre will be having a more active role.”

“We are confident about the future of the Prize,” she said, “with the support of several donors, the history and significance of the Prize, and the two encouraging partnerships with the University of Toronto and RBC Financial.”  The priority now is an enthusiastic campaign to the theatre community to get the word out about the September 16 nomination deadline.

“We also want to get more media interest,” Kathy said, articulating a challenge that all Prize-givers (including Theatre Ontario) have encountered.

Read more about the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre

ONstage Openings for the week of July 29

In South Central Ontario
Aug. 2, The Melville Boys at Rose Theatre (Brampton)

Too Many Cooks - Drayton Entertainment:
Huron County Playhouse
David Silvestri, Keith Savage, and Sam Rosenthal

In Southwestern Ontario
Jul. 30, Taking Shakespeare at Stratford Festival, currently in previews
Jul. 30, The Merchant Of Venice at Stratford Festival, in previews
Jul. 31, Legends Of Harmony at Drayton Entertainment: Schoolhouse Theatre (St. Jacobs)
Jul. 31, Too Many Cooks at Drayton Entertainment: Huron County Playhouse (Grand Bend)
Aug. 1, Mini Putt at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, with previews from Jul. 31
Aug. 2, Garrison's Garage at Blyth Festival, with previews from Jul. 31
Aug. 4, Othello at Stratford Festival, in previews

In Toronto
Jul. 31, Angels In America - Part One: Millennium Approaches at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews
Aug. 1, Angels In America - Part Two: Perestroika at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews

On A First Name Basis - Theatre Collingwood
Patricia Vanstone and Norm Foster

In Central Ontario
Jul. 30, On A First Name Basis at Theatre Collingwood
Aug. 1, Tales Of Whoa at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)
Aug. 1, Hollywood Sings at Port Hope Festival Theatre
Aug. 5, The Real McCoy at 4th Line Theatre (Millbrook) in previews

In Eastern Ontario
Aug. 3, No Sex, Please, We're British at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with previews from Aug. 1
Aug. 3, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque), with a preview on Aug. 2

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

Behind The Scenes At Ontario’s Theatres

• It really seemed too-good-to-be-true: the Siminovitch Prize is back.  The prize—which is dedicated to distinguished scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright—awards $100,000 to a mid-career artist in directing, playwriting, and design; $25,000 of which is given to a protégée of the recipient’s choice.  The award is now presented in partnership with the University of Toronto and the RBC Foundation.  The deadline for nominations is September 16, and the award will be presented on October 21
• The 2013 Ontario Fringe season comes to a close this weekend as the Hamilton Fringe, under the new leadership of Claire Calnan, wraps up.  2014’s Fringe season will kick off a little earlier with the newest stop in mid-May: the Durham Fringe Festival (FB page)
• And speaking of Fringe, I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Harrower a year ago in the Toronto Fringe Club—as I recall, he was a member of that year’s Fringe 100.  His story is remarkable, as CBC Toronto shared in a recent broadcast

Conversations

• Playwrights Guild of Canada caught up with Hamilton playwright Stephen Near and, among other topics, talked about opportunities for playwrights to work with community theatres.  As you know this is a popular topic with us—for over fifteen years we’ve been connecting Canadian playwrights and communities through “Playwright-in-Person” at Theatre Ontario Festival and Summer Courses (with the support of PGC and the Canada Council) and the recognition of successful original works in our partnership with Playwrights Canada Press to publish Grassroots: Original Plays From Ontario Community Theatres
• The July 11th weekly Howl from HowlRound posed the question “Technology is transforming the practice of theatre. How can we invite technological change and not lose our way?”  Moderated by playwright Gwydion Suilebhan, it was fun to engage with colleagues both local and abroad on a challenging topic with many diverging discussions threads

From The Wire

• Theatres’ Facebook page administrators lucky enough to have the new Facebook Insights should check out this information from Erin Richards-Kunkel on the Best New Features of Insights—Facebook has really upped their game in this area
• The full set of Ontario Ministry of Labour health and safety guidelines for live performance are now available online—with recent heat alerts, the Outdoor Venues guideline is a must-read
• The Australia Council for the Arts is no longer funding through specific channels, but exploring a more inter-disciplinary approach to all government arts funding

Migrations

• Shelly Glover is our new Federal Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
• Nancy Morgan is the new Executive Director of Theatre Nova Scotia

In Case You Missed It

• Honouring Ontario’s arts innovators and the legacy of Sandra Tulloch
• Ontario’s theatres adapt to the new marketing reality
• Welcome to Mairin Smit, our new Program Coordinator
• And we say a fond farewell to Tim Chapman

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

Honouring Ontario’s Arts Innovators and the Legacy of Sandy Tulloch

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Sandra Tulloch was Executive Director of Theatre Ontario for nearly twenty years.  During that time, she was renowned not just for her innovation within the theatre sector, but across arts and cultural disciplines.

When she retired, her legacy was honoured with the creation of the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture.  The award is presented to individuals and collectives whose leadership, initiative, and service have 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.  Theatre Ontario is thrilled to announce that the award will be sustained through the sponsorship of Marinucci & Company, Chartered Accountants.

