Call for Submissions: Dora Statue Redesign Contest, TAPA

The Dora Mavor Moore Awards celebrate excellence in theatre, dance and opera in Toronto. This year, on the occasion of the 30th annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is holding a design competition to select a new “Dora Award”. Entries will be judged independently by a panel of judges selected by TAPA, and the winner will be determined based upon the merits of her/his work.

Each year, thirty-five awards must be produced, which are identical in design. They are presented to winners across five divisions: General Theatre Production, Independent Theatre Production, Dance, Opera, Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).

The budget for design and production of the thirty-five awards is $10,000. This must include all materials, design and labour. The total production cost of an individual award must not exceed $275.

TAPA will cover the cost of the first build up to $500 for the winning selection.

ELIGIBILITY

The Dora Award Design Competition is open to all individuals eighteen (18) years of age or older who are Toronto residents. Companies and collectives may also submit. Entries may be submitted by any organization or person involved in creating or producing the work, granted proper permissions are obtained and copyrights are observed.

Previously exhibited work is not eligible; work must conform to these rules and regulations, and must have been completed within the last year.

After entries have been submitted to TAPA, no substitutions, alterations or withdrawals will be permitted.

Applicants must make their own arrangements for studio space.

For more information including an application please go to www.tapa.ca/doras/dora_award_contest

Call for Submissions: 2009 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts, Theatre Ontario

Theatre Ontario is issuing a call for nominations for the 2009 Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts. The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts is presented annually to an individual or collective who has demonstrated leadership over a long career, and a passionate commitment to deepening the scope and broadening the appearance of the arts in Ontario through innovative and practical approaches.

AWARD GUIDELINES:

• 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

When submitting your nomination, please provide specific examples of the above criteria as they relate to your nominee. The nomination form can be downloaded at www.theatreontario.org. The deadline is December 15, 2008.

The Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts was established in 1998 by friends and colleagues of Sandra on her retirement as Executive Director of Theatre Ontario. The award pays tribute to the outstanding contribution that Sandra Tulloch has made to the arts in Ontario. For nearly twenty years, she played a pivotal role at Theatre Ontario, facilitating numerous visionary initiatives in the community, professional and educational theatre sectors. As an arts administrator, producer, arts advocate, project leader and community activist, Sandra has continued to devote an enormous amount of time and energy to the arts throughout the province.

Past recipients of the Sandra Tulloch Award for Innovation in the Arts are Tim Jones & Susan Serran, Angela Rebeiro, Jane Marsland, Myles Warren, Jini Stolk, Claire Hopkinson and Peter Honeywell. The award was designed by artist Barry Burniston of North Bay, with bronze casting by Craig Meschino of Toronto.

For more information please contact John Goddard, Executive Director at Theatre Ontario, 416.408.4556 or john@theatreontario.org. Theatre Ontario provides theatre practitioners throughout Ontario with training and information to enhance and support their art form.

Announcement: New Season of 5 Star Experiences, Toronto’s Top Value Theatre & Dining Packages Launched, TAPA

Barrel of Laughs returns and Theatre à la carte allows you to customize your own theatre & dining package!

Partners include The Second City, Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, and The Canadian Stage Company. Restaurant partners include Spring Rolls, East!, The Red Tomato, The Epicure Café and Grill, Dos Amigos, and Bb33.

Don’t want the night to end? Upgrade your package to a ”5 STAR +” and enjoy 10% off the best available daily rate at the Delta Chelsea Hotel.

5 STAR EXPERIENCES are sold in person at T.O.TIX – Toronto’s One-Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square, or online at www.totix.ca.

Go Live Toronto:
The 5 STAR EXPERIENCE is a component of TAPA’s Go Live Toronto campaign; a citywide marketing campaign designed to increase public awareness of theatre, dance and opera, energize the youth demographic and engage a wider audience.

For more information go to www.totix.ca.

