Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

In order to expand access from around the province, we’re excited to announce that we are offering our workshops series via webconferencing as well as in-person at our Toronto office.

• What does an agent do and why should you have one? Join us at our “Ask an Agent” workshop with Tovah Small today at 3pm.
• Join us at our “Axe of Kindness” community fundraiser on September 22—and support us as we raise funds to support the operation of our core progams and services.
• Let’s Wow your online presence—join us at our “Social Media for Actors” workshop with Jenna Warriner on October 7 at 2pm.

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream workshops.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts Projects grants is September 19.
• Shaw Festival’s “GBS on Marriage, Morals, and Modernity” Deeper Dialogue with Dr. Leonard Conolly is on September 21 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• Deadline for submissions to Sudbury Theatre Centre’s “The PlayMine” of Northern Ontario scripts is September 27.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Jumblies Theatre is holding “ArtsFare Essentials”, their annual 6-day workshop about community-engaged arts from October 15 to 21.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• In order to expand access from around the province, we’re excited to announce that we are offering our workshops series via webconferencing as well as in-person at our Toronto office.
• What does an agent do and why should you have one? Join us at our “Ask an Agent” workshop with Tovah Small on September 18 at 3pm.
• Join us at our “Axe of Kindness” community fundraiser on September 22—and support us as we raise funds to support the operation of our core progams and services.
• Let’s Wow your online presence—join us at our “Social Media for Actors” workshop with Jenna Warriner on October 7 at 2pm.

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream workshops.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for submissions for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Rhubarb Festival in Toronto is September 13.
• Port Stanley Festival Theatre’s 8th Annual Playwrights Festival is on September 13 and 14.
• Deadline for applications for the Strombergs Family Realization Fund at Nightwood Theatre, for a woman with 20 years in the profession of theatre looking to finance a passion project, is September 14.
• Shaw Festival’s The Golden Age of Musical Theatre talk with Paul Sportelli is on September 14.
• Deadline for applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts Projects grants is September 19.

New on The Bulletin Board

• The Canada Infrastructure Program: Community, Culture and Recreation Stream is now open for applications for funding infrastructure projects.
• Odyssey Theatre in Ottawa is now inviting applications for their “Artistic Directing for Independent Theatres” workshop series.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

In order to expand access from around the province, we’re excited to announce that we are offering our workshops series via webconferencing as well as in-person at our Toronto office.

• What does an agent do and why should you have one? Join us at our “Ask an Agent” workshop on September 18 at 3pm.

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream workshops.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadlines for applications for the Shannon Reynolds Memorial Endowment Fund Internship at GCTC in Ottawa for a Technical Production Internship is September 6.
• Deadline for submissions for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Rhubarb Festival in Toronto is September 13.
• Port Stanley Festival Theatre’s 8th Annual Playwrights Festival is on September 13 and 14.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

In order to expand access from around the province, we’re excited to announce that we are offering our workshops series via webconferencing as well as in-person at our Toronto office.

• What does an agent do and why should you have one? Join us at our “Ask an Agent” workshop with Tovah Small on September 18 at 3pm.

Check out all of our upcoming Career Stream workshops.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s “Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects” grants is August 29.
• Deadline for nominations for Native Women in the Arts’ Barbara Laronde Award for an emerging Indigenous woman (trans, cis, two-spirit, non-binary, or genderqueer) artist living in Northern Ontario is August 30.
• Deadlines for applications for the Shannon Reynolds Memorial Endowment Fund Internship at GCTC in Ottawa for a Technical Production Internship is September 6.

New on The Bulletin Board

• The inaugural Strombergs Family Realization Fund disseminated through Nightwood Theatre invites applications for a $10,000 cash award to support a woman with at least 20 years in professional theatre seeking to finance a project of passion.
• Off The Wall Stratford Artists Alliance has announced their Fall programming of adult continuing education in backstage production skills in Stratford.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• The Shaw Festival’s “Deeper Dialogue—Re-Imagining Classical Theatre” is on August 24 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• Deadline for applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s “Indigenous Artists in Communities and Schools Projects” grants is August 29.
• Deadline for nominations for Native Women in the Arts’ Barbara Laronde Award for an emerging Indigenous woman (trans, cis, two-spirit, non-binary, or genderqueer) artist living in Northern Ontario is August 30.