“We are delighted to have Marinucci & Company sponsor the Sandra Tulloch Award,” said Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director of Theatre Ontario.  “This award honours Sandy’s amazing legacy.  The list of past recipients recognizes many unsung heroes in arts and culture across sectors.  There are so many hard working innovators worthy of recognition, and I’m thrilled to have passionate arts supporter like Sam champion this award.”

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.

“Working with a variety of arts organizations, I’m always impressed by people like Sandy and the award’s recipients who show initiative and leadership across sectors,” said Sam Marinucci.  “I’m proud that we can honour Sandy’s legacy with this sponsorship.”

Theatre Ontario encourages you to put your thinking caps on—we will be accepting nominations for the 2014 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture beginning September 1.  The deadline for nominations is November 30.

Read more about the Sandra Tulloch Award, including the full award guidelines, on the Theatre Ontario website

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Training from Theatre Ontario

• We’ve had a space open up in Tom Diamond’s Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Acting as part of our Summer Theatre Intensive—plus we’re still taking reservations in our classes for actors and directors; courses begin August 11 in Waterloo
• Save-the-dates for three Community Theatre Discussion Forums in the Fall: Oshawa on September 12, Sault Ste. Marie on September 28, and Merrickville on November 9

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including proposal writing, marketing, and playwriting (one for emerging playwrights, one for emerging plays.)

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Next in the Young Associates Summer Seminar series—Organizational Cashflow is on July 31
• Upcoming Ontario Arts Council deadlines: Theatre Projects (August 1)

New on The Bulletin Board

All The Ladies by Sasha Kleinplatz
from Buddies In Bad Times' Rhubarb Festival 2013

• Buddies In Bad Times is now inviting submissions for the 35th Rhubarb Festival, open to new, not previously produced performance projects (30 minutes or less) and performative experiments. Submissions are encouraged from both established and emerging creators working in theatre, performance art, dance, music, interdisciplinary and hybrid forms. Of particular interest this year are projects, approaches and ideas that are process-driven, consider the theatre as a laboratory and explore the possibilities of Rhubarb as a testing ground and place for research and development.  They are also inviting submissions for the Open Spaces Project collaborating with local queer organizations.  The submission deadline is September 13
• Registry Theatre in Kitchener will be holding two lighting workshops on hanging, focusing, basic designs, working the board, programming and recording cues, running October 7 and 8

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, funding opportunities, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

The Registry Theatre in Kitchener

Ontario’s Theatres Adapt to the new Marketing Reality

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

In our conversations with theatre companies, the challenges of engaging with audiences comes up over and over again.  Theatres find it hard to focus, hard to prioritize, hard to measure results of specific activities.  A year ago, people from five different regions in the province, representing both community and professional theatres, came together to learn from Cheryl Ewing on how to adapt to the new reality.

East Side Players' production of The Hypochondriac.

Daryn DeWalt, Publicity Director at East Side Players in Toronto, found that the research presented in the workshop has helped him identify where to concentrate his energies.  “We had spent considerable amount of advertising dollars in local community newspapers,” Daryn explained.  “But the market trends towards more spontaneous ticket buyers.  As an experiment, I focused more on my email campaign, promotional flyers, Facebook notifications …  and encouraged cast and crew to spread the word.”  The production of The Hypochondriac broke box office records.

In Oakville, Micki Clemens, President of the Burl-Oak Theatre Group, took away numerous ideas from the workshop.  They purchased new video camera equipment to create video to help promote their shows.  They also emphasized their membership—“We initiated a section on the website for Member Profiles,” Micki said, “to give credence to the fact that ordinary folk can volunteer in theatre and take enjoyment and pleasure from it.”  Burl-Oak recently received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for further marketing work.  Micki is also looking forward to an event in September that will introduce their subscribers to Burl-Oak’s new season, featuring a panel on the subject of comedy, and a reception to thank their subscribers for their support.

Stratford Community Players' production of Seussical

For Adam Gardiner, President of the Stratford Community Players, he was reminded to think about the audience and why they valued SCP’s shows.  “We already consider this when choosing our annual play,” said Adam, “but the workshop served as a useful reminder to make sure we appealed to those values in our marketing.”  For their 2013 production of Seussical, they made an appeal both to new families and also to “the nostalgiac angle of rediscovering the favourite characters of one’s past in an entirely new light” for their core audience of middle-aged theatregoers.

Adam found he also benefited from the networking at the workshop.  “One of the other theatres shared a practice of offering dress rehearsal preview seats to local charities to give back to the community and build connections,” he explained.  Inspired by that idea, Stratford Community Players reached out to residents of a local women’s shelter and their families, giving them a night out at the theatre.

The new reality poses unique challenges for every theatre company.  There is no “one size fits all” solution.  But by thinking creatively, listening to new ideas, and understanding audience values, Ontario’s theatres can be smarter about their marketing.

UPDATED October 3, 2013: Our next workshop - "Targeting Your Audience: Surviving and Thriving on Less and Less" - is coming up on December 7, 2013 at 9:30am at The Grand Theatre in London.