Workshop: Widening Your Scope and Deepening Your Skills, AfriCan Theatre Ensemble

AfriCan Theatre Ensemble presents an Acting Workshop “Widening Your Scope and Deepening Your Skills”
with Theatre, Film and Television Actor Bayo Akinfemi – Gemini Award Nominee

The two-week intensive workshop will help participants:

• Diversify their acting experience
• Gain familiarity with African performance contexts
• Understand the nuances of African traditions when portraying an African character
• Master the 4 W’s of acting (when, where, what and why of a character)
• Refresh their skills
• Prepare for professional theatre auditions

Participants will get an opportunity to audition for the Canadian premiere of The Marriage of Anansewa, (production at Berkeley Street Theatre,Toronto, May 2009.)

Workshop Duration:
8 three-hour sessions from 6:30 – 9:30 pm
November 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26 & 27, 2008
Venue: Jamaican Canadian Centre, 995 Arrow Road, Toronto (Finch Avenue West & Arrow Road; TTC Bus 36)
Fee: $195 (includes materials)

To register, please send your name, address, telephone number and payment
(by cheque or money order) to AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, 250 Consumers Road,
Suite 717, Toronto, Ontario M2J 3V6

You can also register online:
http://www.africantheatre.org/current_season.html
To contact AfriCan Theatre Ensemble, please call us at 416 364 7313; or email us: africantheatre@bellnet.ca

About the Workshop Instructor:
Bayo Akinfemi has a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Theatre (Acting and Directing). Akinfemi has also studied Film and Television production at the Toronto Film School, where he currently teaches and lectures
part-time. He has amassed several credits as a stage and film actor and as a theatre director. Akinfemi joined AfriCan Theatre Ensemble in 1998, subsequently directing the company’s debut production. He has continued to work with AfriCan Theatre Ensemble as an actor and a director and is the 2008-2009 Resident Artistic Director.

For his lead role in the CBC two-part feature, “Human Cargo,” Akinfemi earned Gemini and ACTRA nominations for best actor in 2004. In December 2008, his company, Greenland Productions will be launching the premiere of his feature film, Scoundrels of Faith, which he wrote, produced and directed.

About the Organization:
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble is not-for-profit charitable organization based in Toronto, Ontario. AfriCan Theatre Ensemble’s mission is to make accessible African drama that Canadians do not often get a chance to see and in so doing contribute to the richness of theatre in Canada. Over the past ten years the Ensemble has fostered the advancement of Canada-based talents through stage performances of old and new creations. We produce an annual Home Season for general audiences in Toronto and present children’s programming throughout the GTA to promote cultural literacy during Black History Month. More information is available at: www.africantheatre.org

Modupe Olaogun, Artistic Producer
AfriCan Theatre Ensemble
email: africantheatre@bellnet.ca
Office: 416-364-7313

Professional Development for AfriCan Theatre Ensemble is generously supported by The Toronto Arts Council.

Event: TAPA AGM, TAPA

Save the date!

TAPA Annual General Meeting
Monday, December 1st, 2008
3:00pm to 4:30pm

Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street Toronto, Ontario

Please join us for a reception immediately following the TAPA AGM in
The Cabaret at Buddies
4:30pm to 6:00pm
Seasonal holiday drinks will be served!

For more information and to download the AGM Agenda, Call for Nominations, Proxy Form and Proposed Slate of TAPA Board of Directors 2008-2009 please click here

Please RSVP to Alexis Da Silva-Powell at alexisdsp@tapa.ca

RSVP Deadline: 12pm on Thursday November 20th, 2008

Please note that this is for TAPA Members Only

Call for Submissions: Ontario Arts Council ’s Theatre Creators Program, b current

Play creation/development funds available from Ontario Arts Council ’s Theatre Creators Program

b current is one of the recommending companies that participates in the Theatre Creators Reserve Program at the Ontario Arts Council. This third party assistance program allows our company to recommend outright grants to artists. The final decisions and disbursement of grant funds are made by the OAC Theatre Office.

b current invites submissions to the Theatre Creators Reserve Program. Writers/creators looking to, or in the process of creating play scripts or generating production ideas can submit proposals between October 15/2008 to November 28/2008. All recommendations will be made by January/2009.

For eligibility, council guidelines, or more info/contacts and application forms check:
www.arts.on.ca
Ontario Arts Council
Theatre Office:
151 Bloor Street W, 5th Flr
Toronto On M5S 1T6
1.800.387.0058
416.961.1660

On b current ’s end, we look to recommend creators whose work supports our company’s artistic mandate & focus… We are a small, not-for-profit performance arts company. We present and support performance works emerging from the Canadian and international Black Diaspora. Our company is based in Toronto; and while we focus on developing and working with local artists, our activities often involve national and international artists.

