Friday 29 August 2014

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
From Ontario Summer Theatre:
The Long Weekend at Globus Theatre
Photo by Catherine Whitnall
Migrations
TO Toasts
In Case You Missed It
And yes, we’ve been caught up the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge…

Challenge Issued to the staff of Theatre Ontario by the staff of the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge


Challenge Accepted by the staff of Theatre Ontario


As of press time, Trevor Lundy, General Manager at Oshawa Little Theatre (who are hosting our 2015 Theatre Ontario Festival) has already responded to our challenge.


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

Thursday 28 August 2014

ArtsVote Across Ontario

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Ontario’s municipalities go to the polls on October 27, 2014.  Approximately 2800 councillors and 700 school trustees will be elected.  ArtsVote organizations across Ontario are now mobilizing communities to ensure that candidates talk about arts and culture policy.  What’s happening in your community, and how can you connect?

ArtsVote Toronto has been active in municipal elections since 2000.  This year, they have identified four key issues, and issued surveys to candidates to prepare Report Cards.  They will also be hosting a lunch-time Mayoral Arts Debate at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 29—but I was especially interested to hear about “Art on the Ballot”, a partnership with the SummerWorks Festival, that featured a panel from the Toronto arts community answering questions from candidates.  (Torontoist covered the event.)  To get involved in Toronto, you can sign up for the newsletter, or connect with their Facebook page or Twitter feed at the ArtsVote Toronto website—and take your "what do you ArtsVote for?" photograph.

ArtsVote Hamilton launched on June 4 with their first event: a discussion about arts in Hamilton with local councillors and candidates, and Stephanie Vegh of the Hamilton Arts Council blogged about the event.  ArtsVote Hamilton has a Facebook page where you can follow for future event information.

Kingston Arts Council also launched the ArtsVote Kingston initiative this past year.  They ran a successful IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to make a public service announcement video—we look forward to seeing the results.  (UPDATE on August 29: ArtsVote Kingston's launch event is scheduled for September 13 at 2:30pm in the Atrium at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre at Queen's University)

The Mississauga Arts Council is holding a Mayoral Forum on Arts, Culture and Heritage on September 8 at the Living Arts Centre.  With Hazel McCallion retiring after 36 years in the mayor’s office, this is sure to be an important discussion as Mississauga chooses a new mayor.

Barrie, London, Niagara, Oakville, Ottawa, and Windsor all had activities in 2010, and hopefully we will hear more about the work in these communities in the months ahead—as well as other new initiatives across Ontario.  Please contact me at brandon@theatreontario.org or 416.408.4556 x.13 to be included in the next update.

Wednesday 27 August 2014

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
Buddies in Bad Times invites applications for their
Young Creators Unit.  The deadline is September 5.
Photo is of past YCU participant Olive-or-Oliver.
Photo by Omer Yuseker.
  • Deadline to apply for Shakespeare Globe Centre of Canada’s Bluma Appel Mentorship Award for Directors for intensive study in London, UK, is August 31
  • Deadline to apply for the Canadian Stage / York University MFA in Stage Direction is September 3
  • Alameda Theatre Company is still accepting applications for Nueva Voz for Latino/as aged 14 to 25, starting September 4
  • Deadline for submissions for Alumnae Theatre Company’s New Ideas Festival is September 5
  • Deadline to apply for the Buddies in Bad Times’ Young Creators Unit for queer-identified artists 25 and under is September 5
  • Deadline to apply for Acting Up Stage Company’s Syd and Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Musical Theatre Artists is September 5
New on The Bulletin Board
Check out these items, and other postings from our members of funding opportunities, workshops, calls for submission, 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

Tuesday 26 August 2014

The Enduring Sense of Community at Theatre Ontario’s Summer Theatre Intensive

By Zara Jestadt, Education Assistant

Upon starting my summer position at Theatre Ontario, I never thought I would have the opportunity to witness any of the workshops the organization has to offer. While a large part of my responsibilities, especially early on in my internship, fell on coordinating the annual Summer Theatre Intensive during the weeks leading up to it, it was always under the assumption that I would not be in attendance for it. So it was with pleasure, eagerness, and curiosity that I went to Waterloo for the majority of the Summer Intensive week when the opportunity arose. 

