Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program: Claire Burns

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Claire Burns trained in administration and managing direction with Shawn Daudlin at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto

(February 19, 2019) So my training program is almost done. Which saddens me because I have really enjoyed going to Buddies and working in the building among the fine and talented staff members. Over the last two months it has been interesting attending Buddies’ weekly management meetings. I’ve been able to directly report on my HR findings and how they affect Communications and Building departments. I’ve also been privy to bar reporting and future event planning—and have even hopped on some party planning committees for Buddies’ 40th Anniversary celebration at the end of May.

Dyke Night went really well. The older crowd from the reading stayed and danced with the younger groups that showed up for the DJ portion of the night and I got a lot of feedback about how much Toronto needs Queer Women’s spaces. As such I’ve been able to parlay that feedback into potential women’s programming for 2019-2020. Being able to be in the building to talk briefly with the Artistic Director and Managing Director about my ideas has been really helpful—just being around and in the room provides opportunity I wouldn’t normally have. As a result I’m working with Buddies to apply for some community initiatives that would highlight women in the space—they would be performance based nights with the purpose of bringing intergenerational women together. Keep your eyes peeled for those nights September to June, 2019-2020.

Working on the Human Resource Manual has really opened my eyes to the importance of the AODA. Now wherever I’m working I’m thinking—how can we make this more accessible? How can we bring people with different needs together to celebrate, party, experience theatre? Aside from that, updating the manual was challenging. I don’t often have to write in HR speak (lol) so was intimidated by that task—the manual is under review right now so fingers crossed I did alright.

My mentor mentioned last week that there was a possibility that I could attend the PACT conference with him in Saskatoon this year. This would be an incredible opportunity for me to connect on the national level with other theatre administrators, widening my network and creating valuable learning possibilities. Due to the schedules of various individuals in the caucus, Shawn was unable to get me on a PACT conference call—but I’m keeping my schedule flexible to ensure that this could indeed happen despite the period of the PTTP being technically over at the end of February.

Altogether a very valuable learning experience. It’s one thing to see a company from the outside, all the perceptions we have around what that looks like- but to work on the inside I learned so much about the inter-dynamics of Buddies and how it operates on an annual scale. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Related Reading:

• Claire’s first and second reports

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is March 1, 2019.

Learn 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.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Bernadette Hardaker, General Manager of Theatre Orangeville, shared on the PACT blog how they made the arts an election issue in last year’s provincial and municipal elections as we look ahead to this year’s federal election.
• Videos from the livestream of the 2018 SPARC Symposium (Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities) held in Cobalt are now available on their YouTube channel.
• Emma Stenning (new Executive Director of Soulpepper) and Naomi Campbell (new Artistic Director of Luminato) had a conversation on HowlRound as part of the series on transitions in theatre leadership – “We Can’t Work in Isolation.”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

Nightwood Theatre's production of Grace by Jane Doe
Rose Napoli and Michaela Washburn. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

• Jane Doe wrote for Intermission Magazine about the process of writing Grace (now on stage from Nightwood Theatre) and the experience of processing trauma.
• Orpheus Musical Theatre Society in Ottawa announced their 2019/2020 season.
• “Do you work during the wintertime?” The staff of Blyth Festival answered this question from their community.
• Submissions are now open for the Playwrights Guild of Canada’s 2019 Tom Hendry Awards.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program, featuring training projects in administration and managing direction, artistic producing, lighting design, general management, and dramaturgy.
• We’re inviting applications to our Professional Theatre Training Program and Youth Theatre Training Program for the March 1 deadline. Note that we are implementing new deadlines for these programs throughout 2019 and 2020, and have changed our applicant eligibility requirements.
• ONstage Openings this week in Toronto, Cobourg, Peterborough, Kingston, Perth, and Oshawa.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, grant deadlines, calls for nominations, and more.

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

Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program: Claire Burns

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Claire Burns training in administration and managing direction with Shawn Daudlin at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto

Part 1: December 2018

Since I moved to Toronto in 2001 I have been a wildly enthusiastic fan of Buddies and, like many in our community, I’ve enjoyed so many different aspects of its programming over the years. I first started coming for the dance parties and club nights as a university student, and as I became more immersed in Canada’s independent theatre scene, Buddies became my go-to for dynamic, experimental, alternative performances. I worked at it’s call centre in 2009, delivering frontline support for the development team as an enthusiastic sales person, and I’ve been connected to the organization in various ways ever since: either on stage as a performer, at events as a volunteer, behind the coat check as an employee, or in the theatre seats as an an avid fan of the programming, mandate, and aesthetic. In Toronto, we are lucky to have a space dedicated to queer performance and queer culture. I’m excited to mobilize my existing networks and to grow and develop new relationships that will continue to support such a unique organization.

In the past several years I have gained significant hands-on experience running an independent space and producing theatre performances within a range of budgets, however I am now ready to develop my skill set as an arts administrator in an established institution. I have a particular interest in arts management as it serves as the backbone of company operations. I submitted three major goals to learn from Buddies Managing Director, Shawn Daudlin: Human Resources, PACT and Financial Reporting. As someone who is passionate about my work and keen to translate that passion into long-lasting relationships, I am hungry to improve my skills in development administration, and to create new opportunities for supporters and party-goers alike to join me in investing in the bright future of Buddies in Bad Times.

Part 2: January 8, 2019

My PTTP has begun! Thank you to Theatre Ontario for this opportunity! I’ve started my work with Shawn Daudlin, the Managing Director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and I couldn’t be more inspired.

First off, we entered ALL the financial finals into CADAC (Canadian Arts Data/Donnees sur les Arts au Canada.) It’s a web based application dedicated to the collection of financial and statistical data of Canadian Arts Organizations. You can check out the website at www.thecadac.ca. The CADAC is the platform where you report financials for Operating Funding through the OAC and CCA. I wanted to learn how to do this: i.e. how to input the numbers literally, but I also wanted to glean how Buddies separates their financial categories and what the back-end of their bookkeeping looks like. At Storefront, I’m the one primarily dealing with the financials and really have no training on this save for what I’ve learned myself. I was able to use the information that I received through this at Buddies to create a more cohesive budget and financial report for Storefront.

