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Theatre Alberta News
Fall 2005What’s New at Theatre Alberta 3What’s New in Alberta
Post- 5Secondary Theatre Programs
Report from The Alberta High School 6Drama Festival
Association
Tales from the Stacks 7
Albertans Abroad 8
Member Profile 9
Bringing Back the Old, 10Ringing in the New
Mount Royal College 12
An Artstrek Marriage 13
Public Service Announcements 14
The Buzz 15
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On the Front Cover:Mount Royal College’s production of Unity
(1918) by Kevin Kerr, directed by Susanne Gillies-Smith. Photo by
Douglas J. Rathbun. See page 12 for related story.
It’s funny how,in the spring, the summer appears to extend for
weeks on end, and
then suddenly – all too soon – it is September. Don’t get me
wrong:
fall is good, especially for us theatre folk. Our season begins
anew and
if you check out The Playbill: Alberta’s 2005/06 Theatre Season
thatyou received with this newsletter you will be staggered by the
array of
choices. Wherever you are in the province there is a wealth of
theatre
experiences to choose from – so dig in and go crazy. There is
definitely
enough sustenance to invigorate your soul through the coming
months of shorter daylight and colder temperatures. May you
be
challenged, inspired and provoked by what you see!
Once every few years we have a truly remarkable year for our
summer programs. This year was remark-
able for both Artstrek and Dramaworks. I am extremely pleased to
tell you that the response to theArtstrek program was phenomenal:
we had 296 participants (148 in Exploration I and 148 inExploration
II). There was also a significant wait list for both programs.
Young people from all over the
province attended and the work was quite incredible. The final
sharing on Visitor’s Day sent shivers
down my spine and reminded me yet again of the importance of
this program. Parents, friends, and
family leapt to their feet at least twice and there wasn’t a dry
eye in the house. The feedback at
Dramaworks to the workshops and to the entire program was
overwhelmingly positive with many ravereviews from participants. We
have already started to think about how to build on this year’s
successes
for next year’s programs.
Our fall programming is in high gear. We already have a number
of applications from community the-
atres for our Workshops by Request Program. PlayWorks Ink is
looking terrific – you should havereceived the brochure with this
mailout. We are delighted to have the amazing Daniel Brooks as
keynote
speaker along with other excellent workshop instructors. In
addition to our workshops, we also have
four showcase readings of compelling new work. Join us in
Calgary, November 3 to 6 – register by the
early bird deadline and save a few dollars!
Safe Stages, our new health and safety initiative in technical
theatre, is well underway. We are verypleased to have contracted
Ivan Siemens to act as Safe Stages Project Coordinator. If you are
keen tolearn more about the project contact him at
[email protected].
Finally, there seems to be a ray of hope on the horizon for the
arts at one of the province’s post sec-
ondaries. I was very encouraged to read comments made by the
incoming President of the University of
Alberta, Indira Samarasekera. The woman is an astounding arts
supporter and her central vision for
Uof A is to reinvigorate the arts and humanities on campus. It’s
about time: budget cuts within arts
faculties have been significant and the decrease in the number
of drama courses most unfortunate. My
favourite Samarasekera quote from the article is “What the arts
allows us to do is think outside our cur-rent set of boundaries,
our current reality and look into the possibilities that one can
create in one’simagination”
www.engineering.ualberta.ca/civil/news.cfm?story=36720
We hope your fall theatre viewing can do the same for you!
Marie Gynane-Willis, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Theatre AlbertaTheatre Alberta is the Provincial Arts Service
Organization (PASO) for theatre in
Alberta, dedicated to the growth and development of the Alberta
theatre
community and all its constituencies. Theatre Alberta News is a
publication of
Theatre Alberta issued four times a year. Contribution of
notices, news and
articles about theatre are welcome, as well as high quality (300
dpi or higher)
photographs. Theatre Alberta News also accepts signed letters to
the editor
but reserves the right to refuse any material it considers
inappropriate. The
opinions and views expressed are those of the writers and do not
necessarily
reflect those of Theatre Alberta.
Theatre Alberta’s Office and Library are Open
Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
The library will be closed on Saturdays until September 10.
Holiday Hours to Note
Theatre Alberta Office and Library closed September 3–5 (Labour
Day),
October 8-10 (Thanksgiving), and November 11 (Remembrance
Day).
For the upcoming year, copy submission and publication dates are
as follows
October 21 for November 25, 2005
January 27 for March 3, 2006
April 28 for June 2, 2006
July 14 for August 25, 2006
Advertising rates
Full Page (10” high x 7.75” wide): $160.00
Half Page (5” high x 7.75” wide): $ 85.00
Quarter Page (2.5” high x 7.75” wide): $ 50.00
Please supply high-resolution files (at least 300 dpi at actual
size) in greyscale
or black and white. Prices include GST.
Theatre Alberta Board of Directors
If you have questions or concerns regarding Theatre Alberta, you
are welcome to contact Theatre Alberta board members.
Officers
President Tanya Ryga, Red Deer
[email protected]
Vice President Karen Towsley, Fort McMurray
[email protected]
Treasurer Wendy Punter, Cochrane
[email protected]
Secretary David Owen, Lethbridge
[email protected]
Directors
Daniel Libman, Calgary [email protected]
Glenda Stirling, Calgary [email protected]
Jane Heather, Edmonton [email protected]
Andrea Martinuk, Edmonton [email protected]
Harold Truckle, Red Deer [email protected]
Steve McHugh, Wetaskiwin [email protected]
Staff
Marie Gynane-Willis, Executive Director
[email protected]
Keri Ekberg, Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Becky Halliday, Executive Assistant
[email protected]
Sam Varteniuk, Programmer [email protected]
Solveig Anderson, Librarian [email protected]
Brenda Sutherland, Library Assistant
[email protected]
Zenovia Adams, Financial Administrator
Loretta McLaughlin, Financial Administrator
Change of address information and undeliverable copies can be
sent to:
Theatre Alberta Society Phone: (780) 422-8162
11759 Groat Road, 3rd Floor Fax: (780) 422-2663
Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6 Toll Free: 1-888-422-8160
[email protected] www.theatrealberta.com
Check-In
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3Theatre Alberta News
What’s New at Theatre AlbertaTheatre Alberta is, as always,
buzzing with activity as we strive to offer our membership
opportunities for professional, educational, or community theatre
development. Here is just a taste of what we’re up to on the
3rdfloor of the Percy Page Centre.
Artstrek Artstrek 2005 has come to a close and we arepleased to
report that it was an unmitigated suc-cess! This year the two,
week-long residential sum-mer camps for teens focused on the
worldrenowned musical Les Misérables: School Edition.Participants
studied, designed, analyzed, directed,sang, danced, and performed
in a classroom envi-ronment, burying themselves in drama with a
groupof enthusiastic peers and professional instructors.Enrollment
in the camp nearly doubled from lastyear: in 2004 about 150 teens
from around theprovince took part in Artstrek; this year we
tippedthe scales at a cool 296!
We encourage all post-secondary teachers, commu-nity theatres,
and municipal youth funding bodiesto sponsor an Artstrek student
each year. It’s arare opportunity for the dramatically inclined
toimmerse themselves in their passion, developingskills and making
connections that will serve themfor a lifetime. Make a kid’s dream
come true –send them to Artstrek!
WebsiteThe times they are a-changing. Nations rise and
fall,babies are born and grandparents die, the moonkeeps her steady
course around this little ball wecall home, and websites change and
are updated. Inan effort to keep ourselves as shiny and new
aspossible we have re-imagined our online identity.Check us out at
www.theatrealberta.com (andhere’s a hint for all you Easter Egg
lovers – snooparound the top left-hand corner of the home
page).
Safe StagesTheatre Alberta’s Safe Stages is now in full swing.
IvanSiemens, our new project coordinator, has taken thereins and
looks forward to working with the Albertatheatre community on this
ambitious initiative.
Ivan grew up in Alberta and was educated in tech-nical theatre
at Edmonton’s Grant MacEwan College.He has 10 years experience in
the Alberta entertain-ment industry as an artist, technician, and
manager.Some highlights include: Assistant Technical Directorat the
Edmonton Fringe Festival, Technical Directorfor Edmonton’s Catalyst
Theatre, Assistant TechnicalDirector at the Banff Centre, set and
lighting designfor Edmonton Musical Theatre, and Assistant
ArtDirector on a number of Edmonton film projects.Currently, Ivan
works primarily in props and sceniccarpentry and is excited about
resuming his role asprops buyer for the Citadel Theatre in the
upcomingseason. Ivan recently received project
managementcertification from NAIT and hopes to continue tobuild his
skills in this area.
The first aim of Safe Stages is to create a compre-hensive
document that outlines the best practicesfor Health & Safety in
the theatre. Our goal is tomake a user-friendly package that is
accessible to alllevels of the theatre community. The
informationand presentation will help all theatres implementsound
Health & Safety practices and provide a refer-ence that can be
used on a daily basis.
The process for developing this documentation is aninteractive
one. Theatre Alberta will be workingclosely with a steering
committee that is already inplace, as well as with others
recognized for theirextensive knowledge on Health & Safety
topics.However, we are also eager to hear from all mem-bers of the
theatre community regarding what theyneed to know about Health
& Safety. What is miss-ing at your theatre? What resource do
you wish wasalways close at hand?
We look forward to hearing from you. Please con-tact us at
[email protected]
DramaworksDramaworks 2005 was a complete success!
115participants from around the province and beyondcame together to
share, learn, and have fun at theCitadel Theatre in Edmonton. In
addition to excel-lent teaching, the participants were treated
tocatered lunches, panel discussions, Happy Hour PlayReadings at
Bravo! Bistro courtesy of AlbertaPlaywrights’ Network, group
warm-ups, and trips toproductions at Walterdale Playhouse and the
RiverCity Shakespeare Festival. Here’s what some of theparticipants
had to say about their experience:
“ I feel more confident – inspired to explore dif-ferent facets
of acting.”
“ It gives us a chance to come together from allover the
province to meet and share ideas andexplore new techniques.”