ONstage Openings for the week of July 22

In Eastern Ontario
Jul. 23, Miss Caledonia at Festival Players of Prince Edward County (Milford)
Jul. 26, Countries Shaped Like Stars at Festival Players of Prince Edward County (Picton)

In South Central Ontario
Jul. 26, Little Shop Of Horrors at Rose Theatre (Brampton)

The Light In The Piazza - Shaw Festival
Patty Jamieson and Juan Chioran
Photo by David Cooper

In Southwestern Ontario
Jul. 26, The Light In The Piazza at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake), currently in previews
Jul. 27, Arcadia at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake), currently in previews
Jul. 28, The Thrill at Stratford Festival, in previews—world premiere

In Toronto
Jul. 28, The Company We Keep Cabaret Series at Theatre 20

Shirley Valentine - Globus Theatre
Sarah Quick
Photo by AshNaylor.com

In Central Ontario
Jul. 24, Shirley Valentine at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)
Jul. 25, Broadway Rainbows at Westben Arts Festival Theatre (Campbellford)

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Training from Theatre Ontario

• If you've been leaving it to the last minute—now is your chance to register for our Summer Theatre Intensive.  Spaces are still available in our courses for actors and directors; this week-long residential program brings together passionate theatre artists from across the province for a unique theatrical learning experience, beginning August 11 in Waterloo
• We are also thrilled to announce that on Monday, August 12 at 8:30pm, Maja Ardal will be reading excerpts from her plays You Fancy Yourself and The Cure For Everything, as part of our Summer Theatre Intensive; this event is free to the public (you don’t have to be attending our summer courses to attend the reading) and is made possible by a grant from Playwrights Guild of Canada, funded by the Canada Council

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including proposal writing, playwriting, and marketing.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Next in the Young Associates Summer Seminar series—Sumac Basics: Getting Started is today; Budget Bootcamp starts July 23
• Focus UP’s Storytelling with a PUNCH!: Introduction to Stage Combat begins July 18
• Volcano Theatre’s The Conservatory for professional and pre-professional (post-secondary trained) actors, dancers, directors, sound designers, and theatre-makers starts July 19
• Upcoming Ontario Arts Council deadline: Theatre Projects (August 1)

Focus UP's Storytelling with a Punch

New on The Bulletin Board

• SPARC—The Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities in Haliburton Highlands is now inviting proposals of seminars, workshops, panels, research and community sound bites for a symposium on dance, theatre, music and media arts in rural communities; the deadline is August 30

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, funding opportunities, awards, and more—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Welcome to Mairin Smit, Our New Program Coordinator

We are thrilled to welcome Mairin Smit as the new Program Coordinator of Theatre Ontario.  Mairin is a passionate arts administrator and theatre director.  With a multi-disciplinary background in theatre and dance, she has a diverse perspective on the arts world and the life of an artist today.

“I have a keen interest in arts advocacy and supporting artists and their work,” said Mairin.  “I’m thrilled to continue this with Theatre Ontario as Program Coordinator!”

Mairin has previously worked with Canadian Stage and the Dancer Transition Resource Centre.  Mairin is also the co-founder and Artistic Director of Glasswater Theatre, a Toronto company dedicated to innovative theatre creation and multi-disciplinary work. She freelance directs for other local companies and co-hosts The Wedge, a bi-monthly networking and professional development group for emerging female directors.

Mairin is a graduate of the University College Drama Program at the University of Toronto. She has also participated in several professional development workshops with mentors such as Nancy Palk, Jacquie P.A. Thomas, Jillian Keiley, and Peggy Baker.

“Building on the strong foundation that Tim Chapman developed over the last seven years, I am delighted to welcome Mairin to Theatre Ontario,” said Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director.  “Mairin is really looking forward to delving into her new role, learning the ropes from Tim, and bringing her own special vitality, energy and collaborative approach to the position.  Please join me in welcoming Mairin!”

Mairin will be starting at Theatre Ontario on August 12, 2013.

ONstage Openings for the week of July 15

In Central Ontario
Jul. 16, Forever Plaid at Orillia Opera House
Jul. 19, The Cure For Everything at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)

In Eastern Ontario
Jul. 16, Hamlet at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott)
Jul. 17, The 39 Steps at Stirling Festival Theatre
Jul. 18, Cakewalk at Seaway Valley Theatre Company (Cornwall)

In Southwestern Ontario
Jul. 17, Spamalot at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
Jul. 17, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story at Drayton Entertainment: Huron County Playhouse (Grand Bend)
Jul. 17, The Love List at Drayton Entertainment: King's Wharf Theatre (Penetanguishene)
Jul. 17, Weekend Comedy at Drayton Entertainment: Huron County Playhouse (Grand Bend)

Great Expectations - Soulpepper Theatre
Jeff Lillico (foreground), Deborah Drakeford,
Leah Doz & Oliver Dennis
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