What I witnessed were fiery students who craved to gain the most out of their experiences. Late on my first evening there, I walked past the student common lounge, where participants were engaged in an impassioned discussion about the ‘external conflict’ in Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, after having spent the entire day actively participating in classes. Most agreed to have their classes start earlier than scheduled. Pairs of students spent the bus ride to the Stratford Festival (for a performance of Man of La Mancha) going over lines of their scenes, not to waste a moment’s time. Most potently, as I was sitting out in the hallway to the classrooms one afternoon, a participant ran past me on the way to the bathroom—“I have to go so bad, but I don’t want to miss a word!” she explained in her haste.  Clearly, these were students who were there to work.

How Do I Make This Play Happen? Directing for Beginners
But these were also students who were willing to give, risk, and participate fully. One of the directing classes had asked the participants from the acting classes to present a monologue to a large panel of directing students, in a mock-audition style, during their free time. These students willingly gave their time and efforts, and both groups seemed to gain important insight and experience. It was amazing to see this mutual camaraderie amongst working artists, and the initiative with which they took practical skills learning into their own hands.

The week did not go by without its challenges. Disruptions and unexpected changes occurred in the residence building and the surrounding campus. But even in the face of these challenges, the spirit of the courses, the magic of the theatre, was kept alive in the determination of the instructors and their participating students. It even stimulated some creative juices—the musical theatre class used these extenuating circumstances as inspiration for their final musical revue performance, a piece that was both honest, and kneel-over hilarious.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know
about Acting... and Then Some!
Ultimately, this week reinforced the reasons why we continue to do theatre: the enduring sense of community, the importance of collaboration, the creative impulse, and the engagement through which theatre is able to touch and impact others. We do theatre because we must. This week was a testament to that spirit. Even in the face of adversary, stress, or disappointment, one must keep going, keep performing, keep creating. There is no other option.

It was a pleasure to be reminded of this once again.

Find out more about Theatre Ontario's Summer Theatre Intensive

Monday 25 August 2014

ONstage Openings for the week of August 25

ONstage Opening in Eastern Ontario
Waiting For The Parade at
Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque)
Deborah Drakeford, Andrea Houssin,
Shannon Currie, Janet Michael
Photo by Barbara Zimonick
In Eastern Ontario
Aug. 29, Waiting For the Parade at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque)*

In Southwestern Ontario
Aug. 28, The Gentleman Clothier at Lighthouse Festival Theatre (Port Dover), with previews from Aug. 27
Aug. 28, Fool's Paradise at Registry Theatre (Kitchener)

In Toronto
Aug. 26, Glenn at Soulpepper Theatre, in previews
Aug. 30, The Crucible at Soulpepper Theatre
Sep. 1, Ashkenaz Parade at Shadowland Theatre

Check out last week’s openings

For more information on all the 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 discount tickets program

Thursday 21 August 2014

PTTP Profiles: Exploring Projects Funded by the Professional Theatre Training Program

Eight individuals were chosen as recipients of Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program grants during our Spring 2014 application round.  This month we check-in with two of the recipients at the end of their projects.

Rob Kempson trained in Directing with Ashlie Corcoran at Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque

Cast, creative teams, and admin staff on the first day of rehearsal
for She Loves Me at the Thousand Islands Playhouse.
Rob Kempson is in the centre in the green pants.
My experience in Gananoque with Ashlie Corcoran was nothing short of life-changing. That may sound hyperbolic, but at the least, it has certainly charted my course in a very new way—both in the immediate and in the long term. Gananoque is beautiful, and the Thousand Islands Playhouse is an incredibly special community. The community feels like the crossroads of summer camp and the happiest office environment of all time. The work at all levels is creative and collaborative, and one immediately feels like they are part of the family. Add the fact that Ashlie demands the highest levels of artistic integrity and quality from everyone involved in each production, and you have an organization that is amazing. I feel so lucky to have been able to use the Professional Theatre Training Program to connect with Ashlie and the Playhouse in this way.