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

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

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

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre's /
Native Earth Performing Arts'
2-Spirit Cabaret curator Michaela Washburn
Photo by Tanja Tiziana

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for submissions for the 2-Spirit Cabaret from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre and Native Earth Performing Arts in Toronto is July 31.
• Upcoming deadlines for Ontario Arts Council grants include Theatre Projects (Aug. 1).
• Theatre on the Ridge’s “Indigenous Futurism” free theatre camp for First Nations youth  begins August 6 in Port Perry.
• The Shaw Festival’s Shaw Seminar begins August 8 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Nominations are now open for the 2019 Barbara Laronde Award, for emerging Indigenous (Métis, Inuit, Status and Non-Status First Nations peoples) women (Trans, Cis, Two-Spirit, Non-Binary, Genderqueer) living in Northern Ontario.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario's Voice Over workshop

• Want to know the secrets to a successful voice acting career? Join us at our “Voice Over” workshop with Elley-Ray on May 25 in Toronto.
• Preparing an OAC application? Get the inside scoop! Join us at our free “Grant Writing Information Session” pre-recorded webinar available on May 27.
• Develop your blueprint for a career in acting—Join us for an honest discussion about the business of acting at our “Success in Show Business” workshop with Andre Newell on June 3 in Toronto.
• Get your promo on the screens of the right people (...using as little money as possible)—Join us at our “Social Media for Producers” workshop with Jenna Warriner on June 10 in Toronto.
• Our Summer Theatre Intensive features courses for performers, creators, directors, and music directors, running August 4 to 9 in Kingston.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for applications for the Toronto Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnership Fund is May 24.
• Deadline for applications for Toronto Irish Players community theatre call for directors for their 19/20 season is May 26.
• Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) is convening the arts community around a four-day event, The Gathering: Celebrating 10 years of showcasing, convening and supporting equity and pluralism in the Arts. The event continues next week from May 27 to 29.
• Shaw Festival’s Play by Play intensive theatre-going experience opens May 29 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

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

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

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

Upcoming opportunities from Theatre Ontario, from our members, and from other arts service organizations.

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

Annette G. Procunier will be leading Theatre Ontario's
"The Adjudicator's Voice" workshop on May 18

• Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 opens May 15 in Richmond Hill—showcasing outstanding community theatre performances, and bringing together artists from across Ontario to share knowledge and to celebrate.
• Strengthen your communications skills as an adjudicator—Join us at our “The Adjudicator’s Voice” workshop with Annette G. Procunier on May 18 in Richmond Hill.
• Want to know the secrets to a successful voice acting career? Join us at our “Voice Over” workshop with Elley-Ray on May 25 in Toronto.
• Our Annual General Meeting will be held on May 27 in Toronto.
• Develop your blueprint for a career in acting—Join us for an honest discussion about the business of acting at our “Success in Show Business” workshop with Andre Newell on June 3 in Toronto.
• Our Summer Theatre Intensive features courses for performers, creators, directors, and music directors, running August 4 to 9 in Kingston.

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

• Deadline for applications for Odyssey Theatre’s Youth Apprenticeship Program in Ottawa is May 10.
• Shaw Festival’s Triple Threat Performances—The Basics workshop for teens is on May 11 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• Deadline for submissions for Scarborough Theatre Guild community theatre’s artistic staff for the 19/20 season is May 15.
• Deadline for submissions for The Oakville Players community theatre’s directors for the 19/20 season is May 15.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) is convening the arts community around a  four-day event, The Gathering: Celebrating 10 years of showcasing, convening and supporting equity and pluralism in the Arts.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Examining issues of consent when it comes to immersive theatre—especially when staging intimacy, from the Independent.
• “The story of reconciliation is still to be written and the arts can play an important role. Let’s just make sure we get it right this time.” From Sara Roque and Ontarians for the Arts.
• HowlRound ran a series this week exploring “Decolonizing Theatre”—in text, in the creation process, and in the theatre ecosystem.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The opening night of the Stratford Festival season was cancelled due to a bomb threat and theatre evacuation, as reported by J. Kelly Nestruck for the Globe and Mail.  (The photo of Martha Henry evacuating was taken by Rodrigo Beilfuss / @RBeilfuss)
• Hart House Theatre shared their audition tips for making the most of your experience.
• Northumberland Players in Cobourg announced their 18/19 season.

TO Toasts

• ... to producer Sue Balint, recipient of the Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Leadership in Administration from the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts.
• ... and to all of the nominees for the 17/18 Dora Mavor Moore Awards.

