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Year 2000 News Releases PROFESSIONAL THEATRE TRAINING PROGRAM Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce the latest recipients of training grants through Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP), funded by the Ontario Arts Council. Over $20,000 in grant allocations are shared amongst the following 7 trainees: Theatre Ontario gratefully acknowledges the huge contribution of all the mentors who generously and voluntarily take on the responsibilities of training in this program. The Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) offers financial support for unique training opportunities with a mentor of your choice in any theatrical discipline except performance. Applications will be accepted from professionals who wish further development within their own discipline or a "change of direction" within their careers (for example, performers wishing to become publicists). Applicants must have at least two years of professional experience in some area of theatre. NEW DEADLINES FOR P.T.T.P. IN 2001…MARCH 1ST AND OCTOBER 1STFor more information, contact: For Immediate Release WINNERS OF FIRST SANDRA TULLOCH AWARD ANNOUNCED The winners of the first Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts were announced today - Tim Jones and Susan Serran. The annual award is given to individuals who have demonstrated leadership over their career and a commitment to broadening the scope and appeal of the arts through innovative and practical approaches. Award committee members, Colin Taylor (former President of Theatre Ontario) and Angela Rebeiro (Executive Director of Playwrights Union of Canada) presented the award at a special event on October 16, 2000 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto to launch the ArtsVote Report Card in Toronto. "The first winner of the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts is not one but two people", announced Angela Rebeiro. "Tim Jones and Susan Serran were the founding co-chairs and fearless leaders of ArtsVote, a very unique volunteer arts alliance, an alliance which since its inception has garnered interest, admiration and copy cats across North America." Eight years ago, Tim Jones (then General Manager of Buddies in Bad Times) and Susan Serran (then Artistic Director of Theatre Passe Muraille) brought together a group or interested artists and cultural workers to become more active in municipal arts issues. Out of these initial activities and through the inspired leadership of Jones and Serran, ArtsVote was born and had its first major success with the 1994 Toronto municipal election. The ArtsVote campaign and Report Card have become an essential tool for the 200,000 cultural workers in Toronto to raise the arts community's level of participation in municipal affairs. ArtsVote is a volunteer alliance of artists and other cultural workers who earn their living directly or indirectly through the arts. "The award honours those very special people in the arts, those generous and caring individuals who go beyond the call of duty and provide leadership within their specific fields and the arts community as a whole," said Colin Taylor, former President of Theatre Ontario. "The award recognizes these individuals who are catalysts and activists who serve and contribute significantly to the health and vitality of the sector." The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts was set up by friends and colleagues of Sandra Tulloch upon her retirement as Executive Director of Theatre Ontario. An arts administrator, producer, arts advocate, project leader and community activist, Tulloch has continued to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to the arts throughout the province. Individuals and organizations from a broad spectrum of Ontario's arts community have contributed to the award - an original design by North Bay artist, Barry Burniston and bronze casting by Craig Meschino of Toronto. The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts is administered through Theatre Ontario. DRAMATIC CHANGES IN OUR SCHOOLS If you are a community group or non-profit organization that rents space in schools, this year you'll notice a big change in your costs. For many groups in Toronto it's a 1000% increase in permit fees. If you're participating in extra-curricular activities in school there's been a great deal of anxiety as to what activities will occur due to contract talks and ever-expanding teacher's workloads. If you're a high school teacher, you're coping with an entirely new curriculum, few textbooks and resources. If you're teaching in an elementary school, you've had one year of the new curriculum and new testing requirements. If you're a high school student, you'll need to complete a 40-hour community service placement in order to graduate. Welcome to the changes in Ontario schools. These dramatic situations prompted Theatre Ontario to examine the permit policies and after school rental policies of school boards across Ontario to identify any common trends. Theatre Ontario has published our findings in a detailed report and has distributed the information to theatres and arts councils