Our specialty: developing and presenting alternative and obscure material. By combining everyday cultural elements and practices with artistic and technical forms we bring pertinent and exciting artists and their creations, into the wider performance arts sphere. Please also note that our focus with this program is sourcing and supporting young & emerging artists, and creators new to developing works for theatre & professional performance arenas.

When applying to this fund please include:

• A script excerpt & or a detailed script idea
• Names and background of other artists involved
• Any projections for development of the piece; including budget needs
• Background material on the creator/s; bios, promo etc
• Completed application forms available from OAC
• A SASE for return of material if you require this

We generally consider and recommend between the $1000 minimum and a $3500 maximum.

Completed applications/Proposals should be sent to:
b current , Creator’s Reserve Fund
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 402
Toronto , ON M5S 2R4

Any additional inquiries please email: info@bcurrent.ca

Call for Submissions: rock.paper.sistahz festival, b current

Have you HEARD? rock.paper.sistahz festival is accepting submissions for May 2009.

With a new generation on the front line, there is much to celebrate this season as we tie knots with the rock.paper.sistahz 8, taking place in May/2009 in Toronto! We are putting the call out early, inviting you to take a chance and plunge into some seriously creative dares just like the rock.paper.scissors hand game!

Don’t miss out, come with the wordz, ideaz, materialz; and a readiness to engage new and familiar audiences and we will come equipped to provide you with development/production or presentation resources as fully as can be afforded to include selected works to the festival. We will provide a scaled fees/participation honoraria and resources that will include:

• Presentation venue for all selected work
• Technical & creative support + workshop time, dramaturgy and creative teams for plays
• Promotion through the festival outlets
• Out-of-town participants will receive travel expenses and per diems.

This is not just another festival… we are sistahz working w/sistahz, pushing the envelope by developing and presenting fresh materials, performance styles and ideas. 8ight year’s strong – we continue to unapologetically push past expected boundaries with our goals to:

• Encourage new growth
• Promote the voices of emerging and established artists alike
• Provide opportunities for black women artists to have their work nurtured
• Encourage interaction among black women artists
• Heighten the life-affirming effects of the collision of art and culture and everyday life

Submissions/proposals to the rock.paper.sistahz festival is open to both emerging and established artists, for performances and other art materialz beyond the stage: literary readings, dance, music, film/video screenings, art installations, storytelling, standup – are included; so artists in any and all disciplines are encouraged to submit proposals to participate in this hand-picked and fully curated teaming of quality, diversity, and raw energy festival.

To submit to this “… high energy blast for everyone… & a huge hit in any corner of Canada”
(The Montreal Gazette) Please include a cover letter indicating who you are, how and why you want to participate in the festival, as well as the following items:

• A bio and any press or published material on yourself and your work
• A short writeup or proposal on the idea or work you are submitting for presentation
• As much as possible, background material on your creation – including audio/video recordings, photos, publication… any samples etc.
• Full contact information including email address & fax# as available
• A hard copy of typed script or synopsis & description of the project/idea you would like to explore, or copy of film/video, or any other appropriate and accessible format samples
• A self-addressed stamped envelope for return of material(s) if you require such

To become one of the “cool range of artists on each evening”, Please drop off/post date your submission by November 15 to:
joan m kivanda, artistic director intern,
b current, rock.paper.sistahz festival 8!
720 bathurst street, suite 402
Toronto, ON M5S 2R4

If you have specific questions about your proposal or the festival, please forward a detailed message to joan m kivanda: info@bcurrent.ca. For more info please visit www.bcurrent.ca

b certain to keep a copy of all materialz you submit and stay tuned, as we’ll get back to you with a response &/or notification of acceptance of your submissions by December 10/2008!

Call for Submissions: Ontario Arts Council’s Theatre Creators’ Reserve Program, Carlos Bulosan Theatre

Carlos Bulosan Theatre is now accepting applications for the Ontario Arts Council’s Theatre Creators’ Reserve Program. This program is designed to help fund the creation of new work by Ontario-based artists.

