Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

The fine art of Assistant Directing
Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program
has funded many assistant directing opportunities including
Rob Kempson who trained in directing with Ashlie Corcoran
on Thousand Islands Playhouse's production of She Loves Me

• When we talk about the value of arts, the arguments often focus either on the economic or intrinsic value—whichever argument that is put forward can often provoke debate itself.  CAPACOA and Culture Days are presenting an Oxford-style debate: Hard Facts vs. Proverbial Truths—The Impact of Arts and Culture on Canadian Citizens and Communities
• “It’s time to take another look at actor training in Canada”—Diana Belshaw (a past Professional Theatre Coordinator at Theatre Ontario, and recipient of our Maggie Bassett Award in 2011) co-edited an issue of Canadian Theatre Review focusing on the topic Actor Training in a Changing Landscape (Discounts on CTR are available for Theatre Ontario individual members)
• “When theatre makers have kids”: This week’s #CdnCult times explores the experience of parenting in the theatre
• The fine art of Assistant Directing—Mack Gordon shares a few notes on the experience and effective practices of an assistant director

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The past month has had several significant losses in the Ontario theatre community: memorial celebrations are being held on November 3 in Toronto for Jerry Doiron; on November 8 in Belleville for Lee Jourard; and on November 16 in Stratford for Bernard Hopkins
• The World Festival of Children’s Theatre is hosting a one-night concert celebration on November 1 in Stratford: “When We Were Young: A Stratford Celebration”

Migrations

• Jessica Carmichael is the new Artistic Director of Carousel Players in St. Catharines
• Blyth Centre for the Arts announced that Marion de Vries’s contract as Artistic Director, which expires October 3, is not being renewed.  A search committee led by the Board of Directors will begin an immediate search for a new Artistic Director for the Blyth Festival

TO Toasts

• …to the recipients of Playwrights Guild of Canada’s 2014 Tom Hendry Award winners
• …to our Board Past President, Cam Lund, honoured with a 2014 RBC Performance Gold Award for outstanding performance and contribution in his role as Manager, Client Care

In Case You Missed It

• Erin Keating writes about Building Connections at Ontario Summer Theatre
• Biden Hall writes about Managing Your Career: A Theatre Ontario Boot Camp

Building Connections at Ontario Summer Theatre

By Erin Keating, Program Coordinator

On a crisp fall day in early October, just when the changing of the leaves was at its most vibrant, I left downtown Toronto with our E.D. Bruce Pitkin, and drove up north to the picturesque Muskoka region, where at a rustic inn on the shore of Lake Joseph, Artistic Directors and General Managers from theatre companies across the province were converging to share ideas, resources, and experiences at the Annual General Meeting of Ontario Summer Theatre.

Formerly known as ASTRO (Association of Summer Theatres ‘Round Ontario) since its inception nearly twenty years ago, this past year marked a major overhaul for the organization—bringing in a new name, new brand, new logo, new website, and new resolve. Under the hands-on leadership of the Ontario Summer Theatre (OST) executive committee—with Port Dover’s Lighthouse Theatre Festival’s A.D. Derek Ritschel at the helm—OST has become the strongest it’s been in many years over the past twelve months, with no signs of slowing down the new initiatives any time soon.

The mandate of Ontario Summer Theatre (OST) is to bring together summer theatre companies of all shapes, sizes and ideologies—from one-person run theatre companies like the Actors’ Colony Theatre in Bala (who served as AGM host) to heavy hitters like the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake—to foster partnerships and creative opportunities, collaborate on marketing strategies, and keep connections alive, well, and informed, among Ontario’s summer theatre companies.

The strength of the organization is two-fold. As an entire unit—with its span from the north-east corner of Morrisburg (Upper Canada Playhouse) to south-west side of Petrolia (Victoria Playhouse) and 19 other theatres in between—there is great weight and influence to the organization as a united front. While also, there is lots of room for opportunities among regional allies—an advantage that was realized and developed at this year’s AGM with the appointment of positions tongue-in-cheekily titled “whips” for each region—named because their role is to whip their region’s theatres into united action.

Other valuable steps forward that were covered in the annual wrap-up included the new streamlined website that was launched earlier this spring and populated over the summer with delightful travel stories of blogger Anne Heathcote as she traveled to many of the OST member theatres (have a read of some of her adventures at www.summertheatre.ca).

The new and much-anticipated OST postcards were unveiled as well, to be distributed by all the companies once next summer’s season starts. These practical pieces of shared marketing material are meant to be used as actual postcards, to be mailed by patrons to friends if they see a show they like—a fun way to send recommendations and encourage word-of-mouth. And with the line “You won’t believe what’s playing in our backyard!” across the front of the postcard, it’s an evident recognition and celebration of the talent and amazing productions that can be found all around the province, whether in a barn (like Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon and Westben Arts Festival in Campbellford), on the waterfront (like St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival in Prescott and 1000 Islands Playhouse in Ganananoque) or passing through town in a travelling caravan (like Driftwood Theatre).