around the province. If you are a community group or non-profit organization that rents space in Toronto schools, starting in September 2000 you will see your costs escalate dramatically. Unveiled as policy in June 2000 and promoted on their website in July, the Toronto District School Board has introduced user fees for anyone using schools outside of classroom activities or continuing education activities. The new rates effective September 1st are an hourly rate based on the square footage of the room being rented. The new policies are crippling for theatre and music groups in Toronto who actively use schools in their region. It penalizes community choirs, orchestras, dance, musical groups and arts activities that need large spaces to rehearse and perform. Everyone from guides & scouts to soccer leagues; from youth groups to parks and recreation; or arts and community bookings will face dramatic leaps in their facility rental costs. These new user fees will cause huge increases in ticket prices, registration & participation fees, cash flow crises and hardship for many non-profit groups that deliver lively arts and recreation activities in an accessible way to our communities. Priorities at the School Board remain with in-class school activities and so they search for new sources of funding outside of classroom hours. The "square footage" funding model of the Ministry of Education is the basis on which Toronto's school board built their new permit policies. Arts Etobicoke has provided us with an illustration of the fees on two cultural groups. "Etobicoke Musical Productions operates out of Burnhamthorpe Collegiate and offers two major productions a year as well as uses the space for rehearsals. Based on the approved fee structure, Etobicoke Musical Productions will face an annual facility charge of $49,000 plus incidental fees (excluding janitorial costs). Taking these charges into account the bill could well exceed $70,000. The Etobicoke Community Concert Band, another extremely active performing arts group who rehearse and perform in Etobicoke Collegiate are facing a projected facility fee exceeding $17,000 also excluding janitorial and incidental costs." Our research indicates that the Toronto District School Board has made the process of renting schools the most complicated and most costly because they calculate hourly prices based on room size - a per square footage rate for all rooms. Every other school board in the province has simplified the process for the general public by calculating a flat fee per hour or a flat fee per theatre/auditorium/gym booking. Their increases and incremental and moderate compared to the Toronto District School Board. More and more school boards are using the cost-recovery method in building their user fee and price structure. What you're charged in Ontario schools depends on where you live. All of the rates mentioned are for theatre or auditorium spaces in schools or cafetoriums. The report finds that half of Ontario's schools are using a flat hourly rate and the fee ranges from $15 per hour (Grand Erie District School Board - Brantford area) to $100 per hour (Keewatin-Patricia District School Board - Kenora region). Other school boards have a flat rate per usage from $50 per booking (Peel District School Board - Mississauga area) to $400 per booking (Thames Valley District School Board - London area). Others offer a special package deal with a minimum number of hours for the flat rate from $150 per booking (Near North District School Board - North Bay area) to $1200 per booking (Owen Sound auditorium includes 10 hours with technician, custodial costs, equipment & lighting). Some schools have special prices for performances and for rehearsals, while others base their rates on the number of seats in the school auditorium. In Toronto, beginning September 1st, costs to groups booking theatre or auditoriums range will from $42-$63 per hour while classrooms range from $3.75 to $5.60 plus additional fees for caretaker overtime ($30-$40 per hour), stage crew ($11-15 per hour), parking lot attendant ($24-$33 per hour) or special lighting equipment surcharges. In Toronto, it is not yet clear how cultural groups will be classified in the current user fee categories - community groups for adults or private, registered non-profit groups (higher rates). In the Waterloo Region their school permit fees were raised to $150/hour for auditoriums/theatre but in 2000 they were reduced by 50% because it drastically affected activities and group's finances. In the Peterborough region, increases in permit fees will be deferred to January 1st to enable groups to adapt and plan using the new policies. The York Region District School Board created a comprehensive brochure that highlights all charges, user group definitions & rates, including rental of equipment ranging from grand piano to complex stage lighting equipment. For a copy of the report, contact Theatre Ontario at (416) 408-4556 or e-mail at info@theatreontario.org. To download School Permit Policies and Community Use of Schools to your computer, click here and select "Save...". (This document is in Rich Text ["rtf"] format.) To download School User Fee Chart to