“ It gave me confidence to try directing.”
“ I learned things I can take back to my school.”
“ It was a vital learning experience.”
“ It’s a strong program that brings together alarge variety of
people joined by theatre.”
“ I love the opportunity to work with profes-sionals in this
setting. I learn so much.”
“ Dramaworks is excellent. This program givesme an opportunity
to meet with and learnfrom others who have similar theatre
projectsin other communities, both professional and‘amateur’ … We
not only learn from our work-shops, but we make new friends and
contactsthat help us carry on. The best part of theatrein Alberta
is the fact that so many in thisbusiness are willing to share with
each other.”
" The single most important thing I've done formy career in a
very long time."
Dramaworks may be changing formats next year.Rather than a
continuous 10-day workshop series,Dramaworks would run over two
weekends, with avariety of 4 day and 2-1/2 day workshops offered.We
want to hear from YOU! Please let us knowwhat you think about this
change, or any otheraspect of Dramaworks. Thank you to everyone
whoparticipated in Dramaworks – we hope to see youall next
year!
Students in Darold Roles' The Chorus Line: Creating
HOTProduction Numbers sparkle with briefcase props, taking on
thesong "Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed in BusinessWithout
Really Trying.
Students in Wade Staples' Ear Candy: The Art of Sound Design
rif-fle through a sound effects library to create their own "sound
sce-narios" in the Maclab Theatre.
Instructors Geoffrey Brumlik (The Adventure of Acting) and
JamesMacDonald (Destination Acting and Going Solo: Monologues)
goofaround during the Dramaworks 2005 Closing Ceremonies.
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Ribbon | Patricia Darbasie | Sept 22 – Oct 1, 2005
Candida | George Bernard Shaw | Nov 3 – 12, 2005
The Myth of Summer | Conni Massing | Dec 1 – 10, 2005
As You Like It | William Shakespeare | Feb 9 – 18, 2006
Scenes from an Execution | Howard Barker | Mar 30 – Apr 8,
2006
One Flea Spare | Naomi Wallace | May 18 – 27, 2006
Line-up subject to change.
Subscribe today:Tix on the Square | 420-1757 |
www.tixonthesquare.ca
4
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5Theatre Alberta News
FORT MCMURRAY: KEYANO COLLEGEGuest Artists: Actor and director
JonathonChristenson and Workshop West’s Ron Jenkins will be
directing for Keyano Theatre.
Student Show: Student Murray Pruden will bedirecting Tomson
Highway’s The Rez Sisters.
Partnership: Keyano’s Drama program is workingon a partnership
with the Uof A to offer a 4 yearBachelor of Arts in Drama,
featuring the smallclasses and intimate Keyano learning
environment.
EDMONTON: GRANT MCEWAN COLLEGEExtra Musical: The partnership
between theatreproduction and theatre arts at Grant McEwanmeans
constant collaboration to accommodate allthe program goals. This
year, the theatre arts stu-dents will be doing three theatre
workshops, sevencabarets, and now an extra mainstage musical.Having
three musicals ensures that theatre produc-tion students get the
experience they need, and theperformance students will get more
individual atten-tion, and be able to take on more substantial
roles.
EDMONTON: THE KING’S UNIVERSITY COLLEGENew Facility: A new
production studio, whichadjoins a new 120-seat proscenium space,
will beopening in December 2005. The facility includes acostume
shop, small properties/scenery shop, con-trol booths, storage
spaces, and greenroom/dress-ing room space.
New Course: Film and commercial producerGilbert Allen will be
teaching a course in guerrillamotion picture production.
Guest Artist: In March, Dr. Roald Hoffman, NobelLaureate in
Chemistry, will lecture on chemistrytopics, read from his poetry,
and workshop hisbrand new play.
EDMONTON: THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTANew Collaboration: Bearing
Witness, presented incollaboration with the Faculty of Nursing, is
a playwritten by Twilla and Mark Welch about two sur-vivors of
torture and sexual abuse. DirectorKathleen Weiss says she was
surprised by thebeautiful poetic language of the script, which
“creates a kind of delicacy around thematerial that moved me,
and allowedme to take in the human desperationand cruelty.”
Guest Artists: The Uof A is pleased tohost guest director Dean
Gilmour anddesigner David Lovett for StudioTheatre’s As You Like
It, Vancouver-based director Stephen Heatley, RiverCity Shakespeare
Festival artistic direc-tor John Kirkpatrick, playwright and
screenwriterConni Massing, and Governor General Award win-ning
playwright Vern Thiessen
New MFA in Theatre Voice Pedagogy: This is theyear to find out
more about this new program,spearheaded by Professor Betty Moulton
– firstintakes will be September 2006.
New Course: Performer Created Theatre, taughtby Jonathon
Christenson
CAMROSE: AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY COLLEGENew 4 year Program: Now it
is possible to have aBA majoring in Drama from Augustana! Thismeans
big changes!
Expanded number of courses: Now students cantake Theatre Company
classes at a senior level, aswell as improvisational workshops
(based on ViolaSpolin), Modern Canadian Drama, Vocal
Masque,Movement for Theatre, and classes in directingand
acting.
New Full Time Faculty: Director and actorMarianne Copithorne,
(who recently directed Love’sLabour’s Lost for the River City
Shakespeare Festival)will join the drama department to raise the
numberof full time permanent faculty to three.
RED DEER: RED DEER COLLEGENew Course: A new movement course has
beenadded for acting students. Taught by Lynda Adamsand Thomas
Usher, the course will explore personalphysical development, stage
combat, charactermovement, physical theatre, and period styles.
New Season: The new season includes a piecebased on poems about
theatre life by Red Deer’s
own Kimmy Beech. Opening in October, AlarumWithin: theatre poems
follows the intensely per-sonal exploits of a stage manager who is
puttingon a production of MacBeth.
Guest Designers: Two guest designers, ColinWinslow and Jessie
Johnson, join resident designerCarrie Hamilton for the upcoming
season.
CALGARY: MOUNT ROYAL COLLEGENew TYA: For their February Theatre
for YoungAudiences tour, Mount Royal will be touring WinnBray’s
Alberta Rose, the story of Albertan home-steaders and ranchers from
Nanton to FortMcMurray. There’s a prairie schooner journey
toDonalda, the first Canadian Chautauqua in Gleichen,and much more
about our own Western Heritage.
LETHBRIDGE: UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGENew Professors: Uof L is
pleased to welcome twonew instructors. Nicholas Hanson, co-author
of TheUltimate Improv Book and Toronto comedy clubperformer, will
be teaching a course in Theatre forYoung Audiences and
Improvisation. Calgary actorand co-artistic director of Theatre in
Exile GailHanrahan will be teaching Acting and Directing.
This is only a glimpse of what is new for 2005-06.Besides,
artists and educators are developing newideas all the time. For
further information aboutthese initiatives andchanges, contact the
collegesand universities directly.
Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey is a freelance writer,
director,dramaturge, and teacher. In April of 2003 she
graduatedfrom the Maters of Drama program at the University
ofAlberta. Heather is looking forward to a collaborativeproject
with the Et Cetera Theatre Collective.
What’s New in Alberta’s Post-Secondary Theatre ProgramsBy
Heather Fitzsimmons-Frey
Shelia Matson, Richard Grafton, and Vicki Graham in the
University of Lethbridge production of Noises Off by Michael
Frayn.
From North to South, Alberta is full of good news when it comes
to post-secondary theatre anddrama education. Although there are
always concerns about adequate funding in this province,colleges
and universities are still successfully bringing in guest artists,
improving their pro-grammes, upgrading facilities, and making new
and exciting changes. Here’s just a sample ofwhat is new for
2005-06.
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6
Report from The Alberta HighSchool Drama Festival AssociationBy
Ken Agrell-Smith
Again this year a successful Provincial Festival washeld at Red
Deer College, May 5, 6, 7. One hundredand sixty-one (161) student
participants withteachers, parents and bus drivers in tow brought
16one-act plays from adjudicated Zone Festivals withan additional
sixty-five (65) participants from otherschools from across the
province for a total of twohundred and twenty-six (226) in
attendance as reg-istered participants (actually, with local
schools inattendance during the school day Thursday we had345 in
the audience). Those twelve Zone Festivalshad witnessed one
thousand seven hundred andfifty-nine (1759) participants from
seventy-three(73) schools with one hundred and forty-one
(141)one-act play productions. In total, two hundredand twenty-one
(221) one-act play productions,including in-house festivals prior
to the Zones, pre-ceded the Provincial Festival. Staggering, isn’t
it?Consider also that most schools had previously pro-duced
full-length plays, collectives, musicals, mimeand dance shows,
etc., of every possible form, typeand style throughout the school
year prior to OneAct Festival time. Let us continue to support
theseefforts in enabling our youth to realize their great-est
potentials.
The Red Deer College Fine Arts Centre with its mar-vellous
theatre, backstage storage areas, convenient
access and parking, its Technicians and Front ofHouse staff and
an overall enthusiasm and supportfor the Festival event are enough
reasons for ourcontinued usage of this venue. Thank you!
Rigorous workshops were held Friday and Saturdaymornings.
Sessions were led by Douglas Abel(Breath and Body, Accentuate the
Positive), CathyLakin (Directing), Mathew Grue (Auditioning
forStage), Carrie Hamilton (Stage Design), JoanneJacobsen (Amazing
Make-Up), Paul Morgan Donald(Writing and Improvised Songs), Michele
Brown(Key to Creating a Character), Barb Adams (ContactImprov),
Tanya Ryga (Creative Voice Overs), MicheleVance Hehir (Learn Your
Lines), Jan Taylor (Singingon Stage), Scott Shpeley (Honest Prep of
an Actor),Adrian Young (Stage Combat), and Larry Reese(Auditioning
For Movies, Acting For The Camera).Thank you!
The exceptionally able and successful adjudicatorsfor the AHSDFA
2005 were Douglas Abel (Artistic)and Cathy Lakin (Technical).
