Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre's Long Table

• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is hosting a Long Table in Toronto on March 4 on “Free Speech and Accountability.” The provocation for the table will be: “Within our diverse, evolving and intergenerational queer and artistic communities, how do we engage with the tension between freedom of speech and accountability, dissent and respect?”
• “So let’s stop the “talk” about more representation on our stages and in our industry and let’s just do it.” – from Akosua Amo-Adem in Intermission, in rehearsal for School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play opening in Toronto.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The line-up for the Western Ontario Drama League Festival in celebration of community theatre in southwestern Ontario has been announced.
• WODL Festival hosts Guelph Little Theatre were awarded an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant in support of upgrading their main stage and lighting system.
• Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto announced their 2019 Summer/Fall season. 

Migrations

• Marjorie Chan is leaving as Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre in Toronto.
• Clayton Lee is the new Rhubarb Festival Director at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto.
• David Abel is the new Managing Director of the National Arts Centre—English Theatre in Ottawa.
• Franco Boni is leaving The Theatre Centre in Toronto to become Artistic and Executive Director of PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program in production management, directing, and projection design.
• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program in administration, lighting design, and artistic direction.
• ONstage Openings this week in Aurora, Toronto, Ottawa, Milford, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, courses, grant deadlines, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

Adam Paolazza. (Photo by Graham Isador from Intermission)

• Intermission’s latest “What I Wish I’d Known” by Graham Isador profiles Adam Paolozza—about to open Paolozzapedia at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto—sharing the advice he’d give the younger version of himself.
• Diane Ragsdale explores the value of “artistic leader discretionary funds” to support a new diverse generation of leaders.
• Scott Harman examines “consent, power, and trauma in the acting classroom” on HowlRound.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The lineup for QUONTA Festival 2019 in Sault Ste. Marie – celebrating community theatre in northeastern Ontario – has been announced on the Festival’s Facebook page.

Migrations

• Andrea Donaldson is the new Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre.
• Sara Meurling is stepping down as Executive Director of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT).

TO Toasts

• ... to long-time Theatre Ontario Talent Bank adjudicator and theatre instructor Ron Cameron-Lewis and his husband Lloyd – how their 50 years together was recognized by the Canadian government (as reported by Rachel Levy-McLaughlin in Xtra.)

In Case You Missed It

• ONstage Openings for the next two weeks in Ottawa, North Bay, Whitby, Markham, Aylmer, Tillsonburg, London, Fergus, Woodstock, Niagara, Toronto, Barrie, Midland, Orangeville, and Kincardine.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, grant deadlines, calls for submission, community events, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• In the new Intermission series “What I Wish I’d Known”, Graham Isador asks theatre artists what advice they’d give younger versions of themselves. The question is a jumping off point for larger conversations about the artist’s work. The first article featured Michael Healey and the question “If you could tell the theatre school version of yourself the success you’d go on to have in the industry how do you think they’d react?”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Kempenfelt Community Players in Barrie announced their 19/20 season (FB post).
• Beginning in Winter 2020, The Musical Stage Company will take up residency for one production each year at the historic Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.
• The cast of Owen Sound Little Theatre’s production of Shorthanded had the opportunity to perform the national anthem before an Ontario Hockey League game between the Owen Sound Attack and the Kitchener Rangers (FB video).
• The Professional Association of Canadian Theatre shared some tips for “Resolving Employee Conflict” for theatre managers.

Migrations

• Sherrie Johnson is the new Executive Director of Crow’s Theatre in Toronto.

TO Toasts

Calithumpian Theatre Company's production of Hir by Taylor Mac
Ingrid Blekys, Zoe Bernard, Rob Deman, Deighton Thomas
Photo by Jackie Noble

• ... to the winners of the Brickenden Awards, including London Community Players and Calithumpian Theatre. The awards honour independent and community theatre in London.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from Next Generation Showcase: Andrew Pritchard of Canadore College describes his “weekend to remember.”
• ONstage Openings this week in Owen Sound, Belleville, Ottawa, Oshawa, Sarnia, Waterloo, Hamilton, London, Elmira, Burlington, and Toronto.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, courses, grant deadlines, calls for submission, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Kim Liao wrote for LitHub about how she sets “rejection goals” as writer, proposing that you should aim for “100 rejections a year.”