your computer, click here and select "Save...". (This document is in Excel ["xls"] format.) Theatre Ontario brings people and theatre together all over Ontario. Our non-profit service organization provides a central source of information on training, career opportunities, awards, publications, productions and resources focused on theatre in Ontario. Theatre Ontario facilitates learning opportunities, training, information exchange and theatre networks. For Immediate Release ARTS CAMPS ARE A FUN WAY TO LEARN FOR KIDS Theatre Ontario is a great source of information on theatre and drama camps for kids all over Ontario. For parents looking for an overnight arts camp or a day camp, Theatre Ontario can direct you to the right place. Theatre Ontario is a central source of information on training, publications, career opportunities, productions and resources focused on theatre. Many summer theatres also offer classes for youth. Contact Theatre Ontario at (416) 408-4556 or email info@theatreontario.org. Theatre Ontario is a member of the Toronto Association of Acting Studios and distributes free of charge brochures highlighting the programs of these 25 high-quality studios. In the new edition of The Agents Book (published by Theatre Ontario) - day programs, kids classes, studios, programs at summer theatres are also highlighted. The publication, Our Kids Go to Camp is another excellent source of information on the best summer camps in Ontario and Quebec (www.ourkids.net) For the student who is really ready for an intensive theatre experience, Theatre Ontario's summer courses for youth is held in the Niagara region at Brock University in St. Catharines from August 13-19, 2000. For over 20 years, these successful courses aimed at students 14 - 18 years have earned praise from drama teachers, community theatres, agents, professionals, theatre schools and actors getting started in the business. Our four exciting courses for youth are taught by exceptional theatre professionals who deliver hands-on training designed to challenge their skills, expand the student's creativity and open up new possibilities. Our youth theatre instructors: Mark Ingram, Glenys McQueen-Fuentes, Catherine McNally and Karen Rickers are all Talent Bank members, directors, adjudicators and workshop leaders who have experience in working with community theatres and schools around Ontario. Five adult courses will also be offered by Theatre Ontario at Brock University from August 13-20, 2000. Featured are: Musical Theatre Workshop with David Gale and Randy Vancourt, "Everthing you've always wanted to know about acting" (a practical how-to guide with Tom Diamond), From the Page to the Stage (playwrighting course with Paulette Hallich), advanced scene study, and Intensive Directing Workshop with David Savoy. Fees include accommodation, workshops and meals. For more details about Summer Courses or free brochure, call Barry Freeman, Theatre Ontario's Summer Courses Coordinator at (416) 408-4556. For Immediate Release MAGGIE BASSETT AWARD PRESENTED TO Every year Theatre Ontario celebrates the achievements of Ontario theatre artists who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the development of theatre in Ontario. This year the Maggie Basssett Award is presented to Beth McMaster, Peterborough resident, teacher and playwright. Beth McMaster's energies have ranged from professional (as a successful, internationally produced playwright), to volunteer (through her community theatre, the Eastern Ontario Drama League and Theatre Ontario). She has served as Founding Chair of Showplace Peterborough where her many years fundraising and leadership have helped to create a state of the art performance facility that has restored life to one of the city's downtown cinema facilities. Beth McMaster has been a member of the Peterborough Theatre Guild for over 30 years with many roles behind the scenes including Past President and producer of their entry in the 1992 Theater International Festival in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. She was co-editor, with Mabel Smith and Dick Beck, of PTG's history, published in 1995. McMaster also helped to establish the Eastern Ontario Drama League Foundation in 1985 and has served in leadership positions on EODL. She is a past Board member of the United Way and FourCast, an addiction treatment organization. As a member of the Playwrights Union of Canada her 25 plays for young audiences have seen over 500 productions across Ontario, the United States, New Zealand and the U.K. The award will be presented by Jane Gardner, Executive Director of Theatre Ontario, on the opening night celebrations of New Stages Peterborough on July 6th, 2000, at Showplace Peterborough. Theatre Ontario's important award is named in memory of
the late Maggie Bassett, theatre Ontario's first employee who pioneered
dynamic programs that benefited the entire province - the Professional
Theatre Training Program, the successful Summer Courses, and the
newsletter that later grew into the arts magazine, Scene Changes. Maggie's
first love for the arts held no barriers between community, professional
or educational theatres. Past award recipients include: Patricia