“Theatre celebrates allaspects of our humanity; it allows us to
rehearseour humanity; … it enables us to prepare ourselvesbetter,
to explore and to imagine ideas; … and (itgives us) real lessons
in/for being human” saidAbel, who is Theatre Department Chair of
Keyano
College. Cathy Lakin is a recently retired DramaTeacher from
Edmonton and producer for CrimeStoppers re-enactments. Thank you
both, andthanks also to the adjudicators of the Zones, manyof whom
– products of drama education in thisprovince and the Festival
event – are currently the-atre practitioners who willingly and
lovingly gave oftheir time, their expertise, and of themselves.
Thank you to Keith Ewasiuk for his continuedlabours on our
behalf on site as Festival Director.We all shared a smoothly run
and celebratory eventdue in no small part to the House Technicians
BobFrancis, Sui Fan Wong, Cory Olsen and FOH LindaSando and her
Volunteers. While we are into thethank-yous, without the support of
Adele Waldo,Ron Woodward and Darold Roles from the College,this
event would not happen; The Foundation Forthe Arts ($2,089 Grant
for next year’s operations[that is $1.19 for each of the 1759
participants ...wow! We used to regularly receive $12,000 fromthe
AFA. It is my considered opinion that themaker(s) of the new AFA
formula haven’t got a cluewhat AHSDFA means to this province]);
Sponsorsand Donations from McNally Masque, BarryGagliardi, and
Magic Media (in excess of $3,000);and in particular, Theatre
Alberta for two fullscholarships for Artstreck and travel grants
moneyto the sum of $10,000 to the AHSDFA. ThisAssociation was near
to its final curtain which,hopefully, will not now occur!
The AHSDFA has a new slate of officers elected atour AGM during
the Provincial Festival: President -Trina Penner; V.P. – Chantal
Yardley; Treasurer –Wayne Alsop; Secretary – Barry Gagliardi;
FestivalDirector – Keith Ewasiuk; Members at Large: North– Duane
Mills; South – Sharon Peat; Central –Darren Fleischhacker.
I have been involved with Educational Theatre forthirty-five
years and have retired this June. For 27years, I have been
associated with the AHSDFA inits varied masks. Over that time my
students havehad the honour of being adjudicated to
representEdmonton Zone 8 in 18 of those 27 years, com-pleting 200
in-house, fully-dressed, student-designed and directed one-act
plays. All the yearshave been as memorable as this! It has been
anhonour and a privilege to witness the very best tal-ents that our
students have to offer as they begintheir artistic apprenticeships.
They have beenbrought to this celebration by many mentors. Allare
better human beings for having had the“Festival Experience”. All
the best to all in thefuture. “Break-a-Leg!”
2005 ZONE FESTIVAL PARTICIPANTS AND RESULTSZONE PLAYS SCHOOLS
STUDENTS AUDIENCE ZONE REP. AND PLAYWRIGHT SCHOOL ADJUDICATOR
1 15 4 100 125
Look Me In The Eye Sexsmith High School Diane Conrad– Lindsay
PriceWashtub Farce St. Joseph (Grande Prairie)– Tony D.
Morinelli
2W 12 12 350 250Why do We Laugh Spruce Grove Ted Osbourne–
Stephen Gregg
2E 18 5 100 250
The Raven – Edgar Allen Poe Westwood (Ft.McMurray) James
MacDonald(adapt. B. Boyd)
Fifteen Minute Hamlet Paul Kane (St. Albert)– Tom Stoppard
3 19 (44) 8 220 1400Wrecked – Chris Craddock Ardrossan
Michele BrownThe Dinner Party – Neil Simon ESBCHS (Beaumont)
4W 20 (8) 6 165 750Check, Please H.J.Cody (Sylvan Lake)
Norma Hoppins– Jonathan RandBabel Rap – John Lazarus Lindsay
Thurber (Red Deer)
Scooter Thomas Makes It to 4E 11 3 80 200 the Top of the World
W.E. Hay (Stettler) Collin Doyle
– Peter Parnell
5W 8 6 200 300 To Burn A Witch Bert Church (Airdrie) Sharon
Stone– James L. Bray
5E 6 3 40 120 The Autograph Hound Morrin Jason Schneider– James
Prideau
6 5 2 44 170 Tuesdays and Sundays LCI (Lethbridge) Dave Brown–
Daniel Arnold & Medina Hahn
7 NOT HELD
8 15 (28) 10 132 500 Labels – Marisa Jordan(s) Ross Sheppard
(Edmonton) Ken BrownDo It Right – Chris Craddock Strathcona
(Edmonton)
9 12 12 328 1200 Play – Samuel Beckett John G. Diefenbaker
(Calgary)Kate NewbyBrad Leavitt
TOTALS 141 (80) 73 1759 5265
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Dinner with Friends – Donald MarguliesExtremities – William
MastrosimoneThe Chosen – Chaim PotokHurlyburly – David RabeJeffrey
– Paul RudnickNuts – Tom ToporThe White Devil – John WebsterWalking
Upright Through Fire
– Allan WilsonMa Rainey’s Black Bottom
– August WilsonThe Piano Lesson – August WilsonI Am My Own Wife
– Doug WrightGalileo – Bertolt BrechtFar Away – Caryl ChurchillA
Number – Caryl ChurchillWhen Shakespeare’s Ladies Meet
– Charles GeorgeThe Syringa Tree – Pamela GlenThe Mercy Seat –
Neil LabuteFully Committed – Becky ModeDoubt – John Patrick
ShanleyThe God of Hell – Sam Shepard
Miscellaneous TitlesScrambled Feet (MUS) – John DriverCaroline,
or Change (MUS)
– Tony KushnerRunning Theatres (REF)
– Duncan M. WebbThe Complete Talking Heads (SCN)
– Alan Bennet
ONLINE RESOURCESNew and exciting things are happeningon our
website! Just click on the‘Library’ guy at the top of the heap
onthe home page at www.theatrealberta.com, and you will be
redirected to anew library page. Here you will findinformation to
make on-line searchingeasier and to demystify the issues
withroyalties. You will also find library newsand top-ten lists on
this page. For mem-bers who live outside the Edmonton area(our
apologies to those who live inSherwood Park and St. Albert), an
onlinebooking option is now available. Justclick on the reserves
link on the searchtips page for more information. Asalways, if you
have questions please giveus a call, we’d be happy to help you.
NEW PLAYS FOR THE STACKS AND TITLES ON ORDER
Canadian Titles and CollectionsSheer Nerve – Linda GriffithsThe
Odyssey – Rick ChafeKiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun – Norm FosterSmall
Time – Norm FosterMy Darling Judith – Norm Foster
Self-Help – Norm FosterThe Last Resort – Norm FosterTrying –
Joanna McClelland GlassAn Acre of Time: the play – Jason
ShermanRemnants (a fable) – Jason ShermanThe Buz’Gem Blues – Drew
Hayden Taylor400 Kilometres - Drew Hayden TaylorCrime Against
Humanity
– Genevieve BilletteWade in the Water – George BoydCul-de-Sac –
Daniel MacIvor
General Titles and CollectionsGrace – Michael Lewis MacLennanDe
Filippo – Edwardo de FilippoHumana Festival ’95Mere Mortals – David
IvesDeath and Taxes – Tony KushnerChicks and other short plays
- Grace McKeaneyTen-Minute Plays Vol. 3
– Actors Theatre of LewisvilleMore Ten-Minute Plays
– Actors Theatre of Lewisville Nineteenth Century American
Plays
Haunted Lives – John PielmeierMoonshot Tape and A Poster of the
Cosmos
– Lanford WilsonSpider’s Web – Agatha ChristieEat Your Heart Out
– Nick HallDuet for One – Tom KempinskiMoon Over Buffalo – Ken
Ludwig
Impassioned Embraces (SCN) – John Pielmeier
Avenue Q (VS) – Jeff WhittyAndrew’s Tree (CHO) – Martha
BrooksMrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge(CHR) – Christopher
DurangDanny King of the Basement (CHF)
– David S. Craig
Titles on OrderBigger Than Jesus, Hockey Mom - HockeyDad, Blue
Window, Hot Flashes, Bug, Is HeDead, Calm Down Mother,
Meshugah,Catholic School Girls, MOJO, Cigarettes andChocolate, My
Zinc Bed, Crowns, PassionateWoman, Dinosaur, Pavillion, Dumb
Show,Pillowman, Ernestine Shuswap Gets HerTrout, Queen of Queen
Street, Faith County,Romance, Festen, Shakespeare’s Will,Forever My
Darling, Shifting Point, FreshKills, Sister Jude, Garage Sale,
Tamburlaine ,Helen’s Necklace, The Worst High SchoolPlay Ever
Many thank-yous to all who suggested titles for us to purchase!
We are working on your list and will welcome yoursuggestions for
titles anytime.
7Theatre Alberta News
Performance AwardsOutstanding Playwright: Marisa Jordan
forLABELS from Ross Sheppard H.S.
Outstanding Performance in a Cameo Role(2): Matthew Thiel in
CHECK, PLEASE fromH.J. Cody H.S. Sylvan Lake and CourtneyMilford in
CHECK, PLEASE from H.J. Cody H.S.Sylvan Lake, Honourable Mention:
CrystalHofer in THE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET fromPaul Kane H.S. St.
Albert
Outstanding Performance by an Actress ina Supporting Role: none
awarded
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in aSupporting Role: none
awarded
Outstanding Performance by an Actress(2): Blair Mills in LABELS
from RossSheppard H.S., Jenna Becker in TUESDAYSAND SUNDAYS from
Lethbridge CollegiateInstitute, Honourable Mention: KellsieKerrigan
in THE DINNER PARTY fromBeaumont H.S.