CBT invites both new and emerging artists/play creators to submit applications. In keeping with CBT’s mandate to nurture and develop artists in the community, a priority will given to Filipino-Canadian artists. CBT encourages a wide variety of approaches to creating theatre, including theatre that integrates multiple arts forms (poetry, music, movement, etc.). Preference will, therefore, also be given to artists interested in exploring an experimental or multidisciplinary approach to creating theatre, as well as those who choose to work collectively.

Applicants may request a minimum of $1000 to a maximum of $5000.
Submission Guidelines
Applicants are asked to submit 3 copies of the following:

• Bio(s) or CV(s) that demonstrate(s) where the applicant(s) is in their career as an artist.
• A letter of proposal outlining the theatrical story/idea they would like to develop, and why this story is important for the artist to tell.
• Development history of the project if relevant.
• A script sample of the work they are interested in developing OR a creative writing sample (this can include dialogue, poetry, prose, short story, etc…).
• For multidisciplinary projects, applicants will be asked to include any relevant support materials (cds, dvds, artwork etc…).
• A budget proposal.
• One copy of the completed OAC application form.

Applicants can find the application form, as well as information on eligibility and program guidelines by going to the OAC Website. www.arts.on.ca/Page86.aspx

The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 21, 2008.

Submissions should be sent to:

Carlos Bulosan Theatre

167 Augusta Avenue

Toronto, ON M5T 2L4

No submissions by fax or email please.

Job Posting: eBusiness Coordinator – Maternity Leave, Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Would you like to play a meaningful role with North America’s leading classical repertory theatre? At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, we attract the world’s finest talent, offering a unique experience for staff, artists, and actors alike. If you would like to be a part of this exciting organization, we are looking for someone to fill the role of…

eBusiness Coordinator – Maternity Leave
Application Development & Analytics

Reporting to the Application Development Manager, this full time, maternity leave position will be a member of the Analytics Team and will be a key team player in the maintenance, and deployment of the company’s many exciting e-business solutions. You will be expected to partner with other areas within the company to reach new consumers, maximize effectiveness of programs and ensure optimal patron experiences.

Applicants will have a post secondary degree, preferably in Computer Science (or related area). Strong knowledge of HTML and CSS is expected. You will posses extensive knowledge of web page layout techniques, interaction design and have a solid understanding of Adobe Dreamweaver. This position also works closely with content production, requiring a background in video / audio / photo editing for websites. Knowledge of business processes used in not-for-profit arts is considered an asset. Interpersonal and organizational skills, as well as discretion, integrity and diplomacy, are critical. This position is located in Stratford, Ontario and the projected start date is February 2, 2009.

Please apply by November 15 2008 to:

Human Resources, 55 Queen Street, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 6V2 • Fax: 519.271.0626 resumes@stratfordshakespearefestival.com (please enter position title into subject line)
While all responses are appreciated and will be kept in strictest confidence, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. www.stratfordfestival.ca

Event: Conversations on the Green, Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company

The HAROLD GREEN JEWISH THEATRE COMPANY launches the inaugural CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN with award-winning producer and entrepreneur GARTH DRABINSKY.

A one-on-one discussion with Jewish artists hosted by journalist and radio personality RALPH BENMERGUI, CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN with guest GARTH DRABINSKY takes place on Sunday, November 16, 7:30pm at the Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

“This one-on-one chat with legendary Canadian producer Garth Drabinsky is sure to spark a lively conversation,” said AVERY SALTZMAN, co-Artistic Director of the HAROLD GREEN JEWISH THEATRE. “The series’ goal is to illustrate how our guests’ Jewish background has influenced their art. Garth is our ideal first guest.”

CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN
Hosted by RALPH BENMERGUI
Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.

• In conversation with GARTH DRABINSKY (Sunday, November 16, 2008, 7:30pm)
• In conversation with MICHELE LANDSBERG (Sunday, January 25, 2009, 7:30pm)
• In conversation with SOPHIE MILMAN (Sunday, March 29, 2009)
• In conversation with HAL LINDEN (Sunday, May 10, 2009)

$10 for Subscribers
$15 single tickets available by calling 416.366.7723 o 1.800.708.6754 or at the door.
For more information please visit www.hgjewishtheatre.com