Year 2004 News Releases

For Immediate Release

New Award Announced by Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario is proud to announce the creation of a new award – the Perry Short Award. Starting in May 2004, it will be presented annually at the Theatre Ontario Festival for a period of five years.

This new award will be presented to a person whose work as a set designer is entered competitively in the Theatre Ontario Festival. The winner will receive a Theatre Ontario Summer Course scholarship in the category of their choice.  The award includes tuition, plus meals and accommodation.  Theatre Ontario’s Festival adjudicator will select the recipient from the group of designers whose work is presented at Theatre Ontario Festival.

Perry Short, a long time resident of Sault Ste. Marie, loved his involvement in the theatre and was dedicated to providing excellence in set design. The spirit behind this award is to further develop the talents of community theatre participants in the art of set design and is generously donated by Janet Short in loving memory of her husband Perry.

D. Perry Short, B. Arch., ARIBA, MRAIC, was born in Scotland and received his architectural training at the Glasgow School of Architecture, University of Strathclyde.  He had been a resident of Canada since 1953 and was a Canadian Citizen.  Perry was a member of:  the Royal Institute of British Architects; Ontario Association of Architects; Royal Architectural Institute of Canada; Associated Designers of Canada; U.S. Institute of Theatre Technology; Theatre Ontario Board Member; and Theatre Ontario’s Talent Bank.  As an architect, a few of the projects Perry designed are the Theatre Arts complex, Sir James Dunn Collegiate and Vocational School, Sault Ste. Marie; and the remodeling and technical upgrading of the auditorium/theatre, Sault Collegiate Institute.  Mr. Short also completed renovations and additions to the Community Theatre Centre in Sault Ste. Marie where Theatre Ontario Festival will be held in May 2004. 

Perry worked with the following community theatre companies:  Porcupine Little Theatre, Timmins; Elliot Lake Players, and Sault Theatre Workshop as a set designer.  He was the Vice-Chairman and Technical Director for the QUONTA Festivals in 1974, 1979, and 1982 in Sault Ste. Marie.  He was Chairman of the QUONTA Festival in 1985.  Some of the shows Perry designed for Elliot Lake Players were:  My Dear Children, Arsenic and Old Lace and The Little Hut.  For Sault Theatre Workshop he designed: The Miracle Worker; The Man; Much Ado About Nothing; Of Mice and Men; and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest .  He was a recipient of the Best Visual Presentation (which included set and costumes) at the QUONTA Festival nine times and also received the Theatre Ontario Festival Award for Best Visual Presentation four times.

For Immediate Release

Theatre Ontario announces appointment of
Barbara Anderson-Huget as Executive Director

Janet Irwin, President of the Board of Directors of Theatre Ontario today announced the appointment of Barbara Anderson-Huget as Executive Director, effective March 22, 2004. Theatre Ontario’s current Executive Director, Jane Gardner departs on March 26, 2004 to work as General Manager of the Blyth Festival.

With over twenty years of experience in communications, marketing, and fundraising, Barbara Anderson-Huget has been involved with theatre and arts management since she graduated from York University in Theatre Design in 1982. Most recently she was Executive Director of Canadian Artists’ Representation Ontario (CARFAC Ontario), the association of professional visual artists. In addition, Barbara teaches arts management courses for Humber College part-time. In the eighties she served as General Manager for Gryphon Theatre and Tapestry Music Theatre and prior to that held various positions at the Blyth Festival, Muskoka Festival and Young People’s Theatre.

“Barbara brings a broad experience of working with arts organizations all over Ontario and she deeply understands the strategic role that arts service organizations play in strengthening the cultural sector,” said Janet Irwin, President of the Board of Directors of Theatre Ontario. “During her five years as a Touring Consultant for the Ontario Arts Council, she visited hundreds of towns and cities around Ontario, helping to build new audiences and broaden programming. Her work with TVOntario to create Putting on the Arts, a video and workbook series on arts management helped to create new training resources for the arts community.”

Theatre Ontario is a provincial arts service organization that serves individuals and organizations from the community, educational/youth and professional theatre sectors of Ontario. Established in 1971, Theatre Ontario administers professional development and training programs; acts as a resource centre for information on theatre through career counseling, publications and online resources; facilitates a number of theatre networks and actively works on special projects with other arts organizations on behalf of Ontario’s theatre community.

For details on Theatre Ontario’s activities visit www.theatreontario.org

For Immediate Release

Reliable Source of Information on Arts Camps From Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario continues to be a central source of information on performing arts courses for youth and summer camps focused on the arts across the province. Providing theatre information for adults and youth alike, Theatre Ontario can help direct you to the most appropriate performing arts training program, summer camp specializing in the performing arts. Many theatres across Ontario run summer youth outreach programs. Contact Theatre Ontario at (416) 408-4556 or info@theatreontario.org for more information.

In addition to offering information on courses and summer camps focused on theatre, Theatre Ontario offers resources and information regarding training, publications, career opportunities and productions. As a member of the Toronto Association of Acting Studios, Theatre Ontario distributes a free brochure highlighting 25 high quality acting studios in the Greater Toronto Area. The TAAS brochure is also available at www.torontoactingstudios.com.