Outstanding Performance by an Actor (2):Ian Hutchings in
TUESDAYS AND SUNDAYSfrom Lethbridge Collegiate Institute,
AndyWallace in PLAY from John G. Diefenbaker,Calgary, Honourable
Mention: Corey Rentonin BABEL RAP from Lindsay ThurberComposite
H.S. Red Deer, Honourable
Mention: Bronson Beres in BABEL RAP fromLindsay Thurber
Composite H.S. Red Deer
Outstanding Director: Jackie Peat for TUES-DAYS AND SUNDAYS from
LethbridgeCollegiate Institute, Honourable Mention:Alex Dul for THE
WASHTUB FARCE from St.Joseph H.S. Grande Prairie
Outstanding Ensemble Performance:LOOK ME IN THE EYE from
Sexsmith Secondary,Honourable Mention: PLAY from John
G.Diefenbaker, Calgary
Artistic AwardsOutstanding Use of Properties: not awarded
Outstanding Costuming: Andrew Kalinchukfor CHECK, PLEASE H.J.
Cody H.S. SylvanLake, Honourable Mention: Cast for BABELRAP from
Lindsay Thurber Composite H.S.Red Deer
Outstanding Use of Makeup/Hair: TalorePeterson, Lyndsey Tucker
and Mitch Sauderfor PLAY from John G. Diefenbaker,
Calgary,Honourable Mention: WHY DO WE LAUGHfrom Spruce Grove
H.S.
Outstanding Choreography: Jackie Peat forTUESDAYS AND SUNDAYS
from LethbridgeCollegiate Institute
Outstanding Use of Live Music: not awarded
Technical AwardsOutstanding Lighting Design andExecution: Jeff
Lo for PLAY from John G.Diefenbaker, Calgary, Honourable
Mention:Brendan Boyd for THE RAVEN from WestwoodH.S. Fort
McMurray
Outstanding Sound Design and Execution:Aimee Dakin for THE RAVEN
from WestwoodH.S. Fort McMurray, TUESDAYS AND SUNDAYSfrom
Lethbridge Collegiate Institute
Outstanding Set Design and Décor:Matthew Thiel in CHECK, PLEASE
from H.J.Cody H.S. Sylvan Lake, Honourable Mention:Cast for BABEL
RAP from Lindsay ThurberComposite H.S. Red Deer
Outstanding Crew Member: JaysonBendera for WRECKED from
Ardrossan H.S.,Honourable Mention: Matthew Koyata andLexi Boyd for
THE RAVEN from WestwoodH.S. Fort McMurray
Outstanding Technical Achievement:TUESDAYS AND SUNDAYS from
LethbridgeCollegiate Institute, Honourable Mention:BABEL RAP from
Lindsay Thurber CompositeH.S. Red Deer
Outstanding Running Crew: DO IT RIGHTfrom Strathcona H.S.
Edmonton,Honourable Mention: THE RAVEN fromWestwood H.S. Fort
McMurray
Outstanding Stage Management: HelenaAffleck for TUESDAYS AND
SUNDAYS fromLethbridge Collegiate Institute, HonourableMention:
Jordyn Marcellus for THE RAVENfrom Westwood H.S. Fort
McMurray,Honourable Mention: Morgan Demers forDO IT RIGHT from
Strathcona H.S. Edmonton
Golden Wrench Award: Corrie Quinton forTHE FIFTEEN MINUTE HAMLET
from Paul KaneH.S. St. Albert
Any interest in participating in the ZoneFestivals and you don’t
know who to contact;any questions about your Zone or theProvincial
Festival Association, e-mail PresidentTrina Penner at
[email protected] andvisit www.provincialfestival.com
PROVINCIAL AWARDS WINNERS LIST 2005
FALL AGMOctober 22, 10am
Lindsay Thurber High School, Red Deer.Any Drama teacher in
the
Province is welcome.
PROVINCIAL FESTIVALMay 11–13, 2006
Hosted by Red Deer CollegeCome share the experience as
audience
member and take part in the Workshops even if your play is not
the
Zone representative.
Tales from the Stacks
-
u
8
T H E A T R E A R O U N D T H E W O R L D
AN EDMONTON THESPIAN IN LONDON – By Lorenzo Pagnotta
Albertans AbroadAlbertans are cosmopolitan, worldly folk. In
speaking with our membership we often hear amazing stories of study
and work opportunities in foreign
lands. We are always fascinated to hear how our counterparts
practice theatre around the world; we decided to ask some
individuals to share some of
their experiences with us. So sit back, relax, pour yourself a
cup of something exotic and prepare to dive into the wonderful
world of...
theatres on Shaftesbury Avenue (in the heart ofTheatreland) were
built around the same time butthis one happens to be one of the
oldest on theblock. Most have a main level (orchestra stalls),
adress circle, an upper circle, and a balcony. I recallhow no one
ever wanted to work up in the balconybecause you have to go up many
flights of stairs toget there and it can be a little spooky too.
Themain responsibilities of my position were maintain-ing the high
standard of customer service in theWest End, being knowledgeable
about the theatreas well as the extended area, and taking
securityprecautions inside the house and out.
I happen to have written a timeline while I was on theset of
Derailed. Of course, with film there are a lot oftakes and a lot of
waiting so I figured I would takeadvantage of this. Here’s a
shortened version:
5:30am: wake up
5:55am: leave to catch the tube
6:30am: arrive at 10 Gresham St., sign in, sit, eat breakfast,
make – up, costume, sit again . . .
8:45am: will bring us up to the fifth floor in groups often for
Ad Agency scene; there will be a still shot of all office
people
11:08am: I’m on set and I can’t remember how many takes I’ve
done, my back is feeling it
11:35am: I’ve done about three more takes, they want to finish
filming before the sun goes down which is 4pm at this lovely time
of the year
12:06pm: break finally . . .
2:40pm: I am dismissed early!
The Directors Guild of Great Britain and Equityconference was
amazing and featured some reallyaccomplished figures like Michael
Boyd: artisticdirector of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Heexclaimed that we are “ . . . victims of a cult ofchoice.” Other
comments he had in his defense ofensemble theatre were that young
actors are led inthe wrong direction by agents, fear, and the lack
ofa proper environment to stay put and be able tolearn. As well, he
stated how important it is to havea place where there is support
for the humility andvulnerability a growing actor faces; searching
fortruth can’t be done with strangers; it works bestwith friends.
Other speakers included MikhailStronin of Russia and Agata Siwiak
of Poland. It isvery interesting to compare theatre practices
inEurope versus Great Britain and North Americawhere productions
are generally thought of asbeing commercial.
All in all, I had a wonderful experience whileabroad. It was an
incredible opportunity to learnabout a different way of life. Even
though there area lot of similarities about living in London
versusEdmonton, there are many differences like the waysociety
operates and how information is processed.What remains evident is
how, even in comparisonto a large world-class city like London,
Edmonton’stheatre scene also provides a lot of variety and canbe
extremely enjoyable to experience, even if it isnot on such a large
scale. Many would argue that itdoesn’t need to be.
Check out some of Lorenzo’s hang-outs
at:www.thisistheatre.com/londontheatre/apollotheatre.html and
www.rutheatres.com
Lorenzo has been a member of Theatre Alberta forseveral years.
He plans to continue his drama stud-ies at the U of A this fall.
Currently he is rehearsingfor Edmonton Musical Theatre’s June
production“The Tony Award Goes to…” Recently he betook apilgrimage
to the United Kingdom; we asked him tofurnish us with a perspective
on his time there. Hecan be contacted at
[email protected]
Last year from September to January, I embarkedon an incredible
journey. I decided to work inLondon, England. For many, the hustle
and bustleof this vibrant city is too much, but metropoliseshave
always intrigued me. Many of the participants(of the Student Work
Abroad Program) I encoun-tered along the way ended up working in
offices astemps or in pubs – some outside London. Withhard work and
dedication I landed a job with ReallyUseful Theatres, as Front of
House at the Apollotheatre, in the West End. On occasion I got to
workat other theatres such as the Lyric, Palladium, NewLondon, and
Palace. While in London, I also seizedthe opportunity to take part
in open auditions andan ensemble conference held by the Directors
Guildof Great Britain and Equity. All actors in Englandswear by The
Stage, a newsletter published once aweek full of auditions and
opportunities in a vari-ety of artistic disciplines. Each audition
was veryunique and I enjoyed mingling with British actorswho are
just as full of energy as all acting buffsare. I was surprised at
how generous some of theauditioners were. For one audition I was
allowed tosing up to three full songs. Even though I was
notsuccessful I still received a letter of notification andthanks.
I thought that was really nice and quiteunexpected. I am really
proud that two castingagencies accepted me in their books and I was
cho-sen as an extra for the film Derailed. It is set forrelease
some time this year.
What is so different about working in a theatre inLondon is the
amount of history that you arestanding in. For instance, the Apollo
opened in1901 with a play called The Belle of Bohemia. Most
-
9Theatre Alberta News
2005 marked the 82nd Anniversary year of the
Playgoers of Lethbridge – making it one of the old-est community
drama societies in Canada. Ernest
Gaskell Sterndale Bennett, a civil engineer by profes-
sion, but an enthusiastic lover of, and active partici-
pant in, the performing arts, suggested in the winter
of 1923 that Lethbridge should join the Little
Theatre Movement by forming a Playgoers Club that
would train and develop local dramatic and musical
talent, produce shows of quality, and endorse as well
as attract worthy professional productions to the city.
Soon thereafter, with the support of a number of
prominent local citizens, the Playgoers Club of
Lethbridge was organized. Sterndale Bennett, who was
named General Director, decided to direct a hit
Broadway musical, Going Up, for the initial offering.
The tremendous success which the production
achieved helped to establish the Club as a major artis-
tic institution in the city. During his tenure with the
Club (1923-1932), Sterndale Bennett directed six
major musicals, four major plays, and one short play
for the 1932 Alberta Dramatic Festival.
Sterndale Bennett’s wife, Belle, took on the responsibility
of organizing evenings of one-act plays, and as such
directed thirty-eight plays including two festival produc-
tions. Other members of the Club were gradually initiat-
ed into the directorial circle. One of these members,
Maybelle Bryans, became heir to the position of General
Director when the Sterndale Bennetts moved to Toronto.