Soulpepper Theatre's production of Rose
Sabryn Rock, Hailey Gillis, Raquel Duffy, and Rose Ensemble
Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• With Rose opening this week at Soulpepper Theatre, Robert Cushman profiled the show’s composer / musical director / co-librettist and “prime mover” Mike Ross for Intermission’s Spotlight series.

Migrations

• Jennifer Tarver is leaving as Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre.

TO Toasts

• ... to the recipients of Ontario Arts Council Recommender Grants from Cahoots Theatre.

In Case You Missed It

• Celebrating Emerging Storytellers at our 25th Next Generation Showcase.
• Meet our Youth Advisory Committee for 2019.
• ONstage Openings this week in Toronto, Orangeville, Ottawa, Aurora, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Guelph, and London.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, grant deadlines, calls for submission, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) is leading action to ask the Government of Ontario to reverse the cancellation of a promised $15 million disbursement to the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The OTF has been a significant supporter for strengthening Ontario’s communities—including the activities of many arts organizations. You can learn more on the ONN’s “Take Action” page.
• Jenna Warriner—who will be leading our upcoming workshops on “Social Media for Producers” (January 21) and “Social Media for Actors—Instagram and Twitter” (February 27)—wrote a guide for actors about dealing with trolls for ACTRA Toronto’s “Performers Online” site.
• As always, the “Most Popular Articles of the Year” round-up from Intermission is always an opportunity to catch-up on good conversations you may have missed.
• A fascinating story out of the U.S. via #2amt: How an Austin, Texas playwright’s final play “might have died with him, but a community joined together to ensure its survival.”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• As part of their audience engagement for their upcoming production of Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls, the Alumnae Theatre Company has been introducing their audience to the characters who appear in the opening scene of the play. (From that link you can scroll backwards through their entire series.)

Migrations

• Susan Ferley in the new Artistic Director and Mike Forrester is the new Managing Director of the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.
• Catriona Leger is leaving as Artistic Director of A Company of Fools in Ottawa.

In Case You Missed It

• Welcome to our Next Generation Showcase 2019 Panels.
• ONstage Openings this week in Toronto, Orangeville, and Ottawa.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, grant deadlines, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

Theatre Passe Muraille's Artistic Director search
includes community input as part of the process.

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto is inviting community input as part of their Artistic Director search.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto introduced their 2019 Emerging Creators Unit, partnering with b current performing arts.
• CTV London profiled Blyth Festival’s upcoming 2019 production about the story of St. Thomas’s Jumbo the Elephant (autoplay video).

Migrations

• Monica Esteves is the new Executive Director of Canadian Stage (PDF). 

In Case You Missed It

• Welcome to Costin Manu, our new Executive Director of Theatre Ontario.
• Welcome to RH Thomson as Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Honorary Chair.
• Congratulations to the Fall 2018 Youth Theatre Training Program grant recipients.
• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program featuring projects in directing.
• ONstage Openings this week in Toronto, Peterborough, and Cobourg.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including calls for submission, prizes, grant deadlines, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

The Musical Stage Company's production
of Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life.
Photo by Dahlia Katz

Conversation Starters

• Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Women’s Caucus introduced the inaugural release of The SureFire List, a community-generated resource of shows by women or trans-femmes.
• As part of HowlRound’s series on “Leadership in Transition”, May Antaki spoke with Brendan Healy, the new Artistic Director of Canadian Stage.
• Designing an Immersive Musical – Nick Blais shared his experience being part of the design team for The Musical Stage Company’s production of Dr. Silver: A Celebration of Life.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Four new 2019 Ontario Summer Theatre season announcements from The Foster Festival in St. Catharines, Blyth Festival, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, and the Gravenhurst Opera House.
• The Ontario Arts Council has released “The status of women in the Canadian arts and cultural industries: Research review 2010-2018”, synthesizing existing research on the status of women in the arts in Ontario and Canada.

Migrations

• Lisa Marie DiLiberto is the new Artistic Producer of Theatre Direct in Toronto.