For over 30 years, Theatre Ontario has hosted unique theatre training opportunities at Youth and Adult Summer Courses. Located in the scenic Niagara region, on the Brock University campus, Theatre Ontario's week-long summer courses held August 8 to 15, 2004 offer intense and fun-filled learning vacations where students of all ages have the opportunity to build and improve their skills in a wide variety of theatre areas.

Over 60 students aged 14 to 18 years will be a part of Theatre Ontario's youth summer courses: In the Performance Skills course, youth will get instruction from four leaders in acting, voice, movement, story creation, physical theatre and improvisation. Instructors are Teodoro Dragonieri, Ann-Marie Kerr, Sue Miner and Kim Renders. The Musical Theatre course for youth will give students who love musicals an opportunity to act, sing, dance and perform selected scenes and songs with director and choreographer David Gale and musical director Randy Vancourt.

Adults can choose from five exciting courses taught by exceptional theatre professionals who deliver hands-on training designed to challenge your skills, expand your creativity and open up new possibilities. Courses include a directing course with Ron Cameron-Lewis, an acting course led by Tom Diamond, a design course with Tanit Mendes, a character-based comedy course with Allan Stratton and Teodoro Dragonieri and Ralph Small's "art of storytelling for the theatre" course.

Theatre Ontario's successful Youth and Adult Summer Courses have earned praise from drama teachers, community theatres, agents, professional theatres, theatre schools and actors getting started in the business. There are scholarships available for the Adult and Youth Courses offered by Theatre Ontario.

Click here for more details about Theatre Ontario's Youth and Adult Summer Courses.

For Immediate Release

Theatre Ontario Festival in Sault Ste. Marie from May 18 to 23, 2004
Galaxy North

Theatre Ontario and Festival chair Sandra Houston are pleased to announce this year's Theatre Ontario Festival held in Sault Ste. Marie from Tuesday, May 18 to Sunday, May 23, 2004 at Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre. The festival, hosted by Sault Theatre Workshop, QUONTA (Quebec Ontario Theatre Association) and Theatre Ontario, represents the finals of an Ontario-wide drama competition comprising the five best theatre productions from each of Ontario's five drama regions:

• Tuesday May 18, 2004 (7:30 pm), Doc presented by Sault Youth Theatre (Sault Ste. Marie), representing Quebec Ontario Theatre Association (QUONTA)
  
• Wednesday, May 19, 2004 (7:30 pm), Over The River And Through The Woods presented by Kanata Theatre (Kanata), representing Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL)
  
• Thursday, May 20, 2004 (7:30 pm) Fiddler On The Roof presented by Thistle Theatre (Embro), representing Western Ontario Drama League (WODL)
  
• Friday, May 21, 2004 (7:30 pm) Staff Room presented by The Curtain Club (Richmond Hill), representing Association of Community Theatres - Central Ontario (ACT-CO)
  
• Saturday, May 22, 2004 (7:30 pm) Drinking Alone  presented by Cambrian Players (Thunder Bay) representing the Northwest Drama Region

All performances take place at the Kiwanis Community Theatre Centre, part of White Pines Collegiate and Vocational High School, 1007 Trunk Road, Sault Ste. Marie.

Theatre Ontario Festival 2004 will be a week full of theatre and related events. Ron Cameron-Lewis , a well-known figure in drama circles, will adjudicate each play and choose winners in 14 categories.  Cameron-Lewis will also give a detailed open adjudication of each production. Theatre enthusiasts will enjoy these informative and thoughtful commentaries.  

The Festival's Opening Ceremonies take place on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 pm at City Hall; and an awards brunch will be held on Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 11:00 am.

Cameron-Lewis will also provide a free workshop giving visitors the opportunity to exchange ideas with members of groups from all over the province, on Thursday, May 20 at 1:30 pm).

Playwrights In Person features readings and behind the scenes stories from Canadian playwrights. Meet Paul Ledoux , Toronto-based playwright as he reads from his plays on Saturday, May 22 at 2 pm. Ledoux's reading is made possible through the Canada Council for the Arts, Playwrights Guild of Canada and Playwrights Canada Press.

Adjudications, workshops, play readings, and awards brunch will take place at the Holiday Inn, 208 St. Mary's River Drive, Sault Ste. Marie.

Two theatre groups from Sault Ste. Marie will be showcasing special presentations on Friday May 21.  At 12 noon, Family Life Theatre presents an Educational Theatre Showcase, and at 4:00PM Theatre In Motion presents The Immigrant Story (venue to be announced). 

Ron Cameron-Lewis is the festival adjudicator for Theatre Ontario Festival 2004. Ron is well known to community groups across the province, as a teacher, workshop leader and adjudicator. He has adjudicated over 2,000 productions throughout Ontario for community theatres and for the Sears Ontario Drama Festival, as well as in the United States at state, regional and national festivals. Ron has worked as a director of plays and musicals, dramaturge, and consultant on voice and accent techniques. He currently teaches acting and directing for Music Theatre Performance at Sheridan College and their joint program in Theatre & Drama Studies with the University of Toronto at Mississauga. His book, "Acting Skills for Life," is in its third edition with Dundurn Press.

Theatre Ontario's 2004 Annual General Meeting will be held Saturday, May 22, 2004, 11:00 am at the Holiday Inn, 208 St. Mary's River Drive, Sault Ste Marie. Results of the nomination process and proxy forms are available here.   

