Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

Building Your Brand as an Artist workshop

• 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.
• You’ve got the ideas, you’ve got the passion, you’ve got the drive—what you’re missing is the almighty dollar. Join us at our Crowdfunding: Essential Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations workshop with Nancy Kenny on November 2 in Toronto.
• Running away from a blank page? Learn how to get past writer’s block. Join us at our Writer’s Block webinar with Marcia Johnson in partnership with Playwrights Guild of Canada on November 3 in Toronto.
• Keep your team safe and your show running smoothly—join us at our Health and Safety for Independent and Community Theatres workshop with Janet Sellery on November 5 in Toronto.
• Learn the techniques and the language to stage human sexuality in a way that is professional, dynamic and focused on storytelling at our Intimacy for the Stage workshop with Tonia Sina in partnership with Burning Mountain on November 12 and 13 in Toronto.
• Build and maintain a solid career that industry professionals and audiences will trust in our Building Your Brand as an Artist workshop with Edward Power on November 14 in Toronto.
• Members save 50% on E-learning courses from WorkInCulture. One of the six courses available is Marketing—Find and grow your audience! How do you make the leap from "Sounds like a great show" to "Two tickets, please"? This course will take you through that process, developing and enhancing your marketing skills along the way.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts is hosting a Granting 101: The Basics workshop in partnership with the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council on October 24.
• SPARC – the Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities opens October 27 in Haliburton.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Cahoots Theatre Company invites submissions for their Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve. Their funding priorities are artists of colour, deaf artists and artists with disabilities. The application deadline is December 1.

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

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• 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.
• You’ve got the ideas, you’ve got the passion, you’ve got the drive—what you’re missing is the almighty dollar. Join us at our Crowdfunding: Essential Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations workshop with Nancy Kenny on November 2 in Toronto.
• Keep your team safe and your show running smoothly—join us at our Health and Safety for Independent and Community Theatres workshop with Janet Sellery on November 5 in Toronto.
• Members save 50% on E-learning courses from WorkInCulture. One of the six courses available is Marketing—Find and grow your audience! How do you make the leap from "Sounds like a great show" to "Two tickets, please"? This course will take you through that process, developing and enhancing your marketing skills along the way.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• 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.
• Deadline for applications to direct Toronto Irish Players The Night Joe Dolan’s Car Broke Down (non-paying community theatre production) 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.
• Deadline for applications to direct for Alumnae Theatre Festival’s New Ideas Festival (non-paying) is October 14.
• Deadline for proposals from producers for the Klondike Visitor Association’s entertainment contract is October 14.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Native Earth Performing Arts invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve. They are particularly encouraging submissions by Indigenous artists, artists-of-colour and women, multidisciplinary artists, and should work within the seven values that govern Native Earth. The application deadline is November 28.
• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve. They support artists and works by voices that question sexual and cultural norms, built on the political and social principles of queer liberation. The application deadline is December 2.
• Theatre Aquarius invites applications for their OAC Theatre Creators’ Reserve. Their funding allocation priority is for Hamilton and area (Halton and Niagara) based writers/creators. The application deadline is December 5.

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

Introducing our Fall Career Stream and Creator Stream Workshops

We have an exciting line-up this Fall in our Career Stream and Creator Stream workshop series.

Voice Over workshop, with Elley-Ray

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

Workshops include:

• Launching Your Career, with Rachel Kennedy and guests
• Voice-Over, with Elley-Ray
• Ask an Agent, with Alicia Jeffery
• Building Your Brand as an Artist, with Edward Power
• Act Bravely: Practical Strategies to Conquer Stage Fright, with Jorie Morrow

Browse the Theatre Ontario Career Stream workshops Fall calendar

The Creator Stream is for anyone looking to produce their own work or start their own theatre company.