In Toronto
Jul. 16, The Taming Of The Shrew at Canadian Stage, currently in previews
Jul. 16, Great Expectations at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews
Jul. 17, Entertaining Mr. Sloane at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews
Jul. 19, Angels In America—Part One: Millennium Approaches at Soulpepper Theatre in previews
Jul. 20, Angels In America—Part Two: Perestroika at Soulpepper Theatre in previews

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

A Fond Farewell to Tim Chapman

By Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director

“Parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”  William Shakespeare, Romeo And Juliet

Tim during his acting career as a member
of the cast of the Montreal Theatre Lab
production of Solzhenitsyn, 1978
Photo by Don Bytone

It is with 'sweet sorrow' that we bid a fond farewell to Tim Chapman, who is retiring this week after seven amazing years as Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Coordinator.  I have been privileged to work closely with Tim for the past two years, and I have been humbled by the passion, commitment, and dedication that he brings to Theatre Ontario.  Tim’s lifelong love of theatre and genuinely compassionate nature shines through every single day he walks through the door of our offices!

Each area of Tim’s portfolio, which includes administering Showcase, the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival, the Professional Theatre Training Program, the Youth Theatre Training Program, and ASTRO (Association of Summer Theatres ‘Round Ontario), has received his diligent care and attention, however, I especially never cease to be amazed by how Tim goes to bat to counsel and mentor emerging artists and self-producing artists to make connections or to improve their applications for funding.  Tim is truly committed to helping people find a way to develop and sustain a financially viable and artistically rewarding career in theatre.  He displays a father's pride when people he has mentored land great gigs and move onto successful careers in theatre.

The staff of the Arbor Theatre, 1983.

I sometimes think that Tim is a walking encyclopedia of the Ontario theatre scene; it seems that there are very few people that he hasn’t either worked with or mentored over the years.   I will personally miss Tim’s loyalty, wisdom, and insights, but am reassured that he is only an email away!  We are fortunate that Tim’s commitment and belief in mentorship are so strong, that he will be mentoring his successor later this summer.

The Board and the Staff at Theatre Ontario wish Tim a long and healthy retirement (although a little bird tells me that you might bump into him from time to time at the AGO!)  Good luck Tim, and thank you for everything you have done for Theatre Ontario’s members over the last seven years—we will miss you!


"Thank you for all your years at Theatre Ontario and of course, your tremendous contribution to the Tarragon in so many offices. Your work with our theatre community has been invaluable."  Richard Rose, Artistic Director, Tarragon Theatre

"Tim has made a great contribution to the theatre. He will be missed!"  Jim Warren, Director

"Happy trails Tim, and thanks for all you did at Theatre Ontario."  Margo Charlton, Theatre Officer, Toronto Arts Council

"Thank you so much for your energy, dedication and compassion for artists and administrators trying to figure it all out!"  Matt White, General Manager, Necessary Angel

"I know Theatre Ontario will miss Tim desperately, and I have always valued his commitment to the organization, his work and his friendship."  John Goddard, former Executive Director of Theatre Ontario

"Tim is the glue!"  Colin Doyle, actor and producer

Tim: The angelic member of the staffs of Theatre Ontario,
TAPA, and Playwrights Guild of Canada
at the opening of our new office, 2013.

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

• You may have already received a tap on the shoulder from someone on our staff, or from one of our Board members, inviting you to help us out on a special advocacy project and answer the question "Why Theatre?"  At the Toronto Fringe Alumni Party, Sue Edworthy accepted the invitation
• Mitchell Marcus, Artistic and Managing Director of Acting Up Stage Company, wrote about the closure of Stage West Theatre in Mississauga, and says goodbye to a theatre that played an important role in the theatrical ecosystem
• Theatrical adaptations—the evolution of film-to-stage-musical, and the perils of children’s-literature-to-stage

From The Wire

• The Shaw Festival is featured on an upcoming PBS documentary: The Shaw Festival—Behind The Curtain, airing on July 19 at 9pm on WNED-TV
• The Ottawa Citizen profiles local artists turning to crowdfunding, including a mention of our Crowdfunding workshop leader Nancy Kenny and her campaign for Roller Derby Saved My Soul
• Richard Ouzounian wrote about the upcoming summer theatre season from the Association of Summer Theatres ‘Round Ontario
• Celebrating 50 years of provincial arts funding through the Ontario Arts Council: Live Love Art... Vive l'amour de l'art...
• And Bruce Pitkin, our Outreach Coordinator, was recognized by NOW Magazine as one of the Toronto Fringe’s 10 Artists to Watch—a list that also featured past Summer Theatre Intensive instructors and Professional Theatre Training Program recipients

TO Toasts

• Congratulations to Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment, nominated as an Ontario Entrepreneur of the Year in media and entertainment