Perhaps the most valuable part of this two-day AGM in the heart of cottage country was not the official meetings themselves, but after the meetings wrapped for the day, when everyone was able to let our hair down, have dinner and drinks, talk projects, talk experiences, have the opportunity to get to know each other face-to-face when these opportunities don’t present themselves very often. This is so important not only because exchange of ideas—especially in a room full of exceedingly creative minds—can provide inspiration, improvement, and opportunities for collaboration, but also because making new connections and reinforcing existing connections will only strengthen the unit, thereby strengthening each individual in turn. And that, to me, is what Ontario Summer Theatre is all about.

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Free upcoming Webinars for Small Budget Arts Organizations include the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act on October 30, and Facebook—A really useful marketing tool on November 20
• Audition Talk Back, with our panel of Joanne Williams, Elley-Ray, and Andrew Lamb is on November 3 in Toronto: Preparation, etiquette and expectations
• Launching Your Career on November 5 in Toronto with Erin Keating and a special guest actor: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting
• Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp on November 15 in Toronto: Learn the necessary skills to produce creative works, including business planning, promoting on social media, crowdfunding essentials, and participate in a mock grant jury
• Bridging the Gap, from Theatre Ontario’s Youth Advisory Committee, is on November 15 in Toronto—sharing perspectives, knowledge and experience, connecting, networking and collaborating
• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on November 18 in Barrie with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council
• Financial Basics for Artists on November 24 in Toronto: a free workshop on basic financial skills

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Tarragon Theatre’s Playwriting course with Paula Wing begins on October 30
• Deadline to apply to the Toronto Fringe Festival’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 31
• Scarborough Music Theatre is hosting a workshop on auditions on November 1
• Deadline to apply to the Ontario Arts Council’s Theatre Organizations—Summer Theatres program and Compass program is November 3
• Deadline to apply to the Ontario Trillium Foundation next round of grants is November 3
• Deadlines to apply to the Toronto Fringe Festival for the Fringe Lottery and the Culturally Diverse Artists Project is November 3; Site-Specific applications are open until all spaces are full
• Playwrights Canada Press’ 30th birthday party is November 3

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 and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Managing Your Career: A Theatre Ontario Boot Camp

by Biden Hall

On Saturday, October 18, I had the opportunity to attend Theatre Ontario’s Managing Your Career Boot Camp workshop series.  The day was filled with a set of four workshops designed for self-employed artists in the theatre to give them the skills and knowledge to build their entrepreneurial capacity.  The workshops included:

• Building Your Brand as an Artist with Edward Power
• Social Media as a Professional Tool with Seb FoxAllen
• We Want You...Now Sign! with Derrick Chua
• Ask an Agent.  Everything you’ve always wanted to know… with Alicia Jeffery

Each of these workshops focused on the actor's experience establishing themselves as a business owner, and providing them with instruction in laying the foundation for representing themselves to the various individuals and professionals who together form the network which makes this industry.

That word - represent - was key in each session.  Actors are often at a loss to know how they should conduct themselves in different areas, such as with the public, their agent, or in signing themselves to contracts.

The great advantage of this series was that it got you in the room speaking with specialists in particular fields.  Edward Power discussed the actor as their own business, company, and brand, who has to have a clear understanding of the service they provide.  He focused on the steps taken to get there, and true to his name, empowered us to believe that with the right tenacity, baby steps could take us to where we wanted to be.

“Don’t overestimate what you can do in a year, or underestimate what you can do in a lifetime.”- Edward Power

Theatre Ontario's Managing
Your Career Boot Camp

Seb FoxAllen’s presentation on social media use was extremely relevant and was much appreciated for its practical application.  As a medium that is still undergoing daily changes and developments, I found it extremely useful to speak with someone who is on the front line of presenting an online profile for artists. I came away with a plethora of ways which I could use to improve my own online footprint in my current work.  Seb identified the most relevant social media sites to use for given purposes, and included some of the most up-and-coming new applications.

Derrick Chua’s talk on the ins and outs of contract law was invaluable.  There isn’t a better person to learn this from since the topic is one which, lacking the proper know-how, causes so much grief for people in the field. With such a wealth of experience, and being an entertainment lawyer himself, Derrick brought us through the various types of agreements between actors, companies, and ad hoc groups.

The final session complimented Derrick’s and was a chance to speak with talent agent Alicia Jeffery, who gave pointers on how to cultivate the relationship with your agent from the first meeting, to the first audition, and beyond.

Having recently moved to Toronto, and begun my career in artistic administration, this boot camp was an invaluable opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in a range of key areas.  For myself, precisely because my career path continues to develop and branch out, a wide net of skills is exactly what I need to set up and promote myself as an artist and manager.