My second task with Shawn Daudlin at Buddies is updating the Human Resource Manual. Theatre had a big year re Human Resources, what with the Soulpepper situation, and clarity around HR reporting and workplace behavioural expectations have become more rigorous. I’ve taken a multitude of HR Supervisor training modules online and am in the process of drafting an updated manual. This is hard work and frankly intimidates me because HR involves a lot of legislative language which I always find a little thick to read and understand.

My third task is my favourite! I get to help book and plan more women’s late nights at Buddies. Buddies has done an incredible job at diversifying their theatre programming to reflect their inclusive mandate. However, the late club nights are still predominantly filled with cis-males. I’m in a unique position because I work late nights behind the bar and have a real interest in event/party planning, I have had experience running parties through Storefront and Inside Out Film Festival, and am a queer lady who wants her peers to take up more space! In November I attended an event hosted by Daily Xtra about how to get more Queer Women’s Spaces in Toronto. There are currently no lesbian bars or women-only bars on Church or ANYWHERE in the city and it’s obvious that this community wants more opportunity to come together. Buddies is holding a reading of Dyke City, the seminal ‘90s lez serial written by Sonny Mills, on Friday January 18th as a part of their 40th Anniversary Season Series, and I’m planning the after party! Come on out! All Ages, Free Event! Check out the event on Facebook here and come party in your best 90s dyke attire!

Dyke City After Party

Dj LL Cool Wei

Host Ashton Cootcher

Burlesque performances by

Ferrera Rose & Zyra Fresh Prince & Dainty Smith of Les Femmes Fatales

No Cover

Doors at 10pm

Best Jean Jacket contest at Midnight

10pm come and party with the lesbians, bi girls and anyone in between. All welcome. 

Strap on your hottest retro lezzie look and go down on Dyke Night like a bush on fire!

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is March 1, 2019.

Learn 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.

Congratulations to the Professional Theatre Training Program Fall 2018 Grant Recipients

We are pleased to announce the latest recipients of training grants through Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP). We thank all those who applied to the program.

Over $25,900 was awarded in total among the following 9 recipients:

• C.J Astronomo training in production management with Simon Marsden at the Stratford Festival
• Claire Burns training in administration and managing direction with Shawn Daudlin at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto
• Rhiannon Collett training in artistic producing with Tom Arthur Davis and Jivesh Parasram at Pandemic Theatre in Toronto
• Allie Marshall training in video design and new media skills with Nick Bottomley at Outside the March in Toronto
• Laura McCallum training in general management with Laura Pomeroy at Studio 180 Theatre in Toronto
• Hanlon McGregor training in playwriting with Diane Flacks
• Holly Meyer-Dymny training in projection design with Cameron Davis at Studio 180 Theatre in Toronto
• Keshia Palm training in dramaturgy with Marjorie Chan at Cahoots Theatre in Toronto
• Naomi Wright training in directing with Robin Witt at Writers Theatre in Chicago, USA

Over $131,000 was requested during this application round. The next application deadline for this program will be in early 2019. Prospective applicants should Stay Connected with Theatre Ontario for more information about that deadline.

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline except performance.

Learn more about the Professional Theatre Training Program

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

(Updated November 13 at 1:30pm to include an omitted recipient.)

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Closing a theatre company – Scott Artley wrote on HowlRound about “The Final Act—Sunsetting a Nonprofit Arts Organization” and the decision to shutdown.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Got Your Back Canada, the grassroots alliance of artists committed to making safe places for creation in the entertainment industry, is conducting an “Actor Training Experience Survey” for anyone who has taken actor training in Canada at any time. There is also a questionnaire for instructors. 

TO Toasts

Playwrights Guild of Canada's Tom Hendry Awards

• ... to Jordan Tannahill and Playwrights Canada Press, recipients of the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama—English.
• ... to the recipients of Playwrights Guild of Canada’s 2018 Tom Hendry Awards, including Matthew Mackenzie who was awarded the Carol Bolt Award for best work premiered in the past year, and Damien Atkins (our Theatre Ontario Festival Playwright-in-Person in 2015) who won the Stage West Comedy Award.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program – Featuring training projects in directing, artistic producing, dramaturgy, and artistic direction.
• Stories from Ontario Summer Theatre – Raeburn Ferguson finished her first week at Theatre Ontario at the Ontario Summer Theatre Annual General Meeting for professional development and strengthening connections.
• ONstage Openings this week in Oshawa, Tillsonburg, St. Marys, London, Elmira, Toronto, Ottawa, and North Bay.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, grant deadlines, playwright calls for submission, and more.

Meet Our Youth Advisory Committee’s Emergence 2.0 Mentors

Theatre Ontario’s Youth Advisory Committee is super excited for the awesome lineup of mentors who will be at Emergence 2.0 for our Coffee Dates Sessions. We believe that speed networking is just too short to really get what you need out of a conversation. Coffee Dates will include longer mentorship sessions, where a young artist will get to speak with another artist one-on-one for 20-minutes. We are bringing in the following awesome artists who work in a variety of different disciplines within the theatre industry.

So, who are our mentors for Emergence 2.0?

Kevin Matthew Wong - performer, performance creator, arts facilitator, producer, environmentalist

Kevin Matthew Wong is a performer, performance creator, arts facilitator, producer and environmentalist. Kevin is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Broadleaf Theatre, a company that creates multidisciplinary performances exploring Canada’s relationship with environmentalism. His on-going work The Chemical Valley Project is a documentary theatre solo-performance that investigates Canadian colonization and environmental racism. The show is created in collaboration with Aamjiwnaang First Nation Water Protectors Vanessa Gray and Lindsay Beze Gray, and co-creator Julia Howman. The project makes its full-length Toronto debut at Theatre Passe Muraille in April 2019. Kevin is a graduate of the U of T Drama Centre and Generator’s inaugural Artist-Producer Training Program, and he is a fellow of the American social-justice arts residency The Gardarev Center. As a creator, Kevin was recently part of fu-Gen’s Interdisciplinary Kitchen XV, and has recently worked with Carousel Players, Cahoots Theatre, Music Picnic, the Koffler Centre and others.