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Browsing The Bulletin Board

We’re pleased to announce our first Fall workshops

• Proposal Writing: Creative Approaches to Creative Proposals, with Denise Bolduc on September 9 at 4pm in Toronto – A workshop for individuals and theatre organizations applying for funding and sponsorships: Change the grant-writing nightmare to a positive creative experience by learning relevant tools and valuable information to improve your chances of success.  Just in time for the Canada Council Granting Deadline on September 15!
• Playwriting: Idea to First Draft, with Lindsay Price on September 14 in Toronto – A workshop for emerging playwrights: Sometimes the hardest step in the playwriting process is the first. Where do I find inspiration? How do I develop an idea? What if my idea fizzles out halfway through?
• Playwriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique, with Lindsay Price on September 15 in Toronto – A workshop for emerging plays: Plays are not written in the first draft. Plays come to life in rewrites. But re-write how? What if we don't know how to move our work forward? What if we don't know how to critique our own work? What if we aren't sure how to process feedback from others? This workshop offers tools and techniques for playwrights who have a play “under construction.”
• Smart Marketing: Adapting to the New Reality, with Cheryl Ewing on September 21 in Toronto – What do your patrons expect from their night at the theatre?  How can you help them to meet their expectations?  How do you use your existing audience to help you find a new audience?  Find out in the full-day workshop

We’re also still accepting registrations for our Summer Theatre Intensive courses in acting and directing.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Melissa Hood prepares for Praxis Theatre's Section 98 at HATCH 2010

• Deadline to apply to Harbourfront Centre’s HATCH 2014 residency is July 12.  HATCH 2014 is being guest-curated by HATCH alumni Michael Wheeler and Aislinn Rose of Praxis Theatre.  The program is for Toronto-area artists and companies, with particular interest in projects that experiment with how social media can be used artistically in creation and performance
• York University’s Physical Approaches to Theatre: Techniques of Suzuki and Ohta starts July 15
• Deadline to apply to the City of Toronto Cultural Services Culture Build Investment Program—funding shovel-ready infrastructure repair projects for small and medium-sized cultural facilities—is July 15
• Next in the Young Associates Summer Seminar series—Sumac Basics: Getting Started is on July 17

New on The Bulletin Board

• Jumblies Theatre is bringing their community-engaged art workshops to Sudbury—The Art of Community runs August 8 to 10, and Oral History and Art-Making runs September 26 to 29

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, and funding opportunities—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

Looking at our Communities from a Different Perspective

By Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director

At long last summer is here, and as the temperature rises it’s a great opportunity to sit in my air-conditioned office and take a few minutes to reflect and plan for the future.  It is no secret that theatre companies and theatre artists around the province are grappling with the wicked challenge of building audiences for the future, and engaging with our audiences in new and exciting ways.  There are many factors impacting audience development, including an uncertain economy, seismic technological changes, and shifting demographics.  As I meet with people in large and small communities around the province, the question of engaging with diverse communities is a common thread to many conversations.  At Theatre Ontario, we are always looking for ways to help our members proactively respond to challenges, and while there are no simple solutions, there are certainly a number of avenues that we can explore collectively, which is what inspired us to partner with the Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) to present a panel discussion at our annual general meeting on Diversity, Engagement, and Inclusion in Theatre, with a goal of exploring some positive strategies for engaging with diverse communities.

The panel discussion was moderated by charles c. smith, who in addition to being a published poet, playwright, and essayist, is a lecturer on Cultural Pluralism in the Arts at the University of Toronto Scarborough as well as being the Program Lead of CPAMO.  In his remarks, charles stated that an important aspect of cultural pluralism is “about unpacking those stories that all of us can connect to.  We're all in the process of ‘trying to know.’”

This was a terrific opportunity for everyone who attended to hear the compelling and inspiring stories of the panelists: Yvette Nolan, Ravi Jain, Trevor Schwellnus, and Soheil Parsa, each of whom are busy theatre artists from diverse backgrounds who have navigated a unique path in the theatre sector by building inclusive practices and strong collaborative relationships. 

Yvette Nolan (Algonquin/Irish), a playwright, director and dramaturg and former Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts, encouraged us to continue to look at our communities from different perspectives—she used the analogy of a tree; when you walk around a tree and look at it from a different position, you gain a different perspective or outlook.  Yvette shared a recent experience she had working on a play with the hearing impaired and deaf culture, a challenging and rewarding experience that involved integrating and translating Shakespearean text, American Sign Language, and spoken word.  Working with diverse cultures requires us to acknowledge where we come from and where we are now in order to know where we are going.  As a community it is important that we take a look at who isn’t represented on stage—what kind of theatre is going to talk about our community as a whole and tell our community's story?

Ravi Jain, a multi-award-winning actor, director, producer, educator, arts activist, and Artistic Director of Why Not Theatre noted that “in order to understand inclusion, it's important to understand exclusion."  Ravi shared that as artists, much of how we work is often done out of necessity; for example, he created his theatre company in order to create work for himself and he shared a story about mounting a hit show in Urdu.  Part of the success of this particular show was that he had staff working front of house who spoke the language of the community (Urdu), creating a welcoming and comfortable environment for the audience.  He encourages us to put thought and care into how we communicate (both language and culture) to different cultural audience groups. For example, some cultural groups may not understand that it's important to arrive early to pick up tickets prior to the show.