The entire day was like one great bath of expertise which I was able to slowly soak in.  Personally, the most valuable and relevant section for me in my current work was Seb’s instruction in social media’s latest trends. I can say though that there was a variety of backgrounds and goals among the day’s participants, which only added to the value of my own experience there.  Meeting new people and benefiting from everyone’s shared experiences was a huge part of the day, and that’s what the biggest takeaway for me will be.

Going forward, I can apply what I’ve learned here and build on the new relationships I’ve made.  With my new knowledge I can better focus on and define my goals both in the short and long term.  And meanwhile I’ll keep checking back with Theatre Ontario to see what other learning opportunities are on offer.

Find out about Theatre Ontario's upcoming Career Stream workshops and Creator Stream workshops

ONstage Openings for the week of October 27

In South Central Ontario
Oct. 31, Dead North (staged reading) at Theatre 3x60 (Oshawa)

In Toronto

ONstage Opening in Toronto
What I learned from a decade of fear at Aluna Theatre
Beatriz Pizano and Lyon Smith
Photo by Trevor Schwellnus

Oct. 29, Spoon River at Soulpepper Theatre, in previews
Oct. 30, The King and I at Scarborough Music Theatre
Oct. 30, What I learned from a decade of fear at Aluna Theatre
Nov. 1, Sing and Dance at Solar Stage Children's Theatre
Nov. 2, The Mask Messenger at Solar Stage Children's Theatre

In Central Ontario
Oct. 29, A Little Quickie at Blackhorse Village Players (Tottenham)
Oct. 31, Twelve Angry Jurors at Peterborough Theatre Guild

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

• A good long-form conversation is unfolding on Alexander Offord’s blog post: “The Left, the Theatre, and the Myths We Need to Stop Perpetuating.”  Glad to read responses from Sarah Garton Stanley and Glyn Bowerman—there are ideas in that post that I am struggling to sort through, and I appreciate smart voices to help me work through them
• I’ve shared this Travis Bedard 2amtheatre.com post before: We need to change our black magical thinking.  One example of black magical thinking: artists vs. administrators.  As Amy Wratchford reminds us, “we really are all on the same team”
• Rachel Grossman on Artsblog: “You know that question ‘how do we build new audiences without losing current ones?’… What if you prioritized the audience you’ve already lost, rather than the audience you might lose?”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Today’s DeColores Festival marks the final event for Toronto’s Alameda Theatre Company; Jon Kaplan profiled their legacy in NOW Magazine.  We have supported Alameda’s Nueva Voz Youth Outreach Program for Latin Canadian theatre artists through grants from our Youth Theatre Training Program.  Tonight Alameda celebrates an end of an era

From the Wire

• Jerry Doiron passed away on October 8.  At Theatre Ontario, we worked with Jerry for many years on the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival.  Eric Coates, President of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, wrote a remembrance (Facebook), and there is a memorial at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto on November 3
• On October 9, the community theatre sector experienced similar losses with the deaths of Elaine Hall of Markham.  Elaine was a longtime member and supporter of Markham Little Theatre and Theatre Ontario.
• From Dan Kois on Slate: “Yes More Drama: The deep and unique pleasure of reading plays”

  

  The deep and unique pleasure of reading plays - like these
  publications from our friends at Playwrights Canada Press

• Science Daily published a research study showing “major benefits for students who attend live theatre”, including empathy
• Hill Strategies Research completed a statistical profile of artists and cultural workers in Canada

TO Toasts

• … to Olivier Choinière, recipient of this year’s 2014 Siminovitch Prize, and to his chosen protégée Annick Lefebvre
• … to Alessia Lupiano and Graham Scott Fleming, recipients of this year’s Syd & Shirley Banks Prize for Emerging Artists at Acting Up Stage Theatre Company

In Case You Missed It

• ArtsVote Across Ontario: Sharing candidate report cards, surveys, forums and more from around the province
• Directors Day at The Shaw: Roxanne Joseph shares her perspective on this year’s event

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on October 28 in London with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council
• Free upcoming Webinars for Small Budget Arts Organizations include the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act on October 30 and Facebook—A really useful marketing tool on November 20
• Audition Talk Back: How to Get It Right, with our panel of Joanne Williams, Elley-Ray, and Andrew Lamb is on November 3: Preparation, Etiquette & Expectations
• Bridging the Gap, from Theatre Ontario’s Youth Advisory Committee, is on November 15—sharing perspectives, knowledge and experience, connecting, networking and collaborating
• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on November 18 in Barrie with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Theatre Inspirato's Playwriting Academy
application deadline is October 23
Chris Whidden and Magdalena Barys
bagged by Madeleine Jullian
dramaturged by Theatre Ontario Talent Bank
member Lindsay Price

• Deadline to apply to Theatre InspiraTO’s Playwriting Academy is October 23
• Shaw Festival’s next Teachers Day for professional educators is October 24
• SPARC—Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities—has extended the Network Summit Application deadline to October 24; the event is November 14 to 16 in Haliburton Highlands
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Awards celebration is on October 27
• Tarragon Theatre’s Playwriting course with Paula Wing begins on October 30
• Aluna Theatre is seeking volunteers for front-of-house for their production of What I learned from a decade of fear, opening October 30
• Deadline to apply to the Toronto Fringe Festival’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 31