TO Toasts

• ... to former Board and Staff member Barry Freeman who was one of the recipients of a Nathan Cohen Award for excellence in critical writing from the Canadian Theatre Critics Association. While celebrating the accomplishment, the University of Toronto Press has made Barry's Canadian Theatre Review article available for free.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Summer Theatre Intensive: Cassel Miles was learning to love again at Learning to Love Your Monologue.
• ONstage Openings this week in Sault Ste. Marie, Aurora, Beaverton, Richmond Hill, Waterloo, Sarnia, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Sudbury.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, 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.

Ontario Off Stage

Raeburn Ferguson

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

From Theatre Ontario

• We regret to announce that Rachel Kennedy is leaving as Professional Theatre and Education Manager, but we are excited to welcome Raeburn Ferguson who will be joining our staff.

Conversation Starters

• Alicia Richardson—Driftwood Theatre’s Playwright in Residence—reflects on how she “kills her inner critic.”
• The Ontario Nonprofit Network has released a report “Women’s Voices—Stories about Working in Ontario’s Nonprofit Sector” based on the stories of 730 women sharing with what it was like to work in Ontario's nonprofit sector and provided recommendations for change.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Orpheus Musical Theatre’s production of The Last Five Years lost several performances due to the long power outages many in Ottawa suffered following the tornado on September 21. Thanks to the Gladstone who graciously offered their space, the production will go on three more times.

Migrations

• Weyni Mengesha is the new Artistic Director of Soulpepper in Toronto.
• Jack Brezina is stepping down as President of Highlands Summer Festival in Haliburton. 

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from Our Summer Theatre Intensive—“Plot—It Builds Character” from Jackie Mahoney.
• ONstage Openings this week in Belleville, Perth, Morrisburg, Smiths Falls, Constance Bay, Guelph, London, Cambridge, Woodstock, Toronto, and Orangeville; and next week in Ottawa, Kingston, Milford, Mississauga, Toronto, Millbrook, Cobourg, and Port Hope.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, grant deadlines, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

Mikaela Davies and Elissa Horscroft in conversation with
Keira Loughran at foldA from the Stratford Festival.
Photo by Michael Wheeler
Image from spiderwebshow.ca

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• SpiderWebShow has completes its series from the conversations at their inaugural Festival of Digital Art (foldA)—exploring possible futures for our practice.
• Respectful Workplaces in the Arts, the anti-harassment project from the Cultural Human Resources Council, has a new online home.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Western Ontario Drama League’s Pre-Festival Adjudication Schedule for the Fall and Winter has been published on their website.
• The Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario has also announced their ACT-CO Festival adjudication schedule for 2018/19.

Migrations

• Kelly Thornton is leaving as Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre in Toronto to become Artistic Director of Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba (FB post, with a warning to hockey fans of a potentially disturbing image...)

TO Toasts

• ... to the 2018 Tom Hendry Awards Short Lists from Playwrights Guild of Canada.
• ... to the finalists for the 2018 Governor General’s Literary Award for English Drama.
• ... and to the shortlist for the Siminovitch Prize, honouring designers.

In Case You Missed It

• Meet our Youth Advisory Committee’s mentors for Emergence 2.0.
• Stories from the Professional Theatre Training Program, features projects in directing, writing and producing, and artistic direction.
• ONstage Openings this week in Oshawa, Drayton, Aylmer, St. Jacobs, and Toronto.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, grant deadlines, webinars, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

Gertrude and Alice at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto

• When Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto decided to bring Gertrude and Alice back to the stage, they decided to take advantage of “the rare and wonderful opportunity to continue the creative process, rather than simply reproduce what had been done the last time.”
• “Performing and Parenting” was a great series that ran in Intermission back in 2016—having seen more than one conversation on the topic pop-up recently on social media (stimulated by a recent article on HowlRound), I thought it would worthwhile to share it again.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Ontario Arts Council has issued new policies on alternative services for applicants with accessibility needs, including Deaf persons and persons with disabilities, people with limited internet access, and Indigenous persons who wish to submit an oral application.
• Drayton Entertainment has announced their 2019 season for their venues across the province.

