Congratulations to John Storey, Recipient of the 2015 Michael Spence Award

John Storey

Theatre Ontario is thrilled to announce that the 2015 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented to John Storey of Markham.  This award is presented by Theatre Ontario from the nomination by Markham Little Theatre, and on the recommendation of the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario (ACT-CO.)   The award honours individuals for sustained contribution to community theatre, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment to community theatre that is legendary within his/her region, helping community theatre flourish.  John will receive his award on May 17 at the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Brunch in Oshawa.

John has been a member of Markham Little Theatre (MLT) since 1970, and continues to be a leader, mentor and inspiration to the membership.  He worked directly with Tony Roman, then-Mayor of Markham, to help build the Markham Theatre, and then led the fundraising campaign to build MLT’s “Backstage” facility for rehearsal, building, and storage.  He currently serves on MLT’s 50th Anniversary committee as they prepare for the upcoming season of celebration, and serves as liaison to the City of Markham, negotiating an interest-free mortgage on behalf of the theatre company.  He has been honoured with a Province of Ontario Volunteer Award and the Markham Arts Council’s Mackie Award.  His work as a community theatre artist at MLT has been honoured with awards for directing and acting.

He served on the Board of the Central Ontario Drama League, and oversaw the constitutional transformation of the organization into ACT-CO.  He is a former President of Theatre Ontario, serving on the Board for six years, and in 1987, he served as Chair of the Theatre Ontario Festival in Markham.

“I am very excited and honoured to be the recipient of the Michael Spence Award.  I have been fortunate to know Michael for some time,” said John.  “My experiences with Markham Little Theatre have been wonderful, rewarding, and happy ones.”

The Michael Spence Award honours legendary contributions to community theatre in Ontario, and is named after Michael Spence, the founding President of Theatre Ontario.  Michael was active in community theatre at Hart House Theatre, London Little Theatre, and the University Alumnae Dramatic Club (now known as Alumnae Theatre.)  He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Dominion Drama Festival, a past President of Arts Etobicoke, and he continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.

Find out more about Theatre Ontario's Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre

Join Us at the Award Presentation at Theatre Ontario Festival 2015

ONstage Openings for the week of March 16

In Central Ontario
Mar. 20, Skin Flick at Blackhorse Village Players (Tottenham), with a preview on Mar. 18

In Northeastern Ontario
Mar. 19, QUONTA Festival 2015 in Sault Ste. Marie
Mar. 20, La Boheme at Theatre Cambrian (Sudbury)

In South Central Ontario
Mar. 19, Game Show at The Oakville Players
Mar. 20, The Full Monty at City Centre Musical Productions (Mississauga)

In Southwestern Ontario
Mar. 16, Western Ontario Drama League Festival 2015 in Owen Sound
Mar. 20, Dream a Little Dream at The Grand Theatre (London), with previews from Mar. 17

ONstage Opening in Toronto
The Daisy Theatre at Factory Theatre
by Ronnie Burkett
Photo by Alejandro Santiago

In Toronto
Mar. 16, Big Bad Wolf vs Lord Underwearface von Schtinker at The Second City
Mar. 17, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts
Mar. 18, The Daisy Theatre at Factory Theatre*
Mar. 19, The Unplugging at Factory Theatre / Native Earth Performing Arts, currently in previews*
Mar. 19, Pack of Lies at Stage Centre Productions
Mar. 22, The Gospel According to Mark at Soulpepper Theatre, with previews from Mar. 18
Mar. 22, Subway Stations of the Cross at Soulpepper Theatre, with previews from Mar. 18

ICYMI: Check out last week’s openings

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

Theatre Ontario individual members can access discount ticket offers for shows marked with an * asterisk