Trevor Schwellnus,  a scenographer, and Artistic Producer of Aluna Theatre, together with his partner Beatriz Pizano, talked about how his company was similarly established out of necessity by Beatriz who is originally from Colombia.  Trevor strongly believes that outreach into communities is important—working with individuals to help them own their story. Collaborative creation can help to unlock each person's and each community’s story.  An interesting and creative idea that Trevor shared to help outreach and communication, is to consider using subtitles as a design element for your show. You can use different languages for the same show depending on the audience you're reaching out to.  You need to be able to speak to the community in order to build a space for the community.

Soheil Parsa, an award-winning director, actor, writer, dramaturg, choreographer, and teacher, whose professional theatre career has spanned thirty years and two continents, shared his story of escaping revolutionary Iran and studying theatre at York University in the early 1980s—he was one of the first Middle Eastern theatre students in Canada.  Soheil found that he was unable to easily connect with theatre in Toronto in the early 80s, and like our other panelists, Soheil created his own theatre company from a desire to explore avant garde theatre.  He believes that we’ve come a long way in terms of diversity and inclusion, but we also have a long way to go.

Our panelists agreed that theatre is gradually becoming more intercultural, and that by working within each other’s communities our resources can go further, especially when funding resources are shifting.  Ethno cultural theatres are often more focused on community engagement—engaging with the broader community.  Our panelists believe that there is a tremendous opportunity for collaboration and partnership for theatre companies with each other and with the communities that surround them—partnering to produce theatre that represents the story and voice of the community.

Without doubt theatre is a dynamic art form that is continually evolving, telling our stories in new and innovative ways—it is a constant and exciting process of exploration, looking at different perspectives as part of the creative process, but also as part of the process of engaging with our audiences in a meaningful way.  A point that I found compelling and was emphasized by each of the panelists was that need to step back and take another point of view or perspective when we engaging with diverse communities, whether they be ethno-cultural, geographic, seniors, or communities with disabilities:

• Are we telling their story?  In other words, do the plays we perform resonate with the people that live and work in the communities around us?
• Are the plays we are performing in a language that the community can understand?
• Does our audience understand the conventions of attending the theatre, for example, picking up tickets prior to performance time?
• Are we accessible to the community?  For example, is transportation or parking an issue?  Is our marketing and outreach in a language or format that is readily understood by the audience/community we are trying to engage with?
• Have we included members of the community in our volunteer group/paid staff to help us better respond?
• Do the actors on our stages reflect the people that live and work in our community?

Everyone that attended the AGM panel discussion was inspired and excited, and a number of people I spoke with felt that they had gained insights into new ways of becoming more inclusive by asking and answering some of these questions.  There is no cookie-cutter approach.  Building relationships and understanding takes time, but the first important step is understanding what we don’t know, and then taking the time to see another perspective.

For myself, I am looking forward to continuing these important discussions and helping to bring similar panel discussions to other communities across the province.  I look forward to coming together, and challenging ourselves to look at theatre as well as the communities in which we create and perform our work, from a different perspective that just might open new and exciting opportunities to build our audiences and share unique theatrical experiences.

ONstage Openings for the week of July 8

Touring
Jul. 13, The Odyssey from Driftwood Theatre Company, with previews from Jul. 11

Back In '59
Globus Theatre
(Margaret Thompson, Tim Porter
Clayton Labbe, Kelly Holiff)

In Central Ontario
Jul. 9, Back In '59 at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)
Jul. 10, Billy Bishop Goes To War at Theatre Collingwood
Jul. 10, Greater Tuna at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)
Jul. 11, Romeo And Juliet at Theatre By The Bay (Barrie) with previews from Jul. 8
Jul. 11, Kim's Convenience at Port Hope Festival Theatre
Jul. 12, The Owl And The Pussycat at Peterborough Theatre Guild
Jul. 13, You Fancy Yourself at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)
Jul. 14, Buncha-Munsch at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)

In Eastern Ontario
Jul. 9, Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show at Festival Players of Prince Edward County (Bloomfield)
Jul. 12, Laura Secord at Festival Players of Prince Edward County (Picton) - world premiere
Jul. 13, The Star-Spangled Girl at Classic Theatre Festival (Perth) with previews from Jul. 12

Maid For A Musket
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival
(Warren Bain, David Snelgrove, Kelly Penner)

Jul. 13, Maid For A Musket at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott) with a preview on Jul. 12 - world premiere

In Southwestern Ontario
Jul. 10, Too Many Cooks at Drayton Entertainment: Drayton Festival Theatre
Jul. 10, Sorry... I'm Canadian at Drayton Entertainment: Dunfield Theatre Cambridge
Jul. 11, Not In My Backyard at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, with previews from Jul. 10 – world premiere
Jul. 11, One-Act Play Weekend at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre
Jul. 12, Faith Healer at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake), currently in previews
Jul. 13, Enchanted April at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake), currently in previews
Jul. 13, Taking Shakespeare at Stratford Festival, in previews
Jul. 14, Arcadia at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake)

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

The 2013 Ontario Summer Theatre Season

By Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator

The 2013 summer theatre season has already begun for many summer theatres.  This year there are 21 members of the Association of Summer Theatres ‘Round Ontario (ASTRO, www.summertheatre.ca).  Here is a quick summary of what all of them are doing in July and August.