Migrations

• Naomi Campbell is the new Artistic Director of Luminato in Toronto (PDF)

TO Toasts

• ... to Monica Garrido, recipient of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Queer Emerging Artist Award for 2018.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Summer Theatre Intensive: Robin Bennett continues to find new things to learn after thirteen years of attending the summer courses.
• ONstage Openings this week in Richmond Hill, Burlington, Grand Bend, St. Jacobs, Toronto, Gravenhurst, Penetanguishene, and Ottawa.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, professional development events, job postings, grant deadlines, public readings, calls for artist residencies, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Kate Werneburg wrote for Intermission about “theatre in the park” and how we share public space with people who are not housed.

David Parry receiving our Michael Spence Award in 2017

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Studio Theatre Perth has named their new volunteer appreciation award in honour of David and Patricia Parry. David is a past recipient of our Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre in the province.
• Nightwood Theatre in Toronto has unveiled their lineup of “the most exciting emerging female playwrights in the city” for their Groundswell Festival 2018.
• Ontario Culture Days is coming up on September 28, 29 and 30.  Among the theatre events registered at press time are an open rehearsal with The MT Space in Waterloo, an hour backstage before call at Burl-Oak Theatre Group in Oakville, a youth company rehearsal and tour at Georgetown Little Theatre, a live radio show at Grey Wellington Theatre Guild in Harriston.

Migrations

• Emma Stenning is the new Executive Director of Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto.

In Case You Missed It

• ONstage Opening this week in Toronto—and with many more shows now playing in communities across Ontario.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, grant deadlines, calls for submissions, pre-recorded webinars, and more.

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.

Ontario Off Stage

Kim Renders
(From the Kingstonist)

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

From Theatre Ontario

We are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Kim Renders this week. Kim was a long-time member of Theatre Ontario’s Talent Bank as an instructor of acting, directing, writing, and youth theatre. She was among the founders of Nightwood Theatre in Toronto (Artistic Director Kelly Thornton wrote an excellent tribute) and was most recently a professor in the Dan School of Drama and Music at Queen’s University in Kingston—the university remembered her significant legacy and Cris Vilela wrote a tribute for Kingstonist, including how her passing is being recognized at this week’s Storefront Fringe Festival. In 2006, we recognized her contribution to professional, community and educational theatre in our province with our Maggie Bassett Award.

Conversation Starters

• Thousand Islands Playhouse is blogging the world premiere of their production The Canadian as "From Page to Stage" - with playwright Jason Hall exploring "writing farce" in Part 1.
• Theatres working to build community can find inspiration in the Toronto Fringe Festival hosting a Canadian citizenship ceremony (as reported on Intermission.)

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Seeking to use the work of playwrights digitally? Members of the Playwrights Guild of Canada now have the tools for contracts in the digital realm, with their new Digital Recording Rights Guidelines.

Migrations

• Brendan Healy will be the new Artistic Director of Canadian Stage (PDF).

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from our Professional Theatre Training Program, featuring training projects in artistic direction, writing and producing, directing, designing for opera, and arts management.
• Welcome to Marie Beath Badian and Kat Sandler as Playwrights-in-Person at our Summer Theatre Intensive.
• ONstage Openings this week in Port Perry, St. Jacobs, St. Catharines, Port Dover, Haliburton, Gravenhurst, Barrie and Perth.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including intensive courses, grant deadlines, and more.

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

Ontario Off Stage

The 2018 Ontario Summer Theatre season is underway!
From The Shaw Festival
Stephen Fry in Mythos: A Trilogy - Gods. Heroes. Men.
Photo by David Cooper. 

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Profiling Ontario Summer Theatre (OST) 2018—“If laughter is the best medicine, you will have your measure and more” at The Foster Festival in St. Catharines; “Welcome to the Team” introducing new OST member Guild Festival Theatre in Toronto; fellow new OST member Tweed & Company in Hastings County "celebrates their 10th anniversary with a huge 2018 season"; and it’s and “The Perfect Intermission from Life!” at The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• The World Cup is kicking off—and Good Tickle Brain has you covered with the Shakespeare World Cup. (For the ancestors - Go King Lear! For the in-laws - Go Macbeth!)