Read more about Theatre Ontario’s Discount Tickets program

Ontario Off Stage

by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Conversation Starters

Morro and Jasp

• In response to a recent story about the so-called “rise of evil clowns”, Morro and Jasp defended harmless clowns everywhere on the Acting Up Stage Theatre blog
• Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre, issued an International Women’s Day challenge to Canadian theatres to “make it happen”
• Brad Fraser responds to a negative article about his new play Kill Me Now, exploring the responsibilities of playwrights and the need for nuanced conversations about playing characters with disabilities in "Did I get my play about disability 'wrong'? No, but we need to talk about this"
• Playwright Gwydion Suilebhan explores how provoking a powerful audience response manifests itself in theatre in “Storming the Court”
• Marcia Polas offers practical advice on managing audition anxiety on 2amtheatre
• The staff of the Guelph Arts Council continued their year-long annual “Artful Pledge” in February with the goal to “Create!” 
• Mark Fisher wrote in his blog in praise of bias in arts criticism

Behind the Scenes at Ontario’s Theatres

• The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts showed some wonderful industry leadership with “Theatres Leading Change”, a partnership with ARTS Action Research to examine all aspects of theatre organizational culture.  The final report “Seizing Permission” is now available online (scroll down to find it)
• The Toronto Arts Council announced the inaugural “TAC Cultural Leaders Lab Fellows” mobilizing Toronto’s arts leadership talent to tackle pressing challenges facing the sector and the City.  It’s an impressive group

Migrations

• Brendan Healy is stepping down as Artistic Director of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre - and as people reflected enthusiastically (and deservedly) about his contribution to the community, I dusted off his insightful 2012 Facebook note “Four thoughts for my future self”

In Case You Missed It

• The coalition of Provincial Arts Service Organizations, which includes Theatre Ontario, has made a pre-budget submission to the Ontario Ministry of Finance

Browsing Our Bulletin Board

Coming Up from Theatre Ontario

• Deadline for applications for Theatre Ontario and Why Not Theatre's International Creators Scholarship is March 13
• Deadline for applications for Theatre Ontario’s Youth Theatre Training Program grants is March 16
• Social Media as a Professional Tool for Individual Artists workshop on March 16 with Seb FoxAllen: Can your social media presence get you work?
• Unleashing Your Inner Entrepreneur recorded webinar on March 18 with Erin Keating and Scott Dermody: Thinking of producing a show or starting a theatre company?
• Artist as Entrepreneur Boot Camp workshops on March 28 in partnership with STAF: Learn necessary skills to produce creative works in a one-day session covering promoting theatre on social media, leveraging your online presence, getting a grip on grant writing, and participating in a mock grant jury

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

Upcoming on The Bulletin Board

Canada's National Voice Intensive led by David Smukler.
The application deadline is March 15.

• Deadline for emerging artists to register for Canadian Stage’s workshop on taxes led by Rova Epp of Artbooks is March 12.
• Deadline to apply for Canada’s National Voice Intensive, led by Artistic Director (and long-time Talent Bank member) David Smukler is March 15.
• Deadline for Ontario Arts Council grant applications for Theatre Organizations and Multi and Inter-Arts Projects is March 17.

New on The Bulletin Board

• Nightwood Theatre is holding two masterclasses: Writers Ink with Maja Ardal (a member of Theatre Ontario’s Talent Bank) on April 11 and 12 for anyone interested in playwriting; and an Audition Techniques Masterclass with Kelly Thornton and Michelle Alexander on April 25 and 26 for emerging and professional actors.
• The Paprika Festival is launching The Intersection, a one-day conference for the new generation of artists consisting of education, professional networking, dinner, and debate—all happening on May 1

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

PASO Coalition Participating in Provincial Pre-Budget Submission Process

Theatre Ontario is a member of PASO—the Coalition of Provincial Arts Service Organizations.  PASO has made a pre-budget submission for 2015 to the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

PASO priorities are 1) Confirm commitment to the arts by increasing investment, 2) Strengthen cultural policy framework through consultation, 3) Support youth employment, and 4) Invest in adequate and affordable facilities.

The full submission is available as a PDF on our website.