Aimee Bouchard - Community Programs Manager, Young People’s Theatre

Aimee Bouchard currently works as the Community Programs Manager at Young People’s Theatre, where she manages community programs and residencies as well as access and inclusion initiatives.

She is an arts administrator, artist educator and Ontario Certified Teacher, and holds a BAH in Drama and BEd with a focus in Artist in Community Education from Queen’s University. She has developed and facilitated drama programming for schools, festivals and arts organizations across Ontario, including for Young People’s Theatre, Theatre Direct and the WeeFestival, the Kick & Push Festival in Kingston, and the Luminato Festival.

Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah - actor, writer, producer, chef

Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah is a Dora nominated and My Entertainment Award winning actor, a writer, producer and chef. Notable credits include; Geschwitz in Red Light District’s LULU V.7 //aspects of a femme fatale, Lila in Kat Sandler’s Bang Bang, Jessica in Danny Pagett’s Cloud, Laertes in Ravi Jain’s The Prince Hamlet, Claudette in How Black Mothers Say I Love You, Queen Elizabeth I in The Queen’s Conjuror, Black Woman in We Are Proud to Present..., St. Monica in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, and Othello in Go Play Producing's Othello. Checkout what Khadijah is up to next or look at pictures of what she’s eating by following her on Instagram @dijyro or Twitter @DijyRoberts

Rosamund Small - playwright

Rosamund Small is the Dora-Award winning playwright of Sisters (Soulpepper, 2018), TomorrowLove, Vitals (Outside the March, 2016/ 2014), and other theatre works including documentary, solo show, and large-scale immersive projects. She is interested in finding humour, joy, and excitement to stories about both the darkest and brightest moments in life. In addition to playwriting, Rosamund is story co-ordinator of Workin’ Moms Season 3 on CBC, and also collaborates on dance-narrative work with Robert Binet and the National Ballet of Canada.

Christina Cicko - stage manager

Christina Cicko is currently stage managing the Dora nominated Gertrude and Alice (Buddies In Bad Times Theatre). Most recent credits include; assistant stage manager of The 27 Club (Soulpepper) stage manager for Stones (Aluna Theatre and The Stones Project), Mikveh (The Harold Green Jewish Theatre), the world premier of Calpurnia (Nightwood Theatre), Dora nominated Unholy (Nightwood Theatre), and Dora winning Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre). Other selected credits include The Youth & Elders Project (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Quiver (Nightwood Theatre), and two seasons as assistant stage manager at the Blyth Theatre Festival. She was also a Pauline McGibbon Award Nominee for Lighting Design and is currently teaching stage management for the theatre department at York University.

Luke Reece - producer, playwright, poet, educator

In a failed attempt to escape Presto, Luke left his hometown of Mississauga under the guise of becoming a Toronto-based artist. He strives to share authentic and engaging stories with audiences through his work as a producer, playwright, poet and educator. He is the Producer for Canada’s leading culturally-specific theatre company Obsidian Theatre, along with being the Co-Creator and Operations Manager of Dark Nights conversation series. He continually seeks opportunities to empower and support young-in-craft artists with his collective Little Black Afro Theatre, creating spaces for artists to develop work with and for the communities they come from. After becoming the Toronto Poetry Slam (TPS) Grand Champion in 2017, Luke went on to captain the 2017 TPS team that competed at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and placed first in the country. He also competed in Vancouver in 2018 at the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam and placed 2nd. He has facilitated workshops, performed, and hosted events for Young People’s Theatre, Crow’s Theatre, The Paprika Festival, CANVAS Arts Action Programs, Union Station, Playwrights Guild of Canada and the International Festival of Authors.

Maddie Bautista - theatre maker and performance artist

Maddie Bautista is a Saudi Arabia-born Filipino theatre maker and performance artist. Selected Acting Credits: Izzy in This Will Be Excellent (Carousel Players); The Girl in My Nightmares Wear White (SummerWorks 2016 Spotlight Award for Performance). Selected sound design credits: bug (Luminato 2018), Stones (Aluna Theatre) CAKE (Theatre Passe Muraille). Choir composition and direction: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare in the Ruff). Half of xLq with Jordan Campbell: an award-winning POP performance art duo. Co-creators and performers of 4inXchange (Winner of NOW Magazine’s Audience Choice Award at SummerWorks 2018, selected by Nightswimming for the 5x25 2017 Commission) - a facilitated experience around $1000 cash for four participants at a time. xLq is also part of Theatre Direct’s New Creation Unit developing Inside the Outside - an interactive and accessible theatrical experience for one young participant at a time. She is an alumni of Generator TO’s 2016/2017 Artist Producer Training program and Paprika Festival’s Writer’s Circle 2017. She is committed to creating work for survivors of sexual assault through her solo show Jeddahwi - in development with Rare Theatre.