Starting in Western Ontario in Petrolia, the venerable Victoria Playhouse has artistic directors David Hogan and David Rogers presenting a season of musicals and comedies until October 20.  Upcoming in July is The Fantasticks, a classic musical, and closing their season in October is the Canadian premiere of Florence Henderson’s show All the Lives of Me.  Blyth Festival, one of Canada’s leading theatres for producing new Canadian plays, has lined up three new plays including Beyond the Farm Show, inspired by the Canadian classic The Farm Show.  Severn Thompson, daughter of Paul Thompson, directs.  And they are bringing back Ted John’s popular comedy from the ‘80s Garrison’s Garage.

Drayton Entertainment's Spamalot
Stephen Patterson and Kristen Peace
Photo by Darlene O'Rourke

Drayton Entertainment has added yet another new venue, the Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge, to their theatres in Drayton, Grand Bend, St. Jacobs, and Penetanguishene.  It is truly amazing the way Drayton continues to grow and also successfully maintain their current theatres.  Artistic Director Alex Mustakas has programmed many great shows this summer including Mary Poppins, Monty Python's Spamalot, Oliver!, Johnny and June, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Norm Foster’s acclaimed comedy The Love List, and Too Many Cooks which is described as a gourmet farce (it sounds delicious.)

On the north shore of Lake Erie, we have two thriving summer theatres.  From west to east there is Port Stanley Festival Theatre which is premiering the new musical comedy Not In My Backyard in July.  In August, Artistic Director Simon Joyne’s play Mini-Putt opens, while September brings a great closer to their season—Norm Foster’s Drinking Alone.  Moving further east to Port Dover at Lighthouse Festival Theatre in July, there is—who else?—Norm Foster’s latest comedy, On a First Name Basis.  Later in July The 39 Steps, adapted from the Hitchcock classic, opens.  In August Dear Johnny Deere with music by Fred Eaglesmith starts a three-week run.  Lighthouse is also transferring four of their 2013 shows to Showboat Festival Theatre in Port Colborne including Sarah Quick’s Knickers: a Brief Comedy in July and The 39 Steps in August.

Shaw Festival's Lady Windermere's Fan
Marla McLean
Photo by David Cooper

Moving east to the south shore of Lake Ontario at Niagara-on-the-Lake is the esteemed Shaw Festival.  There are always many inviting choices at The Shaw.  This year Peter Hinton’s production of Lady Windermere’s Fan has received rave notices and they have already added performances of Guys and Dolls to respond to box office demand. Just west of Toronto in Brampton, the resplendent Rose Theatre presents their summer theatre season: Little Shop of Horrors on the Main Stage; 12 Angry Men and Norm Foster’s The Melville Boys in Studio Two.

Now we head north to Bala where first time ASTRO member New Actors’ Colony Theatre is producing its third season from July 7 to August 11.  The season includes Maja Ardal’s acclaimed You Fancy Yourself  and her more recent show The Cure for Everything as well as Buncha Munsch, Frankie, and Greater Tuna.  On the shore of Georgian Bay, Theatre Collingwood is presenting Billy Bishop Goes to War in July and Norm Foster’s On a First Name Basis starring Mr. Foster himself in this touring production from July 30 to August 4.

Driftwood Theatre's The Odyssey
Sarah Machin Gale and Christopher Darroch
Photo by D.J. Smith

Nearby in Orillia on Lake Simcoe the Orillia Opera House’s summer season continues in July with The 39 Steps which closes on July 12, followed by Fame–The Musical, Forever Plaid, and Same Time, Next Year.  Touring many Ontario locations from Ingersoll to St. Catharines to Kingston from July 11 to August 18, Driftwood Theatre’s Bard’s Bus Tour is presenting an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey at both outdoor and indoor locations.

Up in Millbrook near Peterborough, 4th Line Theatre opens their season on July 4 with Artistic Director Robert Winslow’s The Winslows of Derrymore, a prequel to their seminal show The Cavan Blazers.  In August Andrew Moodie’s  The Real McCoy is playing.  It is recommended to book tickets early.  This popular theatre regularly sells out many performances.  North of Peterborough near Bobcaygeon, Globus Theatre’s summer season has Thom Currie’s Back in ’59, Shirley Valentine, the touring production of Norm Foster’s On a First Name Basis, and Sexy Laundry. Further north in Haliburton, Highlands Summer Festival opens July 1 with Nunsense.  Their season runs until August 9 with three more shows: Our Town, The Sunshine Boys, and the touring production of Wingfield’s Inferno starring Rod Beattie.

Festival Players of
Prince Edward County's
Highway 63:
The Fort Mac Show
Greg Gale and Georgina Beatty
Photo by Aviva Armour-Ostroff

Port Hope Festival Theatre continues their summer season in July with The Marvelous Wonderettes and Soulpepper Theatre’s touring production of its runaway hit Kim’s Convenience.  In August the musical revue Hollywood Sings is playing.  At Westben Arts Festival just outside of Campbellford, upcoming until August 4 are many shows and concerts including the opera Carmen, pianist Andre Laplante, a Broadway evening, and jazz singer Diana Panton with Guido Basso, Don Thompson, and Reg Schwager.  Festival Players of Prince Edward County opens its season on July 9 with Highway 63: The Fort Mac Show.  Starting later in July is Melody Johnson’s Dora-nominated Miss Caledonia and closing their season in August is Sean Dixon’s The Notorious Right Robert and his Robber Bride.