Tickets to all events at Theatre Ontario Festival 2004 are available from Sault Theatre Workshop, PO Box 94, Sault Ste. Marie ON P6A 5L2. Fax your order to 705-946-4081, or call 705-759-1700. www.saulttheatre.com   

Accommodation is available at the Holiday Inn, 208 St. Mary's River Drive, Sault Ste. Marie and can be contacted at 705-949-0611 or 1-888-713-8482. www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/YAMCA

A special thank you to the City of Sault Ste. Marie for its generous support of Theatre Ontario Festival.

For Immediate Release

Jini Stolk Wins Tulloch Award For Innovation In The Arts

The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts was presented to Jini Stolk at a special event hosted by the Creative Trust: Working Capital for the Arts on March 9, 2004 in Toronto. Angela Rebeiro, a former Tulloch Award winner presented the award to Jini Stolk who was honoured for her dynamic and innovative contribution to Toronto's performing arts community.

Executive Director of the Creative Trust: Working Capital for the Arts, Jini Stolk has facilitated the growth of a $6 million program, supported in partnership by the public and private sectors, to assist in sustaining Toronto's creation-based performing arts organizations by providing technical assistance, help with deficit reduction, and a permanent reserve of working capital. For six years she worked as Managing Director of Toronto Dance Theatre and for ten years as Executive Director of Toronto Theatre Alliance. Stolk was President of the Board of Toronto Artscape during the development of Gibralter Point, a unique artists' retreat and work center located on the Toronto Islands. She has also served as an active arts advocate on many government, cultural and community task forces, committees and action groups including the Ontario Arts Network (a cross-discipline committee of arts service organizations), the Common Agenda Alliance (promoting a continued strong federal involvement in arts and culture), and Elect the Arts (Toronto's first campaign to elect an arts-positive municipal council).

"Just like all of the other recipients," said Angela Rebeiro, "Jini Stolk has earned her stripes for this award through innovative and creative ideas, and energy used to move organizations she's worked for forward, to raise their profile, to fairly and equitably represent the memberships of those organizations and their interests and issues to government, the public and the communities in which she has worked. In addition, among colleagues she has been a good friend, always worked with the community and has been generous in sharing her time, ideas and creativity with those of us who have been privileged to work with her."

Previous winners of the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts include Tim Jones, Jane Marsland, Angela Rebeiro, Susan Serran and Myles Warren. The award is presented annually to an individual or collective that demonstrates leadership over a long career, a passionate commitment to deepening the scope and broadening the appeal of the arts in Ontario through innovative and practical approaches. The award honours people in the arts, individuals who provide leadership within their specific fields and have devoted an enormous amount of time and energy to the arts throughout the province. The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts was set up in 1998 by friends and colleagues of Sandra Tulloch upon her retirement as Executive Director of Theatre Ontario.

Individuals and organizations from a broad spectrum of Ontario's arts community have contributed to the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts - an original design by North Bay artist, Barry Burniston and bronze casting by Craig Meschino of Toronto. The annual Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts is administered through Theatre Ontario.

For Immediate Release

Notice Of Annual General Meeting

2004 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
will be held Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 11:00 AM
at Holiday Inn, 208 St. Mary’s River Drive, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario 

If you are a Theatre Ontario member and are unable to attend the Annual Meeting, you can have another person represent you by proxy. Simply obtain a Proxy form available from Theatre Ontario by calling 416-408-4556 and we'll send it to you by fax or mail. You can also obtain your proxy form by clicking here. Forms may be sent by fax to 416-408-3402. The proxy form must be signed, completed and returned to Theatre Ontario by May 1, 2004.

RESULTS OF NOMINATING PROCESS for Theatre Ontario’s 2004-2005 Board. Nomination forms went out to the membership in the last newsletter. Nominations were accepted until March 12, 2004, when nominations from the membership were officially closed. 9 nominations were received for 9 positions on the Board: Julianne Baragar, Guillaume Bernardi, Janis Hobson, Kay Kanbayashi, Mike MacLean, John Mayberry, Richard Poore, Sean Trofin and Brian Van Norman. WODL appointed Bill Meaden as their representative for 2004-2005.

Don’t miss Theatre Ontario Festival, “Galaxy North” May 18 to 23, 2004 hosted by Sault Theatre Workshop, QUONTA and Theatre Ontario www.saulttheatre.com  

For Immediate Release

New Theatre Health and Safety Website Launched by Theatre Ontario

With financial support from The Ontario Trillium Foundation over three years (2001-2004), Theatre Ontario created a bold new initiative called To Act in Safety that delivers health and safety training to people at every stage of their theatre career and offers practical and accessible tools, and best practices that can be freely shared in cultural organizations all over Ontario. Theatre Ontario’s new health and safety website offers all of these resources free of charge at www.theatresafety.ca Performers, technical theatre workers, volunteers, supervisors and management all share responsibility for health and safety in the theatre.

Theatre Ontario gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. The Foundation provides grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts, culture, sports, recreation, environment and social service sectors.

