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Join Us at Our Annual Meeting and Celebration
 Theatre Ontario is Staging Our Future at our Annual Meeting and Celebration on Monday, May 5 at 7pm.
Join us as we share Theatre Ontario's news and activities from the past year; host an interactive conversation "Face to Face: Meeting the Theatre of Tomorrow" with our Youth Advisory Committee; unveil our new brand and website; see a who's who of the provincial theatre community tell us what theatre means to them in "Why Theatre"; and honour legacies in theatre and arts & culture innovation.
We look forward to #StagingOurFuture together!
Join us at our Theatre Ontario Annual Meeting and Celebration
As part of our Celebration, we're launching our Silent Auction Fundraiser. We think you'll find something suitable for every taste and budget. Visit our Theatre Ontario Silent Auction
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Vrenia Ivonoffski Awarded 2014 Maggie Bassett Award for Contribution to Theatre
 We are thrilled to announce that Theatre Ontario's Maggie Bassett Award for 2014 will be presented to Vrenia Ivonoffski, founding artistic director of ACT II STUDIO.
"It's always challenging each year to select the recipient of the Maggie Bassett Award among so many compelling nominations," said Leonard McHardy, Chair of the Jury. "What stood out for us this year was the uniqueness of Vrenia's contribution to theatre, and her commitment to creating training opportunities for older adults with a passion to study theatre." The award will be presented to Vrenia on May 5 at Theatre Ontario's Annual General Meeting in Toronto.
Learn about Vrenia Ivonoffski's significant and sustained contribution to Ontario theatre
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Provincial Youth Forum: Developing our Network
 You know how to write, design, act, and direct. You have many exciting ideas for new works, or a new theatre company in your community -- so now what?
Join us for a series of free workshops to help make your creative dreams a reality! Topics covered will include: developing new works, networking, and finding resources (funding, space/venues, and people.) So come on out and learn new tools and skills to share with your community back home. It's a great chance to connect with Theatre Ontario members and other movers and shakers of the theatre scene! Join us on Monday, May 5 starting at 1pm.
Join us at our Theatre Ontario Provinicial Youth Forum "Developing our Network"
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Welcome Honourary Festival Chair
 Theatre Ontario Festival 2014 continues to grow as a showcase, a classroom, a celebration, and a destination.
Theatre Ontario is thrilled to introduce Chris Hadfield as our "Honourary Festival Chair" for Theatre Ontario Festival 2014. Sarnia-born, he became an international icon during his time as Commander of the International Space Station, sharing commentary and images, and connecting audiences on Earth with the spectacle of space.
We're also excited to welcome David S. Craig as our Playwright-in-Person, to unveil our Adjudicator's Workshop with Bea Quarrie, and to welcome our first two productions to Festival. Read more about some of the events at the Theatre Ontario Festival 2014 on our Blog
Join us at Theatre Ontario Festival 2014
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Building Your Brand and Transitioning from Stage to Set
Theatre Ontario is excited to announce two new workshop opportunities.
 Building Your Brand as an Artist, with Edward Power: Would you love for your acting career to pay for your desired lifestyle? Would you love for industry professionals to trust your work and appreciate the service you provide? Would you love your craft to inspire people? Join us at this workshop on April 14 at 10am in Toronto
Register for Theatre Ontario's Building Your Brand as an Artist workshop
Transitioning from Stage to Set, with Edward Power and special guests: Thinking of taking your theatre career to the big screen? Looking to inspire people through different mediums? Join us at this workshop on April 14 at 1pm in Toronto.
Register for Theatre Ontario's Transitioning from Stage to Set workshop
Both workshops are available together as a package at a discount.
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Stories of Producing Quality Theatre in a Rural Setting
 We are getting more and more excited about the upcoming Symposium for the Performing Arts in Rural Communities (SPARC) in Haliburton on April 24 to 27. We look forward to meeting and connecting with artists who are embracing their rural roots and creating dynamic and creative work in their own communities. We are also energized about our "Producing Quality Theatre in a Rural Setting" panel.
Mairin Smit writes about our SPARC panel on the Theatre Ontario blog
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We want you... now sign!
Join us at our new workshop on Contract Law for Actors and learn how to read the fine print.
 Derrick Chua, Barrister & Solicitor, offers self-employed actors an opportunity to address any issues they may have regarding standard contracts and agreements. In this workshop participants will learn how to read and comfortably sign documents such as CAEA (Equity) Performer Agreements, Standard ACTRA/CAEA Reciprocal Agreements, non-union performer agreements, and agency contracts. Join us on April 28 at 4pm in Toronto
Register for Theatre Ontario's "We want you... now sign!: Contract Law for Actors"
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Audition Talk Back: How to Get It Right
Grace Lynn Kung and Joanne Williams join us to offer a workshop where artists can discuss their audition experiences and engage in an open dialogue about auditioning for theatre. Participants will learn how to nail an audition, what casting directors look for, and more. Join us on May 6 at 6pm in Toronto.
Register for Theatre Ontario's Audition Talk Back
 
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Emerging Producers and Actors Workshops
 Two of our most popular Theatre Ontario workshops for emerging artists return in April and May.
Self-Producing: The Basics with Mairin Smit and Guest Producer Scott Dermody is on April 16 at 3pm in Toronto - 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! Register for Theatre Ontario's Self-Producing: The Basics
Getting Started For Actors with Mairin Smit and Guest Actor Claire Acott is on May 12 at 3pm in Toronto - This workshop is for actors beginning their professional careers. In this two-hour workshop, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the business of acting. Register for Theatre Ontario's Getting Started for Actors
Both of these workshops can travel to your community. Our "Getting Started for Actors" workshop went to the Drama Centre at the University of Toronto this past month. Mairin Smit writes on our blog about connecting with emerging artists "on the road"
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Grant Writing Information Sessions in Your Community
Looking for tips and must-dos for preparing an application to the Ontario Arts Council?  Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer of the Ontario Arts Council, will share her perspective, information, and tips about project grants, particularly the OAC's three theatre project programs: Theatre Projects, Playwright Residency, and Theatre Creators' Reserve
Upcoming Grant Writing Information Sessions include:
- Ottawa on April 14 (hosted by Great Canadian Theatre Company)
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In Conversation at Community Theatres
 Community theatres struggle with questions about audience development, member engagement, and education needs. At our Community Theatre Forums, we're gathering together for "refreshing" conversations.