Our work on She Loves Me was rigorous. Ashlie was busy managing a very large cast in a very complicated show, limited by a modest production budget and a smaller house than is normally used for this show. However, her capacity for creative problem solving is nothing short of miraculous. I learned a great deal about the prep work required to take on such a task. Ashlie is meticulous in creating and solidifying every aspect of the world of the play. She guides the actors through this process, without dictating it to them. This is the real balance of directing I think: to be collaborative with the actors (and the team in general), while also ensuring that everything serves your overall vision for the piece. Ashlie also let me in on her process of leadership. She has a great capacity for truly hearing all of the members of the production team. That made for an incredibly collaborative team environment—one where everyone feels validated in their own work, but also feels committed to making the project happen. I was also able to work closely with Shelley Stewart Hunt, the choreographer, and learned a great deal about stylizing movement without necessarily “dancing.” She Loves Me is a HUGE undertaking, and it was incredible to be able to be a part of it in any way.

She Loves Me at Thousand Islands Playhouse
Rob Kempson, Shannon Coulter, Alan Kliffer,
Margaret Thompson, Antonette Rudder, Michael Hughes
Photo by Jay Kopinski
Near the end of the rehearsal process, my “way” took a drastic turn. One of our male ensemble members broke his foot during rehearsals, leaving an essential track open. By this point in rehearsal, the transitions, quick changes, and backstage duties had all been assigned (and tracked by me as Asst. Director). So after some discussion, and the trip to the hospital, it was determined that I should take over. While I am a performer, I’m not all that experienced as a dancer, so it wasn’t the easiest track to pick up. But I was ready for the challenge, and I ended up performing in the show for the entirety of the run. The ensemble member is a multi-talented guy who ended up playing Electric Bass in the band.

This “extension” of my original role meant a very busy tech week as I was learning the part more clearly, performing during runs and Q2Q, and also acting as an Assistant Director. Seeing the inside of Ashlie’s process as a performer gave me great insight into just how effective she is as a director, and I learned even more from being able to serve both roles during tech week.

Staying on for the run was another great learning opportunity for me. I was able to have broader conversations with Ashlie about her role as Artistic Director, and how she balances that work while also directing shows in the season. I was also able to audit some of the rehearsals for The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by Daryl Cloran. I enjoyed seeing a very different directorial approach, and for a very different play.

In short, this opportunity led to other opportunities, which took me further in my understanding of the world of directing. But it was also inspiring to spend so much time seeing Ashlie’s work in action. The work at the Playhouse responds to the community, but also pushes them further in their appreciation of contemporary aesthetics. The work is high in integrity and rigor. The work is passionate and oriented around making a real experience for artists as well as audiences. And I’m so happy to have been a part of it all. Ashlie is an inspiring mentor, a supreme supporter and also a friend; I cannot wait for our artistic paths to cross again soon.

Kat Horzempa trained in General Management and Tour Coordination with Natalie Ackers at Roseneath Theatre in Toronto

Sitting in Natalie’s office for the last time as a PTTP intern, it is with mixed feelings that I reflect on the past few months. I feel a sense of accomplishment and preparedness for moving forward, but also a touch of disbelief that this mentorship has already come to an end.

The past few months have been filled with challenging projects, introductions into vital management processes, and insightful conversations about this industry and my course in it. I have routed a key ten-week Southern Ontario school tour, developed and implemented a stewardship strategy for nurturing relationships with donors, contributed to creating final reports for major funding sources, reviewed the process of contracting artists, and had a necessary introduction into the wonderful world of CADAC (Canadian Arts Data / Données sur les arts au Canada), among other things.

Reporting budget and statistical data to CADAC can be a very involved process, and is certainly one that most theatre companies have to confront each year. I believe this process really highlights the value of keeping accurate and thorough data throughout the year, which not only makes reporting-back easier, but provides an opportunity to clearly see the impact your work has on the community you serve.  I've come to understand that reporting to CADAC is made easier if a company’s accounts in QuickBooks are lined-up with those used by CADAC. My inclusion in this process provided an excellent introduction for me to QuickBooks, which I have no doubt will prove to be one of the most directly applicable tools I’ll have gained from this experience.

