Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

• The news that the Tony Awards was abolishing the awards for sound design trigged a petition, and several good reflections on theatre awards and the value of the Tonys.  Three of my favourites come from Robert Kaplowitz on HowlRound (“Nine thoughts on theatre awards”), Megan Reilly (“The Magic is not Magic”), and David J. Loehr on 2amTheatre (“Invisible”)
• This week’s #CdnCult Times is an “all image edition” communicating ideas through images—including a contribution from designer Lindsay Anne Black (chair of our Professional Theatre Training Program jury) “A hell of a time wrapping our brains around this”
• From You've Cott Mail, around the world, taking action against ticket service fees
• Jian Ghomeshi’s Q Essay last Friday encouraged all arts supporters to support your local fringe fest—“the ultimate indie level of culture”

  

  The Toronto Fringe Festival, one of the many Fringe Festivals
  across the province - "the ultimate indie level of culture"

From The Wire

• The Ontario Nonprofit Network has analyzed the June 12 election results for the impact on the non-profit sector
• The Ontario Ministry of Labour has published the revised safety guidelines for “Performer Flying and Aerial Stunts” in Live Performance
• The Ontario Ministry of Consumer Services is advising that the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act is now not likely to take effect until 2016, with a three-year transition period after that once it is in force

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Don Fleckser, who received our 2010 Maggie Bassett Award for his contribution to theatre in Ontario, is directing a Canadian premiere at the London Community Players

Migrations

• Sara Meurling is the new Executive Director of PACT (the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres) (PDF)
• Gideon Arthurs is the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Theatre School
• Kate McConnell is leaving as Executive Director of STAF in Toronto

TO Toasts

• To Jordan Tannahill, awarded the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre inaugural Queer Emerging Artist Award
• To Hannah Moscovitch, awarded the Trillium Book Award in English-language for This Is War, published by Playwrights Canada Press / Banff Centre Press—the first time a play received this award
• To Beatriz Pizano (theatre) and Emil Sher (literature), awarded the K.M. Hunter Artist Awards from the Ontario Arts Foundation
• To all of the nominees for the Canadian Comedy Awards

In Case You Missed It

• Health and Safety Awareness Training is the Law in Ontario
• Professional Theatre Training Program project profiles featuring Rob Kempson, Joseph Recinos, and Kat Horzempa

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

We’re now starting the bi-weekly summer publishing schedule for Ontario Off Stage—so we’ll be back on July 4, with the next stop on the Ontario Fringe Theatre tour already underway in Toronto.