Beharriell, Sandy Black, Jack Blacklock, Wayne Fairhead, Richard Howard,
Jack Medhurst, Heather McCallum, For more information about Theatre Ontario call 416-408-4556 or visit our website at www.theatreontario.org. EIGHT ARTISTS RECEIVE TRAINING GRANTS Eight artists from Toronto will receive a professional theatre training grant from Theatre Ontario to work on a variety of projects in Minneapolis, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ottawa, Stratford and Toronto. A total of $20,911 will be distributed to the artists involved in the projects described below. For over 25 years, Theatre Ontario's vital Professional Theatre Training Program has delivered high quality apprenticeship opportunities for theatre artists to further their careers. Key to this training are the mentors and companies who invest their experience and resources in these talented individuals. Theatre Ontario believes that professional development and training are vital to the health of theatre and is pleased to announce the following recipients of professional theatre training grants at the May 1st, 2000 deadline:
The next Professional Theatre Training Program deadline is November 1, 2000. YOUTH TRAINING GRANTS AWARDED Theatre Ontario announced that eight projects will receive a total of $25,500 through Theatre Ontario's Youth Theatre Training Program. These unique community arts programs are led by professionals involving youth aged 15-24. The deadline for application was May 1, 2000. Theatre Ontario is pleased to support to these training projects made with financial support from the Ontario Arts Council:
The Youth Theatre Training Program provides pre-professional training to young people in neighbourhoods and rural and urban communities across Ontario. It is directed to youth with a serious interest and commitment to theatre. The program is a wonderful opportunity for theatre artists to develop their skills in exciting and diverse training programs, which truly support a holistic approach to community arts development and arts education. The annual application deadline is May 1st. For more information contact Vinetta Strombergs at Theatre Ontario, (416) 408-4556. THEATRE ONTARIO FESTIVAL 2000 AWARD WINNERS Featured in Theatre Ontario Festival 2000 held in Timmins May 17-21, 2000 were the best in Ontario community theatre productions. Fifteen awards were presented on May 21st by adjudicators David Switzer and Theresa Sears. The festival, hosted by Take Two Theatre (Timmins), Quonta and Theatre Ontario, represents the finals of an Ontario wide drama competition comprising the four best theatre productions from each of Ontario's four drama regions. Guelph Little Theatre earned 6 awards for Beau Jest with the three other groups receiving 3 awards each for their high quality productions. Participating in the Theatre Ontario Festival 2000 were over 250 people and 4 stellar productions:
The five day festival organized by co-chairs Scott Reid and Jan Davies of Timmins also featured workshops: Acting with David Switzer and Theresa Sears; Stage Management Roundtable with Marilyn Lawrie, Play readings by Wendy Hamilton and Norah Harding hosted by Playwrights Union of Canada and Theatre Ontario's annual general meeting. WINNERS OF THEATRE ONTARIO FESTIVAL - Announced May 21st BEST PRODUCTION Beau Jest, Guelph Little Theatre BEST DIRECTOR Gerry Butts Beau Jest, Guelph Little Theatre BEST ACTOR in a Leading Role Mark Whelan Role of "Jacob
Mercer" in 1949, Amicus Productions BEST ACTRESS in a Leading Role Marcy Bellai Role of
"Sarah" in Beau Jest, Guelph Little Theatre BEST ACTOR in a Supporting Role Lloyd Lindsay Role of
"Abe" in Beau Jest, Guelph Little Theatre BEST ACTRESS in a Supporting Role Sharon Sproule Role of
"Dorothea" in Eleemosynary, Espanola Little Theatre BEST VISUAL PRESENTATION Playboy of the Western World,
Domino Theatre BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT David Smith, Lighting &
Design Playboy....Domino Theatre BEST COORDINATED PRODUCTION Beau Jest, Guelph Little Theatre SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR AWARDS AMBER BOUCHER - Best Youth Performance, "Echo" in
Eleemosynary, Espanola Little Theatre RICHARD HOWARD AWARD* Warren Coughlin, Director of 1949, Amicus Productions * For a director who achieved much character development, interpretation and stage management in his first full-length production. Theatre Ontario Festival 2001 will be held in Peterborough from May 16-20, 2001 hosted by Peterborough Theatre Guild and co-chairs Bud Bethune and Mary Helen Moes. For Immediate Release SUMMER THEATRES - A BIG SELECTION Each year, when spring rolls around, people's thoughts turn to summer and bright sun-filled days, sweet-scented nights, and ice cream at the beach. These days, people's thoughts are also turning to something else - theatre - and this is not just for a select few. Over a million people visit Ontario's professional summer theatres every year. "It's a huge number of people and it represents an
astonishing change in the last 50 years", says Robert More, who is
Artistic Director of the Lighthouse Festival Theatre in Port Dover and
also President of ASTRO (Association Of Summer Theatres 'Round Ontario).