Upcoming forums are in North Bay on April 12 and in Peterborough on April 26.
Join us at a Community Theatre Discussion Forum
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Workshops for Emerging Playwrights and Emerging Plays
 Our popular playwriting workshops with Lindsay Price are returning! Playwriting: Idea to First Draft - Sometimes the hardest step in the playwriting process is the first. Where do I find inspiration? How do I develop an idea? What if my idea fizzles out halfway through? This workshop takes you from the idea stage to confidently writing a first draft. Join us on May 31 at 10am in Toronto. Register for Theatre Ontario's Playwriting: Idea to First DraftPlaywriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique - Plays are not written in the first draft. Plays come to life in rewrites. But re-write how? What if we don't know how to move our work forward? What if we don't know how to critique our own work? What if we aren't sure how to process feedback from others? This workshop offers tools and techniques for playwrights who have a play "under construction." Join us on June 1 at 10am in Toronto. Register for Theatre Ontario's Playwriting: How to Self-Edit and Critique |
Crazy Canucks - Building Good Character!
 Renowned director and playwright Ken Gass will lead actors and directors through an exploration of complex characters from the Canadian dramatic canon. Participants will develop a process to approach and study these unique personas, with a focus on the intentions and motivations behind the conflict
Crazy Canucks will be held the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse in Toronto on the weekend of May 31st and June 1st, 2014. Details will be available on Wednesday, April 9. |
Intensive Training for Actors and Directors
"My attendance at Theatre Ontario courses has often resulted in "life-changing" experiences. The knowledge gained applies, not only to theatre, but also nurtures the life skills that I use in my day-to-day world."
This year, we have courses at our Theatre Ontario Summer Theatre Intensive for performers and directors of all experience levels. Get back to basics with Tom Diamond; learn to be in control of your approach to acting with Brenda Kamino; create a musical theatre performance with David Gale & Randy Vancourt; be introduced to practical directing techniques with Thom Currie; or learn how to delve more deeply into a text with John P. Kelly.
The early-bird registration discount ends May 1.
The Summer Theatre Intensive runs August 10 to 16 in Waterloo.
Register for the Theatre Ontario Summer Theatre Intensive
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Overcoming the "Starving Artist" Syndrome
 As an artist you are super-talented at so many things, but there is a missing link. Something that causes that self-fulfilling prophecy to take over your thoughts and steer you away from success... Something that just hasn't clicked yet. So why is that? The reason is that there is something that you don't know...YET. There is something that your creative mentors and teachers failed to teach you about how to succeed financially in your artistic career. Join us at our "Overcoming the Starving Artist Syndrome" workshop with Lisa Phillips in partnership with The Artistic Edge, on April 23 at 6:30pm in Toronto.
Register for Overcoming the "Starving Artist" Syndrome
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Professional Theatre Training Program Learning Circles
 "As an emerging artist or a person who is a newcomer to the community due to career change or epiphany, it can feel impossible to 'break in' to the community. The Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) grant itself has offered a window into this world, and the Learning Circle I attended in March helped to open the window even more."
Andrea Thring, a Fall 2013 PTTP grant recipient, writes about our Theatre Ontario Learning Circles on our Blog
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Ontario Off Stage
In "Ontario Off Stage" on our blog, we curate theatre conversations and news from around the province and beyond. Highlights from last month include:
From March 28- Two theatre creators reflect on the evolution of a monologue and the evolution of a show
- Lessons learned at Hamilton Arts Council's Market Value event publicly demonstrating artistic labour
- Does all culturally-diverse work have to live in the same established aesthetic?
- Theatre websites going "back-to-basics"
From March 21- The Theatre Centre celebrated the grand opening of its new permanent home
- Start, Stop and Continue - Conversation starters about the state of Toronto theatre
- Thinking about "rejection season" as "Acceptance Season"
- Can arts organizations be both art-focused and community-focused?
- A different approach for a post-show discussion with a playwright
From March 14- FWYC-Fund What You Can from the Toronto Fringe Festival: A new indie-focused tool for crowdfunding
- What are the risks of having your non-profit staff volunteer at your own arts organization?
- How do power dynamics influence the language of women directors?
From March 7- The Gina Wilkinson Prize finalists featured past Professional Theatre Training Program recipients and a member of our Talent Bank
- What does "the Canadian pipeline" look like at Canada's regional theatres
- How well do you really understand the structures (physical, capital, organizational) of your arts organization?
- The business case for radical hospitality and no-cost access to theatre
Read more about all these ideas and news in "Ontario Off Stage" on the Theatre Ontario Blog |
Catch up with News on Our Blog
The Theatre Ontario Blog is our home for news, announcements, analysis, and opinion curated and written by Theatre Ontario. You can sign up to receive blog posts via your favourite RSS reader, or follow by email, at www.theatreontario.blogspot.com |
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Missed an issue of Theatre Ontario Presents... ? Catch up in our archives.
 Questions? Please contact
Brandon Moore
Communications Coordinator, Theatre Ontario 416.408.4556 x.13 We acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), an agency of the Government of Ontario, which last year funded 1,681 individual artists and 1,125 organizations in 216 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.8 million.
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