New on The Bulletin Board

• Canadian Stage invites submissions for their OAC Theatre Creators Reserve; the application deadline is December 1
• Nominations are now open for the Gina Wilkinson Prize, for experienced female theatre artists transitioning from one theatre discipline into the discipline of theatre direction; nomination deadline is December 15

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

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access auditions and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

ArtsVote Across Ontario

By Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Over the past two months, we’ve been profiling the work of ArtsVote collectives in communities across Ontario as they work to have arts and culture as part of the election conversation.  With Election Day coming up next Monday, here are resources available to inform you about candidates in many communities:

Burlington Candidate Surveys (download from Facebook group for Arts and Culture Collective of Burlington)

Guelph Candidate Responses and with a "weekend update"

Hamilton Candidate Surveys

Kawartha Lakes Candidate Surveys

Kingston Candidate Surveys

London Candidate Surveys

Niagara Candidate Report Cards

Ottawa Candidate Surveys (Mayor and Councillors in specific wards without incumbents)

Peterborough Candidate Forum Livestream

Thousands Islands Candidate Surveys (covers Brockville, Prescott, Augusta, Elizabethtown-Kitley) (not published at press time, but check the link for updates)

Toronto Candidate Report Cards

Windsor and Region Candidate Surveys (covers Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Lakeshore, Lasalle, Leamington, Tecumseh, Windsor)

We’ve reached out to numerous other communities, and we’ll update this post throughout this week if new resources are brought to our attention.

(Updates since original publication include Guelph and Hamilton)

ONstage Openings for the week of October 20

ONstage Opening in South Central Ontario
The Capulets and the Montagues at Theatre Erindale
Eilish Waller and Samuel Turner (foreground)
Anthony Raymond Yu, Jaime Luhan, Hannah Vanden
Boomen, Kate Cattell-Daniels (background)
Photo by Jim Smagata

In Eastern Ontario
Oct. 21, The Mousetrap at Ottawa Little Theatre
Oct. 24, The Importance of Being Earnest at National Arts Centre—English Theatre (Ottawa), with previews from Oct. 21
Oct. 25, A Few of My Favourite Things at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival (Prescott)

In Northeastern Ontario
Oct. 21, Hope Op at Sault Theatre Workshop (Sault Ste. Marie)
Oct. 24, Another Home Invasion at Sudbury Theatre Centre, with a preview on Oct. 23

In Northwestern Ontario
Oct. 24, The Hours That Remain at Magnus Theatre (Thunder Bay), with a preview on Oct. 23

In South Central Ontario
Oct. 24, The Capulets and the Montagues at Theatre Erindale (Mississauga), with a preview on Oct. 23

In Toronto
Oct. 23, Global Cabaret Festival at Soulpepper Theatre
Oct. 23, DeColores Festival of New Works at Alameda Theatre Company
Oct. 23, The 39 Steps at East Side Players
Oct. 23, Bookworms at Toronto Irish Players
Oct. 24, Les Miserables at Etobicoke Musical Productions
Oct. 24, My Treasure Island!!! at Theatre Passe Muraille
Oct. 25, Night of Dread at Clay & Paper Theatre
Oct. 26, Hallowe'en Howl at Solar Stage Children's Theatre

ONstage Now Playing in Central Ontario
The Mousetrap at Northumberland Players
Tim Houghton, Tiffany Wolters

ICYMI: Check out last week's openings

For all the theatre playing across Ontario, visit Theatre Ontario’s ONstage theatre listings on our website.

Directors Day at The Shaw

by Roxanne Joseph, Fundraising Coordinator

On Friday September 19th, five of us from Theatre Ontario set off for Niagara-on-the-Lake to attend the 2014 Directors Day performances of the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project at the Shaw Festival. Our first stop was for lunch at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club, the oldest golf course in North America. While there, we raised a toast to our Community Theatre Coordinator, Anne Mooney’s birthday and Mairin Smit, our Program Coordinator, who ended her tenure at Theatre Ontario September 26th and launched the next chapter of her theatre career a few days later in Bangkok, Thailand.

At the golf course, I spotted a man sporting a Tilly Hat in the Tee-off area who clearly appeared to be in the zone.  A little while later, he purposefully sent his ball in flight.  As any golf player knows, misalignment while setting up your shot can have unfavourable results. Full engagement on the green as well—as while directing actors on the stage—is key to performing either endeavour with focused intention.