"If you love theatre, we make it easy for you to find out about all your
choices each summer," More adds. Our ASTRO brochure lists all 28 summer
theatres, their playbills and box office numbers, and it's FREE!" To
receive the ASTRO brochure, call It's hard to believe, but the first professional summer theatre in the province started in 1946. That was the Straw Hat Players at the Muskoka Festival up in Gravenhurst. Then came the Red Barn in 1949, the Stratford Festival in 1953, and the Shaw Festival in 1962. Since then, there has been a veritable theatrical explosion. In 1985, a group of those summer theatres came together to create a province-wide summer theatre network and ASTRO was born. There are now 28 member companies under the ASTRO umbrella, who are not only bringing a great deal of high quality entertainment to a lot of people, but who are also responsible for pumping 200 million dollars into Ontario's economy annually. And while the Stratford Festival and Shaw Festival sell over 800,000 tickets per season, what is often not recognized is that the remaining 26 ASTRO theatres attract more than 500,000 people every year, and generate an estimated 15 million dollar spin-off into local economies. "Professional summer theatre in Ontario has become big business", says ASTRO President More, "but there's a lot more to it than that. People are coming to summer theatre in droves because of two reasons: quality and variety." In the early days, many theatres in summer stock tended to be just that - "stock" - offering what was perceived as standard summer fare, usually from the British and American repertoire. Often production values were limited or downright minimal. But that is definitely not the case any more. Nowadays, top actors, directors, composers and designers are integral to the summer theatre scene, and the range of plays offered is nothing short of astonishing. For their 2000 season, ASTRO theatres are offering a dazzling array of comedies, dramas, mysteries, and musicals, big and small. On the playbills you can find everything from "Patsy Cline" to Shakespeare, from "Mini-Putt" to "The King and I". It is interesting that of the 145 productions being presented this season by the 28 ASTRO theatres, 77 of these are Canadian plays, including some world premieres. All but two of the summer theatres have at least one Canadian play on their stages, and 9 companies produce an ALL-Canadian season - Bluewater Summer Playhouse (Kincardine), Blyth Festival, Gryphon Theatre (Barrie), Lighthouse Festival (Port Dover), Port Stanley Festival Theatre, The Georgian Theatre Festival (Meaford), Theatre On The Grand (Fergus), Theatre Orangeville, and Tottenham Summer Theatre. Perhaps this is the real guage of the artistic growth that has occurred in Ontario's summer theatres. This commitment to "things Canadian" is at the very heart of the excitement now being generated by ASTRO theatres who are reflecting the cultural roots of this country. These theatres are presenters of wonderful entertainment and they are risk-takers and nurturers as well. You can still find hit shows from Broadway and the West End, but you will also find new plays in development, plays that go on to the major stages across Canada. You can find work by well-known Canadian writers like Norm Foster, Wendy Lill, Judith Thompson, Michael Healey, and of course the ever -popular Wingfield Farm shows by Dan Needles and starring Rod Beattie. The stars appearing on all these stages are too numerous to mention. Want a real vacation? Need to get away from it all? Treat yourself to a visit to Ontario's summer theatres. Not only will you discover the scenery - the sun and the sand and the water and the land - you will leave your world behind and fall into a different world. In the theatre, for a couple of hours, you can experience the world of the play, and the lives of the characters of this country, what they've done in the past and what they aspire to in the future. Our summer theatres will make you remember what it is to be human - you laugh, you cry, you think, you relate. And while you're at it, you'll be having a great time with a lot of other people. To receive a free ASTRO brochure, just call or email us your address and how many you would like at info@summertheatre.org. Members of ASTRO are located in: ASTRO FACTS ASTRO & TOURISM 1,300,000 tickets sold annually by ASTRO theatres
ASTRO & ITS COMMUNITIES ASTRO & ITS CULTURAL CONTRIBUTION |