Three years prior to leaving Lethbridge, Sterndale
Bennett invited Norman Davis (from Medicine Hat),
E.J. Thorlakson (Calgary), and Elizabeth S. Haynes
(Edmonton), to gather together with him to discuss
the possibility of establishing a provincial dramatic
festival. The four of them, together with an associate
of Thorlakson’s, Gwyllim Edwards, met at the Palliser
Hotel in Calgary 4 August 1929 and agreed to for-
mally organize the Alberta Dramatic League.
Sterndale Bennett was named President. The first
Alberta Dramatic Festival was held at the Grand
Theatre in Calgary 15 February 1930.
Playgoers received considerable praise for its effortsin the
first few provincial festivals. The Club was
also honoured to host the first Alberta Regional
Festival in the 1933 Dominion Drama Festival com-
petitions. Dominion Drama Festival competitions
were held from 1933 through 1939, after which,
Member Profile: Playgoers of Lethbridge – A Story of Success
By George Mann
Playgoers has staged
100 major plays, operettas, and
musicals; 184 one-act plays; 22 “old
fashioned” melodramas; 15 Reader’s
Theatre productions; and numerous
Children’s Theatre presentations.
The Majestic Theatre
they were suspended because of World War II; they
were reorganized in 1947.
Economic conditions throughout the Depression of
the l930s greatly affected the box office, as did com-
petition from low-priced movies. Nevertheless, the
Club managed to present eleven major productions,
nineteen evenings of one-act plays, and nine festival
offerings during that decade.
With the outbreak of World War II, the War Services
Committee of the YMCA, together with Playgoersand other local
and military dramatists and musi-
cians, arranged entertainments at the YMCA and at
various garrisons and air force training schools
throughout southern Alberta. Mrs. C.A. Long, presi-
dent of Playgoers, was named an entertainment con-vener. The
Spring Wartime Review of 1942 was the
last of these collaborations. Also, it was the last
major production staged at the Majestic Theatre,
which had been the major performance venue in the
city since 1910. In November of 1942 the Majestic
was sold to the Purity Dairy.
Social upheaval caused by the War also created diffi-
culties for Playgoers. Many of its participants joinedthe armed
forces or became highly involved with war
service work. The Club gradually succumbed to a
lack of personnel adequate and competent enough
to stage productions, so it suffered a hiatus for a few
years. The Club was reorganized in January 1951,
and later that year, it staged Arsenic and Old Lace. Bythe
following year, the Club became active in the
DDF as well as the Provincial One-Act Festival com-
petitions. In the next 20 years, Playgoers competed
in 12 Alberta Regional Three-Act Festivals and
numerous one-act festivals. The Club was selected to
represent the Alberta Region at the DDF finals in
1962 (The Dark at the Top of the Stairs) and in thefinal DDF
competition in 1970 (The Hostage). Duringthese years, the Club
usually staged another major
production in the fall.
Since 1971, the Club has tended to concentrate on
comedy (with the occasional drama or mystery) for its
major productions. In addition, it has regularly taken
on the responsibility of hosting the regional one-act
festival under the auspices of the Alberta Drama
Festival Association. Also, it frequently produces a vari-
ety of shorter presentations for festivals, charitable
organizations, etc. Throughout its 82 year history,
Playgoers of Lethbridge has staged 100 major plays,operettas,
and musicals; 184 one-act plays; 22 “old
fashioned” melodramas; 15 Reader’s Theatre produc-
tions; and numerous Children’s Theatre presentations.
Numerous factors have undoubtedly contributed to
the success of Playgoers over the years, but probablythe most
important one has been the fact that the
Club was established as, and has remained, a formal,
constitutionally based social structure founded on
democratic principles which has ensured an extensive
involvement in the decision-making process, unlike
so many similar organizations which depend on the
creative leadership of one or two individuals.
Playgoers' upcoming production will be a DinnerTheatre
presentation at Ericksen's FamilyRestaurant, October 19-22. Tickets
will be available at the restaurant in September, phone: (403)
328-7756.
Throughout most of his life, George Mann's major avoca-tion has
been the theatre. For the past 41 years, he hasacted, directed,
worked backstage, and been club histori-an for Playgoers.
-
10
Theatre Alberta is bursting with excitement
to welcome its newest member. On
February 25, 2005 at approximately
6:34pm, Thomas Riley Sirack bounced
onto the scene at a respectable 6 pounds,
1.5 ounces. Parents Janice Hoover
(on maternity leave from her position as
Administrative Officer at Theatre Alberta)
and Al Sirack couldn’t be happier. Theatre
Alberta looks forward to extending Thomas
full lending privileges from our 14,000-title
script library, access to our quarterly
newsletter, an exciting series of workshop
opportunities, and lots of zerbuts on his
tummy when he comes to visit the office.
Our Newest Member
Bringing Back the Old, Ringing in the NewGood day to you
theatrical Albertans. Here’s where we roll out the wel-come mat to
all our new and renewed members for the period fromMay 1, 2005
through July 27, 2005. Don’t see your name here? That’sprobably
because you initially joined the organization in one of theother
nine months, or you bought a 2-year membership and aren’t duefor
renewal until next year. Just keep your eyes peeled and you’ll
surelysee your name in an upcoming issue of the Theatre Alberta
News!
IndividualsAlysia AckermanHayley AdamsCaitlin AltonCliff
AndersAukje AppelKyle ArmstrongBrittany AtkinsonJustin AugartSarah
BannisterLuke BanvilleHolly BarabanoffEva BarclayErica BarrOlesia
BarteskiJeremy BaumungAndrea BecaDanielle BedryCrosby BenyonNaythan
BerteottiBrittany BertramAllyssa BlackParker BloomLacey BludaDavid
BorsatoLauren BowmanBreighanneBrandfordSarah BraunAshley
BrazeauMeghan BridgesElijah BudwillKatrina BuiWesley BurkhartNieva
BurnsStacey CabajKimberly CarlinAlix CartwrightGordon CassieTricia
CavanaghIan CharltonKevin CharltonMari ChartierChelsey
ChaunceyHolly CinnamonDale ClarkKallie ClaytonNatalia
ClovechokRachel CodyDominic Collin-DoyleAlyson ConnollyArlene
CoxJoel CrichtonFrancineCunninghamRachel CurrieCaitlynne
CvetinicJessica CzopVictoria D’AvellaLuc D’IppolitoGilbert da
SilvaAmy DaveyEmily de CaenAlison DeregtAlison DeregtDarcie
DominiqueBrian DooleyTim DriedgerCecilia DrummondEric
DurnfordNicole Eastman
Brandon Eggleston-KowalchukAlden EppMyles FairweatherCurtis
FarebrotherKarey FarnhamMyles FedunKrista FenniakKayla
FeragenTianna FischerJillian FleckKatelyn FosterKatelyn
FournellJasmin FredericksonKiel FredricksonKatherine FurnessLori
GagnonBrady GalarneauCassandra GarrettIsabella GarveyAlix
GauntGerry GetzJennifer GillVictoria GillJessica GloverKayla
GormanDennis GouldenStephen GoyetteAshley GradenJarret GrayJason
GreenLogan GreschnerMichelle GuillemaudTom GuniaLauren GustOlivia
HalseAidan HanlyNicholas HansfordMargaret Harvey-O’KellyBrittney
HegeratKristin HenryBrenna HerbertMelinda HerronGareth
Heywood-ButlerEden HildebrandRoss HobbsBailey HooperErin
HowardMichael HowesPatrick HowseCharlotte HuntAlix HvidbergBrenda
InglisEthan JacksonAlison JamesJoanne JamesTrevor JennerConnie
JensenJessika Johnson-RenmanBrittany JonesLisa KadatzZoe KardasAsh
KellyGraeme KennedyMeredith KenzieHannah KerbesRosalind KerrChris
KingRebecca Kirschner
Dustin KirstienLyndsey KiserJessica KliparchukJulianne
KnoppSarah KomadinaRandi KondrukJinessa KowalewskyRachel
KozakCheillah KranicMadeline KrentzWinny KrougmanEuen KyleEmily
LambTerri LangenKirsten LarsenRayna LarsonDean LauderdaleGlen
LauderdaleElizabeth LavenderMegan LawrenceErin LeducJennifer
LeeShannon LeeBrett LemaySarah LemmonJocelyne LeszczynskiDesiree
LeverenzRyan LinnMonica LittletonKyle LobbErma LuchkowAlexandria
LuipascoHannah LunnNathan LustRichard MackAndrea MacLeanSusan
MacLeanTeal MacRaeNathen MahoneyJason ManciniMichelle MandyRobert
MarkhamKerry MarshallKayla MatteottiCarol Mayer-KoschSally
MayneJulie MazurekKayleigh McDermidIan McFarlaneAlannah
McGowanSteve McHughKelsey McMahonAmy McNeillJoseph MelansonTenyson
MenzeVincent MeseckDrew MichaelTyler MiklaCheryl MillwardKelly
MilneTravis MilneAdam MitchellStephanie MoncksRobyn MonroMalorie
MontpetitMatthew MoranHayley MorrisonElise MorrowGraham
MothersillRhonda MurphyGary MurrayAndre Nedd
Jill NeilsonColin NicholasSandra NichollsChelsea NorgrenJessica
NychkaloSharnell O’DonnellKevin O’KellyGail OlmsteadGerald
OsbornClaire OttoMatthew PagelsEva PangDanielle PaquetteTaylor
PardellDianne PareAnnie ParkinsonClaudia PaymentJeff PeetVivian
PhinneySarah PolkinghorneAmanda PotierChris PowerJill
PrzybylskiKyle PurvesD.J. RairdanCayley RauwJolene RechMonica
ReedLelani ReumCarla RhodesMackenzie RhyasonTehya RichardsRhonda
RichardsonAmanda RingJay RitchieMargaret RodgersJenny RogersHolleay
RohmDarold RolesMercedesRooyakkersKaylee RudigerKendra RuhlVanessa
SabourinRebecca SadowskiKatelyn SamyciaMatthew SandfordNatalie
SarchukGraeme ScallionPamela SchmunkBrandon SchwartzSarah