Above all, my mentorship with Natalie has really allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between a General Manager and company stakeholders. From working in conjunction with an Artistic Director, reporting to the Board of Directors, and managing staff and volunteers, to ultimately serving audiences and the wider community, the role of a General Manager comes with a great deal of responsibility and requires an unarguable ability to balance everything from budgets to people.

I would like to thank Natalie Ackers, Theatre Ontario and the Ontario Arts Council for what really was a fantastic learning experience. I have benefited from this experience tremendously, and know I won’t have to wait until I've become a General Manager or Tour Coordinator to implement what I've learned - juggling a full-time job with at least two upcoming projects has me already benefiting from an improved ability to schedule and balance. Moving forward in my career, I look forward to applying these new skills in every opportunity that arises.

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, 2014.
Read more about Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program

Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program is funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
Gil Garratt is leading a free workshop for
emerging artists on Site-Specific Theatre
on August 25 with Canadian Stage
  • Canadian Stage in Toronto is hosting a free workshop for emerging artists on Site-Specific Theatre with Gil Garratt on August 25; deadline to apply is August 21
  • Deadline to apply for Canadian Stage’s RBC Emerging Artist Program—Director Development is August 22
  • Watermark Theatre in Prince Edward Island is inviting proposals for new plays to be part of Canada 300, a national conversation on the 150th anniversary of Canada about our hopes and fears for Canada in the next 150 years; proposal deadline is August 22
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Playwrights Canada Press invites submissions of English-language 10-minute plays to be included in a new anthology for publication in 2016. Translations from other languages into English are also welcome. Previous production of the work is not a prerequisite.  Submission deadline is February 27, 2015.
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

Tuesday 19 August 2014

Theatre Ontario Regretfully Announces Departure of Program Coordinator Mairin Smit

Theatre Ontario regrets to announce that Mairin Smit, Program Coordinator, will be leaving Theatre Ontario at the end of September.

"It is difficult to describe the mixtures of emotions I feel in leaving Theatre Ontario," said Mairin.  "I am very excited by the new adventure before me and the opportunity it provides me as both a theatre professional and person.  In short, my theatre company, Glasswater Theatre has been invited to perform at the International Performing Arts Festival in Bangkok, Thailand and to teach a workshop course in theatre creation at Bangkok University beginning this October. I have always wanted to travel to Asia and this opportunity will also allow me to spend some extended time exploring the region and immersing myself in as many cultural experiences as possible."

"It is with sadness, though, that I will be leaving the family of staff, members, colleagues and friends that I have at Theatre Ontario. It has been an honour to be a part of this organization and I am so grateful to everyone I have worked with while here. I am very excited to see what the future brings TO! There are great things in the works here!"

"While we are extremely sorry to see Mairin leave Theatre Ontario, after bringing such keen insight and generosity of spirit to her work, her colleagues and the theatre scene in Ontario, we wish her well on what will truly be, a wonderfully, big adventure," said Bruce Pitkin, Executive Director for Theatre Ontario.

Theatre Ontario now invites applications for the position of Program Coordinator.  The application deadline is September 5.

Read more about the Program Coordinator position

Monday 18 August 2014

ONstage Openings for the week of August 18

In Central Ontario
Aug. 19, Trying at Theatre Collingwood
Aug. 20, The Long Weekend at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)*

In South Central Ontario
Aug. 20, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown at The Rose Theatre (Brampton)
Aug. 22, The Frog Princes at Beaverton Town Hall Players

In Southwestern Ontario
Aug. 20, Stag and Doe at Port Stanley Festival Theatre
Aug. 29, Cottage Radio at Goderich Little Theatre

ONstage Opening in Toronto
A Tender Thing at Soulpepper Theatre
Nancy Palk and Joseph Ziegler
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
In Toronto
Aug. 19, A Tender Thing at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews
Aug. 23, Rastafest at Upfront Theatre Foundation

Check out last week’s openings

For more information on all the 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 discount tickets program

Friday 15 August 2014

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters
Test Drive at Festival Players of Prince Edward County
Douglas E. Hughes and Alison Smyth
Photo by Michael Grills
Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
From the Wire

Thursday 14 August 2014

Developing Youth Networks Across Ontario at Satellite Face-to-Face

By Marilee D’Arceuil and Sarah Siddiqui, Youth Advisory Committee Co-Chairs

Hey Theatre Ontario — it's your friends from the YAC, that’s Youth Advisory Committee! You may remember that we hosted the Provincial Youth Forum, which coincided with the AGM in May. We have been busily buzzing away at our next project, and are excited to let you in on it.

