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Newsletter PROFILE OF THE
DIRECTORS' PROJECT Since the seed was planted by Theatre Ontario in 1988, the Directors' Project at the Shaw Festival has blossomed into one of the most prestigious director development and showcase opportunities in Canada. It is a testament to its success that the 3 original partners in this project have remained the same - Theatre Ontario, The Academy of the Shaw Festival, and our exclusive sponsor, Sun Life Financial (formerly Sun Life of Canada). The Directors' Project has hosted 24 successful directors from this outstanding training program for Canadian directors. Jean Morpurgo from Halifax and Todd Hammond from Toronto were the two intern directors at the Shaw Festival in 2000. They worked with leading directors on two successive Shaw productions (one production in the Festival Theatre and the other in one of the two smaller theatres) and also participated in training sessions at the Shaw's Academy. Each intern chose a play from the period of the Shaw Festival's mandate (1856-1950) in consultation with the Directors of the Academy. Rehearsals for their "showcase" productions began in August and culminated in 3 performances in September 2000. The intern directors were also involved in education activities and lead audience "pre-theatre" chats at the Festival theatre. We're pleased to announce that Eda Holmes from Montreal and James MacDonald from Edmonton will be the two intern directors at the Shaw Festival in 2001. Over the years, the number and quality of applications from across Canada has made the selection process very competitive. Being chosen is an honour and as well as a huge gift. Alumni of The Directors' Project often cite it as the launching pad to the next stage of their careers. Some of these Alumni are now Artistic Directors of important regional theatres, others are respected freelance directors whose work can be seen across the country, and some have returned to direct at the Shaw Festival. For all of them, it was an unforgettable and unique experience. The Director's Project has a list of successful graduates who are busy freelance directors or active as artistic directors of theatres throughout Canada. They include: Paulina Abarca, Conrad Alexandrowicz, Mark Cassidy, Hans Engle, David Ferry, Dennis Garnhum, Todd Hammond, Sally Han, Ann Hodges, Lise Ann Johnson, Paul Lampert, Nikki Lundmark, Jon Michaelson, Jean Morpurgo, David Oiye, Ian Prinsloo, Gyllian Raby, Karen Rickers, Lindsey Robinson, David Savoy, Sandhano Schultz, Colin Taylor, Craig Walker, and Richard Wolfe. In recent years, emerging set, costume, sound and lighting designers working at the Shaw Festival (Fred Gabrsek, Peter Gracie, Jeff Logue, Rebecca Miller, Deeter Schurig, Brian Smith, David Wootton) have participated in the Director's Project showcase and worked with the intern directors. Throughout its history, The Directors' Project owes a huge thank you to the visionary Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival, Mr. Christopher Newton - a national treasure. We are eternally in his debt for his ongoing support of professional development and for allowing us access to the wealth of talent and resources within the Shaw Company. Over the years The Directors' Project has improved each year because of the dedicated work of The Academy organizers (Duncan McIntosh, Paul Lampert, Neil Munro, Denis Johnston, Carolyn Mackenzie) and Theatre Ontario staff (Marion Gilsenan, Jim Biros, Peter Muir, Sharon Dyer, Diana Belshaw, Vinetta Strombergs). Each and every particpating member of that Company (casts, crews, administration) also gets our grateful praise for their generous gift of time and talent. The first ambitious year (1988) floated the idea of The Directors Weekend - showcasing 5 promising directors presenting 5 one-act pieces over two days to an invited audience of Artistic Directors and Producers. Duncan McIntosh and Marion Gilsenan worked behind the scenes to organize the first showcase featuring directing by Heather Jones-Barker, Randy Maertz, Suzanne Turnbull, Kathryn Allison and Michel Lefebvre. The presenting directors spent only 3 weeks in September with the Shaw Company and were not involved in the regular Shaw Festival season. The presentations of contemporary plays were very much of a workshop nature, where on occasion actors had scripts in their hands. The focus was on the director-actor relationship and not technical or design elements. The following year, 1989, there were only two directors showcased on one day and the name became The Directors' Project with David Ferry and Paul Lampert the intern directors. The directors worked on their own showcase projects and spent only 3 weeks at the Shaw Festival. In 1990, intern directors, Jon Michaelson and Sandhano Schultze were featured at a showcase and a Directors' Forum was initiated - a lively round the room discussion amongst attending professionals titled "Directors: Have We Got Any?" Until 1990, the Shaw Festival had a separate Assistant Directors program whereby very new directors got the opportunity to assist on one show during the season. They could organize their own directing project within the company, usually presented as an in-house late night event. In 1991, Paul Lampert became the Principal of the Academy. The Academy had lost its home in the Boatworks, which had burned down, but the spirit of the program was reborn and expanded, amalgamating the existing Shaw Assistant Directors program with The Directors' Showcase presentations. Now, two chosen directors could spend the whole season as members of the company from March or April until late September. They were assigned to at least two different productions with two different directors and usually in two different theatres. This allowed for a much greater opportunity to observe master directors at work within the extraordinary resources and artistry of the Shaw Festival Company. There have been changes and refinements over the years. The presentations moved from an entire weekend to just Sunday and then to Friday. The presentations have taken place in The Boatworks, The Court House Theatre, Boatworks Too. Now they happen in Christopher's Loft, an intimate studio performance space in the Festival Theatre. The showcases have become more polished in terms of design and production values, but the focus still remains on the director working with superb actors. An assortment of panels, forums and guest speakers (Joanne Akalaitis, Michael Langham, Joe Dowling, Sir Peter Hall, Tadeusz Bradecki and Christopher Newton) have been attached to the day's presentations, and the invited guests represent a who's who of the theatre community, but the heart of it all is seeing and appreciating the director's work. That's why The Directors' Project is one of the most sought after professional development opportunities in the country. RECOMMENDED
READING Viriditas by Muriel Hogue Death Chart by Beth McMaster Pauline and Turgenev
by Sherry Coman Conjugal
Rights by Pam Stevenson The Two
Rooms of Grace by Eleanor Albanese
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