ScottLaura SeigfriedCameron ShankJennifer ShawKacie SheffieldSarah
SherwoodSarah SimpsonKen SimsStefan SlaterJorinda SmithLinette
SmithMargaret SmithVincent SmudaElizabeth SolversonAndrea
SproxtonStephen StagmanChristian StannardWade StaplesLauren
SteelDaniel StewartSam Stewart
Lorraine StuartMiranda SundstenLauren SurankoMichael
SutherlandKevin SutleyDelwyn SuttonLauren TamkeCarrie
TappaufBrittney TatarynJennifer TaylorAndrew TedderKacie
TellettTerri ThiessenVern ThiessenAlexandra ThomsonLana
TremblayMichelle TremblayAlex TruckleLeah TruebloodIleana
TschaboldAshley ValbergCaitland ValgardsonJessica van der SlootCara
van MarckD’arcy VanderwellSara VickruckNina von InnerebnerRachel
VothVlatka VukojevicRae WahlChrissy WalliHelen WallsChantelle
WaschukTanya WatersMelissa WatkinsErinn WebbAlistair WeirBryan
WeirEmily WickhamHeather WiensKathryn WilliamsonRobyne WilockGrant
WilsonAimee WooSerenity WoodBonnie WrightCharlotte
Wright-LindlAfton WrzosekBomi YookCarolyn ZahovskisLara
ZaluskiNashwa ZamanNichole ZemanekSonia Zimmerman
GroupsBarrhead CommunityTheatre
Catalyst TheatreColdWater Productions
Dewdney Players Group Theatre
Hidden InsanityTheatre
Ignition TheatreMemorial CompositeHigh School
Red Box Productions Shadow ProductionsThe ShakespeareCompany
Welcome New Members! joined May 1– July 27, 2005
A warm and sincere thank you to the following for their generous
contributions to Theatre Alberta: Gloria Drummond,
Mary Lou Armstrong, Thomas Peacocke, Sarah Lemmon
IndividualsAaron AdamsLynda AdamsMary Lou ArmstrongPeter
BassMarcus BauerDerek BedryLynda BirdKatherine BoulterDanielle
BourgonAlynne BrandsKelsey Brill-FunkAgapi BroumasRory
BrownGeoffrey BrumlikBracken BurnsDrew ButlerNathaniel CainesDavid
CairnsKevin CambridgeCharlotte CameronSara CanningLaura
CarrierJanice CarrollJackie ChapmanLinda CornellShelby
CoulterTanner D'EsterreRhonda DayBarb DeckJim DeFeliceStephen
DelanoBailey DenisSabrina deVereAshlin DingJoyce DoolittleRafal
DrozdowskiVeenesh DuboisAmanda EliaShannon EkertAmy
ErlandsonDeborah FergusonMolly FloodJean-Pierre FournierLayne
FoxStacy FyshCeline Gareau-Brennan
Andy GarlandKara GlabikKaren GoerzenSteven Greenfield
Sarah Eve GriffinGladys HaagJudi HaleDaniel HallCarrie
HamiltonMarlane HerklotzAngela HillChris HiltonJanine HodderJanice
HooverMathew HulshofDeborah HurfordBecky IrvingNatasha
IwashkiwKelsey JenkinsAmy KeatingMichelle KennedyKaren KingBob
KlakowichFred KongElizabeth L'HeureuxDorian LangLaura LelondPaul
LeszczynskiErin LoewenJames MacDonaldTalia MalagonGaylene
ManuelKevin McCannMaggie McCawCayley McConaghyLena McFaulKevin
McKendrickKolyn MikalsonRobert MillerRandy MuellerCarol
MurrayGilchrist
Nick NostbakkenKenneth NosterSherry ParanScott PateyAmanda
PayneThomas PeacockeSharon PeatLara PethybridgeAnne PinderElena
PorterJoelle PrefontaineJennifer PrestashMarie PriceSheena
Pruden
Rivera ReeseCaitlyn RiegerDavid RileyDonna RingroseToni
RizzoliCorey RogersRyan RothChristina RussoTanya RygaKayla
SankeyPatti SarrasinRein SastokTerry ScerbakKatie SchoenbergRhea
SimpsonJody SloanSusan M. SmithJanel SniderTascha SpeckBeverly
StadelmannFay SterneAdrian StevensonJon StewartFaye StolleryAnne
Marie SzucsValda TimmonsRobbie TownsendHarold TruckleHeather
WhiteSian WilliamsEduard WitzkeSui-Fan WongChrista YoungNicole
ZillaChristian Zyp
GroupsAlberta Lyric TheatreAlberta TheatreProjects
Beaumont andDistrict DramaSociety
Castor Little TheatreCentral AlbertaTheatre Society
Centre Stage TheatreCompany
Edmonton MusicalTheatre
Fire Exit TheatreFree Will Players
Gas & LightProductions
GasLight TheatreGhost River TheatreHatterland
Children'sTheatre
Heartland ArtsTroupe Society
Hunting Hills HighSchool
Image TheatreKelsey Drama ClubKing's PlayersLeave It To
JaneTheatre
Leduc Drama SocietyMedicine HatMusical Theatre
Mob Hit ProductionsNew West TheatreNorthern LightTheatre
One Yellow RabbitPerformance Theatre
Playgoers ofLethbridge
Quest TheatreSociety
Rosebud School ofthe Arts
Shadow TheatreSherard MusicalTheatre Association
St Albert Children'sTheatre
Stage West TheatreRestaurant
Theatre CalgaryVictoria School ofPerforming andVisual Arts
W. P. Puppet TheatreSociety
Walterdale TheatreAssociates
Wetaskiwin TheatreSociety
William D. CutsSchool
Windmill TheatrePlayers
Welcome Back, Renewing Members! renewed May 1– July 27, 2005
Thomas Riley Sirack: Our Newest Member
-
T he Canadian Theatre Review is the major magazine of record
forCanadian theatre. It interests a wide spectrum of the
theatrecommunity in Canada – performers, directors, professionals
ofall kinds involved in practice, academics, teachers, critics and
thetheatre-going public.
The magazine is committed toexcellence in the critical
analysisand innovative coverage of currentdevelopments in Canadian
theatre.It introduces new artists, publishingat least one
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theatre.
Upcoming IssueCTR 124, Fall 2005High Performance Rodeo
This issue will focus on One Yellow Rabbit's HighPerformance
Rodeo, one of Canada's most important festivals for new
performance, which will celebrate itstwentieth anniversary in
January 2006. The issue willinclude a complete chronology of the
Rodeo, from itsinception in 1987 through to the nineteenth
annualRodeo in January 2005. It will also include a feature-length
interview with Rodeo founder and curatorMichael Green, who will
discuss the evolution of theRodeo from its beginnings, his
curatorial premises, theposition of the Rodeo in relation to other
Calgary cultur-al events, and venues, funding issues, and so
forth.
This encyclopedic dictionaryincludes theoretical, technical,and
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$39
.95
new design for Spring 2005
TA5
Theatre Alberta News 11
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12
a hard-working team of full time faculty and staff;JP Fournier
(Performance Coordinator), Robyn Ayles(Technical Coordinator),
Stephanie Woods(Costumer), Daniel Mackenzie (Technical Director)and
Sandra Martens (Department Secretary).
In the last ten years we have also expanded anddiversified our
production seasons and as a result,the production experiences of
our students. In1997, we started touring Theatre For YoungAudiences
plays to division one and two schoolsbuilding on Lana Skauge’s
renowned storytellingwork in the schools. Lana rewrote one her
one-woman stories for six actors and directed TheSkywatcher and The
Perfect Tree in 1997. Theresponse from the teachers and the
students inCalgary schools has been so strong we commis-sioned four
more plays from Lana, and added asecond tour in 1998 based on Winn
Bray’s historyplays and commissioning the new plays AlbertaRose and
Ranchers and Rails from the Calgary play-wright. In total, Theatre
MRC has now producedeight Theatre For Young Audiences plays that
have
toured to schools in the Calgary and sur-rounding area in the
last seven seasons.
Last season, Theatre MRC added a tour ofShakespeare to the local
high schools calledShakespeare on Wheels. Written and directedby
Susanne Gillies-Smith, students per-formed a one-hour play which
containednumbers of scenes from Shakespeare andthen followed the
performance with a one-hour acting workshop with high schooldrama
students on performing Shakespeare.
Mainstage productions over the last tenyears have not been
without ambition either.Since 1995, Theatre MRC has producedmany
large musicals (Cabaret, Camelot, TheMusic Man, Tom Jones, Pirates
of Penzance)culminating in the 2000 premiere of the new
musical Evangeline by locals Winn Bray (book/lyrics)and Tom
Doyle (music).
MOVING FORWARD TO SURVIVE AND FLOURISHThe MRC Theatre Program
continues the ambitiouslegacy begun by Lynn duFort almost two
decadesago. Since 1991, Mount Royal College has been atthe
forefront of the development of college deliv-ered degrees. Today,
MRC offers nineteen applieddegrees and is on the brink of becoming
a fullfoundation degree granting undergraduate universi-ty. For the
last five years, faculty and staff have
Mount Royal College: Theatre MRC EvolvesBy Douglas J.
Rathbun
A relationship, I think, is like a shark. You know? It has to
constantly move forward or
it dies. And I think what we got on our hands is a dead shark –
Woody Allen
Starting this August I will be stepping down after 10 years as
Chair of the Department of Theatre,
Speech and Music Performance at Mount Royal College in Calgary.
It is an opportune time to look
back and see where the Theatre Program has been and look forward
to its exciting future.
“ ”THEATRE MRC HISTORY 101I am fortunate to have inherited a
Theatre Programwith a foundation built by my predecessor LynnduFort
who was Chair from 1986 to 1995. Lynntook a program with no
perceptible profile in theprofession and built connections with
Calgary pro-fessional theatres. She brought in
professionaldirectors and coaches and mounted ambitious
pro-ductions which raised the profile of the programand exposed
students to professional practice. Shefelt there was a real need
for students to haveopportunities to gain theatre experience
duringtheir summer breaks by studying with professionals.With the
blessing of the Dean of the Faculty ofArts, Ken Robson, she
virtually single-handedlybuilt Shakespeare in the Park, which is
nowcelebrating its 18th season in Calgary.
