Event: talk.in.gold a chat with ahdri zhina mandiela, b current and anitAFRIKA!

talk.in.gold – a highly interactive artist lecture series

talking.art, talking.life, talking.old, talk.in.gold a chat with ahdri zhina mandiela

b current with anitAFRIKA! dub theatre invite you to talk.in.gold artist lecture series. sit down with artists who have been around and back again and are still here, creating and reinventing. come to this rare opportunity to chat with senior artists as they share their life and work. first lecture is with award winning dub storytelling artist, ahdri zhina mandiela. chat with her as she prepares raw food, reflects about her life as an artist and answers questions.

talk.in.gold #1
saturday, january 24, 2009 @ 6:30pm
anitAFRIKA! dub theatre – 62 Fraser Avenue (south of King, east of Dufferin)
admisssion: pay what you can

Audition: The Letter F, Humber College

Announcing a casting call this Wednesday, January 21st at 6:00 pm at the South Campus of Humber College.

The Letter F is a short film that takes place in the 1960′s, and will be analogous to The Twilight Zone. The production will be shot on 16mm, and is a full ACTRA credit. We’re looking for males, aged 20 – 50. One character is a writer, and one is a traveling Baptist, or Mormon. For more information on the location and sides, please contact the director, Tyler Thomas, at tyler@kingsizedmedia.ca .

Audition: Closer, Alumnae Theatre

CLOSER by Patrick Marber Directed by Laura Roald

PERFORMANCE DATES: April 17 – May 2, 2009

Closer is an unflinching and harsh examination of the intersecting relationships of four Londoners in the mid-1990s. Alice, an adventurous young woman, falls for Dan, a struggling obituary writer who is inspired by her frank sexuality. When their relationship levels, he meets and becomes obsessed with Anna, a successful photographer, eventually impersonating her online. This deception sparks her connection with Larry, an upwardly mobile dermatologist. The ensuing maze of affairs follows a bitter and complex path over four years as they each struggle to achieve true intimacy. Dark, funny and uncompromising, this award-winning play by Patrick Marber questions the nature of physical and emotional bonds.

ROLES

• Dan: “a man from the suburbs” – thirties, obituary writer and failing novelist, middle class
• Alice: “a girl from the town” – early to mid-twenties, stripper with a cultivated carefree manner
• Anna: “a woman from the country” – thirties, successful photographer, upper middle class
• Larry: “a man from the city” – thirties/early forties, dermatologist, lower middle class

AUDITION DATES

• Wednesday February 4th: 7pm – 10pm
• Thursday February 5th: 7pm – 10pm
• Friday February 6th: 7pm – 10pm
• Saturday February 7th: 10am – 6pm
• Callbacks will be held Tuesday February 10 and Wednesday February 11.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Important: Alumnae Theatre is a non-union theatre company so these are auditions for non-union actors. While we love our ACTRA and Equity brothers and sisters, we can’t afford to hire you. A contemporary Received Pronunciation British accent is required for all roles. At the audition, actors will be asked to present two brief scene excerpts (an audition reader will be reading with you). A prepared monologue is not required, though actors are welcome to present one if they wish. A list of scenes has been provided at the Toronto Reference Library (5th Floor, Performing Arts Desk) and at Theatre Ontario for actors to review. Advance preparation is highly recommended. Copies of these scenes will also be available at the theatre the evening/day of the audition.

TO BOOK AN AUDITION

Please email Tabitha Keast at tabithakeast@sympatico.ca or call 416-364-4170 (press 3 for the audition hotline) Please bring a photo and résumé to the audition. DO NOT mail them ahead of time. Auditions will be held at Alumnae Theatre, 70 Berkeley St. (SW corner of Berkeley and Adelaide)  www.alumnaetheatre.com

Call for Submissions: Theatre Creators’ Reserve, Cahoots Theatre Projects

Cahoots Theatre Projects is now accepting applications!

Deadline: January 31, 2009

Cahoots Theatre Projects is a theatre recommender for the Theatre Creators’ Reserve. This program allows Ontario artists time and support to work on new creations by applying to theatre companies who in turn recommend funding from the Ontario Arts Council. Please consult the OAC page for more details. Artists interested in applying for this year’s program are asked to review the Cahoots’ mandate. In keeping with our mandate, preference will be given to artists that reflect Cahoots’ core values and beliefs. Cahoots strongly encourages submissions from artists working in non-text disciplines, or with diversity of practices and approach.