In September 2014, some of the youth from across the province who attended our Forum will be engaging their own communities in a continuation of the theme "Developing Our Network." Over the next few weeks members of the YAC will be providing mentorship and connecting these youth to resources to help them confidently organize these discussion-based events. This series of events will be called the Satellite Face to Face (SF2F).

We encourage more youth who are passionate about theatre in their communities to contact us, stating their interest in hosting their own SF2F event. If you are interested in helping out youth in your community, we are currently also looking for mentors who can assist in planning, and help youth in facilitating workshops. Please contact Mairin Smit, Program Coordinator, at mairin@theatreontario.org or 416.408.4556 x.12 to get in on this great project.

We can’t wait to get Ontario abuzz with deep discussion on how we can better support youth in theatre, and develop and strengthen theatre networks by creating YAC hives across the province.

Read more about the work of the Theatre Ontario Youth Advisory Committee

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
  • Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology CITT Rendez-vous Annual Conference and Trade Show starts August 14 in Ottawa
    CITT Rendez-vous Annual Conference
    and Trade Show comes to Ottawa
  • The Stratford Festival’s “Forum Foray—Shakespeare 450: A Celebration of the Bard” begins August 16
  • Canadian Stage in Toronto is hosting a free workshop for emerging artists on Site-Specific Theatre with Gil Garratt on August 25; deadline to apply is August 21
  • Deadline to apply for Canadian Stage’s RBC Emerging Artist Program—Director Development is August 22
New on The Bulletin Board
  • The Shakespeare Globe Centre of Canada is accepting applications for the Bluma Appel Mentorship Award for Directors; this award is for an advanced directing study placement at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, England. The winning candidate will be matched with a mentor director in the 2015 mainstage season.  The application deadline is August 31
  • Acting Up Stage Company invites submissions for the Syd and Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Musical Theatre Artists, providing opportunity for artists under 30 to advance their careers through financial assistance, mentorship, and increased exposure.  The submission deadline is September 5
  • Ottawa Little Theatre is hosting a workshop with Dan Needles: “Pick Up the Pace: A Field Guide to Playwriting” on September 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

Browse for summer training opportunities for youth from our members

Tuesday 12 August 2014

Funding Professional Theatre Mentorships

Do you need financial support for professional development or a "change of direction" in your career?  The next deadline to apply for our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) is October 1.

The Professional Theatre Training Program offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)  Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience following their formal education.

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


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

Read profiles of recent mentorships (Spring 2014) funded by Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training program.

Monday 11 August 2014

ONstage Openings for the week of August 11

ONstage Openings in Eastern Ontario
Railway Children at
Smiths Falls Community Theatre
Photo by WMD Photography
In Toronto
Aug. 12, Tartuffe at Soulpepper Theatre, currently in previews
Aug. 14, A Tender Thing at Soulpepper Theatre, in previews

In Eastern Ontario
Aug. 14, Railway Children at Smiths Falls Community Theatre
Aug. 15, The Ugly One at Thousand Islands Playhouse (Gananoque)*

In South Central Ontario
Aug. 15, Drinking Alone at Rose Theatre (Brampton)

In Southwestern Ontario
Aug. 13, Boeing-Boeing at Drayton Entertainment: Dunfield Theatre Cambridge
Aug. 14, Christina, The Girl King at Stratford Festival, currently in previews*
Aug. 14, Antony and Cleopatra at Stratford Festival, currently in previews*
Aug. 15, The Beaux' Stratagem at Stratford Festival, currently in previews*
ONstage Now Playing in Eastern Ontario
Dial "M" for Murder at Classic Theatre Festival in Perth
Jennifer Vallance and Scott Clarkson
Photo by Jean-Denis Labelle

Check out last week’s openings

For more information on all the 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 discount tickets program

Thursday 7 August 2014

Get Ready for Theatre Ontario’s 2014-2015 Workshop Program

As Summer closes its door, Fall welcomes a window of opportunity: a chance to take your career to the next level! And Theatre Ontario is offering an even better way to stage the future of our members by creating two workshop streams: The Career Stream and The Creator Stream.

