Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Behind The Scenes At Ontario’s Theatres

• Buddies In Bad Times Theatre was notified that the Rhubarb Festival would not receive project funding from Canadian Heritage’s Building Communities Through Art and Heritage program.  Most troubling, there was no clear indication of why they did not meet the criteria for funding
• The writing team (composer Scott Christian, lyricist Wade Bogert-O’Brien, book writer Kevin Shea) of A Misfortune, premiering next month at the Toronto Fringe Festival’s Next Stage Festival, shared a playlist of the music that inspired their writing on Acting Up Stage Company’s Musical Notes

 

All The Ladies by Sasha Kleinplatz
from Buddies In Bad Times' Rhubarb Festival 2013

Conversation Starters

• Jacob Zimmer argued on Minor Expletives & Better Questions that the Buddies’ Rhubarb Festival news was a case of “community” and “engagement” being turned against art outside the mainstream, and asks a question nobody seems to know how to answer
• “Our job is not to give people what they want but what they need”—is it a false and unhelpful comparison as argued by Nina Simon on Museum 2.0?  Or does it require clear distinctions as argued by Diane Ragsdale on Jumper?
• In Edmonton, the Theatre Network production of Colleen Murphy’s new play Pig Girl inspired by the serial murders in British Columbia of sex workers (mostly native women), triggered a significant debate on race, voice, respect, and artistic freedom—and the morality of storytelling
• Holger Syme wonders on dispositio if we have a problem with actor training in Canada?

Migrations

• Trevor Lundy is the new General Manager of Oshawa Little Theatre

TO Toasts

• Congratulations to all of the recipients of the Capital Critics Circle Awards, including John P. Kelly (Talent Bank member and director of best professional theatre production November from Seven-Thirty Productions), Ottawa Little Theatre (Best community theatre production for Steel Magnolias), Rona Waddington (past Shaw Intern Director and winner of best director—professional for St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival’s Hamlet) and Joan Sullivan Eady (past Festival best director and winner of best director—community for OLT’s All My Sons)

Nominations Now Open for the 2014 Maggie Bassett Award

Do you know someone who has made a significant, sustained, and unselfish contribution to the development of theatre in Ontario?  Nominations are now open for Theatre Ontario's 2014 Maggie Bassett Award.

The deadline for nominations is February 28, 2014 and the award sponsored by Alumnae Theatre.

Past recipients of the award are Ken Watts, Elsie Thomson, Jean Roberts, Herbert Whittaker, Heather McCallum, Herman Voaden, Dennis Sweeting, Jack Medhurst, Jack Blacklock, Sandy Black, Patricia Beharriell, Wilf Pegg, Virginia Reh, Lib Spry, Wayne Fairhead, Richard Howard, Dusty Miller, Kay McKie, Beth McMaster, Sandra Tulloch, Jeff Burke, James Alexander, Ron Cameron-Lewis, Angela Rebeiro, Kim Renders, Yvette Nolan, Alex Mustakas, Don Fleckser, Diana Belshaw, Dave Carley, and Tom Mackan.

Read more about Theatre Ontario's Maggie Bassett Award, including full award guidelines and nomination form, on our website

Tom Mackan receiving the 2013 Maggie Bassett Award

Browsing The Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

The Sandra Tulloch Award for
Innovation in Arts and Culture

• Targeting Your Audience: Surviving and Thriving on Less and Less full-day workshop on December 7 in London: How do you make the most with the minimal marketing resources? The world is changing quickly and the methods for reaching your audience are rapidly expanding. Is it the method or the message that makes the difference?
• The deadline for nominations for the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in Arts and Culture is December 19, honouring individuals or collectives whose leadership, activism, and service has contributed to the development and strengthening of arts and culture in Ontario through innovative and practical initiatives

Check out all of our upcoming courses and workshops, including free grant writing information sessions across Ontario

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, job postings, and volunteer opportunities on our Theatre Ontario Individual Member Resources on our website

Celebrate GivingTuesday with Your Story of Giving to Theatre

Today is GivingTuesday, the "opening day of the giving season."  It is a day when charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes, and think about others.

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to be part of GivingTuesday - sharing the importance of giving to theatre in Ontario.  Thank you also to everyone who has already given to us at Theatre Ontario in 2013.  For over forty years Theatre Ontario has been fostering theatre in Ontario, nurturing theatre artists at every stage of their careers, and supporting and advocating for theatre across the province.  Donors are an important part of this vibrant theatre network - we sincerely thank you for your generosity, encouragement, and commitment.  We hope you take pride in the part you have played in creating an extensive and vital theatre network.  (It's not too late to be part of this critical work - Donate to Theatre Ontario today!)

Today's post is open - we invite you to share your stories of why you give to theatre, or why you give to Theatre Ontario.

Is it creating outstanding mentorship opportunities that has changed lives through the Theatre Ontario Professional Theatre Training Program or the Neil Munro Intern Directors Project?

Is it showcasing outstanding theatre, celebrating excellence, and bringing together passionate and dedicate theatre artists in communities across Ontario at Theatre Ontario Festival?

Is it connecting new talent and directors, agents, and casting directors at Theatre Ontario's Next Generation Showcase?

Celebrate GivingTuesday with a story of giving.

ONstage Openings for the week of December 2

ONstage Opening in Toronto
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts
Photo by D. Spencer

In Toronto
Dec. 3, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts
Dec. 6, A Christmas Story at Scarborough Players
Dec. 7, Miracle On Mercer at The Second City
Dec. 8, The Company We Keep Cabaret Series at Theatre 20

In Eastern Ontario
Dec. 5, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at Smiths Falls Community Theatre
Dec. 6, The Sound Of Music at National Arts Centre, English Theatre (Ottawa) with previews from Dec. 2
Dec. 7, Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. at Seaway Valley Theatre Company (Cornwall)

In Northeastern Ontario
Dec. 4, Game Show at Sault Theatre Workshop

ONstage Now Playing in Orangeville
A Snow White Christmas at Theatre Orangeville
Amy Sellors and Rebecca Poff
Photo by Pete Paterson

Check out last week’s openings

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