The Thousand Islands Playhouse’s 2013 season is Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran’s first season.  In July in their Springer Theatre the comedy Boeing Boeing continues its run, while August brings the Broadway success The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.  In the Firehall Theatre Third Floor is playing in July and The (Post) Mistress by Tomson Highway is opening on August 14.  Up to now I have just let you know about summer theatre shows in July and August but I do want to make an exception to tell you about the adaptation of Alistair MacLeod’s beloved Canadian novel No Great Mischief opening at the Playhouse in September.  Richard Rose is bringing his Tarragon Theatre production starring three of Canada’s leading actors R.H. Thomson, David Fox, and Nicola Lipman.  Do not miss it if you live in Eastern Ontario!

Classic Theatre Festival in Perth continues to present Broadway hits from the 1950s and 1960s in its fourth season.  This year they are pleased to announce its 2013 summer season will be at the intimate Full Circle Theatre.  Neil Simon’s The Star Spangled Girl plays from July 12 to August 4, while The Marriage-Go-Round runs from August 9 to September 1.  St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott runs its 2013 summer season from July 13 to August 17 playing Maid for a Musket and Hamlet in repertory at their lovely amphitheatre facing the St. Lawrence River.  In Morrisburg Upper Canada Playhouse, celebrating their 30th anniversary season, has the madcap comedy Murder at the Howard Johnson’s in July and the farce No Sex, Please, We’re British playing in August.

There you have it—a plethora of summer entertainment across the province.  Wherever you are and wherever you are going in Southern Ontario, you will find live theatre nearby this summer.  Enjoy!

Browsing The Bulletin Board

With our Summer Theatre Intensive one month away, we still have spaces available in a few courses.  Experience a week away from all distractions and immerse yourself in a unique theatrical learning experience in Waterloo on August 11 to 17.  You will learn new skills, meet passionate theatre people, enrich your theatre capacity, and flex your creative muscle!

Space is still available in:

• Staging the Story: The Why and How of Directing with Maja Ardal
• You Got the Part!  Audition and Rehearsal Techniques for the Actor with Thom Currie

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

The Public Servant (Theatre Columbus) from undercurrents 2013
Sarah McVie, Amy Rutherford, and Haley McGee
Photo by Jacqui Jensen-Roy

• The deadline for submissions for undercurrents 2014 at Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa is July 5.
• Next on the Young Associates’ Summer 2013 Professional Development Seminar Series in Toronto is Excel: Managing Documents and Creating Templates beginning July 9.

New on The Bulletin Board

• RBC Tarragon Emerging Playwrights Competition is now inviting submissions of full-length plays (min. 80 minutes) written in English by professional playwrights who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have less than five years of professional playwriting experience.  Deadline is August 19.

Check out these items, and other postings from our members of workshops, calls for submission, and funding opportunities—on Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of July 2

In Southwestern Ontario
Jul. 4, The Light In The Piazza at Shaw Festival (Niagara-on-the-Lake) in previews
Jul. 5, Yorkville - The Musical at Blyth Festival, with previews from Jul. 3 (world premiere)

In Toronto
Jul. 2, Slap Shot Live! at The Second City
Jul. 3, Macbeth at Canadian Stage (currently in previews)
Jul. 3, The 25th Annual Toronto Fringe Festival
Jul. 4, Princess Polly and the World's Smallest Ninja at The Second City
Jul. 5, Entertaining Mr. Sloane at Soulpepper Theatre, in previews
Jul. 6, The Taming Of The Shrew at Canadian Stage, in previews
Jul. 6, Great Expectations at Soulpepper Theatre in previews

The Winslows Of Derryvore
4th Line Theatre
(Dove Mickelson, Heather Maitland,
Jake Vanderham, photo by Wayne Eardley)

In Central Ontario
Jul. 4, The Winslows Of Derryvore at 4th Line Theatre (Millbrook) with previews from Jul. 2
Jul. 5, Carmen at Westben Arts Festival Theatre (Campbellford) with a preview on Jul. 4
Jul. 7, Frankie at New Actors' Colony Theatre (Bala)






In Eastern Ontario

The Merry Wives of Windsor
A Company of Fools
(Photo by JVL Photography)

Jul. 2, A Midsummer Night's Dream at Bottle Tree Productions (Kingston)
Jul. 3, The Merry Wives Of Windsor at A Company of Fools (Ottawa)
Jul. 6, Murder At The Howard Johnson's at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg) with previews from Jul. 4
Jul. 6, Third Floor at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque) with a preview on Jul. 5

In South Central Ontario
Jul. 4, Spin at Rose Theatre (Brampton)
Jul. 5, 12 Angry Men at Rose Theatre (Brampton)

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