Augusto Bitter - performer and theatre creator

Augusto Bitter is a Venezuelan-born performer and theatre creator based in Toronto. He has a Specialist in Drama, Theatre, and Performance Studies from the University of Toronto and was named one of NOW Magazine’s Top 10 Theatre Artists of 2017. He has trained with Manifesto Poetico (Paris), Teatro delle Radici (Lugano, Switzerland), Factory Theatre's Mechanicals, and Canada's National Voice Intensive. Augusto is a part of Aluna Theatre's Interpretation Lab and a Youth Link Artist Educator at Soulpepper Theatre Company. Select performance credits include The Monument (Factory Theatre), Lear (Groundling Theatre Co.), El Retorno/I Return (Theatre Aquarius), Rope Running Out (lemonTree creations), and Our Town (Theatre Rusticle). His solo show, CHICHO, premieres at Theatre Passe Muraille March 2019, co-presented with Pencil Kit Productions with support from Aluna Theatre. More at www.augustobitter.com

Rachel Forbes - set and costume designer

Rachel is a Toronto based Set and Costume Designer creating for theatre and dance. She loves making her way across the country to design for a variety of communities. Some of the companies she has had the pleasure to design for include: the Shaw Festival, Obsidian Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times, Factory Theatre, Theatre Centre, Theatre Passe Muraille,Watah Theatre, Charlottetown Festival, and Video Cabaret. Some recent credits include: Risky Phil (Young People's Theatre), Speaking of Sneaking (Riser Project), Other Side of the Game (Obsidian Theatre/Cahoots), Lukumi: a dub opera, Bleeders, Bloodclaat (Watah Theatre), The Dream Catchers (Charlottetown Festival), 1837: The Farmers’ Revolt (Shaw Festival), Black Boys (Saga Collectif/Buddies in Bad Times), How Black Mothers Say I Love You (Factory Theatre/Trey Anthony Productions).

We are so excited about Emergence 2.0 and cannot wait to see you there!  Emergence 2.0 is on October 15, 2018 in Toronto.

Join Us at Emergence 2.0

We thank The Second City and the Associated Designers of Canada for their generous support of this event.

This event is in partnership with the Siminovitch Prize.

Ontario Off Stage

Alastair Forbes and Sophia Fabiilli in the Thousand
Islands Playhouse production of The Canadian.
Photo by Randy deKleine-Stimpson

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Thousand Islands Playhouse wrapped up their series “From Page to Stage: Creating The Canadian”, first with Part 3 by set and costume designer Anna Treusch about her process for designing the show, and then in Part 4, actor Sophia Fabiilli wrote about her “Top 10 Reasons Why Farce Is Harder Than It Looks.”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Stratford Festival has introduced their 2019 season.
• WorkInCulture is conducting a survey—“MakingItWork”—of Ontario’s creativity community workforce: add your voice to their research.

Migrations

• Helen Wagenaar is retiring as Administrative Director of Lighthouse Festival Theatre. Congratulations to Nicole Campbell (a member of the Ontario Summer Theatre Executive Committee) who will be taking on the role.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program, featuring training projects in directing, arts management, community-engaged theatre, and artistic direction.
• Stories from our Summer Theatre Intensive: The Art of Stage Combat by Mahlet Tesfu.
• ONstage Openings this week in Picton, Constance Bay, Gananoque, Drayton, and Port Stanley.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, free webinars, grant deadlines, and more.

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

Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program: Samyuktha Punthambekar

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Samyuktha Punthambekar trained in arts management with Mitchell Marcus at Musical Stage Company in Toronto

(August 15, 2018)  The mentorship with Mitchell Marcus and Musical Stage Company has been one the best in my career so far. I could not have hoped and asked for such a fulfilling and thorough mentorship.

Mitchell Marcus, in my opinion, is one of the finest mentors that the Toronto Arts community has. During my time at The Musical Stage Company, Mitchell spent a lot of time with me in understanding my space, the background where I come from as well my strengths and weaknesses. He also offered a keen listening ear when I spoke to him about the systemic challenges that are currently affecting our community. Mitchell not only offered strong suggestions, but was also a solid support and acknowledged these challenges. This to me was extremely refreshing and assuring, especially coming from a leader.

I was given full freedom to tailor my mentorship in the direction that solely benefitted me and my growth. There were very specific areas that I identified and felt I needed to develop on. Mitchell and his team offered their unconditional support and were never hesitant in answering any of my questions. The assignments/projects that I was tasked with were all ‘real-life’ which resulted in me gaining invaluable experience. Some of the projects that I got to work on were The Living Arts Centre’s 2018/19 season launch, creating draft contracts for Equity, and work as a Front of House Manager for Dr. Silver (which was staged in partnership with Luminato and The National Arts Centre). I also got to be a part of a fundraising event, where Board members of the company were also present. One of the areas which I am deeply passionate about is fundraising and grants. This event gave me first-hand experience in how an event of this magnitude was managed so efficiently and with great success.

As an emerging arts manager and leader, given the constraints of a new immigrant with no family support, it is vitally important for my career at this point to take on several projects. Mitchell was extremely accommodating in understanding this aspect and allowed a great sense of flexibility. This in turn, allowed me to interview with a few arts organizations and I was eventually able to secure a part-time opportunity, after four years due to systemic barriers, with Jaberi Dance Theatre as an Administrative Producer.

This mentorship has re-engineered my purpose in the arts as an emerging arts leader and a strong advocate for inclusive practice to find solutions for the gaps and systemic barriers. It has also enhanced my expertise to identify and clearly communicate, that is largely catering towards new immigrants' needs and requirements, and slowly identifying my interests and true calling in arts management. This for me has been the greatest strength, wealth and peace of mind ever since I moved to Canada in 2011. The Musical Stage Company is an organization that is not just producing amazing new musicals but is doing it with a clear mandate for supporting artistic works—with a deep social relevance cause. Mitchell Marcus is one of the few leaders, who supports and is upfront about an important cause such as inclusive practice at staff, leadership and board levels in arts organizations. I would highly recommend mentoring under him and the Musical Stage Company for any POC, especially new immigrant POCs.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Theatre Ontario and the PTTP grant jury for this incredible opportunity. I have a great amount of respect and love for Musical Stage Company and the work it creates. This has propelled me to think about a deeper community engagement for Musical Stage’s productions with a view to reach a wider and more diverse audience—especially with the new immigrant community. I am of the firm belief that if an organization invests in a new immigrant’s development during their initial stages, the dividends will certainly be tremendous.

I also want to sincerely thank Mitchell Marcus and the Musical Stage Company for mentoring me and giving me renewed energy to make a difference in the arts community!

Related Reading:

• Samyuktha Punthambekar’s previous updates

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, 2018.