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Season announcement for 18/19 from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto.
• Janet Sellery of Sellery Health and Safety, a long-time Theatre Ontario member, has been appointed to the newly-launched Advisory Council for the Event Safety Alliance, a non-profit trade association of live event industry professionals committed to eliminating unsafe behaviors and conditions throughout the event industry. Congratulations Janet!

Migrations

• Christopher Deacon is the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
• Jesse Stong is the new Associate Artistic Director at Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque. 

TO Toasts

• ... to Gillian Gallow, who was awarded the 2018 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design.

In Case You Missed It

• The Theatre Ontario Board of Directors regretfully announced that Bruce Pitkin, Executive Director, will be leaving the organization at the end of June.
• Save the date for Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 in Richmond Hill.
• ONstage Openings this week in Grand Bend, Gravenhurst, and Smiths Falls.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including scholarship deadlines, intensive courses, grants, conferences, calls for submission, award nominations, and more.

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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

It's a week after Next Generation Showcase, and starting next we'll have some of the stories from the event.  We start with a big thank-you to our volunteers, our supporters, and our staff.

Conversation Starters

• The video playlist from Generator’s “Who Is a Monster” Urgent Exchange from January 6 are now available on their new YouTube channel.
• Intermission shared their 10 most popular articles from 2017. Of interest, the Top 2 both deal with boundaries in theatre.
• Holly L. Derr writes about “Greenturgy”—“excavating environmental concerns embedded in the dramatic canon and new works, using stories to reconnect people to their physical world.” (from HowlRound)

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Mitchell Marcus reflects on A Year in Review for The Musical Stage Company in Toronto.

Migrations

• Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre, is the new Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.  (Eleanor McMahon has moved on to become President of the Treasury Board and Minister Responsible for Digital Government.)
• Keith Jackson is the new General Manager of A Company of Fools in Ottawa.

In Case You Missed It

• Canadian live performance arts representatives held an anti-harassment roundtable, and released a public statement.  
• Meet our Youth Advisory Committee for 2018.
• ONstage Openings this week in London, Toronto, Cobourg, Peterborough, Ottawa, Kingston, Richmond Hill, and Mississauga—and with many more shows now playing in communities across Ontario.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, calls for award nomination deadlines, 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.

Ontario Off Stage

Fatimah Younge

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

From Theatre Ontario

• We are excited to welcome Fatimah Younge, who joined our staff as our Operations Coordinator this week.

Conversation Starters

• Soulpepper Theatre has published three separate statements—one from the artists in the company (specifically around the announcement of the cancellation of the production of Amadeus), one from the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, and one from the community of Soulpepper.
• Meanwhile, 280 artists have signed a letter regarding harassment at Soulpepper (as reported by the CBC.) 
• Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre, wrote a response “Art is Our Weapon.”
• She was also interviewed by Anna Maria Tremonti on CBC Radio’s The Current speaking about how “women need to take up more space.”
• PACT, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, released a statement condemning sexual harassment and bullying in Canadian live theatre.
• Canadian Actors Equity Association released a Statement on Media Reports regarding Soulpepper Theatre (PDF from their website.)
• Scott Bellis, CAEA Council President, also shared a letter regarding Soulpepper Theatre.
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts Board of Directors released a statement regarding Harassment Allegations against Albert Schultz of Soulpepper Theatre Company.
• And ICYMI, our own statement from Theatre Ontario was published on our website.
• Bruce Pitkin, our Executive Director, was interviewed for Radio Canada International in a feature called “Sexual improprieties: improving the theatre workplace.”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Kevin Loring—the first Artistic Director of the new Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre—spoke about his work preparing for the inaugural 2019-2020 season in an interview with Patrick Langston (Ottawa’s ArtsFile).
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts is hosting a “Community Consultation about Gender in the Dora Mavor Moore Awards” on January 30th, discussing how the performance award categories might “better acknowledge artistic practices that move beyond the gender binary of ‘Outstanding Performance of a Male/Female.’ (Theatre Ontario de-gendered our Festival Awards last year.)

Migrations

• Essential Collective Theatre in Niagara announced new Artistic Director Colin Bruce Anthes (an alum of our Professional Theatre Training Program), and new General Manager Rebecca Walsh, effective February 1, 2018.