Workshops include:

• Ready, Set, Show!: Foundations of Indie Producing, with Rachel Kennedy and guests
• Grant Writing Information Webinar, with Pat Bradley (Ontario Arts Council)
• Bring Your Show to Schools Webinar, with Patty Jarvis (Prologue)
• Playwright's Guide to Getting Produced, with David S. Craig
• Crowdfunding, with Nancy Kenny
• Health & Safety for Independent and Community Theatres, with Janet Sellery
• Sight Un-Scene: Adapted Theatre Techniques for Blind or Low Vision Actors, with Murray Powell

Browse the Theatre Ontario Creator Stream workshops Fall calendar

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• From Lynne Marie Rosenberg on Howlround: “How Not to Write a Casting Breakdown”—have you ever thought about what the language you use in your audition notice says about your production or organization?
• Musician Marian Call has written a terrific “nuts and bolts” post about crowdfunding, Kickstarter, and the math you need to do before you launch your project.
• I’ve found some theatres get bogged down in “pricing jargon” in understanding box office strategy resources: Amelia Northrup-Simpson on Patron Manager has shared a useful vocabulary to help the conversation.
• Jini Stolk (Creative Trust Research Fellow at the Toronto Arts Foundation) wrote about artists’ wills—something we rarely want to think about (like many things involving death), but it is important if you are concerned about your creative legacy.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• What will the impact of the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan be for Ontario’s not-for-profit theatres?  The Ontario Nonprofit Network has written a good analysis (second article in this post.)

Migrations

• Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville, has been appointed as the Progressive Conservative’s Critic for Tourism, Culture and Sports (as well as Deputy Leader.)
• Rita Davies is the new Chair of the Ontario Arts Council.

In Case You Missed It

• Talking with Pauletta Washington about the importance of preparation for performance.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

An adjudication at Theatre Ontario Festival 2015

• Our Festival has wrapped up for another year—but you can catch up on all the news articles, blog posts, and tweets in our Theatre Ontario Festival Storify.
• This week’s #CdnCult Times reflects on a project that explored and celebrated the Indigenous Body of Work. Contributors were Jillian Keiley, Joseph Osawabine, and Cole Alvis.
• You’ve Cott Mail dedicated a recent edition to issues of crowdfunding, including the question “who makes better decisions—expert funders or crowds?”
• Looking for ideas to integrate the arts into other school subjects? Joe Patti writes on Arts Hacker about the intersection of theatre and physics and how the backstage is a “showcase” of physics in practice.
• Mixed Blood Theatre in the U.S. has launched an innovative program: the Disability Visibility Project. Theatres can access grants of $5000 to produce plays about disability with the proviso that artists with disability are employed as the characters with disability.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• R.H. Thomson is one of the recipients of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.  In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, he reflects on his career including the influence of his mother, Cicely, who was also one of the founders of Theatre Ontario, and his first performance at the age of four on the stage of The Curtain Club community theatre in Richmond Hill.
• Jane Coryell from our Talent Bank is holding a special exhibition of her set designs at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre in Oakville, from June 10 to September 30.

TO Toasts

• …to Natalie Ackers of Roseneath Theatre, who was chosen as one of the protégés for this year’s Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award by award recipient Ivan Havel. The award is presented by the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres.
• …to the recipients of this year’s Toronto Theatre Critics Awards.

In Case You Missed It

• Cultivating Tomorrow’s Artists: Kayleigh Robertson, from our Youth Advisory Committee, wrote about the conversation we had at our Festival and Annual General Meeting.
• PTTP Profiles: Exploring current projects funded by the Professional Theatre Training Program.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Gina Paradis (WODL President), Bruce Pitkin,
and Yvonne Korince (WODL Festival Chair)
At opening night of the Western Ontario Drama
League Festival in Owen Sound.
Photo by Denis Langlois of
the Owen Sound Sun Times

Conversation Starters

• The New York Times looked at how theatres are handling harassment
• Emma Mackenzie Hillier, a former member of our Board of Directors, shared her experience with harassment in theatre
• Meanwhile, Canadian Actors Equity Association has published the results of their survey on Safe and Respectful Workplaces
• As theatres try to make the theatre-going experience more “parent-friendly”, Lyn Gardner wonders whether theatres are giving the same consideration to their artists
• From Theater Wit: “Why I always want the playwright in the room” – and not just at the first production
• From HowlRound: Has crowdfunding become a co-opted model that has reached its tipping point?