Rough for Theatre I from Three Short Plays by Samuel Beckett
Directed by Alistair Newton at the 2014 Shaw Directors Project
Benedict Campbell and Patrick Galligan
Photo by Mark Callan

It was apparent that Rachel Peake and Alistair Newton, this year’s Directors Day Interns, challenged themselves with their contrasting play selections. Alistair Newton directed Three Short Plays; Catastrophe, Rough for Theatre I and Rockaby by Samuel Beckett. To me, Alistair’s take on Beckett’s pieces lent comic relief to the potentially disturbing threads in Beckett’s work. After all, “Life ain’t worth living when you’re dead.”  Alistair’s direction illuminated the character’s obscure psychological underpinnings, and evidentially charted his own course within the rigour of Beckett’s theatrical framework.

Rachel Peake’s direction of Rosalind, by J.M. Barrie, allowed the audience to witness a clever and witty century-old story with contemporary overtones about ageism in society.  Afterwards, during a chat with Rachel, I mentioned that I know a man who has been “a long 29.” Traditionally, it is usually women who’re preoccupied with their age and appearance. As the play unfolds, an intricate tale is revealed about Rosalind’s relationship with herself.

Rosalind by J.M. Barrie
Directed by Rachel Peake at the 2014 Shaw Directors Project
Claire Julien and Ben Sanders
Photo by Mark Callan

From the perspective of a first-time Niagara-on-the-Lake visitor, I was captivated by the awe-inspiring, picturesque old-world charm of the town.  Obviously, it’s warmth and welcoming atmosphere is the perfect setting to house the Shaw complex and thusly the Directors Project.

Knowing that such a magically stunning place exists, right here in Ontario is quite affirming!  And, what’s even more exciting is the opportunity for anyone interested in applying to become an Intern in Shaw’s collaborative director’s program.  The long-standing partnership between Theatre Ontario and the Shaw Festival offers a magnificent learning experience for intern directors to hone their craft under the tutelage of world-class professionals. Jackie Maxwell, Shaw’s Artistic Director, not only provides exceptional leadership and access to mentors, she’s also known for her nurturing nature within the Festival’s community. Eda Holmes, Shaw’s Associate Director is one of the Director’s Project illustrious participants who has literally “had their day” showcasing their productions. This event is held in high regard and no matinees are scheduled during the afternoon of the Director’s Project performances.

That evening, I had the privilege to see more of Alistair’s handiwork as the Assistant Director for Shaw’s rendition of Cabaret. The story takes place in pre-Nazi Germany, chronicles the shift in democratic freedoms and presents us with an integral plot message that asks “what would you do?”  In the words of the protagonist Cliff Bradshaw, “If you’re not against all this, you’re for it.”

What a superb way to end our day!  And, my 34-year wait to see such a stupendous production of Cabaret was worth it!

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Free upcoming Webinars for Small Budget Arts Organizations include Accessibility Ontario (AODA) today at 1pm and the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act on October 30
• The Managing Your Career Boot Camp is on October 18: Learn the business of being an artist in a one-day session
• You can also sign-up for individual workshops from the Boot Camp: Building Your Brand as an Artist with Edward Power, Social Media as a Professional Tool with Seb FoxAllen, We want you… now sign! Contract Law for Actor with Derrick Chua, and Ask an Agent: Everything you’ve always wanted to know… with Alicia Jeffery
• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on October 28 in London with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council
• Audition Talk Back: How to Get It Right, with our panel of Joanne Williams, Elley-Ray, and Andrew Lamb is on November 3: Preparation, Etiquette & Expectations
• Bridging the Gap, from Theatre Ontario’s Youth Advisory Committee, is on November 15—sharing perspectives, knowledge and experience, connecting, networking and collaborating

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline to apply for Canada Council’s Theatre International program is today
• Deadline to apply for Tarragon Theatre’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 17
• Deadline for submissions for Ottawa Little Theatre’s 74th National One-Act Playwriting Competition is October 17
• The next Shaw Festival Theatre School for youth in grades 3 to 12 starts on October 18
• Colin Bruce Anthes of Twitches and Itches Theatre in St. Catharines (and a past recipient of the Theatre Ontario / Why Not Theatre International Creators Scholarship) holds a free weekly jam session on techniques for physical ensemble theatre creation; the session on October 19 will be a Viewpoints-specific intensive based on techniques Colin learned at SITI Company

  

  Twitches and Itches Theatre's "Weekly Jam Session" on
  physical ensemble theatre creation techniques in St. Catharines

• London Community Players is hosting a lecture/demonstration with Brian Brockenshire on October 19 to benefit producers, directors, stage managers, props people, actors, and any others who may be involved with, or in the vicinity of staged violence and theatrical weapons
• Deadline to apply to Theatre InspiraTO’s Playwriting Academy is October 23
• Shaw Festival’s next Teachers Day for professional educators is October 24

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 and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

ONstage Openings for the week of October 14

In Central Ontario
Oct. 16, The Ladies Foursome at Theatre Orangeville
Oct. 17, The Mousetrap at Northumberland Players (Cobourg)