In Case You Missed It

• ONstage Openings this week in Ottawa and Toronto.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, recorded webinars, application, nomination and submission deadlines, webinars, grant deadlines, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

From Theatre Ontario

• We are in the final stretch of our Holiday GIVING Tree campaign—sitting at 63% of our campaign goal. Thanks to our many Champion Donors like Theresa Sears and David Switzer who have supported Theatre Ontario for many years.
• Our office will be closed for the holidays from Thursday, December 21 until Tuesday, January 2, 2018.

Conversation Starters

• Pratt Homes has sponsored the Barrie downtown theatre, and now the citizens of Barrie are being invited to rename the building as a public space.

Migrations

• Rebecca Ballarin (our former Professional Theatre and Education Manager) is the new Network Coordinator for SPARC, Supporting Performing Arts in Rural Communities.

In Case You Missed It

• Congratulations to the Youth Theatre Training Program grant recipients for Fall 2017.
• ONstage Openings this week in St. Catharines, Sarnia, and Toronto—and with many more shows now playing in communities across Ontario.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, audition and volunteer opportunities, grant and prize deadlines, and more. 

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

Ontario Off Stage

Theatre Ontario's Holiday GIVING Tree

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

From Theatre Ontario

• Our Holiday GIVING Tree campaign is now underway!
• Toronto City Council has taken the next step in approving a new property tax class for “creative co-location facilities” like our home at 401 Richmond.

Conversation Starters

• The Arts Advocate hosted a Facebook video conversation with Ontario PC Culture Critic MPP Rick Nicholls on the Ontario Progressive Conservatives’ approach to arts, culture, and heritage.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Amicus Productions community theatre in Toronto announced that they are closing after 39 years of productions.
• Highlands Summer Festival in Haliburton have announced their 2018 season.
• As part of their Dora Awards Review, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts has published the summary reports of the town halls that were hosted throughout the community.

Migrations

• Lee Bolton is the new General Manager of Driftwood Theatre.
• John McHenry is the new Artistic Director of Sudbury Theatre Centre. 

In Case You Missed It

• Celebrating Legendary Commitment to Community Theatre, featuring Bev Dietrich and Lawrie Bonanno.
• Theatre Ontario Festival 2018 Tickets will be available on December 15.
• ONstage Openings this week in Peterborough, Lindsay, Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Toronto—and with many more shows now playing in communities across Ontario. 
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, audition opportunities for recent theatre graduates, calls for submissions for playwrights and directors, grant deadlines, prize deadlines, and more.

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.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Three actors who have played Sir John A. Macdonald (Martin Julien, Shawn Doyle, and Richard Clarkin) had a conversation on Intermission to discuss their approaches to the role.
• Laura Milke-Garner advocates on ArtsHub about the importance of independent producers for independent artists.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

Lighthouse Festival Theatre is giving away seats

• Introducing the Ellen Ross Stuart Opening Doors Award, a new multi-year award to empower young writers to actively engage in their craft in association with Tarragon Theatre, Hart House Theatre, and the Blyth Festival.
• The Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario opens their 2017/18 Festival today (October 13), running until March 24. 
• The Eastern Ontario Drama League has announced their lineup of nine plays for their One-Act Festival, running November 3 to 5 in Constance Bay. 
• Intermission announced that Lynn Slotkin will be their new theatre critic. 
• Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover is giving away 350 theatre seats in “almost excellent” condition. They are available for pick up first week of January 2018. They would like to give them all to one theatre, but will consider splitting them if more than one theatre is interested in taking 100 or more. For more details, please contact Helen Wagenaar at Lighthouse Festival Theatre.

Migrations

• Brett Christopher will be the new Managing Artistic Director of Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque.

TO Toasts

• ... to the nominees for the Capital Critics’ Circle Awards for Ottawa professional and community theatre.

In Case You Missed It

• Stories from the Summer Theatre Intensive: Michelle Cho’s experience “Sharpening Your Actor’s Tool Kit” with Tom Diamond.
• ONstage Openings this week in Toronto, Port Hope, Morrisburg, Belleville, Smiths Falls, Cambridge and Woodstock.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, grant deadlines, and more.