To apply, please prepare the following:

• Vision: Your letter or statement of intent, including any previous development
• Project: A proposal and/or script excerpt
• Info: Biography and/or résumé
• Support: Video/audio for non-text based submissions only
• OAC forms: 3 copies of the form available from the OAC page
• SASE: Please include enough postage to cover the material you wish returned. All other material will be recycled.

Please note there is a 45 – page limit to the entire application.  Submissions by email or fax will not be considered.

Send by mail or drop off to:

Cahoots Theatre Projects
174 Spadina Ave. #610
Toronto, Ontario
M5T 2C2

Recommendations will be determined based on the scope and scale of the proposed project, artists’ past history of creation and the feasibility of the artists’ workplan.

Any questions regarding the program, please contact us at
info@cahoots.ca or by phone at 416-203-9000.
www.cahoots.ca

Event: January Reading of Armagideon by Sandra Dempsey, First Draft Theatre Company

Monday, January 26, 2009: Armagideon, by Sandra Dempsey

Armagideon – multiple award-winning, internationally acclaimed drama by Sandra Dempsey.    Two eccentric 70-year-olds shelter themselves and their 9-year-old ward from the torturous world outside, and try to hide him from his mandatory war mongering duties. Nephew soldier Nathan arrives, on the run and spoiling for a fight, and unwittingly uncovers terrible truths. A vivid yet almost haphazard awareness of death and destruction and the confounding of all reason makes Armagideon a cautionary tale, with the flavour of a Lorca.

“It’s a very strong and striking piece, which creates and sustains a world very much beyond our experience and does so with conviction and horror.” Urjo Kareda

“The storyline, the characters, their situation draws you into the play. The situation is delicious and it keeps you off balance. It is strange, violent and nutty. Intriguing.” Sharon Pollock.

With a keen sense of drama and a formidable wit, Sandra Dempsey writes complex plays inhabited by articulate, richly drawn, and emotional characters.

Directed by Sam Owen Rosenthal*.  Sam is a Director, Actor and also the Artistic Director of Tribal Productions, which has produced over 30 fully mounted Equity productions since it’s inception in 1997.  Tribal Productions was the resident company at the Toronto Center for the Arts (1999 –2004). Currently Tribal tours it’s shows across Canada and they have included such productions as Same Time Next Year, Affections Of May, Forever Plaid, Suds The Rockin’ 60′s Musical, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Sylvia, The Foursome, The Dora nominated Of Mice and Men, and Death Of A Salesmen. As a Director some selected credits include Museum, History of The Devil, The Possibilities   A Doll House ,  Misery  ), The Diary of Anne Frank , Danny and The Deep Blue Sea, The Wild Guys ,The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)   , Our Country’s Good, and Savage in Limbo. Sam has also produced and worked on several new works such as Whiskey Serenade, O Henry!, and wrote an original adaptation of George Orwell’s  1984.  Sam is based in Toronto and is a graduate of the York University (Directing Program) and of The Ryerson Theatre School (Acting)

*Courtesy of the Canadian Actor’s Equity Association.

About First Draft Theatre Company

First Draft originated in 1992 at a meeting of 30 writers at the Clinton Tavern organized by playwright Vivienne Payne.  First Draft’s original mandate was to read new original works with no pre-selection.  This non-juried format was unique in Toronto, and over the subsequent sixteen years, the company has held readings either on the last Monday, Thursday, or Sunday of the month.  Now in its seventeenth year, First Draft has changed its mandate so that the season is pre-selected, and will benefit from increased professional involvement through the use of union directors and artists.  Join us for a drink and a play.  First Draft is a member of the Toronto Alliance for Performing Arts (TAPA).

First Draft is gratefully supported by: The Epicure Café, 502 Queen Street West

The Details:

Performance Date:          Monday, January 26, 2009 at 7:00pm

Tickets:                          All readings are PWYC

Location:                        Upstairs at the Epicure Café, 502 Queen Street West

Job Posting: Theatre Manager, Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts, Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

GENOVESE VANDERHOOF & ASSOCIATES Cultural Management Consultants

Employment Opportunity

Markham Theatre for Performing Arts
Theatre Manager
Culture Department
Community and Fire Services Commission
Town of Markham
Markham, Ontario

The Town of Markham is seeking applicants for the position of Theatre Manager.  Reporting to the Director of Cultural Services, the Theatre Manager is responsible for creating a balanced program to meet the Theatre’s strategic goals and for the management of the Theatre (including financial management, marketing, sponsorship, the overseeing of daily operations, and facility maintenance).  The Manager liaises with the Theatre Board and staff, providing leadership and direction.