Learn 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.

Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program: Samyuktha Punthambekar

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Samyuktha Punthambekar training in arts management with Mitchell Marcus at Musical Stage Company in Toronto

Samyuktha Punthambekar is a Bharathanatyam dancer, arts educator and arts administrator. Samyuktha won the Volunteer Award for Arts and Culture Toronto in 2016 for her outstanding volunteering contributions. As an arts administrator, she has worked for Dancer Transition Resource Center and Sunny Artist Management, Toronto Arts Foundation, lbs/sq” performance and Tapestry Opera. As an arts educator, she has conducted workshops and also is a resident arts educator for TDSB and continues to teach and conduct workshops for other institutions and festivals.

Samyuktha has graduated with Honours from Humber College's Arts Administration and Cultural Management program. She received the OAC's grant for her studies at Humber and also won the Dean's Award, Jerry Smith Scholarship as well as a Best Student Nomination for the program in 2016/17. She has sat on grant juries for many arts councils. Her interview article ‘Breathing Fresh Air’ was published on Dance Current’s online magazine. Most recently, she has been featured on Humber’s Alumni Success Stories and NOW Magazine. She also obtained the Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture certificate from The University of Leeds. Currently, Samyuktha is shadowing Shannon Litzenberger as part of the OAC’s Compass Grant. She is working as an Associate for LeSage Arts Management. Samyuktha continues to be deeply invested by acquiring more knowledge and gaining professional development as an emerging arts leader.

(April 19, 2018)  I am very happy and excited to have been selected as one of the recipients of the Theatre Ontario PTTP grant. I’ve chosen to pursue an Arts Management internship with Mitchell Marcus, Artistic and Managing Director of the Musical Stage Company.

Mitchell Marcus was one of the top 3 people that I always wanted to work and learn from. The workshops of Mitchell’s that I have attended, have been an eye opener in many ways. His meticulous planning, minute attention to detail and his clear vision is something that has intrigued me very much. As a person myself who aims for perfection in everything I do, it is important for me at this stage of my career to mentor under Mitchell Marcus. This will certainly enhance my expertise and exposure for more ‘on the ground’ strategies. I met Mitchell many times after PLN and expressed my interest in mentoring under him and he was open to the idea to mentor me! After a couple of meetings and discussing ideas/work plans - I also realized that Mitchell is extremely sensitive to human emotions and feelings. This also reflects in his plays and productions that he chooses to showcase through his company. Like me, Mitchell is also very organized and loves to be ‘all consuming’ with his work. These factors, I personally feel makes us the right fit to form a mentor-mentee relationship.

I have identified a few key areas that I would further want to focus on and learn from Mitchell, which are:

Main Interests 

• Fundraising - I have realized that this is a very important aspect in the arts. As Fundraising/donations - either corporate or individual, form an integral part of an organization's functionality and funding model, I am very keen on exploring The Musical Stage’s funding strategy. 
• Marketing, Communication and Sales Pitch - Musical Stage has an excellent marketing strategy. I have understood this through social media, interacting with Mitchell, his staff and watching their productions. I have stated the term ‘Sales Pitch’ here as I feel from what I have observed in the arts that this is very important, especially when one wants to collaborate with large institutions such as CanStage, Mirvish etc. (as The Musical Stage Company does). I do not feel confident in this area as I need to acquire more robust and practical/ ‘hands on’ experience for me to better understand this aspect. Marketing, Communication and Sales Pitches also in the long run, helps in Partnerships, Board Relations, Donors and Corporate Sponsorships
• Grant Writing - I love to write. Prior to this grant, I have written other grants and have been successful. I have written for the Dance Current magazine and also started my first online blog. However, I feel to sharpen this skill is very important and hence would like to train and understand more on grant writing, which is also another area of fundraising. 

Simultaneous Learning and Interests 

• Project Planning and Producing - Creating a Musical is a huge endeavour and hence I am interested in understanding the project plan aspect of how to create and manage big productions, budgets etc. Artistically I would like to learn what it takes to be a Producer 
• International Associations and Financial Management - Musicals have a global reach and gather a diverse audience. I would like to observe and learn from Mitchell the international approach and how to pitch projects on a global level. I feel Financial Management also is key to understanding this aspect 
• Education Outreach and Community Engagement - I have been teaching and being part of community engagements for over a decade. It would be good to increase my knowledge to observer this aspect under Mitchell. 

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to the committee for selecting me. My aim with the support from Theater Ontario’s PTTP is to further enhance my skills towards leadership positions. It will also support me with ‘on the ground’ strategies, skills and bringing equity to the arts community which is one of my biggest missions both personally and professionally.

(June 21, 2018)  So far, my mentorship has been nothing short of amazing. Working with Mitchell Marcus is probably one of the best things that has happened in my career so far. I am truly privileged to be working with such a knowledgeable, organized and giving person. Thanks to Mitchell, It is after almost five years, I feel a sense of pride, achievement and have found my true identity in Arts Management.

My internship objectives have been distributed between all the staff members of The Musical Stage Company. I was part of a fundraiser which comprised of the Board members of the company. This event gave me first-hand experience of how an event of this magnitude is managed.  It also gave me a deep insight into how the face of the Company i.e. top management presents the mandate and invites potential funders and donors to contribute to a shared cause. It was after this event that I had my ‘aha!’ moment in arts management. 

In terms of production and project management, I was designated as project lead to supervise The Living Arts Centre’s 2018/19 season launch. I was responsible for the coordination between artists, the technical team as well as the management. Two fantastic singers, Divine Brown and Sara Farb presented a portion of Uncovered. Organizing this event as Project Manager, gave me an excellent experience in coordinating as well as overall management. 

I have also had the opportunity to draft artist contracts with Equity. It has given me an insight into the nuances, details as well as the importance of how and why the contracts are drawn out based out of the Equity framework.