In Case You Missed It

• A Summer Reading List recommended by our Youth Advisory Committee.
• Welcome to our new Board members, elected to terms for 2018 to 2020.
• ONstage Openings this week in Stratford, Waterloo, Port Dover, Blyth, Toronto, Port Hope, Cookstown, Owen Sound, Cobourg, Belleville, Ottawa, and North Bay.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including courses, webinars, workshops, webinars, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Kevin Loring, Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre Indigenous Theatre, gave the keynote address at the Professional Association of Canadian Theatre’s 2018 conference, asking the question “Whose reality are we reflecting in our theatres? (video)”

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Season announcements for 2018/19 from Theatre Orangeville (video), Theatre Sarnia, and Nightwood Theatre in Toronto.
• Ontario's Fringe Festival season opens on May 29 with the London Fringe Festival.
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced division expansion and additional recognition in the design awards. 
• The Toronto Theatre Critics Awards for 2018 were announced.

TO Toasts

En Lai Mah and Elizabeth Wong accepting for Jiv Parasram

• ... to Ruth Howard of Jumblies Theatre, who won the Toronto Arts Foundation Celebration of Cultural Life Award.
• ... to Jivesh Parasram, a current Professional Theatre Training Program mentor, who won the Emerging Artist Award and published his acceptance speech on his theatre's site.

In Case You Missed It

• Theatre Ontario Festival wrapped up last weekend, and you can read the highlights from the Festival adjudications, the Festival Award winners, the Michael Spence Award presentation to Sue Perkins of London (video), and stories about the four participants and their journey to Festival: Elmira Theatre Company, Toronto Irish Players, Elliot Lake Amateur Theatre Ensemble, and Ottawa Little Theatre.
• ONstage Openings this week in Richmond Hill, Port Stanley, Cambridge, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Woodstock, Guelph, Hillsburgh, Toronto, Barrie, Perth, and Gananoque.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, scholarships, and more.

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

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

After the Blackout ensemble
Photo by Elias Campbell

• Prince Amponsah, one of the cast members of After the Blackout (opening at Soulpepper Theatre) wrote in Intermission about the representation of artists with disabilities on stage.
• Nicole Serratore defended “Brand Name Art” – like the multi-Tony nominated SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical – for exeunt New York City.
• Rachel Bykowski wrote for HowlRound about the “body-shaming” epidemic plaguing collegiate theatre programs.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• In our latest Theatre Ontario Festival 2018 video, Festival Co-Stage Manager Mark Mooney walks you through the load-in and set-up that the four participating companies will be going through at Festival.
• The Londoner has also profiled our Festival celebrating the “Bedrock of Theatre.”
• Jennifer Walls will be directing for the first time at Hart House Theatre next season for their production of Heathers: The Musical.
• Season announcements for 2018/19 from Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto and Ottawa Little Theatre (autoplay video.)

In Case You Missed It

• Congratulations to the Spring 2018 recipients of Youth Theatre Training Program grants.
• ONstage Openings this week in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Jacobs, Sarnia, and Toronto—and with many more shows now playing in communities across Ontario.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, scholarships, courses, calls for submission, and more.

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager

Conversation Starters

• Mélanie Joly, Federal Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council for the Arts announced “important measures to promote a healthy, respectful and harassment-free work environment in recipient organizations.”
• Examining current practices around open script submissions, from Kevin Michael Shea writing for Intermission.
• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts announced gender-neutral performance awards for the 40th anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards in 2019. 
• Learn more about SpiderWebShow’s plans for the foldA festival of live digital art in this Twitter thread by Artistic Director Michael Wheeler.

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• Come visit the Palace Theatre in London, our theatre venue for Theatre Ontario Festival 2018 (FB video)
• Researchers from the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto are conducting a research study to gain an understanding of how performing arts workers who are also caregivers (of family or friends of any age) manage their daily lives while negotiating these competing roles. If you have worked in the performing arts industry for at least one year, self-identify as a caregiver, are 15 years old or over, and have a good understanding of English, please consider taking their short online survey.
• Young People’s Theatre in Toronto has announced their “eye-POPPIN’ 2018/19 Season.”

TO Toasts

• ... the recipients of the K.M. Hunter Artist Awards for mid-career professional artists, including Matthew Heiti of Sudbury recognized in the theatre category.

In Case You Missed It

• Warming up for the summer season with Ontario Summer Theatre.
• Welcome Lisa Codrington at Theatre Ontario Festival 2018 Playwright-in-Person.
• ONstage Openings this week in St. Marys, Elmira, Toronto, Peterborough, Morrisburg, Ottawa, Kingston, Smiths Falls, Constance Bay, and Thornhill.
• Browsing Our Bulletin Board, including workshops, webinars, grant deadlines, and more.