Lynn transformed the curriculum in theTheatre Program so it
reflected the needs ofthe profession and turned the MRC
TheatreProgram into a conservatory style, hands-onprofessional
training school. She believedthat theatre students learn by doing
andthey learned best by doing with the supervi-sion of
professionals. Not content to build aprofessional acting program,
Lynn set hersights on developing a professional technicalproduction
program as well. She engagedthe help of professionals like Ray
Ackerman,then Production Director of JV Productionsat the Centre
For The Performing Arts, todesign a curriculum that would meet
thetraining needs of the professional produc-tion industry. In
order to support both the perform-ance and the technical programs,
Lynn lobbied andraised matching grant money from the
AlbertaGovernment and the Nickle Family Foundation forthe building
of MRC’s Nickle Theatre.
By collaborating with professionals, Lynn brought aculture of
professional connection and professionalstandards to the Theatre
Program at MRC that lasts tothis day. In 1995, Lynn left the
college to head up theAlberta Performing Arts Stabilization Fund,
where shespearheaded a program of support for the Alberta arts
coupled with professional standards and practice thatis now a
model for the rest of the country.
SHARK ANATOMY 101I knew that Lynn left large shoes to fill. I
also knewin order to keep Lynn’s legacy alive and avoid aWoody
Allen “dead shark”, we needed to keep theprogram moving and
evolving. The last ten years atTheatre MRC, we have seen the
strengthening ofour connections to the profession. We have
beenfortunate to have directors like, Kevin McKendrick,Martin
Fishman, Lorne Kennedy, Susanne Gillies-Smith, Des Davis, Brian
Deedrick, Duval Lang, andMark Bellamy along with designers such as
RobertShannon, Linda Leon, Jenifer Darbellay, MartinEvans, Shawn
Kerwin, Paul Daigle and Scott Reid
MRC’s production of Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean,
Jimmy Dean. Photo by Doug Rathbun.
work with our students on productions. Ourinstructors are also
working professionals drawnfrom local professional theatre like
Theatre Calgary(Monty Schnieder), Quest Theatre (Rose Brow),
TheEPCOR Centre (Tim Koll), The Jubilee Auditorium(Richard Hansen)
and local working professionalslike Susanne Gillies-Smith
(director), JaneMacFarlane (voice specialist), Rita Bozi
(movementspecialist), Maria Kliavkoff (theatre history), and
JoeNorman Shaw (film acting).
The many visiting professionals are held together by
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13Theatre Alberta News
Everybodyloves a wed-ding, that
celebration of love where two people promise tosupport and take
care of each other through thickand thin. No matter how often it
happens it’salways something of a miracle: couples reminisceabout
how they met, identifying those crucial firstmoments and wondering
might have happenedhad those moments never occurred. Would fatehave
conspired to bring them together some otherway? Or was the
serendipity of that firstencounter crucial to the relationship, the
firststone in what became a foundation built to standthe test of
time?
Such was the case for Michelle DeMara and GregStrong, who met 15
years ago during a week-long, residential summer drama camp for
teens.Michelle’s last name is now Strong, and the nameof that
summer drama camp was ... Artstrek!
We spoke with Michelle recently about her andGreg’s Artstrek
romance; we reached her at herhome in Victoria.
TA What year was it that you first attendedArtstrek?
MS It was in 1990 – the show we studied thatyear was West Side
Story. I’d heard aboutArtstrek through my father’s receptionist.
Imanaged to get three or four other friends ofmine to go as well. I
was 14.
TA How did you and Greg meet? Tell me the storyof your Artstrek
romance.
MS Greg was from Edmonton; I was from Calgary.I can’t remember
the moment we met – Ithink one of his friends was in my class.
Weall ate lunch together and would goof around.There was a dance
midweek, and a movie –
we sat together. We were just great friends atfirst; we
exchanged addresses. Artstrek wasreally good about sharing mailing
lists of pastArtstrek participants so we wrote letters backand
forth. The next year we both decided to goto Artstrek again (’91,
Quiet in the Land); thatwas the year we started dating. After that
Gregwould drive to Calgary to visit. I went to Greg’shigh school
grad; he came to mine.
TA And the rest is history?
MS Actually, no. Greg went to Grant MacEwanCollege in Edmonton,
I went to the AlbertaCollege of Art and Design in Calgary. We
brokeup – there were no hard feelings, just toomuch distance. Later
on I moved to Vancouver– in ’98 – and Greg was living in Victoria,
butboth were with other people at the time. Gregthen went to Italy
for two years and I losttrack of him again. Then, two years ago, I
justtook it into my mind to get back in touch. Ididn’t even know
his address – I wrote a letterto Greg’s parents trying to track him
down.Greg did receive it – it turned out he was fin-ishing up a
degree in Psychiatry in Victoria.We got back together again, and on
June 10 .. . we got married!
TA Do you think Artstrek played any role in that?
MS Theatre gave me confidence, the ability topresent. The skills
really are universally appli-cable. It gave me a chance to meet
theatrepeople other than the people from my dramaclass. I learned
relaxation techniques, how tocollaborate on an effort. As students
we gotclose quite quickly; it was a very expressivecamp. You could
be who you wanted to be,and your true personality really came
through.I think if Greg and I had met at any othercamp all this
might not have happened.
Do you have a story of an Artstrek romance? Send usyour stories!
Are there any past Artstrek participants outthere who remember
Michelle and Greg and would like toget in touch? If so, we’d be
happy to connect you – dropus a line at
[email protected].
Congratulations Michelle and Greg.
May your trek through life together
be every bit as fruitful as your trek
through the Arts in the serendipitous
summer of ‘90.
advanced stage lighting and sound instructionalclassrooms in
western Canada. Another part of theTheatre Program space is being
transformed into adesign lab where students will receive classic
archi-tectural drafting instruction as well as modernVectorworks
CADD, digital audio and WYSIWYGlighting realization software
training.
The planned MRC four-year degree in Theatre willhave two
specialties; performance and technicalproduction. Part of the
degree will be work experi-ence in the form of directed field
study. Theseexciting developments are merely the continuationof our
philosophy of professional theatre prepara-
been planning the expansion of the Theatre ArtsProgram. With the
six-year, $98 million physicalexpansion of the Lincoln Park Campus,
the MRCTheatre Arts Program is poised to expand its physi-cal
facilities to accommodate the delivery of a fouryear Theatre Arts
degree. Renovations are alreadyunderway as I write this article,
with the conversionof one of our rehearsal halls into a state of
the artautomated moving-light stage lighting and soundlab. This lab
will be outfitted with the very lateststage lighting equipment,
from computerized mov-ing lights, to computerized lighting consoles
withreal-time lighting visualization software and amotorized
ceiling truss. It will be one of the most
tion through hands-on, professionally lead experi-ence coupled
with strong ties to a vibrant profes-sional theatre community. Our
past successes withTheatre MRC, Shakespeare in the Park,
HaveTheatre Will Travel, Shakespeare on Wheels, in addi-tion to our
many successful graduates working inthe profession, creating their
own theatre compa-nies and leading, managing and working with
others,are a testament to the success of this philosophy.
Look for more exciting innovation and more excel-lent graduates
from Mount Royal College’s TheatreArts Program in the future under
the leadership ofMs. Robyn Ayles. There will be no dead sharks
here!
An Artstrek Marriageby Sam Varteniuk
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n14
Public ServiceAnnouncements
Upcoming Grant DeadlinesFor more information on these grants
please contact the funding agencies directly.
Canada Council Grant Deadlines www.canadacouncil.ca
September 15, 2005 Grants to Theatre Artists: Creation/
Residency/ Professional Development
Theatre Production Project Grants: Established Artists’
Development/Production
Theatre Production Project Grants: Artists and Community
Collaboration Fund
Theatre Production Project Grants: Emerging Artists’
Development/Production
December 1, 2005 Theatre Touring and Special Initiatives Program
(for projects taking place after the following March)
Theatre Presenting Program
Anytime Travel Grants (at least six weeks before departure
date)
AFA Grant DeadlinesApplication forms to the following theatre
grant programs can bedownloaded at
www.cd.gov.ab.ca/all_about_us/commissions/arts/fastforms/index.asp
September 1, 2005 Theatre Projects Grant
The Theatre Projects Grant Program supports the artistic
develop-ment of individual Alberta artists, ensemble of artists who
propose towork together and not-for-profit organizations in theatre
by assistingwith projects in one or any combination of the
following categories: a) Art productionb) Training and/or career
developmentc) Travel and/or marketingd) Research
February 1, 2006 Commissioning Playwrights Grant Program
The Commissioning Playwrights Grant Program supports the
creationand exposure of original new plays by assisting both
emerging andestablished Alberta playwrights with commissions.
Edmonton Arts Council
Deadlineswww.edmontonarts.ab.ca/grants.html
Community Investment Program Travel Grant Applications will be
considered 3 times per year: February 1, 2005; June 1, 2005 and
October 1, 2005
Community Investment Program Project Grant: June 15, 2005
Other Grant Deadlines TBA.
NEW MFA IN THEATRE VOICE PEDAGOGY PROGRAM The Department of
Drama at the Uof A in Edmontonis excited to announce the launch of
a new TheatreVoice Pedagogy specialization in our MFA program.First
intake will take place in September of 2006. Forprogram details
please contact Professor BettyMoulton at
[email protected]
NEW WEBSITE FOR GROUND ZERO THEATREGZT of Calgray is pleased to
announce to launch of their new website. Check it out
atwww.groundzerotheatre.ca
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS–GATEWAY THEATREGateway Theatre, Richmond's
Professional TheatreCompany, is interested in receiving submissions
fromestablished and emerging playwrights for SceneFirst,our New
Play Development Program. Gateway has amandate for and a history of
new play development. Inthe past 20 years we have developed and
produced 11new works as well as providing developmental supportfor
many other works in progress. Scripts selected forSceneFirst, will
receive a staged reading during theweek of January 16-20, 2006 and
these scripts will beautomatically short-listed for our upcoming
seasons.