Through this program, Theatre Ontario has:

• Completed extensive surveys examining the health and safety practices and policies of theatres all over Ontario – professional theatres, amateur theatres, municipal theatres, theatre training institutions and touring facilities.
• Delivered first aid training to over 380 theatre volunteers and theatre workers in 20 communities around Ontario.
• Worked with a team of health and safety theatre consultants to visit over 100 theatres in over 50 cities and towns in Ontario to deliver training and help create and implement health and safety policies and procedures specific to their theatre’s needs.
• Worked with over 800 people in one-on-one health and safety audits and health and safety policy development at theatres around Ontario and offered specialized training in WHMIS, fall protection, operation of lifts or firearms/pyrotechnics use.
• Collected a library of resources in health and safety specific to theatre that is available to the general public at Theatre Ontario’s Toronto offices.
• Developed new health and safety resources which are available free of charge from their new health and safety website www.theatresafety.ca.
• Created new health and safety training resources that offer an easy-to-understand summary of a theatre’s liability and risk issues, best practices and checklists that make health and safety practices easy to implement.
• Worked with Humber College’s Arts Administration/Cultural Management program to develop a new continuing education course, Health and Safety in the Arts.
• Organized a network of theatres with knowledgeable leaders and consultants available to work with theatres on health and safety issues in the future.

Theatres all over Ontario have been generous in sharing their best practices and excellent resources in order to help other theatres improve their health and safety practices. Special thanks to Brock Centre for the Arts, Centrepointe Theatre, Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, CAPACOA, CCI – Ontario’s Presenting Network, CITT, Drayton Entertainment, Markham Theatre for Performing Arts, National Arts Centre, Newmarket Theatre, Odyssey Theatre, ORSAC, Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival and Toronto Theatre Alliance for sharing their resources and offering training opportunities for their members.

Special thanks to our steering committee for their guidance throughout the project: Theatre Ontario’s Community Theatre Committee, Josephine Hall at St. John Ambulance, Association of Summer Theatres ‘Round Ontario (ASTRO), Ontario Service Safety Alliance, Ontario Advisory Committee for Health and Safety in Live Performance, and Janet Sellery, Health and Safety Manager at the Stratford Festival.

Theatre Ontario wishes to thank the following people who have provided feedback and advice in the process of developing new health and safety resources: Bonnie Armstrong, Elizabeth Asselstine, Katrina Baran, Gwen Bartleman, William Chesney, Kenny Chan, Paul Court, Michelle Dias, Andrea Emmerton, Simon Fon, Kevin Fraser, James Fulton, Jane Gardner, Kirsten Gundlack, Bob Greene, Harry Houston, Marilyn Lawrie, Daniel Levinson, Denise Lisson, John Lott, David Macdonell, Debra McKay, Jack Minacs, Richard Mongiat, Brandon Moore, Hugh Neilson, Sue Perkins, Cornelia Persich, John Reid, Bruce Repei, Ray Salverda, Janet Sellery, Dave Ship, Jerry Smith, Tim Standley, John Stead, Allan Teichman, Alan Titley, Stephanie Tjelios, Jules Tonus, Peter Urbanek, Nick Vukovic, John Watson, Bruce Whitehead, and Wulf.

For Immediate Release

Maggie Bassett Award Presented To Ron Cameron-Lewis

Each year Theatre Ontario celebrates the achievements of Ontario-based theatre artists who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the development of theatre in the Province of Ontario.

The recipient of this year’s award, Ron Cameron-Lewis, is one of those artists.  For over twenty years, Ron has been an acting teacher, theatre director, writer, adjudicator and workshop leader.  He has been teaching for the Music Theatre Department at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario for over twenty-seven years and is a founder of the joint Theatre & Drama Studies program with Sheridan College and the University of Toronto.  Ron has worked extensively as a director with community theatre groups throughout Ontario and in the United States, and as an adjudicator, he has adjudicated over 2,000 productions in over 100 state, regional and national festivals.  Ron will be the adjudicator at this year’s Theatre Ontario Festival in Sault Ste. Marie.

Ron Cameron-Lewis graduated as a history major from the University of Western Ontario, and went on to train in theatre at the Banff School of Fine Arts, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England and the University of London. 

Ron’s work as an artist has resulted in some of the most vibrant and current tales of Canadian history.  His knowledge and understanding of Ontario’s history and passion for telling stories about that history is unparalleled in the local community.  His plays:  The Golden Ass (2003), Rebel Roads…Stories of the Loyalists (2002), The Loyalist Project (2001), Lovers in Dangerous Times (1998), 6 War Years (1995), reflect that love of Canadian history.  His book Acting Skills for Life, which is a compilation of practical, down-to-earth, exercises and rehearsal ideas for the novice actor and theatre teacher/director is used as course material in many high schools and colleges such as Erindale Secondary School and at Sheridan College.

Teaching is at the core of everything Ron Cameron-Lewis does; and his impact on theatre in Ontario (and beyond) is apparent from the many individuals and groups that have been positively affected from working with him.  His contribution to Theatre in Ontario cannot solely be judged by how many productions have had his name in their programs.  To accurately measure his contribution, one must look at the contributions of his students, who are now the performers, the playwrights, the designers, the teachers and the creators of new theatre in Ontario. 

Jennifer Paquette of Theatre Woodstock said “What sets Ron Cameron apart from other celebrated teachers and artists is the fact that he hasn’t forgotten that he came from community theatre.  He recognizes that theatre is just as important to a small community as it is to a larger centre.  To that end, he is always available to answer a question, polish a piece or foster a young person.”

The Award entitled “Courage” was presented by Sandra Tulloch, a member of the Maggie Bassett Committee, at the Theatre Ontario Festival in Sault Ste. Marie on May 23, 2004.