In Eastern Ontario
Oct. 14, Fish Eyes / Boys With Cars at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa)
Oct. 15, Next to Normal at Indie Women Productions (Ottawa)
Oct. 16, Memories Of Rock and Roll at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg)
Oct. 17, Educating Rita at Smiths Falls Community Theatre
Oct. 17, Self Help at Seaway Valley Theatre Company (Cornwall)
Oct. 17, A Midsummer Night's Dream at Mississippi Mudds of Carleton Place

In South Central Ontario
Oct. 16, Skin Flick at West End Studio Theatre (Oakville)

In Southwestern Ontario
Oct. 14, Blue Suede Shoes: The King, The Colonel, The Memories at The Grand Theatre (London)
Oct. 17, The Farm Show at Goderich Little Theatre

In Toronto

ONstage Opening in Toronto
Helen Lawrence at Canadian Stage
Lisa Ryder and Hrothgar Mathews
Photo by David Cooper

Oct. 14, afteRock Plays at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, currently in previews
Oct. 16, The Art of Building a Bunker at Factory Theatre, currently in previews*
Oct. 16, Helen Lawrence at Canadian Stage, currently in previews*

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For 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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

• Last Saturday in Montreal, the National Theatre School of Canada and SpiderWebShow hosted a livestreamed forum on Canadian Theatre; the archive is now available from HowlRound TV
• This week in Factory Theatre Opening Night Controversy: A Google chat featuring Michael Wheeler, Aislinn Rose, Carly Chamberlain and Tanya Rintoul (with a cameo and cliffhanger from Michael Healey in the comments) on Praxis Theatre
• On the need for culturally-specific theatre companies: Mike Lew writes on HowlRound “I’ll Disband My Roving Gang of Thirty Asian Playwrights When You Stop Doing Asian Plays in Yellow Face* (*Exception: David Henry Hwang’s play Yellow Face)”
• Meanwhile, Melissa Hillman calls out “autonomy of art” for what it is: “Protecting Racism in Theatre” on Bitter Gertrude
• Vancouver’s new smoking by-law has been expanded to include e-cigarettes, and the assumption is that other municipalities will follow (Innisfil is the only community in Ontario currently with this prohibition), and as Lois Dawson relates on Lois Backstage we will need to continue to be imaginative in finding solutions

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatre

• Alameda Theatre Company has announced that it will be closing following this year’s De Colores Festival of New Works—but there will be a closing night party on October 24

From the Wire

• The Ontario Arts Council has released their new strategic plan: Vital Arts and Public Value

Migrations

• Annemieke Wade is the new General Manager of Theatre Direct in Toronto

TO Toasts

• …to all of the finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, including Drama finalists Sean Dixon and Jordan Tannahill of Ontario

I’ll be away next week on holidays, but this column will return on October 24

Bridging the Gap – Brought to You by Theatre Ontario’s Youth Advisory Committee

Greetings, Theatre Ontario community!

With the warm weather well behind us, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is furtively working away at our next big thing.  If you haven’t heard already from Theatre Ontario’s last newsletter, we are currently planning of our next exciting initiative—our Think Tank titled “Bridging the Gap.”  This event will take place on November 15th at the beautiful Annex Theatre—generously donated by Theatre Ontario Board member George Randolph.

The event will take the form of a Think Tank where we hope to leverage the wisdom and experience of multiple generations of theatre students, enthusiasts, and practitioners. The day will include speakers, an option of two workshops, a panel discussion, and a performance piece. The two offered workshops are on the topics of: 1) Education, training and experience, and 2) Access (and lack of access) to resources, facilitated by Natasha Mytnowych (Managing Director, Artscape Youngplace).  The performance piece will feature collaboration with Mixed Company Theatre Artistic Director Simon Malbogat.  Confirmed panelists include Nina Lee Aquino (Co-Artistic Director of Factory Theatre) and Professor Kathleen Gallagher (OISE, University of Toronto).

Theatre Ontario's Face-to-Face Event at our Annual Meeting,
part of our Provincial Youth Forum in May

One of the primary concerns of the YAC is to leverage and take advantage of the pre-existing and ever-growing network of youth involved in theatre across the province. Over the past year we have only begun to scratch the surface in this regard. We started exploring and connecting with networks of theatre youth through our Provincial Youth Forum in Toronto (May 5th), and a successful Satellite Face-to-Face Event in Huron County (September 20th). We want to expand this conversation by inviting more voices and experiences to participate in ‘Bridging the Gap' in November.

We are thrilled to share this experience with you next month! If you are not able to join us, we will miss you! To help us miss you less, we would love if you could champion someone in your stead.  Let’s make this our best event yet!