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Owen Sound Sun Times welcomed us to the Western Ontario Drama League Festival

In Case You Missed It

• Congratulations to John Storey of Markham, recipient of our Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre
• Celebrating World Theatre Day

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

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• 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—A day to share perspectives, knowledge and experiences while connecting, networking and collaborating

  

  Bridging the Gap from Theatre Ontario's Youth
  Advisory Committee is on November 15 in Toronto

• 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
• Webinars for Small Budget Arts Organizations: "Facebook—A really useful marketing tool” is a free webinar on November 20
• Financial Basics for Artists on November 24 in Toronto: a free workshop on basic financial skills
• Launching Your Career on November 24 in Toronto: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting with Erin Keating and a guest actor
• Unleashing Your Inner Entrepreneur on December 8 in Toronto: Thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company? Join us for this workshop with Erin Keating and a guest producer

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The SPARC Network (Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities) is holding a network summit in Haliburton Highlands on November 14 to 16
• Deadline for Ontario Arts Council Northern Arts grants is November 17

New on The Bulletin Board

• There will be a Town Hall Meeting on re-imagining the Prix Rideau Award for the Ottawa professional theatre community on November 24.
• Directors Lab North is now inviting applications for the 2015 Directors Lab; the Lab fosters a national and international exchange between a community of emerging, mid-level and established career directors that need a safe space to explore and connect with like-minded peers.  The application deadline is February 15, 2015.

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

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

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• 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—A day to share perspectives, knowledge and experiences while 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
• Free upcoming Webinar for Small Budget Arts Organizations includes “Facebook—A really useful marketing tool” on November 20
• Financial Basics for Artists on November 24 in Toronto: a free workshop on basic financial skills
• Launching Your Career on November 24 in Toronto: Answers to your FAQs about the business of acting

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The SPARC Network (Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities) is holding a network summit in Haliburton Highlands on November 14 to 16

New on The Bulletin Board

• Odyssey Theatre now invites applications for their Ontario Arts Council Theatre Creators Reserve Program; funding priorities are projects that incorporate a discipline related to masked theatre, incorporates forms from diverse cultural traditions, involves artists with these established skills, and are innovative.  The application 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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

Christopher Charlesworth and Asier Ania
of HiveWire at the launch of the Toronto
Fringe Festival's FWYC-Fund What You Can

• The Toronto Fringe Festival has launched FWYC—Fund What You Can, a crowdfunding platform accessible to any indie artist or collective in any artistic discipline.  The site was designed by HiveWire, leaders in the crowdfunding industry, and funded by the Metcalf Foundation through the Creative Strategies Incubator Program

Conversation Starters

• Non-profit staff volunteering for your own organization: is this a risky proposition?
• Chantal Bilodeau is curating a “Canadian theatre salon” as part of TCG Circle’s World Theatre Day 2014 / Crossing Borders salon series (UPDATE: My apologies to TCG - I credited the wrong publisher in the original version of this post)
• On HowlRound: How do power dynamics influence the language of women directors?  Jess K. Smith calls for a revolution of language

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

• This week’s voices on #CdnCult Times are all emerging directors: top read for me was by Andreja Kovac on how immigrant artists are included/excluded in Canadian theatre
• Howard Sherman wonders who thinks it’s OK to “improve” playwrights’ work and provoked numerous responses, including Alexander Offord (We Do Not Owe Fealty to a Playwright’s Wishes) and Holger Syme (Performance and Authorship).  Personally, I believe that theatre thrives with the collaboration of all of the artists involved—including the playwrights.  Successful collaboration requires respect
• Andrew Taylor looks at a study of successful and unsuccessful crowdfunding language, and finds that many of the “ancient principles” still apply

Behind The Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Meet the Thousand Islands Playhouse 2014 Playwrights’ Unit: Attila Clemann and Jodi Essery, Rona Waddington, Mark Crawford, and Paul Van Dyck

Migrations

• Tania Senewiratne is the new General Manager of Obsidian Theatre Company

In Case You Missed It

• Bringing together students and professionals at Theatre Ontario Next Generation Showcase
• World Festival of Children’s Theatre is coming to Canada