Most recently, I was given the role of Front of House Manager for ‘Dr. Silver’. This show, in partnership with Luminato Festival and The National Arts Centre, was scheduled from June 14 to 19th. I was also involved in the pre-preparation by observing the rehearsals from June 4th onwards. During the show, my responsibilities included audience management, ensuring that the seating arrangement at the Heliconian Club was accurately maintained, volunteer coordination as well as take down of sets at the end of the show. It was a fantastic experience overall.

For an establishing immigrant who has transitioned from Indian Classical Dance into Arts Management, Mitchell is very caring, compassionate and giving mentor. He has taken very close care of my needs and is determined that I get the most out of my internship with The Musical Stage Company. His attention to detail and keen listening is something that I marvel at and strive to achieve constantly. Every two weeks, we have a one on one touch base to go over objectives. The weekly staff meetings have also been an effective way to understand everyone’s roles better. 

I have also had a brief understanding of Musical Stage’s company budget as well gained perspective into a General Manager’s duties. The team of Musical Stage is so thorough with their work, that it inspires me to do my best at every duty that I take on. I am currently working with the team on drafting a production cover letter, newsletter and a press release. In fundraising, I am also doing an in-depth research on Musical Stage’s upcoming projects. I have also been reviewing operating grants, social media and strategic planning of the company. 

Personally, I feel much more confident, energized and ready to take on duties without any hesitation. I also know that Mitchell Marcus and Musical Stage will be there as my constant support system. 

I once again thank Theatre Ontario’s PTTP and OAC’s support in enabling to achieve a very important milestone in my career.  

The next application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, 2018.

Learn 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.

Congratulations to the Professional Theatre Training Program Spring 2018 Grant Recipients

We are pleased to announce the latest recipients of training grants through Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP). We thank all those who applied to the program.

Over $42,500 was awarded in total among the following 13 recipients:

• Thomas Alderson will train in directing with Ashlie Corcoran at Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver BC
• Sehar Bhojani and Brendan McMurtry-Howlett will train in artistic direction with Jillian Keiley at the National Arts Centre of Canada in Ottawa
• Logan Raju Cracknell will train in lighting design with David DeGrow at Cahoots in Toronto and on tour
• Sabah Haque will train in artistic producing with Tom Arthur Davis and Jivesh Parasram at Pandemic Theatre in Toronto, Vancouver BC, and Victoria BC
• Christine Horne will train in directing with Eda Holmes at Canadian Stage in Toronto
• Taryn Jorgenson will train in directing with Richard Rose at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto
• Stephanie Kast will train in writing and producing with Joshua Bainbridge in North Bay
• Tijiki Morris is training in directing with Erin Brubacher at Aga Khan in Toronto
• Scott Emerson Moyle will train in intimacy direction with Tonia Sina at Intimacy Directors International in Toronto and Chicago USA
• Nancy Anne Perrin will train in design for opera with Michael Gianfrancesco at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto
• Samyuktha Punthambekar will train in arts management with Mitchell Marcus at Musical Stage Company in Toronto
• Julia Tribe will train in community engaged theatre and performing arts with Ruth Howard at Jumblies Theatre in Toronto
• Anne White will train in directing and artistic direction with Adam Paolozza at Bad New Days in Toronto

Over $98,000 was requested during this application round. The next application deadline for this program is October 1, 2018.

Our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline except performance.

Learn more about the Professional Theatre Training Program

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

Apply to the Professional Theatre Training Program

Are you an artist seeking financial support for professional development or a "change of direction" in your career?

Submissions are now open for the March 1, 2018 deadline for our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP). The Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Planning an application? Watch our FAQs video about PTTP.

Related Reading

• Learn more about Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program
• Read profiles of recent Professional Theatre Training Program projects

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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Cole Alvis (an alum of our Professional Theatre Training Program) and Falen Johnson describe their process programming Soulpepper Theatre’s Guswenta Gathering, and “clearing a path for Indigenous artists.” (From Intermission)
• Andrew Taylor observes that arts organizations don’t really have missions—it’s the missions that come before the organizations. (From The Artful Manager)

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

Tom Hendry is heading out to his namesake awards
from Playwrights Guild of Canada

• The Ontario Arts Council is hosting a “Cross-Province Check-in” to answer questions about OAC funding and future plans to support Ontario’s arts sector. Sessions are being held in 16 communities across the province.
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Awards on Sunday night are “sold” out—but they do have a waiting list for cancellations.
• As St. Marys Community Players prepares for their opening of Man of La Mancha, their props master Ray Doerksen shared some of their prop-making work.
• Sad to hear of the passing of Paulette Gagnon, a former Executive Director of the Association des theaters francophones du Canada.

Migrations

• Matthew Jocelyn is stepping down as Artistic and General Director of Canadian Stage.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program, featuring training in sound design, puppetry, directing, artistic direction, and creation/dramaturgy.
• Emergence: Inspiring the Next Generation of Theatre-Makers in Ontario, from our Youth Advisory Committee.
• ONstage Openings this week in Morrisburg, Ottawa, Perth, Constance Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Port Perry, Beaverton, Richmond Hill, London, Hamilton, St. Marys, Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Peterborough.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, calls for submissions and proposals, grant deadlines, and more.

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

Apply to the Professional Theatre Training Program

Are you an artist seeking financial support for professional development or a "change of direction" in your career?

Submissions are now open for the October 2, 2017 deadline for our Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP).

Planning an application? Watch our FAQs video about PTTP.

The Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance.)

Learn more about Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program

Read profiles of recent Professional Theatre Training Program projects

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

Ontario Off Stage

Gravenhurst Opera House Costume Designer
Chris Cristobal preparing costumes for Swing!
Photo by Bryan White

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• From the Ontario Summer Theatre blog: Gravenhurst Opera House—A Tradition worth Coming Back For
• Marlene Smith was interviewed by R.H. Thomson on “becoming a theatre producer” for Theatre Museum Canada. Marlene is a Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts’ Silver Ticket recipient and served as a Professional Theatre Training Program mentor for one of our former Executive Directors, Jane Gardner.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The next opening in the Ontario Fringe Festival season is the Ottawa Fringe Festival, opening June 8.
• The Government of Ontario is providing $20 million to help fund the Stratford Festival’s re-development of the Tom Patterson Theatre. 
• Nightwood Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre announced their 2017/18 seasons.
• Heidi Stock, one of our Theatre Ontario members, is participating in a giveaway draw of her book Mentor Me: Instruction and Advice for Aspiring Writers.