Join us at Theatre Ontario’s Bridging the Gap

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Upcoming Webinars for Small Budget Arts Organizations include Accessibility Ontario (AODA) on October 15 and the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act on October 30
• The Youth Theatre Training Program offers financial support to programs led by professional theatre artists, which deliver accessible training to young people (age 14 to 21) in theatrical skills. The application deadline is October 15
• The Managing Your Career Boot Camp is on October 18: Learn the business of being an artist in a one-day session
• You can also sign-up for individual workshops from the Boot Camp: Building Your Brand as an Artist with Edward Power, Social Media as a Professional Tool with Seb FoxAllen, We want you… now sign! Contract Law for Actor with Derrick Chua, and Ask an Agent: Everything you’ve always wanted to know… with Alicia Jeffery
• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on October 28 in London with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council
• Audition Talk Back: How to Get It Right, with our panel of Joanne Williams, Elley-Ray, and Andrew Lamb is on November 3: Preparation, Etiquette & Expectations

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream and Creator Stream workshops

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for nominations for Work In Culture’s Robert Johnston Award for a tenacious commitment to furthering best human resources practices in the cultural sector is October 9
• Deadline to apply for Alumnae Theatre’s Playwrights’ Intensive with Maja Ardal is October 10
• Deadline to volunteer as a Director at the Alumnae Theatre’s New Ideas Festival is October 10
• Deadline to apply to the Paprika Festival’s 2015 Festival, with opportunities available for artists 21 and under (Projects, Playwriting, Creators’ Unit, Resident Company) and under 30 (Projects, Advisory Board) is October 10

  

  The deadline to apply for Paprika Festival 2015 is October 10

• Deadline to apply for Tarragon Theatre’s Urjo Kareda Residency Grant is October 14
• Deadline to apply for Canada Council’s Theatre International program is October 15
• Deadline to apply for Tarragon Theatre’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 17
• Deadline for submissions for Ottawa Little Theatre’s 74th National One-Act Playwriting Competition is October 17

New on The Bulletin Board

• Colin Bruce Anthes of Twitches and Itches Theatre in St. Catharines (and a past recipient of the Theatre Ontario / Why Not Theatre International Creators Scholarship) holds a free weekly jam session on techniques for physical ensemble theatre creation; the session on October 19 will be a Viewpoints-specific intensive based on techniques Colin learned at SITI Company
• London Community Players is hosting a lecture/demonstration with Brian Brockenshire on October 19 to benefit Producers, Directors, Stage Managers, Props People, Actors, and any others who may be involved with, or in the vicinity of staged violence and theatrical weapons
• It's Playwrights Canada Press's 30th birthday!  They invite you to join them at Hotel Ocho in Toronto on November 3 at 6pm
• Ottawa Fringe Festival invites applications for the 2015 Fringe Festival—the application 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 and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Save-the-Date for Next Generation Showcase

We're pleased to announce that Theatre Ontario's Next Generation Showcase 2015 will be held on January 18 and 19, 2015 in the Michael Young Theatre at The Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

Theatre Ontario’s Next Generation Showcase is our annual industry audition days for graduating students of post-secondary conservatory theatre training programs from across Ontario and the National Theatre School.  Besides the students showcasing their talent, it also features panel discussions and networking parties for students, faculty and industry professionals to meet.

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

ONstage Openings for the week of October 6

ONstage Opening in Toronto
Why Not Theatre's A Brimful of Asha
at Soulpepper Theatre
Asha & Ravi Jain
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

In Toronto
Oct. 7, A Brimful of Asha at Soulpepper Theatre
Oct. 9, What Makes a Man at Canadian Stage, currently in previews*
Oct. 9, To Kill a Mockingbird at Young People's Theatre, with previews from Oct. 6
Oct. 10, afteRock Plays at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, in previews
Oct. 11, The Art of Building a Bunker at Factory Theatre, in previews*
Oct. 12, Helen Lawrence at Canadian Stage, in previews*

In Central Ontario
Oct. 10, The Last 5 Years at Port Hope Festival Theatre

In South Central Ontario
Oct. 9, Maggie's Getting Married at Theatre Aurora

In Southwestern Ontario
Oct. 8, Footloose at Drayton Entertainment: St. Jacobs Country Playhouse

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

For 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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters: Factory Theatre Opening Night Edition, Part 2

• Since last week’s post, Factory Theatre in Toronto has released their statement regarding their new experiment for opening nights and media nights (PDF)
• ICYMI: Last week we shared reflections on the topic from Lois Dawson, Holger Syme, and Jacob Zimmer
• Since we published, several more voices in the theatrosphere have weighed in: Amanda Campbell (Factory Theatre for the “Privileged”), Phil Rickaby (Factory Theatre’s Opening Night Kerfuffle), Mike Anderson (Bunfights: Factory’s Bunker – h/t to Lois for pointing me to that one), and Karen Fricker (In which a theatre attempts an experiment with criticism, and critics lose the plot)
• And at the risk of muddying the waters further, one of the most resonant blog posts for me from the past year was Marjorie Chan’s “A Closing Thought” reflecting on a “traditional media criticism lens” that is applied to culturally-diverse work.  I know I have difficulty "re-calibrating" my own lens in that way.  When Factory talks about “a larger conversation”, one of the things that I hear is a need for pluralism in critical discourse.