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Crowdfunding Basics: Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations workshop with Nancy Kenny on October 7 in Ottawa: You’ve got the ideas. You’ve got the passion. You’ve got the drive.  What you’re missing is the almighty dollar.  Welcome to the wonderful world of crowdfunding.
• Application deadline for the Youth Theatre Training Program is October 15, offering financial support for accessible theatre programs involving youth aged 14 to 21 led by professional theatre artists
• Our Adjudicators Symposium on October 19 in Toronto is an opportunity for established and emerging adjudicators, as well as the theatres and organizations that hire them, to benefit from professional development, networking, and information exchange, to discuss training needs and opportunities, and to develop methodologies for the future
• Upcoming Community Theatre Discussion Forums are in London on October 20 and Merrickville on November 9: sharing and identifying opportunities to partner, and provide services and support such as advocacy, training, and resources
• Getting Started for Actors workshop with Mairin Smit on October 23 in Toronto: Get the answers to your FAQs about the business of acting
• Financial Basics: What Self-Employed Artists Should Know free workshop with Tessa-Marie Shillingford on October 28 in Toronto: Learn some basic financial skills that will enable you to take control of your finances and make the best possible money decisions for now and the future

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, self-producing, and grant information sessions.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

The Registry Theatre

• The Registry Theatre in Kitchener is holding two upcoming lighting workshops: Hanging, Focusing, and Basic Designs on October 7 and Working the Board, Programming and Recording Cues on October 8
• Deadline to apply for the Toronto Fringe Festival’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 7
• Deadline to apply for the Tarragon Theatre’s OAC Theatre Creators Reserve is October 11

New on The Bulletin Board

• Cahoots Theatre Company is holding an Audition Intensive with Kawa Ada, for actors who identify as diverse.  The class will take place on consecutive Monday evenings beginning October 21 to November 11.  Application deadline is October 11.  Only 10-12 participants will be selected.

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

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Upcoming workshops include Ask An Agent: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know with Alicia Jeffery on September 30 in Toronto, Crowdfunding Basics: Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations with Nancy Kenny on October 7 in Ottawa, the Adjudicators Symposium on October 19 in Toronto, and Getting Started for Actors with Mairin Smit on October 23 in Toronto.  Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including financial basics, the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and self-producing
• Upcoming Community Theatre Discussion Forums in Sault Ste. Marie on September 28, London on October 20, and Merrickville on November 9: sharing and identifying opportunities to partner, and provide services and support such as advocacy, training, and resources
• Application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, offering financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline except performance
• Application deadline for the Youth Theatre Training Program is October 15, offering financial support for accessible theatre programs involving youth aged 14 to 21 led by professional theatre artists

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Jumblies Theatre’s Oral History and Art-Making workshop in Sudbury for artists from any discipline and tradition with some prior experience, through their own practices, of oral history or interview-based arts projects, and an active professional interest in this work, starts September 26

Jumblies Theatre workshop
Photo by Katherine Fleitas

• Ontario Arts Council upcoming deadlines for Artists in the Community / Workplace, Arts Education Projects, and National and International Residency programs is October 1
• Tarragon Theatre’s Playwriting and Dramaturgy with Brian Quirt for writers and other theatre artists exploring creation through writing starts October 1

New on The Bulletin Board

• Acting Up Stage Company invites applications to audition for One Song Glory, a free professional musical theatre training program for youth 13 to 19; auditions are October 19 and 27
• Applications are now open for the Toronto Fringe Festival; deadline is November 4
• The Toronto Fringe is also inviting applications under the Culturally Diverse Artists Project, encouraging greater participation in the Fringe Festival by artists who self-identify as culturally diverse by removing some of the traditional barriers to participation, including financial concerns, awareness of the Fringe, artistic support and a sense of being excluded from mainstream events; the deadline is also November 4

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

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Struggling with funding for your project?  Check out our free Grant Writing Information Session for Theatre Individuals and Groups with Pat Bradley on September 23 in Toronto, and our Crowdfunding Basics: Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations with Nancy Kenny on October 7 in Ottawa (ICYMI: Read Nancy's "Free Money" post on our blog)
• Upcoming Community Theatre Discussion Forums in Sault Ste. Marie on September 28, London on October 20, and Merrickville on November 9: sharing and identifying opportunities to partner, and provide services and support such as advocacy, training, and resources
• Are you an actor wondering about what an agent does and why should you have one?  Join us for Ask An Agent: Everything You’ve Always Wanted To Know with Alicia Jeffery on September 30 in Toronto
• Application deadline for the Professional Theatre Training Program is October 1, offering financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline except performance
• Application deadline for the Youth Theatre Training Program is October 15, offering financial support for accessible theatre programs involving youth aged 14 to 21 led by professional theatre artists