The Maggie Bassett Award is presented annually in honour of the late Maggie Bassett who, as Theatre Ontario’s first employee, pioneered dynamic programs that continue to benefit the entire province.  Past recipients of this prestigious award include:  James Alexander, Patricia Beharriell, Sandy Black, Jack Blacklock, Jeff Burke, Wayne Fairhead, Richard Howard, Jack Medhurst, Heather McCallum, Kay McKie, Beth McMaster, Dusty Miller, Wilf Pegg, Virginia Reh, Jean Roberts, Lib Spry, Dennis Sweeting, Elsie Thomson, Sandra Tulloch, Herman Voaden, Ken Watts, and Herbert Whittaker.

For Immediate Release

Theatre Ontario Festival 2004 Award Winners

Theatre Ontario Festival 2004 held in Sault Ste. Marie May 18-23, 2004 featured the best of Ontario community theatre productions. Nineteen awards were presented on May 23 by adjudicator Ron Cameron-Lewis.  The festival, hosted by Sault Theatre Workshop in partnership with the Quebec Ontario Theatre Association (QUONTA) and Theatre Ontario, represents the finals of an Ontario-wide drama competition comprising the five best theatre productions from each of Ontario’s five drama regions. 

Participating in the Theatre Ontario Festival 2004 were several hundred people and 5 dynamic productions:

• Doc by Sharon Pollock presented by Sault Youth Theatre of Sault Ste. Marie (representing the Quebec-Ontario Theatre Association)
• Over The River And Through The Woods by Joe DiPietro presented by Kanata Theatre of Kanata (representing the Eastern Ontario Drama League)
• Fiddler On The Roof by Sheldon Harnick and Joseph Stein presented by Thistle Theatre of Embro (representing the Western Ontario Drama League)
• Staff Room by Joan Burrows presented by The Curtain Club of Richmond Hill (representing the Association of Community Theatres - Central Ontario)
• Drinking Alone by Norm Foster presented by Cambrian Players of Thunder Bay (representing the Northwest Drama Region).

Each year Theatre Ontario celebrates the achievements of Ontario-based theatre artists who have made a sustained and significant contribution to the development of theatre in the Province of Ontario.  On May 23, Ron Cameron-Lewis received the Maggie Bassett Award that recognized his ongoing contribution to theatre throughout Ontario.

The five-day festival chaired by Sandra Houston of Sault Theatre Workshop also featured workshops led by Ron Cameron-Lewis, Annette Wishman, and Steven McCarthy; play readings by Paul Ledoux hosted by Playwrights Canada Press and Playwrights Guild of Canada; presentations of The Immigrants' Stories by Theatre In Motion and The Covered Mirror by Family Life Theatre; and Theatre Ontario’s annual general meeting.

Winners of Theatre Ontario Festival
Announced May 23 at a Special Awards Ceremony

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
Staff Room , The Curtain Club
* also nominated Drinking Alone, Cambrian Players; Over The River And Through The Woods, Kanata Theatre

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR
Rosemary Keneford, Over the River and Through the Woods , Kanata Theatre
*also nominated: Joan Burrows, Staff Room, The Curtain Club; Gabe Ferrazo, Drinking Alone , Cambrian Players

RICHARD HOWARD AWARD
Keith Garner, Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre

PERRY SHORT AWARD
Loretta Durat, Doc , Sault Youth Theatre

OUTSTANDING JUVENILE
Jacqueline Boychuk as Katie, Doc , Sault Youth Theatre
* also nominated: Jennifer Prole as Chava, Fiddler on the Roof, Thistle Theatre; Mark Hazeleger as Fyedka, Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre

OUTSTANDING NEWCOMER TO THE STAGE
Norm Northmore as the Constable, Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre
* also nominated: Martin Klomp as Perchik, Fiddler on the Roof, Thistle Theatre; Tammy Wier as Catherine, Doc , Sault Youth Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Jim Holmes as Nunzio, Over the River and Through the Woods , Kanata Theatre
* also nominated: Brooke Keneford as Frank, Over the River and Through the Woods, Kanata Theatre; Cam Lund as Frank in Graduation, Staff Room, The Curtain Club of Richmond Hill; Jonathan Kline as Dennis in Secrets, Staff Room , The Curtain Club

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Lynda Muir as Lacey in Scar Wash, Staff Room , The Curtain Club
* also nominated: Sandra Smith as Hodel, Fiddler on the Roof, Thistle Theatre; Elaine Northmore as Yente, Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE IN A LEADING ROLE
Brandon Moore, Staff Room , The Curtain Club
* also nominated: Stewart Wheeler as Nick Cristano, Over the River and Through the Woods, Kanata Theatre; Andy Brockway as Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof, Thistle Theatre; Gabe Ferrazzo as Ivan Todd, Drinking Alone , Cambrian Players

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE IN A LEADING ROLE
Jesica Bouvier as Carrie, Drinking Alone , Cambrian Players
* also nominated:  Carol Colombo as Bob, Doc, Sault Youth Theatre; Christie Mantel as Renee Duchene, Drinking Alone, Cambrian Players; Victoria Curran, multiple roles, Staff Room , but particularly as Sharon in the Reunion scene, The Curtain Club

OUTSTANDING VISUAL MOMENT
The Wedding Scene, Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre

OUTSTANDING VISUAL PRESENTATION
Drinking Alone , Cambrian Players
* also nominated: Fiddler on the Roof, Thistle Theatre; Staff Room , The Curtain Club

OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT
Staff Room , The Curtain Club

OUTSTANDING CO-ORDINATED PRODUCTION (as chosen by Festival Stage Managers)
Staff Room , The Curtain Club

SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR AWARDS

• The Preshow Anataevka Villagers (Andrew Bolton, Russ Dickout, Rigmore Glen, Jim Lawrie, Doug Martin, Marion Martin, Teresa MacKay, Emily MacKay, Steve MacKay, Amanda Struthmann & Liz Williams), Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre
• Suzanne Stoner, Costume & Hair Design, and Mary Ann Swan, Costume Assistant, Staff Room , The Curtain Club
• Douglas MacMillan, Lighting Design, Over the River and Through the Woods , Kanata Theatre
• Don McMahon, Set Painting, Drinking Alone , Cambrian Players
• The entire company of Fiddler on the Roof , Thistle Theatre, for imaginative adaptation of their production to the performance space

Theatre Ontario Festival 2005 will be held in Belleville from May 18-22, 2005 co-hosted by Belleville Theatre Guild (chair Pat Gray), EODL and Theatre Ontario.

For Immediate Release

Applications Being Accepted Now For The
Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award

Established in 2000, the Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award will be given to an individual with a serious interest in becoming a Technical Director in a professional theatre. The candidate should have professional theatre experience or extensive experience in community or educational theatres. Previous winners of the award are Ben Chaisson, Jason Hand, Craig Putt and Patrick Wood.

Applications are being accepted for the next Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award. The individual receiving the award will work as the Assistant Technical Director at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre For Young People (LKTYP) on the production Blue Planet in Toronto from November 28, 2004 to January 28, 2005. They will be mentored and supervised for nine weeks by Ian Arnold, Production Manager and Matt Farrell, Technical Director at LKTYP.  A bursary of $500 per week will be paid to the selected candidate over the 9 week contract. Applicants must be residents of Ontario.

To honour Toronto theatre professionals, the late Dean Ott and Debbie Boult, a special trust fund was created. Annual contributions from the trust fund and additional support from the Professional Theatre Training Program of Theatre Ontario (funded by the Ontario Arts Council) make this annual award possible. Dean Ott and Debbie Boult met during their high school production of Godspell, married and worked together at Sunshine Theatre in Kelowna, BC, JV Theatre Productions and Theatre Calgary in Calgary, and The Canadian Stage Company in Toronto. In 1998, Dean Ott and Debbie Boult died and in their memory, a special fund to encourage the development of aspiring theatre technicians was created. Donations to the Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award are always welcome. To make a donation, contact John Goddard at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People at 416-363-5131.

Dean Ott, a former General Manager at Young People’s Theatre (known today as the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People), could always see everyone’s potential and he mentored the careers of scores of theatre technicians. Debbie Boult was Company Manager and Executive Assistant to the Managing Director at Canadian Stage. Her kindness, generosity, loyalty and constant good humour were a touchstone for the hundreds of actors, directors, stage managers, board members and staff with whom she worked over the years.

Thanks to Simon Marsden and Paul Shaw at Canadian Stage Company, Julian Sleath at Canadian Opera Company and Ian Arnold, Kevin Ryan and Matt Farrell at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People for mentoring technical directors through this award program.

Deadline for Applications: August 2, 2004.  Selection of the winner will be made by September 1, 2004.

For further information please contact John Watson at Theatre Ontario 416-408-4556.

For Immediate Release

The Elinore and Lou Siminovitch Prize in Theatre and Theatre Ontario
announce a call for applications for the 2004 Master Class in Directing

Applications Deadline: August 6, 2004

The Siminovitch Prize and Theatre Ontario announce a call for applications to participate in an all expenses paid Master Class with the inaugural 2001 Siminovitch Prize winning director, Daniel Brooks. The workshop will take place on Monday, October 25, 2004 from 10am to 5pm in Toronto.

The Siminovitch Prize in Theatre was introduced in 2001 and dedicated to renowned scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright. Sponsored by BMO Financial Group, Canada’s richest annual theatre arts award recognizes direction, playwriting and design in three-year cycles. The winner receives $100,000, of which $25,000 is awarded to a protégé or organization of the winner’s choice. The inaugural 2001 award was given to director Daniel Brooks who chose Chris Abraham as his protégé; the 2002 award went to playwright Carole Fréchette who chose Geneviève Billette; and the 2003 award went to designer Louise Campeau who chose two protégés, Magalie Amyot and Michèle Magnon. In 2004, the prize comes full circle and will again be honouring directors. For more information visit www.siminovitchprize.com.

Master Class Workshop
The Master Class workshop has been designed to celebrate one of the prime motivations behind the Siminovitch Prize: the importance of mentorship within our cultural community. The workshop will be an investigation into direction in an intimate environment with Master Class director Daniel Brooks. Selected participants will be working with an established text determined by Brooks, which participants will be notified about upon selection. It is expected that participants will have carefully read the text in advance to the workshop. The Master Class will be process driven with no presentation component. All workshop participants will be invited to attend the Siminovitch Prize Award ceremony and reception that will take place the following day on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at Hart House Theatre.

