New Dates for Getting Started For Actors and Self-Producing Workshops

Theatre Ontario has scheduled our next "Getting Started For Actors" and "Self Start: The Basics Of Self-Producing" workshops. “Getting Started” will be on April 27, from 2pm to 4pm; “Self-Start” will be on May 11, from 2pm to 4:15pm.

Getting Started sessions are for actors beginning their professional careers. In this two-hour workshop, Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator answers the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting. Find out about the realities of showbiz, pictures and resumes, Equity and ACTRA, Agents and casting directors, Auditioning do's and don'ts, and maintaining and improving your acting skills.  Getting Started is a free workshop, available to members of Theatre Ontario only. For more information, including how to register, please visit Getting Started For Actors on the Theatre Ontario website.

Self-Start: 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!  Self-Start is a practical seminar facilitated by Tim Chapman, Professional Theatre Coordinator.  This workshop is designed for individuals thinking of starting a theatre company or producing a show; 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 learn about available resources and services.  It's free for Theatre Ontario members, and $30 for non-members.  For more information, including how to register, please visit Self-Start: The Basics Of Producing on the Theatre Ontario website.

ONstage Openings for the week of March 28

In Toronto

Mar. 28, New Voices at Ryerson Theatre School

Mar. 29, The Penelopiad at Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts

Mar. 30, After Akhmatova at Tarragon Theatre with previews from Mar. 22

Mar. 31, Much Ado About Nothing at Scarborough Players

In Central Ontario

Mar. 31, Harvest at Theatre Orangeville

In Eastern Ontario

Mar. 31, The Middle Place at Great Canadian Theatre Company (Ottawa) with previews from Mar. 29

Mar. 31, She Stoops To Conquer at Belleville Theatre Guild

In Northeastern Ontario

Apr. 2, The Velveteen Rabbit at Sudbury Theatre Centre

In South Central Ontario

Mar. 31, Out Of Sight, Out Of Murder at Mississauga Players

Apr. 1, Someone Who'll Watch Over Me at The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill) with a preview on Mar. 31

Apr. 1, Noises Off at Theatre Aurora

For all the theatre currently playing across Ontario, and information for theatres on how to add/update your listing, visit the ONstage show listings on the Theatre Ontario website.

7 Days In Ontario Theatre

From Us

• We’re grateful for the responses so far to our survey of the Ontario theatre sector; this is a terrific opportunity to work with us as we build a stronger Theatre Ontario—take this opportunity to have your say
• Our second Theatre Ontario Festival production was chosen: Theatre Windsor will represent the Western Ontario Drama League on May 21 with their production of Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee; the final two productions will be known after the weekend of April 2-3

Conversations

• Last Friday, I was part of a Twitter chat, organized by Praxis Theatre—participants from across Canada (and a few from the United States) came together under the #auddev hash-tag to make connections and have a good conversation about a variety of issues

From The Wire

• Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People announced their 2011-12 season, which includes a significant change to the theatre: beginning July 1st, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People will return to the name it was given in 1966 by founder Susan Douglas Rubes—Young Peoples Theatre (YPT) [link is a PDF file]
• A memorial for actor Peter Donaldson will be held at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival next month – join in the celebration of the life of this remarkable man.  Date is Sunday, April 17, 2 pm at the Festival Theatre, 55 Queen Street, Stratford.  A tribute page can be found on the Festival’s website – please share your memories of Peter

What’s New On The Bulletin Board

• Nightwood Theatre in Toronto is hosting “Go Ahead! Produce It Yourself: A Masterclass with Julie Tepperman and Jacoba Knaapen” on April 26 and 28
• The Annual Business for the Arts Awards honour and celebrate the contributions of Canada's foremost business leaders and companies to the arts.  Recognize your business partners in grand fashion.  Nominations are now open, and due April 15th

Check out all the latest postings of workshops, classified ads, recognition opportunities and more from Theatre Ontario’s Bulletin Board

Remember, if you can’t always follow us on our blog, we also have a monthly enewsletter with all of our news, discussions, and more.  The March issue is now available in the archives.

Assembled  by Brandon Moore, Communications Coordinator

Toronto Fringe Connection Returns

We're pleased to announce that the Fringe Connection -- our partnership with the Toronto Fringe Festival -- is back online for 2011.  The Fringe Connection is a central source for audition postings, job notices, discussions, and information sharing.


This comprehensive web platform is intended as a place for Toronto's Fringe artists to come together and make the connections that are an essential part of the Fringe experience.  We're coming out of our "hibernation", so now is the time to freshen up your profile, or sign up for the new year.

Follow this link to visit the Toronto Fringe Connection

On The Art Of Adjudication

by Dennis Johnson, Community Theatre Coordinator

Adjudicators are like painters. Each has a unique style.  Some adjudicators are avant-garde. Some have a classic style.  As I travel around to Ontario’s community theatre festivals this month, I am struck not by the adjudications, but by the reaction of the organizers and performers. They have bought a painting without always knowing the style of the painter, and this requires them to adjust and question their concept and expectations of adjudication.