Not sure where to get started? No problem, Theatre Ontario offers introductory webinars and courses for those just starting out or who need a refresher. Working actor but looking for a change or some insight? Our Career Stream workshops deliver insider knowledge from casting directors, agents and other industry professionals. Check out our contract law workshop for actors and get legal guidance through your rights and responsibilities when it comes to signing contracts. Get your foot in the door and walk out with endless possibilities to fuel your acting career.

Have an idea for an award-winning play? Great! We have the right workshops for the creator in you. In the Creator Stream, we offer workshops on subjects such as playwriting, proposal writing and a grant writing workshop facilitated by an OAC representative. Or put on your business hat and develop your producing skill-set with marketing, financial and planning workshops. Theatre Ontario can provide any creative individual with the toolbox to build their portfolio as a producer and entrepreneur.

Wondering how to find the time to take these workshops? We've got you covered! We offer individual workshops in the evenings, webinars that you can do from home, and full-day boot camps and weekend intensives for those of you who want to get started right away. No matter your availability we offer flexible programming to fit any artist’s schedule. And we provide our members great value by offering discounted prices on all our workshops, courses and boot camps.

So are you ready to Stage your Future?

The Career Stream


The Career Stream is for those who want to learn and harness the basic tools and resources needed to thrive in the profession.

1. Launching Your Career (previously known as Getting Started for Actors): An introductory level workshop for those with limited or no previous professional experience in the industry. Delivered by webinar online training, with guest speaker video clips.  Topics covered:
  • Introduction – the gist of it!
  • Starting your Business – just the beginning
  • Finances – keeping yourself afloat
  • Marketing – “selling” yourself
  • Professional Development – keeping things fresh
2. Managing Your Career: The next level for established artists, for those who have completed formal training, are in mid-career, or are in career transition. Delivered as individual workshops or full-day boot camps.  Workshops offered:
  • Networking
  • Audition Talkback
  • Ask an Agent
  • Ask a Casting Director
  • Working in other media
  • Marketing: Creating your Brand
  • Promoting your brand-Social
  • Financial Basics for Artists
  • Taxes for (Theatre) Artists
  • Law For Artists
  • Your Associations-CAEA, ACTRA

The Creator Stream


The Creator Stream is for anyone looking to produce their own work or start their own theatre company. Behind every great masterpiece lies the visionary who created it—You, the producer, who is also a ‘Jack of All Trades’. With in-depth knowledge and a wealth of experience from industry professionals, participants will walk away with confidence and inspiration.

1. Unleashing Your Inner Entrepreneur (previously known as Self-Start: The Basics of Producing): An introductory level workshop for those with limited or no previous professional experience in the industry. Delivered by webinar online training, with guest speaker video clips.  Topics covered:
  • Producing a Show vs. Starting a Company
  • The Fun Part: The 5 “Ws” and an “H” of Producing
  • “What” do you want to do? - Rights for creating, writing or adapting
  • “Where” do you want to do it? - Theatre, venue or site-specific
  • “Who” do you want to do it with? - Contracts, Agreements and Insurance
  • “When” do you want to do it? - Planning and Scheduling
  • “Why” do you do it? – Marketing and PR
  • “How” do you do it? – Budgets and Fundraising
2. The Artist as Entrepreneur: Established level for Intermediate Producers or self-producing artists looking to upgrade/update their producing skill set. Delivered as individual workshops or full day boot camps.  Workshops offered:
  • Grant Writing Information Session
  • Proposal Grant Writing Skills
  • Business Basics: planning for artists
  • Finances: budgeting and funding
  • Boards and Fundraising
  • Social Media 101-Creating your brand
  • Marketing: PR, Web and Social Media-Promoting your brand
  • Legal I: Contracts, Agreements and Rights— CAEA, PGC, PACT, ADC, SOCAN
  • Legal II: Incorporation and charity status
Registrations will be available soon.  Contact Ashleigh Addison, Community Outreach Coordinator, at outreach@theatreontario.org or 416.408.4556 x.10 to register for our September sessions.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario
Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including our Adjudicators Symposium