Conversation Starters

• Michael Wheeler reflects on the “State of Social Design for Canadian Theatre” as part of the new-look launch of the SpiderWebShow and #CdnCult Times
• SpiderWebShow is also co-hosting (with the National Theatre School of Canada), a forum of perspectives on Canadian theatre: “From Where I Stand”: Saturday, October 4 from 10am to 1pm EST, 9am to 12noon CST (I assume that a recording of the forum will be available from HowlRoundTV)

The Odd Couple at Oshawa Little Theatre
kicking off their 2014-2015 season

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Oshawa Little Theatre is kicking off a big season—which includes hosting Theatre Ontario Festival 2015—with a new lighting system made possible by incredible community support

From the Wire

• Premier Kathleen Wynne has released her 2014 Mandate letter to Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport and her government's priorities

TO Toasts

• ...to all of the finalists for the 2014 Tom Hendry Awards from Playwrights Guild of Canada
• ...to the recipients of the Canadian Arts and Business Awards

Honouring Contribution to Community Theatre in Central Ontario

Do you know someone whose sustained contribution, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment within his/her region has helped community theatre flourish?  Theatre Ontario is now inviting nominations for the 2015 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre.  The award is presented annually to an individual from the region that is hosting the Theatre Ontario Festival—which in 2015 is Central Ontario.

Bev Dietrich of Elmira
was the recipient of the 2014
Michael Spence Award for
Contribution to Community Theatre

Past recipients of the award are Joan McRae, Anne Wilson, Lillian Sievanen, Sharon Sproule, Betty Coates, Arlene Watson, Vince Mathewson, David Glover, Harry Houston, Hans Warmenhoven, Beth McMaster, Val Hadley, Maureen Lukie, Ken Stephen, Gabe Ferrazzo, Margaret Shearman, Lawrie Bonanno, Jo-anne Spitzer, Walter Maskel, and Joe O’Brien.  The 2014 award was presented to Bev Dietrich of Elmira.

The 2015 award will be presented to an individual from the Central Ontario community theatre region, which includes the City of Toronto, Durham Region, York Region, Peel Region, Halton Region (except for the City of Burlington), Simcoe County, Dufferin County, and the District of Muskoka.

The award was established in 1997 by Theatre Ontario on the occasion of Theatre Ontario's 25th Anniversary.  Multiple awards were presented on the quinquennial anniversaries of Theatre Ontario until 2012, when it became a single, annual award.  The award is named in honour of Michael Spence, the founding President of Theatre Ontario.  Michael was active in community theatre at Hart House Theatre, London Little Theatre, and the University Alumnae Dramatic Club (now known as Alumnae Theatre.)  He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Dominion Drama Festival, a past President of Arts Etobicoke, and continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.

The nomination deadline is January 30, 2015.

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Michael Spence Award for Community Theatre and download award guidelines and nomination form

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• The Youth Theatre Training Program offers financial support to programs led by professional theatre artists, which deliver accessible training to young people (age 14 to 21) in theatrical skills. The application deadline is October 15
• The Managing Your Career Boot Camp is on October 18 in Toronto: Learn the business of being an artist in a one-day session
• You can also sign-up for individual workshops from the Boot Camp: Building Your Brand as an Artist with Edward Power, Social Media as a Professional Tool with Seb FoxAllen, We want you… now sign! Contract Law for Actors with Derrick Chua, and Ask an Agent: Everything you’ve always wanted to know… with Alicia Jeffery
• Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups on October 28 in London with Pat Bradley: a free workshop for anyone looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Shaw Festival’s next Play by Play, for theatre lovers interested in going behind the scenes, is October 3
• SPARC–Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities, invites applications for their Network Summit on October 3
  
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Libretto Writing workshop with Marjorie Chan is on October 6 in Toronto
• Deadline for nominations for Work In Culture’s Robert Johnston Award for a tenacious commitment to furthering best human resources practices in the cultural sector is October 9
• Deadline to apply for Alumnae Theatre’s Playwrights’ Intensive with Maja Ardal is October 10
• Deadline to volunteer as a Director at the Alumnae Theatre’s New Ideas Festival is October 10
• Deadline to apply to the Paprika Festival’s 2015 Festival, with opportunities available for artists 21 and under (Projects, Playwriting, Creators’ Unit, Resident Company) and under 30 (Projects, Advisory Board) is October 10

New on The Bulletin Board

• Ottawa Little Theatre invites submissions for the 74th National One-Act Playwriting Competition, for plays running 25 to 60 minutes, unproduced or produced no earlier than 2014; the submission deadline is October 17
• The Toronto Fringe Festival now invites submissions for the 2015 Fringe Lottery, Site Specific Fringe Theatre, and the Culturally Diverse Artist Project; application deadlines are November 3
• Buddies in Bad Times invites submissions for their OAC Theatre Creators Reserve from individual creators or collectives working on new texts and performance-creation based models relevant to Buddies' mandate and interest.  The application deadline is November 28

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 and job postings on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website