TO Toasts

• ... to all of the nominees for the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) Dora Mavor Moore Awards, including long-time Theatre Ontario Board member Elley-Ray and Summer Theatre Intensive instructor Philip Akin.
• ... to Marjorie Chan, Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Projects, who received TAPA’s George Luscombe Mentorship Award. Marjorie has mentored several Theatre Ontario Professional Theatre Training Program grant applicants, including Kevin Matthew Wong, Stephanie Jung and Jasmine Chen. Her acceptance speech was published on the Cahoots Inside blog.
• ... to Mitchell Marcus, Artistic and Managing Director of The Musical Stage Company, who received TAPA’s Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Arts Administrators.
• ... and to Joanna Yu, set and costume designer, who received the Pauline McGibbon Award from the province of Ontario. 

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program, featuring training in artistic producing and curation, directing, production management, and lighting design. 
• Change, Growth, and Looking Forward with Anticipation and Optimism at our Annual General Meeting.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board featuring opportunities across the province including workshops (Intimacy for the Stage and Voice Over), our Summer Theatre Intensive, youth training, and more.
• ONstage Openings this week in Belleville, Ottawa, Richmond Hill, Stratford, Simcoe, St. Jacobs, Toronto, Cookstown, Owen Sound, and Tottenham.

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Registrations are open for our Adjudicators Symposium on October 1 in Toronto, bringing together the province’s adjudicators for professional development and networking.
• Seeking financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor? Apply for our Professional Theatre Training Program mentorship grants. The application deadline is October 3.
• Are stress and anxiety sabotaging your career? Join us at our “Act Bravely: Practical Strategies to Conquer Stage Fright” workshop with Jorie Morrow on October 3.
• Thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company? Join us at our “Ready, Set, Show! Foundations of Indie Producing” workshop with Rachel Kennedy on October 5 in Toronto
• Does your ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ show need an audience? Join us at our “Bring Your Show to Schools: Navigating the Education System” webinar with Patty Jarvis of Prologue to the Performing Arts on October 13.
• Seeking financial support for programs that deliver accessible training to young people, led by professional theatre artist? Apply for our Youth Theatre Training Program grants. The application deadline is October 17.
• Preparing an OAC application? Get the inside scoop at our free “Grant Writing Information” pre-recorded webinar with Pat Bradley of the Ontario Arts Council on October 18.
• Want to know the secrets to a successful voice acting career? Join us at our Voice-Over workshop with Elley-Ray on October 22 in Toronto.
• Taking your new play from page to stage can seem impossible. Yet new plays are produced every season. How do they do it? Join us at our Playwright’s Guide to Getting Produced workshop with David S. Craig on October 24 in Toronto.
• Members save 50% on E-learning courses from WorkInCulture. One of the six courses available is Managing People—Lead your team to greatness! How do you find the right people? How do you motivate your team? Then, how do you keep the solid talent you have? This course will help you find the answers.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline to apply for Ontario150 Grants Partnership Program for engaging, enabling, and empowering youth is September 30.
• Deadline for nominations for the Canada Council’s John Hobday Awards in Arts Management is September 30.
• Deadline to sign-up for Acting Up Stage Company’s One Song Glory (free musical theatre intensive for youth 13 to 19) pre-intensive workshops is September 30.
• Deadline for submissions for Thousand Islands Playhouse’s Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve is October 1.

  

  The deadline to apply for the Theatre Creators Reserve at
  Thousand Islansd Playhouse is October 1.

• Anne Marie Scheffler’s One Person Show Workshop runs October 1 to 2 in Toronto.
• Deadline for applications for the Toronto Arts Council Artists in the Library program is October 3.
• Deadline for applications for directors (non-paying) at the NAGs Players annual pantomime is October 3.
• Deadline for applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s grants for Artist(s) in the Community / Workplace, Arts Education Projects and National and International Residency is October 4.
• Deadline for applications for Paprika Festival’s 16/17 programming is October 7.
• Deadline for applications for a tenancy at Artscape Youngplace is October 7.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Toronto Irish Players invites applications to direct The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down (non-paying community theatre production.) The application deadline is October 8.
• Theatre 3x60 is hosting Open House Information Sessions on October 11 and 18 for their free youth theatre collective, for Durham youth 14 to 21.
• Great Canadian Theatre Company invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve program. Their funding priority is for playwrights and collectives based in, or who originate from, Ottawa and the National Capital Region. The application deadline is December 2.
• Festival Players of Prince Edward County invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve program. Their funding priority is work that concerns itself with rural and/or epic themes, musicals, work for young audiences, and work by local playwrights from their community. The application deadline is December 9.
• The Village Players of Bloor West Village are seeking Costume Coordinators for Powers and Gloria and The Melville Boys (non-paying community theatre productions.)

Check out these items, and other postings from our members.