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board
  • The next Shaw Seminar on “Otherness” begins August 7
  • Canadian Stage invites submissions for Company in Residence for their RBC Emerging Artist Program; the deadline is August 8
    The Templeton Philharmonic, the most recent Canadian Stage RBC
    Emerging Artist Program Company-in-Residence.  Applications
    for the 2014-2015 Company-in-Residence are due August 8.
  • West End Studio Theatre’s Full Day Drama Camp in Oakville for ages 7 to 16 starts August 11
  • Ottawa Little Theatre’s Adventures in Clowning for youth 13 to 17 starts August 11
  • Shadowland Theatre’s Ashkenaz Festival community workshops begin August 11
  • CITT Rendez-vous Annual Conference and Trade Show starts August 14 in Ottawa
New on The Bulletin Board
  • Canadian Stage invites submissions for Director Development for their RBC Emerging Artist Program, inviting professional stage directors, with 3 years experience creating and producing performance-based work; application deadline is August 22
  • Buddies in Bad Times Theatre invites applications for the 36th Rhubarb Festival: they seek proposals for new, not-previously-produced performance projects and theatrical experiments; application deadline is September 12
  • Theatre InspiraTO invites submissions for their Playwriting Contest for the 10th Annual InspiraTO Ten-Minute Play Festival, on the theme of “the urban jungle”; submission deadline is December 1
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

Browse for summer training opportunities for youth from our members

Tuesday 5 August 2014

ONstage Openings for the week of August 5

ONstage Opening in Central Ontario
Rhinestone Cowgirl at Globus
Theatre in Bobcaygeon
Leisa Way
In Southwestern Ontario
Aug. 5, A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre
Aug. 5, Hollywood Sings at Drayton Entertainment: Drayton Festival Theatre
Aug. 7, Les Misérables at Drayton Entertainment: Huron County Playhouse (Grand Bend)
Aug. 7, Peter Pan at Drayton Entertainment: Huron County Playhouse (Grand Bend)
Aug. 7, Dracula: The Musical at The Registry Theatre (Kitchener)
Aug. 8, St. Anne's Reel at Blyth Festival, with previews from Aug. 6

In Toronto
Aug. 6, QueerCab at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Aug. 7, Tartuffe at Soulpepper Theatre, in previews

In Central Ontario
Aug. 5, Rhinestone Cowgirl at Globus Theatre (Bobcaygeon)
Aug. 7, Wounded Soldiers at 4th Line Theatre (Millbrook), with previews from Aug. 5
Aug. 7, Twist and Shout: The British Invasion at Drayton Entertainment: King's Wharf Theatre (Penetanguishene)
Aug. 8, Enchanted April at Peterborough Theatre Guild
Aug. 8, Mary Poppins at Port Hope Festival Theatre, with a preview on Aug. 7

In Eastern Ontario
Aug. 6, Test Drive at Festival Players of Prince Edward County (Wellington), with a preview on Aug. 5
Aug. 9, Dial "M" For Murder at Classic Theatre Festival (Perth), with previews from Aug. 8

ONstage Now Playing in Southwestern Ontario
Stag and Doe at Blyth Festival
Nicole Joy-Fraser, Jason Chesworth, Rebecca Auerbach, Greg Gale
Photo by Terry Manzo
Check out last week’s openings

For more information on all the 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 discount tickets program

Friday 1 August 2014

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres
Two Gentlemen of Verona at
St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott
Warren Bain and Quincy Armorer
Photo by Andrew Alexander Photography
Migrations
In Case You Missed It