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including our Adjudicators Symposium, the business of acting, financial basics, the Ontarians With Disabilities Act, and self-producing

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Tarragon Theatre’s Audit The Season starts today, for professional and aspiring theatre-makers, as well as engaged audience members, interested in observing and unpacking elements of the creative process from the inside
• Application deadline for Buddies In Bad Times’ Young Creators Unit, for queer-identified artists 25 and under is September 20
• Alameda Theatre Company’s Playwriting Masterclass with Guillermo Verdecchia for emerging and established theatre artists seeking the opportunity to engage with the craft of playwriting begins September 21
• Jumblies Theatre’s Oral History and Art-Making workshop in Sudbury for artists from any discipline and tradition with some prior experience, through their own practices, of oral history or interview-based arts projects, and an active professional interest in this work, starts September 26
• Ontario Arts Council upcoming deadlines for Artists in the Community / Workplace, Arts Education Projects, and National and International Residency programs is October 1

Guillermo Verdecchia, Alameda Theatre's
Playwriting Masterclass instructor

New on The Bulletin Board

• Théâtre Action’s 2013 Happening Théâtral Communautaire (HTC) will take place at Toronto’s Collège français in partnership with the amateur theatre troupe Les Indisciplinés.  French Ontario theatre lovers can gather to discuss, exchange and learn. The participants will be invited to collaborate and create collective work during the weekend. Every amateur theatre troupe in attendance will have the opportunity to present a ten minute excerpt from their season’s production. A professional director, Pierre Simpson, will be rehearsing with all the groups to link the excerpts and create flow for this collective production that will take place Saturday evening.  Participants will also have the chance to take part in training offered by professional theatre artists Luc Thériault, Lisa L’Heureux and André Perrier, will participate in a round table consultation on the subject of amateur theatre troupe management and will see a production by Les Indisciplinés de Toronto.  Theatre Ontario members are eligible for the discount rate.  The conference is October 18 to 20.
• Tarragon Theatre invites applications for Urjo Kareda Residency Grant for an Emerging Theatre Artist.  The residency grant supports the training and artistic residency of an emerging theatre artist.  The successful applicant will spend twenty weeks at Tarragon Theatre working in collaboration with professional artists to pursue training and artistic goals.  The first deadline is October 21.
• Want to fast-track your play to success at the 2014 Toronto Fringe Festival?  Apply to the Toronto Fringe Festival New Play Contest.  The contest closes October 25.
• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is accepting submissions for Theatre Creators’ Reserve grants through the Ontario Arts Council.  Buddies wishes to support the variety of needs and approaches individual creators or collectives may have in creating original work; interested in projects that are in all stages of development; supporting theatre creators who are working on new play texts and performance creation-based models.  Deadline is November 29.
• Theatre InspiraTO's Ten-Minute Playwriting Contest is open to everyone without age or geographic restriction.  There are no submission fees.  The creative challenge for the contest is that the staging of the play must involve two or more dimensions.  Deadline is December 18.

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

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up at Theatre Ontario

• Our first Community Theatre Discussion Forum of the Fall will be at Oshawa Little Theatre on September 12
• We’ve added three new workshops to our Fall workshop series including: Grant Writing Information Session with Pat Bradley on September 23 in Toronto, Ask an Agent with Alicia Jeffery on September 30 in Toronto, and Crowdfunding Basics with Nancy Kenny on October 7 in Ottawa.  Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including grant proposal writing, playwriting, and marketing
• Save the date for Theatre Ontario Festival 2014 in Sarnia, May 14 to May 18.  Festival is a showcase of outstanding community theatre productions; a classroom for passionate, dedicated community theatre artists; a celebration of excellence in community theatre; and a destination bringing together theatre lovers from across the province