The Master Class workshop is

• Limited to a maximum of 10 participants (a minimum of two from Toronto).
• Open to freelance directors and Artistic Directors who are Canadian citizens or have landed immigrant status.
• Expected to involve a representation of participants from across the country.

Airfare, local transportation, hotel rooms and per diems will be covered for all participants attending from outside Toronto.

Daniel Brooks
Director, writer, actor, and producer, Daniel Brooks is a prolific and versatile artist whose innovation and risk-taking has made him a leader within the Canadian cultural landscape. He has been recognised with accolades and awards for such productions as Here Lies Henry, The Noam Chomsky Lectures, House, Insomnia and Faust. His work has toured across the country and around the world. Recipient of the inaugural Siminovitch Prize, among the awards he has won or been nominated for are the Dora Mavor Moore Award, the Chalmers Award, The Edinburgh Fringe First Award and the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama. He co-founded the Augusta Company with Don McKellar and Tracy Wright, helped build da da kamera as an international touring company, was an Associate Artist at Buddies in Bad Times, artist in residence at the Tarragon Theatre, has an on going association with Soulpepper Theatre, and is currently the new Artistic Director of Necessary Angel Theatre Company.

Master Class Participants Selection Process
Applicants are expected to have had previous directing experience. To be considered, applicants must submit a résumé with a one-page cover letter highlighting their directing experience and what kind of instruction in the craft of direction they seek. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 6th, 2004. Applications received after this date will not be considered. The participants will be announced September 7th, 2004.

The jury to select the Master Class participants will be chaired by Janet Irwin, Past President of Theatre Ontario’s Board of Directors and will include Leonard McHardy, Siminovitch Jury Chair; Jacoba Knaapen, Siminovitch Producer; and Daniel Brooks, Master Class Director.
 
For more information please contact Andrew Soren at the coordinates below.

Applications can be sent by mail or by e-mail to:
Andrew Soren
Administrator, Siminovitch Prize in Theatre
Corporate Sponsorships, BMO Financial Group
55 Bloor St. West, 4th Floor
Toronto, On  M4W 3N5
(416) 927-2771  Fax (416) 927-2325
andrew.soren@bmo.com

Financial assistance for the 2004 Master Class has been generously provided by the Canada Council for the Arts.

For Immediate Release

Theatre Ontario and Playwrights Guild of Canada partner for "Over 30"

Theatre Ontario and Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC) is pleased to announce Over 30, a monthly playreading series of Canadian plays produced before 1975. 

Wanting to celebrate the talent that started it all, Over 30 celebrates the “alternative” pioneers, without which, there would not be large numbers of theatres producing new Canadian work.

The first Over 30 reading will take place during Arts Week on Monday, September 27 and we will  celebrate Carol Bolt and her early play Buffalo Jump (1972, Theatre Passe Muraille).  After the reading, we will have a talkback with members of the original production. 

Over 30 takes place at PGC's offices, locacted at 54 Wolsley St. (NE of Queen and Bathurst) on the second floor—same building as Theatre Passe Muraille.  Please join us and celebrate our theatrical history.

For Immediate Release

Winner Of 2004 Victor C. Polley Award Announced

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announce the winner of the 2004 Victor C. Polley Award - Lyndee Hansen , General Manager and Producer of Crow's Theatre. This award recognizes the achievements of arts administrators who are in the early stages of their career. The award was established in 1983 to honour the work of Victor C, Polley, the first General Manager of the Stratford Festival and Manager of the St. Lawrence Centre. While there were several deserving applicants in the running for recognition this year, the jury was unanimous in their feeling that Lyndee embodied the true spirit of this award.

This year, Theatre Ontario was delighted that the winner's accomplishments could be recognized in front of a national audience of her theatre peers. The award was presented by Lucy White, Executive Director of PACT [Professional Association of Canadian Theatre] at their annual conference, this year hosted in Winnipeg. Lyndee was nominated for the award by Nancy Webster, former Managing Director at Factory Theatre and now General Manager at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, with support from Ms. White along with Crow's Artistic Director Jim Millan.

The award includes a gift from Theatrebooks [a copy of Kym Bird's new book Redressing the Past - the politics of early English-Canadian Women's Drama 1880-1920] and a pair of VIP tickets to this year's 25th anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards [June 28 at the Princess of Wales Theatre], courtesy of the Toronto Theatre Alliance.

Lyndee Hansen graduated from Ryerson University in 2000 with an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Technical Production. Even before graduating, Lyndee was involved in professional theatre. From April 1999 - 2002, she worked as an assistant Production Coordinator for Harbourfront Centre, acting as a liaison between the performers, technical staff and front of house staff, and managing various venues. From September to December 1999, she was Head of Public Relations for Ryerson Theatre Company, managing publicity, marketing, front of house, and box office for three productions. While still at Ryerson, her talent and potential was recognized and she was offered the job at Crow's Theatre. Since March 2000, she has worked alongside Jim Millan to produce five full productions, two staged readings, and an incredibly successful national tour of Time After Time: The Chet Baker Project - remarkable achievements for a small theatre company with limited resources. She continues to demonstrate her abilities as the company is developing further international touring opportunities and celebrating their 20th year with a new production of Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love.