Guidelines:
1. Scripts must be original, unproduced and between60 and 120
minutes in length.
2. Political plays are encouraged. This includes thepolitics of
government, the workplace, relation-ships, evolving communities
etc.
3. Cast size: Plays in our season usually range in castsize
from1-5 actors.
4. Gateway Theatre encourages contemporary casting.
5. Plays of ethnic origin are welcome but must besubmitted in an
English Translation.
6. Submissions of written material should be in hardcopy only,
type written/word processed, singlesided, and minimum 11point font.
All pagesshould be numbered with the title of the play oneach
page.
7. Please include a title page, with the name of play,author's
name and contact information. Pleaseensure a cast list is
enclosed.
8. Please DO NOT submit original copies; GatewayTheatre will not
be responsible for the return ofmaterials.
Scripts should be sent via regular mail to:Barbara Tomasic,
Artistic AssociateGateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert RoadRichmond, BC
V7C 3V4
Deadline for Submissions: September 30, 2005. For
moreinformation contact Barbara Tomasic via email:
[email protected] or phone at (604) 247-4974.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS–THEATRE IN THE RAW Theatre In the Raw is
pleased to announce It'sFourth biannual 2005 Play Writing
Contest
The Play must be:
1. An original one-act play (comedy, tragedy ordrama),
unpublished and unproduced.
2. No longer than 25 double-spaced typed pagesequal to 30
minutes, with no more than 6 charac-ters, presented in proper
stage-play format, andscripts must have page numbers. (Please
include aSASE for return of script. Send copies only ofscript. NO
original manuscripts.)
3. There is an entry fee of $25.00 cdn for each one-act
submitted to Theatre In the Raw. (For twoplays $40.00 cdn)
4. Please make cheques payable to Theatre In theRaw, bearing the
submission date and name ofplay entry and author on cheque memo
line.
Deadline: December 31, 2005 (Winners will beannounced on March
31, 2006)
First Prize: A $150.00 cdn cash prize, At least one dra-matic
reading or staging of the play at a Theatre In theRaw cafe/venue or
as part of a mini-tour program forthe One-Act Play Series
Nights.
Second Prize: A $ 50.00cdn cash prize.
Third Prize: A $40.00cdn cash prize.
Please forward submissions to:Theatre In the RawArtistic
Director/One Act Play Contest3521 Marshall Street, Vancouver, BC
V5N 4S2Phone: (604) 708-5448
A NEW HOME FOR TIX ON THE SQUAREAs of June 30 Tix on the Square
- a community boxoffice providing opportunities for smaller Arts
andCultural groups in Edmonton to sell their tickets anddistribute
information about their events to the media– relocated to the
Interpretive Centre on Sir WinstonChurchill Square. Their new
address: 9930 102Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 5H7
The Interpretive Centre is on the west side of theSquare, on the
corner of 100th Street and 102ndAvenue across from CBC. All of
phone, fax and emailcontacts remain the same.
Phone: (780) 420-1757 or toll-free in Canada 1-877-888-1757Fax:
426-5368 Email: [email protected]:
www.tixonthesquare.ca
-
15Theatre Alberta News
The Buzz…News and Notes fromAround the Province fTHEATRE CALGARY
ANNOUNCESNEW ARTISTIC DIRECTORTheatre Calgary is proud to
announceDennis Garnhum as the 10th ArtisticDirector in its 37-year
history. Dennis isan extremely versatile director, havingdirected
plays and musicals at most ofthe major theatre companies in
Canada.Dennis is looking forward to gettingsettled in Calgary and
meeting thegreat caliber of talent that live andwork there:"I know
from experience thatthe theatrical artists in the Calgarycommunity
are passionate, lively, andtalented and I look forward to
workingwith them. While I am fueled by explor-ing this glorious
planet of ours, I canthink of nothing finer than callingTheatre
Calgary home."
CONSUMER SPENDING ON CULTUREIN CANADAA new report in the
Statistical Insightson the Arts series by Hill StrategiesResearch
shows that Canadian con-sumers spent $22.8 billion on culturalgoods
and services in 2003, an amountthat is greater than consumer
spendingon tobacco, alcohol and games ofchance combined. The $22.8
billion inconsumer spending is over three timeslarger than the $7.4
billion spent onculture in Canada by all levels of gov-ernment in
2002/03. The report alsoshows that consumer spending on
liveperforming arts events ($980 million) isnearly double the
spending on livesporting events ($530 million).
SPIRIT OF HELEN AWARDOn Saturday, May 21, 2005, at 6:00PM,
EMMEDIA Founding Member,Grant Poier was presented with thefirst
Spirit of Helen Award at the
Annual Alberta Media Arts AllianceSociety Conference held this
year inBanff, Alberta. The Spirit of HelenAward, established in
2005 by theAlberta Media Arts Alliance Society, isgiven in honour
of Helen Folkmann,an artist and arts advocate whose cre-ativity,
activist spirit, strength anddetermination inspired colleagues
andfriends across Canada. An influentialand longstanding member of
AMAAS,Helen Folkmann passed awaySeptember 24, 2004. As a tribute
toher remarkable contributions to thearts, AMAAS annually
acknowledges amulti-disciplinary artist, cultural work-er or
advocate whose contributions toAlberta's media arts
communityreflects the spirit of Helen Folkmann.The Spirit of Helen
Award includes a$1,000 honorarium.
Grant Poier is an interdisciplinary artistliving and working in
Calgary. Hisartistic practice includes installationand performance
art, video, photo/textworks and assemblage.
THE HERMAN VOADEN NATIONALPLAYWRITING COMPETITION WINNERSThe
Drama Department at Queen’sUniversity is delighted to announce
the2005 winners of the biennial HermanVoaden National Playwriting
Competition.
First Prize, $3,000Florence J. Gibson for Missing
Second Prize, $2,000Emma C. Roberts for Excellence, Ontario
Besides the cash awards, the First- andSecond-Prize-winning
plays willreceive script workshops produced bythe Thousand Islands
Playhouse, andwill then be presented as staged read-
ings in Kingston on Sept.30/05 andOct.1/05. The
First-Prize-winning playwill also be presented as a stagedreading
at the National Arts Centre inOttawa on Oct. 2, 2005.
ROGER GAUDET APPOINTED HEAD OF THE CANADA COUNCIL’STHEATRE
SECTION On July 12 Roger Gaudet wasannounced as Head of the
CanadaCouncil’s Theatre Section, effectiveAugust 22, 2005. Mr.
Gaudet, whoserved as a Canada Council theatreofficer from 1993 to
2001, returns tothe Council after four years as thenational
coordinator of the ArtsPresentation Canada Program at theDepartment
of Canadian Heritage. Mr.Gaudet is a graduate of the Universityof
Victoria theatre program and theNational Theatre School in
Montreal.He began his career in the arts as afreelance director and
playwrightworking in Montreal and Vancouver.He replaces André
Courchesne, whowas appointed Director of the CanadaCouncil’s Arts
Division earlier this year.
ALBERTA FARES WELL AT THEMAGNETIC NORTH FESTIVALThe Magnetic
North Theatre Festival,which ran from June 8–18 in Ottawa,scored
high praise amongst Ottawa the-atre-goers and critics. Among the
showspopular with local theatre critics weresuch Alberta offerings
as the “lyrical,dream-like” The Blue Orphan (CatalystTheatre) and
the “warm-hearted pro-duction” of Mesa (Ghost River Theatre),as
well the “chaotic ... moving” 3..2..1(Azimuth Theatre) – who found
strongfooting with Ottawa audiences anddrew avid international
interestamongst visiting producers. Well done!
The Theatre Alberta News is pleased to provide the latest
intelligence on two tremendous opportunities for amateur and young
thespians in the province of Alberta: the Alberta Drama Festival
Association (ADFA) and the Alberta High School Drama Festival
Association (AHSDFA).
UPDATE ON THE ADFA, by Cliff CameronThe ADFA Provincials, held
in Lethbridge on May 13–14 and were a hugesuccess. Congratulations
to all participants for the excellent productions. Iwould like to
thank Rita Peterson and her entire committee for the effortthey
made to ensure the Festival was a first class event. I would also
liketo extend congratulations to the Festival winner, Jamie
Dunsdon, who is
News from Alberta’s Drama Festivals
both the playwright and sole actor in the play Ill. She has won
the oppor-tunity to represent Alberta at the third annual Canada
West Play Fest inSwift Current on Sept 15–17, 2005. Contact your
zone representative toget involved in ADFA’s one-act play
festivals: www.adfa.ca
See page 6 for a full report on the Alberta High School Drama
Festival.
CANADA COUNCIL WELCOMESTHREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Minister of
Canadian Heritage hasannounced the appointment of threenew members
of the Board of theCanada Council for the Arts: Amir AliAlibhai
from Burnaby, BritishColumbia, Manon Blanchette fromMontreal and
Esther S. Ondrack fromSpruce Grove, Alberta.
Esther S. Ondrack has extensive manage-ment experience in the
Petroleum indus-try, and is currently associated withChieftain
Financial Ltd. Ms. Ondrackholds a Bachelor of Arts degree from
theUniversity of Alberta and sits on theboards of directors of
several organiza-tions, including the Alberta PerformingArts
Stabilization Fund and theEdmonton Symphony Society.
GRANDE PRAIRIE LIVE THEATREANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTORThe
board of GPLT is pleased toannounce Heather Inglis as their
newExecutive Director. Heather is anAlberta-based director,
producer, dra-maturge, and theatre instructor withcredits across
Canada. She’s worked forthe Shaw Festival, the Citadel,Workshop
West, Northern LightTheatre, Theatre Junction, FringeTheatre
Adventures, AlbertaPlaywrights’ Network, the Universitiesof Alberta
and Calgary to name only afew. In 2000 Heather was the recipientof
the Edmonton Arts Council’sCelebration of Women in the ArtsAward.
GPLT produces eight to tenplays a season, a film series, as well
asa performance series featuring music,dance, and theatre.
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