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Today is the deadline to apply for Theatre 20’s Emerging Artist Ensemble for up-and-coming musical theatre performers
• The final workshop in the Young Associates Summer Seminar series is today: Integrate Database Management Into Your Workflow
• Deadline for proposals for the Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities is August 30
• Deadline to apply for Bandcamp at Theatre Passe Muraille is August 23; Bandcamp is a unique program offering emerging musicians an affordable performance opportunity in a downtown, beer-filled venue

New on the Bulletin Board

• Soulpepper Theatre invites submissions for the 2013 Soulpepper Dance Awards, recognizing excellence in the Toronto Dance Community and Toronto-based artists who exemplify the values of Soulpepper (creativity, innovation, collaboration, and spirit). Awards are in four categories: Emerging Dance Artist, Senior Dance Artist, Community Dance Artist, Multi-Disciplinary Artist.  Deadline is September 3.

Esmeralda Enrique, 2012 Soulpepper Dance Award recipient
2013 submissions due on September 3
Photo by Nathan Kelly

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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Behind The Scenes At Ontario’s Theatres

Espanola Little Theatre's Looking

• Espanola Little Theatre is still “Looking”: With six Theatre Ontario Festival awards in hand—including the Elsie for Outstanding Production—Espanola Little Theatre's production of Looking is now touring to Gore Bay (Gore Bay Community Hall on August 16) and Parry Sound (Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts on August 18.)  These will be the fifth and sixth venues for this production.  (Do you remember the first four?)
• Kristin Shepherd was one of the playwrights featured in “Grassroots: Original Plays From Ontario Community Theatres”, published by Playwrights Canada Press. Her newest play, Hope OP, will premiere at Gateway Theatre Guild in North Bay this November

Conversations

• Rob Salerno writes a compelling reminder on Exit Upstage to think about your audience when crowdfunding.  If you're looking to learn more about crowdfunding, join us on October 7 at Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa for our workshop Crowdfunding Basics: Tips for Artists and Arts Organizations with Nancy Kenny
• Adam Thurman encourages us to learn a lesson from Hollywood on Mission Paradox: Once the arts starts, the marketing (essentially) ends
• Holger Syme shared some German theatre season announcements—and how they prepare the audience for a theatrical experience, and a response to that experience, that goes beyond a commercial transaction

In Case You Missed It

• The Revival of the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre

Ontario Off Stage

Conversations

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

From The Wire

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

TO Toasts

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

Assembled by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Browsing The Bulletin Board

A few spaces are still available in the following upcoming workshops:

• So You Need Money For Your Project: Crowdfunding for Artists and Arts Organizations on March 25 at 6:30pm in Toronto – You’ve got the ideas. You’ve got the passion. You’ve got the drive. What you’re missing is the almighty dollar.  Grant writing and fundraising events are no longer your only options when it comes to finding money to get your project off the ground. Nancy Kenny introduces you to the wonderful world of crowdfunding.
• Canada's Anti-Spam Law: What Theatre Practitioners Need To Know on March 26 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Electronic marketing is one of the least expensive and most prolific ways for theatre practitioners to reach their audiences - to promote upcoming shows, provide ticket offers and solicit for volunteer and financial support.  Canada's new anti-spam law ("CASL"), which is expected to come into force this year, places considerable restrictions on the sending of commercial electronic messages.  This seminar will provide an overview of the requirements and penalties under CASL, and discuss examples of practical compliance methods.
• Getting Started for Actors on March 27 at 2:00pm in Toronto – For actors beginning their professional careers, answering the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting including the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, agents and casting directors, auditioning, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.
• Social Media Connecting with an Audience Online on March 28 in Blyth – This is your opportunity to learn the whys and hows of a successful web presence, and how to market yourself and your organization effectively.  The morning session presented by Paul Snepsts will explore the Why and How of a Successful Web Presence, including some practical tips for getting your website started or upgraded.  The afternoon session presented by Michael Wheeler, will explore Social Media and Online Engagement and how best to engage with your audience, which social media options are best for you, including the latest in live blogging and tweeting.
• Playwriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique on April 5 to 7 in Toronto – Plays are not written in the first draft. Plays come to life in rewrites. But re-write how? What if we don't know how to move our work forward? What if we don't know how to critique our own work? What if we aren't sure how to process feedback from others? This workshop offers tools and techniques for playwrights who have a play “under construction.”
• Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including self-producing, directing, accessibility, and more.
• The deadline for nominations for the 2013-2014 Theatre Ontario Board of Directors is March 26.
• Our first two Theatre Ontario Festival 2013 productions have been chosen: Windsor's Theatre Intrigue (from the Western Ontario Drama League) presents Orphans by Dennis Kelly on May 16; and Espanola Little Theatre (from QUONTA in northeastern Ontario) presents Looking by Norm Foster on May 18; Festival tickets go on sale on April 8