Lyndee is making her mark in the Canadian theatre community through volunteer work with PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatre), serving on the Joint Standing Committee and the Advocacy Committee. She also helped co-ordinate the 2002 Canadian Theatre Conference in Ottawa. She is a regular guest lecturer at Ryerson University and is already a mentor for other young arts administrators. She has many achievements and she is still in her twenties. We anticipate a bright future and look forward to her many contributions.

The Victor C. Polley Award is administered through Theatre Ontario. The first recipient of this award was Elaine Calder (1983). Other recipients include Heather Redick (1984), Christopher Bye (1985), Victoria Steele (1986), Tamara Ivanochko (1987), Linda Brown & Sara Meurling (1988), Jennifer Ross (1991), Beverly Brown-Sweeting (1993), Ron Berti & Nancy Webster (1995), Taylor Raths (1997), Sean Trofin & Laura J. Forth (1999) and Erin O'Rourke (2002).

For Immediate Release - November 5, 2004

Theatre Ontario Seeks Nominations For The Sandra Tulloch Award For Innovation In The Arts

Theatre Ontario is calling for nominations for the 2005 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts.

• Nominations must be made by two individuals;
• Candidates may be working or have worked in any discipline of the arts in Ontario, whether professional or amateur;
• Candidates must have made a significant, demonstrable contribution to the growth and well being of the arts in Ontario;
• Candidates must have demonstrated a selfless and energetic commitment to the above;
• Candidates must have exhibited a deep involvement in the creation and/or dissemination of art in Ontario;
• Collective initiatives are eligible.

The deadline for nominations is December 15, 2004.  Click here to download the nomination form.

 For Immediate Release - December 1, 2004

Theatre Ontario Announces PTTP Grant Recipients

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.

• Lara Azzopardi trains in artistic producing with Ross Manson & Camilla Holland at Volcano;
• David Duclos trains in lighting design with Jan Komarek; Rebecca Picherak; Andrea Lundy at different locations;
• Michael Freeman trains in production management with Doug Lemcke at Stratford Festival;
• Corrina Hodgson trains in festival curation and production with Moynan King, Hardworkin' Homosexuals / Buddies in Bad Times Theatre;
• Jennifer Jimenez trains in lighting design with Nicolas Marois at Ex Machina;
• Maria Popoff trains in directing with Roy Surette at CanStage;
• Kathryn Porter trains in stage management for opera with Cindy Toushan at Canadian Opera Company;
• Cass Reimer trains in costume and set design with Teresa Przybylski & Michael Levine at three different venues;
• Mickey Wagg trains in lighting design with Michael Kruse at various venues.

If you know someone who could benefit from this kind of training program or if you have someone who you'd like to mentor, please pass this information along to them.

The next annual application deadline for this program is March 1, 2005.
A PDF application form can be downloaded here.

For Immediate Release - December 7, 2004

Theatre Ontario Seeks Applications For The Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award

Donations to the Dean Ott and Debbie Boult Technical Theatre Award are always welcome.  To make a donation, contact John Goddard at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People at 416-363-5131.  Thanks to Simon Marsden and Paul Shaw at Canadian Stage Company, Julian Sleath at Canadian Opera Company, and Kevin Ryan and Matt Farrell at Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People for mentoring technical directors through this award program.

 For Immediate Release - December 16, 2004

Theatre Ontario Announced Tickets Now Available For Festival 2005 In Belleville

Theatre Ontario is pleased to announced that tickets are now on sale for Theatre Ontario Festival 2005, the annual showcase of Ontario’s best community theatre.

Festival 2005 is co-hosted by Theatre Ontario, Belleville Theatre Guild, and the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) and runs from Wednesday, May 18 to Sunday, May 22, 2005.  The Festival will be held at the Empire Theatre & Centre For The Performing Arts in Belleville.

The Theatre Ontario Festival features the best community theatre productions from across the province.  It’s also an excellent learning experience, with workshops, adjudications and play readings by Canadian authors.

The adjudicator for Festival 2005 is Jane Carnwath.  Ms. Carnwath has been involved in many aspects of theatre for a number of years.  She has an MFA from York University and was Professor of Acting, Music Theatre Program at Sheridan College for ten years, and Program Director for the Alumnae Theatre in Toronto for several years.  Her directing credits include: Between The Lines, Alumnae New Ideas Festival; Jennie’s Story, Sheridan Music Theatre; The Gut Girls, Alumnae Theatre; and The Children's Hour, Theatre Erindale.  She has worked with community theatre groups as a production consultant and acting instructor, as well as teaching a directing course at Theatre Ontario Summer Courses.  Jane has adjudicated regional festivals across the province, and the Theatre Saskatchewan Festival.

The schedule of productions for Festival 2005 is:

• Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - EODL representative (to be announced April 4, 2005)
  
• Thursday, May 19, 2005 - WODL representative (to be announced March 21, 2005)
  
• Friday, May 20, 2005 - ACT-CO representative (to be announced April 11, 2005)
  
• Saturday, May 21, 2005 - QUONTA representative (to be announced March 21, 2005)
  
• Sunday, May 22, 2005 - Awards Gala

Tickets for Theatre Ontario Festival 2005 are available by calling the Empire Theatre Box Office at 613-969-0099, Mondays to Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Accommodations are available at the Clarion Inn, 211 Pinnacle Street, Belleville at 613-962-4531 or 1-800-383-4963, www.belleville-clarion.com.