The 528-seat theatre opened in 1985 and serves over 125,000 patrons a year. Part of the Markham Civic Centre complex, the Theatre has an annual budget of approximately $2 million.  Its annual activities include commercial, community, and educational programs and rentals, as well as a presentation series.  Four spaces are available for rental within the facility for performances, corporate events, and private functions, offering catering and bar services.

With recent improvements to backstage and front of house areas to accommodate larger productions, the Theatre has an annual usage rate of some 265 days. Full-time staff reporting to the Theatre Manager include a Manager of Facility and Production, a Manager of Client Services, a Marketing and Development Coordinator, and an administrative clerk.

The Town of Markham is the largest of nine communities in York Region with a growing population of nearly 300,000.  It is located on the northern border of the City of Toronto.  Markham is Canada’s most diverse community with 57% of residents not born in Canada.  Called the ”High Tech Capital” of Canada, the Town is a base for over 900 high technology/life sciences corporations, headquarters for over 400 companies and a leader in urban design.

The Town of Markham manages a number of cultural assets, including the Varley Art Gallery and the Markham Museum & Historic Village, which provide an array of services, programs, and educational activities to its community.

The Markham Theatre is undergoing a transformational process and needs a dynamic performing arts facility professional with at least five to seven years’ leadership experience.  The ideal candidate will have expertise in  business development and strategies for arts programming, marketing, fund-raising, institutional branding, and community relations.  It is important that the Manager has a track record in effectively engaging with diverse communities through education, outreach, and programming with measurable results.

The Manager represents the Theatre to the public, the media, and the performing arts industry at large through leadership and participation in community activities.  The Theatre has a key responsibility for the cultural and educational enrichment of the Town of Markham; its Manager must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, the media, artists, board members, artist managers, other arts groups, sponsors, educational institutions, and the audience.

A second language is an asset for this position; a valid class G Ontario drivers license and a satisfactory drivers abstract are required.

Salary commensurate with experience.  Excellent benefits package. Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter, and a list of references by Monday, February 23, 2009 to:

Margaret Genovese
Senior Partner
Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates
77 Carlton Street, Suite 1103
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5B 2J7
416/340-2762
gvasearch@gmail.com; www.genovesevanderhoof.com
www.markham.ca

Event: Converstations On The Green With Michele Landsberg, Harold Green Jewish Theatre

The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company presents the second in the series CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN with award-winning writer and social activist Michele Landsberg presented in association with Women’s College Hospital Foundation.

A one-on-one chat with Jewish artists hosted by journalist and radio personality Ralph Benmergui, CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN with guest Michele Landsberg takes place on Sunday, January 25, 7:30 pm at the Jane Mallet Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.

“Michele Landsberg is one of Canada’s most tireless and effective social justice activists and as a journalist and speaker she discusses issues that others shy away from or ignore,” said David Eisner, co-Artistic Director of the Harold Green Jewish Theatre.  “Her work has brought many important issues to light and influenced countless opinion leaders across the country and around the world.  We are thrilled that she is part of this very special series.”

Ms. Landsberg is the second in a series of four CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN to be presented during the Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company’s 2008-09 season.  The series continues with singer Sophie Milman (March 29) and actor Hal Linden (May 10).

Born in Toronto, Michele Landsberg has written three best-selling books: Women and Children First, a collection of her newspaper columns; Michele Landsberg’s Guide to Children’s Books; and “This is New York, Honey!” A Homage to Manhattan, with Love and Rage, a memoir of her time living as the spouse of Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

Ms. Landsberg is also an award-winning journalist having written for The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine Magazine among many others.  A tireless activist for feminist issues and social justice endeavours she has served on the Board of Directors for several organizations and her dedication to social activism has been recognized by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, who, in 2005, named an award after Ms. Landsberg to honour women 18 to 30 who are outstanding in media and activism.

She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including two National Newspaper Awards, and in 2002, the Governor-General’s Award in Commemoration of the 1929 Persons Case.  In 2006, she was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2008, she received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Toronto.

CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN
In conversation with Michele Landsberg, Sunday, January 25, 2009 @ 7:30pm
Presented by The Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company & Women’s College Hospital Foundation
Hosted by Ralph Benmergui
Jane Mallett Theatre, St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E.
$10 for Subscribers, $15 for single tickets
Tickets can be purchased by calling 416.366.7723 or 1.800.708.6754, or at the door
For more information please visit www.hgjewishtheatre.com

Call for Submissions: 2009 Technology and the Arts, Centre for Cultural Management at the University of Waterloo and the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University

CALL FOR SESSION PROPOSALS
Deadline:  January 19, 2009

Proposals for sessions and workshops are currently being accepted for the 2009 Technology in the Arts: Canada Conference, a partnership between the Centre for Cultural Management at the University of Waterloo and the Center for Arts Management and Technology at Carnegie Mellon University. This year’s TitA.ca Conference will be held in conjunction with the Canada 3.0: Defining Canada’s Digital Future Conference.