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The Toronto Fringe Festival Tent Talk in the Lab “Will I Ever Own a House? (Building a Sustainable Career in the Theatre)” is today at 11am
• CITT Ontario is holding a workshop on March 25 with Beth Kates, Ben Chaisson, and Emily Porter on QLab for designers, technicians, technical directors, production managers, and stage managers
• The deadline for nominations for PACT’s Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award 2013 is March 22, recognizing an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership within the Canadian theatre community
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts invites nominations for the Dora Ancillary Awards (Silver Ticket Award; Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award, honouring excellence and ambassadorship for the arts; George Luscombe Award for Mentorship in Theatre; and Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Administration); nomination deadline is April 1

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

Browsing The Bulletin Board

There is still time to register for many of our upcoming workshops:

• Grant Writing Information Session for Playwrights and Theatre Artists on March 21 at 6pm in Ottawa – Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer of the Ontario Arts Council, will share information, perspective, and tips about project grants, particularly the OAC’s three professional theatre project programs – Theatre Projects, Playwright Residency, and Theatre Creators’ Reserve
• So You Need Money For Your Project: Crowdfunding for Artists and Arts Organizations on March 25 at 6:30pm in Toronto – You’ve got the ideas. You’ve got the passion. You’ve got the drive. What you’re missing is the almighty dollar.  Grant writing and fundraising events are no longer your only options when it comes to finding money to get your project off the ground. Nancy Kenny introduces you to the wonderful world of crowdfunding.
• Canada's Anti-Spam Law: What Theatre Practitioners Need To Know on March 26 at 2:00pm in Toronto – Electronic marketing is one of the least expensive and most prolific ways for theatre practitioners to reach their audiences - to promote upcoming shows, provide ticket offers and solicit for volunteer and financial support.  Canada's new anti-spam law ("CASL"), which is expected to come into force this year, places considerable restrictions on the sending of commercial electronic messages.  This seminar will provide an overview of the requirements and penalties under CASL, and discuss examples of practical compliance methods.
• Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including Getting Started for Actors in Toronto, Social Media Connecting with an Audience Online in Blyth, playwriting, directing, self-producing, and more

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The next Toronto Fringe Festival Tent Talk in the Lab is “Will I Ever Own a House? (Building a Sustainable Career in the Theatre)” on March 20
• The deadline for nominations for PACT’s Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award 2013 is March 22, recognizing an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership within the Canadian theatre community

New on The Bulletin Board

• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts invites nominations for the Dora Ancillary Awards (Silver Ticket Award; Barbara Hamilton Memorial Award, honouring excellence and ambassadorship for the arts; George Luscombe Award for Mentorship in Theatre; Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Administration; and Pauline McGibbon Award for Unique Talents and Potential for Excellence); nomination deadline is April 1
• Bottletree Productions 2013 One-Act Playwriting Competition is now open for entries.  There is an entry fee for this competition.  The deadline is November 30

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

FREE MONEY

by Nancy Kenny

Well, now that I have your attention, read on.

Nathan Gibbs via Compfight

As an independent theatre producer, I constantly find myself paying for my projects out of pocket. Yes, I have received grant money in the past and I do believe they still offer much needed help to artists. However the process to get them can be lengthy, the competition just keeps getting tougher, the pool money available often seems to be shrinking, and at the end of the day, after jumping through all the necessary hoops, you're still not guaranteed a dime. (That said, for more information and tips on grant writing, please see some of my previous posts here and here, as well as my podcast series with the Ontario Arts Council.) What's a poor artist/producer to do? Well, if you've been anywhere near the Internet in the last year or so, chances are good that you've heard about Crowdfunding. According to the knower of all knowledge (i.e. Wikipedia):

Crowd funding or crowdfunding describes the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their money, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowd funding is used in support of a wide variety of activities, including disaster relief, citizen journalism, support of artists by fans, political campaigns, start-up company funding, movie or free software development, inventions development and scientific research.