• Grants
• Calls for Submission and Nominations
• Volunteer and Non-Paying Positions
• Community Events and Conferences
• Workshops at Ontario Theatres and Other Arts Service Organizations
• Adult Continuing Education Programs
• Youth Training Programs

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access Auditions, Job Postings and Discount Ticket Offers on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Learn to eliminate stigma and barriers for blind or low vision actors and audiences through education and awareness at our “Sight Unseen” workshop with Murray Powell on September 24 in Toronto.
• Registrations are open for our Adjudicators Symposium on October 1 in Toronto, bringing together the province’s adjudicators for professional development and networking.
• Seeking financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor? Apply for our Professional Theatre Training Program mentorship grants. The application deadline is October 3.
• Are stress and anxiety sabotaging your career? Join us at our "Act Bravely: Practical Strategies to Conquer Stage Fright” workshop with Jorie Morrow on October 3.
• Thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company? Join us at our “Ready, Set, Show! Foundations of Indie Producing” workshop with Rachel Kennedy on October 5 in Toronto.
• Does your ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ show need an audience? Join us at our “Bring Your Show to Schools: Navigating the Education System” webinar with Patty Jarvis of Prologue to the Performing Arts on October 13.
• Seeking financial support for programs that deliver accessible training to young people, led by professional theatre artist? Apply for our Youth Theatre Training Program grants. The application deadline is October 17.
• Preparing an OAC application? Get the inside scoop at our free “Grant Writing Information” pre-recorded webinar with Pat Bradley of the Ontario Arts Council on October 18.
• Members save 50% on E-learning courses from WorkInCulture. One of the six courses available is Managing People—Lead your team to greatness! How do you find the right people? How do you motivate your team? Then, how do you keep the solid talent you have? This course will help you find the answers.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

One Song Glory at Acting Up Stage Company

• Ottawa Little Theatre’s Ensemble Storytelling workshop with Jillian Keiley is September 24.
• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Exploring Dynamic Playwriting workshops with Brad Fraser begin September 26.
• TAPA's Standard First Aid with CPR/AED workshop is on September 26 and 27.
• Deadline to apply for Ontario150 Grants Partnership Program for engaging, enabling, and empowering youth is September 30.
• Deadline for nominations for the Canada Council’s John Hobday Awards in Arts Management is September 30.
• Deadline to sign-up for Acting Up Stage Company’s One Song Glory (free musical theatre intensive for youth 13 to 19) pre-intensive workshops is September 30.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Thousand Islands Playhouse invites submissions for its Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve from artists, with particular interest in pieces that originate in their region, explore the history of the region, or deals with themes relevant to the community. The application deadline is October 1.
• Artscape invites proposals from prospective tenants for a space available at Artscape Youngplace. The application deadline is October 7.
• Bursaries are available for those interested in attending SPARC—Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities, running October 27 to 30.
• Young People’s Theatre invites submissions for its Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve from artists who are creating work for young audiences. The application deadline is November 25.
• Shaw Festival invites submissions for its Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve from artists with proposals that engage in the world of the Shaw Festival’s mandate, and plays that are challenging, subversive and political. The application deadline is January 9.

Check out these items, and other postings from our members.

• Grants
• Calls for Submission and Nominations
• Volunteer and Non-Paying Positions
• Community Events and Conferences
• Workshops at Ontario Theatres and Other Arts Service Organizations
• Adult Continuing Education Programs
• Youth Training Programs

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access Auditions, Job Postings and Discount Ticket Offers on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Calling all bowlers, supporters and sponsors! We invite you to take part in our inaugural Bowl-a-Thon in support of Theatre Ontario on September 17 in Toronto.
• Learn to eliminate stigma and barriers for blind or low vision actors and audiences through education and awareness at our “Sight Unseen” workshop with Murray Powell on September 24 in Toronto.
• Registrations are now open for our Adjudicators Symposium on October 1 in Toronto, bringing together the province’s adjudicators for professional development and networking.
• Seeking financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor? Apply for our Professional Theatre Training Program mentorship grants. The application deadline is October 3.
• Are stress and anxiety sabotaging your career? Join us at our “Act Bravely: Practical Strategies to Conquer Stage Fright” workshop with Jorie Morrow on October 3.
• Thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company? Join us at our “Ready, Set, Show! Foundations of Indie Producing” workshop with Rachel Kennedy on October 5 in Toronto
• Does your ‘Theatre for Young Audiences’ show need an audience? Join us at our “Bring Your Show to Schools: Navigating the Education System” webinar with Patty Jarvis of Prologue to the Performing Arts on October 13.
• Seeking financial support for programs that deliver accessible training to young people, led by professional theatre artist? Apply for our Youth Theatre Training Program grants. The application deadline is October 17.
• Members save 50% on E-learning courses from WorkInCulture. One of the six courses available is Managing People—Lead your team to greatness! How do you find the right people? How do you motivate your team? Then, how do you keep the solid talent you have? This course will help you find the answers.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline to apply for Ontario150 Community Capital Program grants is today.
• Deadline to apply for Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed Grants is today.
• Deadline to apply for Ontario Arts Council’s grants for Aboriginal Artists in Communities, Aboriginal Arts Projects, Deaf and Disability Arts Projects, National and International Touring, and Ontario Touring is September 15.
• Deadline to apply for Canada Council’s grants for Theatre: Project Grants to Service Organizations, Artists and Community Collaboration Program in Theatre, Grants to Theatre Artists: Individual Creation, Playwright-in-Residency, Artist-in-Residency and Professional Development, Theatre Production Project Grants for Emerging Artists, and Theatre Production Project Grants for Established Artists is September 15.
• Deadline to register your Ontario Culture Days free interactive arts and culture event is September 19.
• WorkInCulture is hosting a free “Job Hunting” webinar with Sandy Lee for arts administrators and job hunters on September 21.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Toronto Arts Council invites applications for the Artists in the Library program, a multidisciplinary residency grant for artists, collectives and organizations to present programs in selected Toronto Public Libraries. The application deadline is October 3.
• The Paprika Festival invites submissions for the 16/17 Festival’s artistic programs, including Paprika Productions, Playwriting, Creators Unit, and Paprika's Regent Collective (ages 15-21), Advisory Board (ages 21-25), and Director's Lab (ages 15-30). The application deadline is October 7.

Check out these items, and other postings from our members.

• Grants
• Calls for Submission and Nominations
• Volunteer and Non-Paying Positions
• Community Events and Conferences
• Workshops at Ontario Theatres and Other Arts Service Organizations
• Adult Continuing Education Programs
• Youth Training Programs

Theatre Ontario individual members can also access Auditions, Job Postings and Discount Ticket Offers on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website