The deadline for submitting your proposal is Monday, January 19, 2009.

The conference has two primary types of programming – Hands-On Training Workshops and Breakout Sessions.

Hands-On Training Workshops: Sunday, May 10th

Held in a computer lab environment on the University of Waterloo campus in Waterloo, Ontario, these workshops will provide “nuts & bolts” instruction to guide participants through technical processes toward concrete solutions to work-place challenges. Each hands-on workshop will last 2 hours and 30 minutes.  Workshop leaders should anticipate using 25% of the time for informational lecture and the remaining 75% of the time for hands-on instruction.

Breakout Sessions: Monday, May 11th & Tuesday, May 12th

Held in breakout rooms at the Stratford Rotary Complex in Stratford, Ontario, conference sessions may use a number of possible formats to cover relevant issues relating to the use (or potential use) of technology in arts, heritage or cultural management and/or production. Breakout sessions will last 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Proposal Criteria:
A panel of arts and technology practitioners will review all submitted proposals to select the final program in late January. Sessions will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Exploration of new or compelling ideas, technologies or practices
• Speakers’ expertise and/or experience with the topic
• Session’s relevance to the conference
• In addition to the above criteria, the panel will be charged with selecting workshops and sessions with an eye toward providing a well-rounded program of topics and ideas for conference attendees that will include managers, staff and artistic/curatorial personnel from the arts, heritage and cultural sector, as well as individual artists.

Benefits for Presenters:
Presenters will receive complimentary access to the conference for the day on which they present, and discounted registration for other days they wish to attend.. All session participants will be responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.

Proposal Components:
To be considered, proposals must include the following information:

• Session title
• Session type – Hands-On Training Workshop or Breakout Session
• Session format – For Breakout Session proposals only
• Description of the proposed session
• Explanation of relevance to the conference
• Contact information and bio paragraph for session leader
• Other potential presenters and what expertise they would add to the session

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL ONLINE
Questions? Please contact daviddom@cmu.edu

Announcement: Free Artists’ Legal Advice Services, ALAS Ontario

Artists’ Legal Advice Services, also known as ALAS, offers free summary legal advice to artists living in Ontario, Canada.  For more than a decade, ALAS has been helping artists, actors, musicians, dancers, writers, and filmmakers address their legal problems.  Issues typically dealt with include contracts, defamation, copyright, trademarks & royalties or other payments.

ALAS is operated by a collection of lawyers and volunteer law students who generously donate their time to help provide advice to those who may not be able to access more expensive alternatives.  The clinic serves as an excellent first-step for creators wishing to understand their legal rights or deal with specific problems, but are unsure how to proceed.

For more information or to book an appointment please go to www.alasonatrio.com

Call for Submissions: Fringe Dance Initiative, The Fringe of Toronto Theatre Festival

DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY!

The Fringe Festival runs July 1st – July 12th, 2009.

Applications for the draw available now!
To download the fast & simple application, please visit: www.fringetoronto.com
Deadline: January 16th, 2009 at 4pm
Last year’s Fringe Dance Initiative was an astonishing success, helping to generate a return of $26,470 in box office revenue for the participating dance artists & companies. The exciting cross-pollination of audiences and performance styles is a terrific opportunity for reaching new people. Seeing as you will collect 100% of the box office revenue for your 7 performances, the application fee of $700 will be made back and then some!

The production support is terrific and includes such benefits as:

• Seven performances in a variety of time slots, and 100% of the ticket revenue
• An assigned venue (65-200 seats) with a Lighting Board Technician
• A Front of House Manager, volunteers, tickets, and complete box office system (in person/phone/online sales)
• Inclusion in the free Fringe program guide, Fringe website, Fringe Dance Initiative marketing through the Dance Umbrella of Ontario, and overall event publicity
• A series of free seminars (stage management, playwrighting, publicity, fundraising, technical/design).

New this year, includes the following support:

• Charrettes: a series of conferences designed to address important issues facing independent theatre artists in Toronto
• The Fringe Evolution Fund: a grant for Fringe companies producing remounts
• Office Residencies: an offer to open our office doors to companies in need of space, computers and resources
• Ticketing Support: subsidized access to our ticketing software for small companies in need of online ticket sales
• Paprika Festival Outreach:  mentorship programs for one young company who will perform during the Fringe.

Apply now for the draw!