Now, you might not have been aware of the term "crowdfunding," but you've probably heard of the multiple platforms out there that perform this very service. I'm talking about the Kickstarters, the Indiegogos and the GoFundMes, among others. So, you just pick a crowdfunding site, put in your brilliant project, send out a tweet and BLAMMO! Now you can just kick back and watch all that glorious moulah roll in, right? Well, not quite. While I personally find crowdfunding to be easier than writing one grant application after another, it still involves quite a bit of work. From choosing the platform that's right for you, having a financial goal in mind, creating perks, leveraging your network and fans, making campaign updates that don't annoy the heck out of everyone you know and following through on your promises, developing a successful crowdfunding campaign requires a lot of careful planning and considerations.

ED. UPDATE: Our next "Crowdfunding Essentials" workshop with Nancy will be on November 15, as part of our "Artist as Entrepreneur" Boot Camp.

Originally posted: http://nancykenny.ca/2013/02/free-money/

Nancy Kenny is a professional actor, writer and independent producer. She is a founding member of Evolution Theatre in Ottawa, now entering its seventh season, and has toured her one-woman show, Roller Derby Saved My Soul, to great critical and public acclaim across the country. She ran a successful crowdfunding campaign for RDSMS and is excited to share with you what she learned along the way.

For almost ten years, Nancy has been working in marketing, promotions, and event planning with a focus on social media and theatre arts organizations.  She has worked professionally for the University of Ottawa, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, the Canadian War Museum, the Great Canadian Theatre Company, and Evolution Theatre.  She was the Interim Online Communications Coordinator for the Ontario Arts Council, and currently produces and hosts their monthly podcast series.  She is also the Social Media & Community Manager for VIA Rail.

Web: www.nancykenny.ca Twitter: @nancykenny

New Training Opportunities: Crowdfunding, Getting Started For Actors, Self-Producing, Playwrighting Self-Editing and a Directors Intensive

We’ve pleased to announce five more exciting training opportunities coming up at Theatre Ontario.

So You Need Money For Your Project? Crowdfunding for Artists and Arts Organizations is a new workshop with Nancy Kenny on March 25 at 6:30pm.  You’ve got the ideas.  You’ve got the passion.  You’ve got the drive.  What you’re missing is the almighty dollar.  Grant writing and fundraising events are no longer your only options when it comes to finding money to get your project off the ground.  Welcome to the wonderful world of crowdfunding—come learn the tools and the techniques to succeed.

We have also scheduled our next dates for our two popular professional theatre sessions.

Getting Started For Actors with Tim Chapman on March 27 at 2pm.  This session is for actors beginning their professional careers to get the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting: the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, agents and casting directors, auditioning, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.

Self-Start: The Basics of Producing with Tim Chapman on April 10 at 2pm.  If you want to do a show but have never produced professionally before, and if you want to know what questions to ask first, this session is for you!  This workshop is designed for individuals thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company, and gives you the opportunity to ask questions and try out ideas, discover the questions you need to ask and answer, learn to organize your thinking and planning, work on scheduling and budget considerations, and find out about available resources and services.

Finally, we have two weekend courses, one for playwrights and one for directors.

Playwriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique with Lindsay Price on April 5 to 7.  Plays are not written in the first draft.  Plays come to life in rewrites.  But re-write how?  What if we don't know how to move our work forward?  What if we don't know how to critique our own work?  What if we aren't sure how to process feedback from others?  This workshop offers tools and techniques for playwrights who have a play “under construction.”

Directors Intensive with Autumn Smith on April 20 to 21.  This two-day workshop is designed for experienced directors in both the community theatre and professional theatre realms, concentrating on making the work as specific as possible; and exploring how to get what the playwright intended onto the stage in a simple and detailed fashion.

To find out about all of Theatre Ontario’s upcoming training covering grant information, proposal writing, taxes, and introduction to adjudication, visit the Courses and Workshops listing on the Theatre Ontario website