Volunteer: Festival of Ideas and Creation, Canadian Stage Company

VOLUNTEER FOR THE CANADIAN STAGE COMPANY FESTIVAL OF IDEAS AND CREATION

Participate in artistic development behind the scenes! The Canadian Stage Company invites individuals 16 years and older to be a part of the Festival of Ideas and Creation, June 8th to June 27th, 2009. The Festival takes place in a variety of venues, onsite at Canadian Stage Berkeley, 26 Berkeley Street, Toronto, Ontario.

WHAT’S INVOLVED

The Canadian Stage Company is seeking individuals, 16 years of age and older, who enjoy learning about theatre, meeting new people and seek to have a one-of- a-kind festival volunteering event to join our diverse team of volunteers for The Festival of Ideas and Creation. The Company is looking for set up and runner volunteers to work a minimum of three (3) shifts of your choosing. There are a variety of shifts involved, both day and evenings. The work primarily involves helping with the setup of an event, helping during an event for a variety of “runner” tasks and assisting with the ending of events.

THE BENEFITS

Volunteers see the particular event they are volunteering at for free and are rewarded with tickets to the Canadian Stage Company’s upcoming season if they complete 25 hours of volunteering. Volunteering at the Festival of Ideas and Creation is of special appeal to people interested in theatre and play development,  theatre students and emerging artists and arts administrators.

HOW TO SIGN UP:

If you want to get involved, The Canadian Stage Company is holding a Volunteer Recruitment Session at the Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street (south of King Street East / one block east of Sherbourne). We would like you to attend one volunteer recruitment sessions in order to enroll as a volunteer.

Contact Bob McCarthy, Manager of Volunteer Resources and Interns  at bobmccarthy@canstage.com or if you don’t have access to email, call 416-860-4688 and indicate that you can

The Festival of Ideas and Creation Volunteer Recruitment Session will be held on the following date:

Thursday May 28th: 7:00 pm sharp – Canadian Stage Berkeley, 26 Berkeley St. (Open to all).

Please Note:

Allow 60 minutes to hear about The Canadian Stage Company Festival of Ideas and Creation and to sign up for shifts.  Volunteers are asked to arrive at the session on time and to bring a pen and two (phone) references.
Please know the exact dates that you can volunteer.  A minimum of three (3) shifts between the dates of June 8th to June 27th, 2009 is a requirement for all volunteers. You will be asked to choose the three (3) dates most convenient to you.  The best opportunities for shifts are during weekdays and weeknights however, there are also weekend shifts to fit any schedule.

You will be required to attend an on-site training session on Tuesday June 2nd, 6pm to 7pm at Canadian Stage Berkeley, 26 Berkeley Street.
Volunteer shifts begin onsite at Canadian Stage Berkeley, 26 Berkeley Street, Toronto, ON
Volunteers may invite as many friends as they wish to sign up and volunteer.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Canadian Stage Company Festival of Ideas and Creation runs from June 8th to 27th at The Berkeley Street Theatre, focusing on artistic process and exchange. It offers professional development opportunities for local and national artists to present new works and evolve their creative processes while offering the general public the opportunity to explore art behind the scenes and participate in the development of new work. First established in 2006, the festival is slated to become an annual event with a dynamic line-up of public, youth, artist and industry programming.

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Open readings and rehearsals of exciting new theatrical works by senior and emerging artists from across Canada such as two-time Governor General’s Award-winner Judith Thompson & Tony-award winner William Finn;
• In Conversation Series with stalwarts in the world of live theatre such as Siminovitch Prize-winner Daniel MacIvor;
• Industry explorations, master classes, forums and conferences
• Book launches, Backstage tours, Youth programming and more!

For more information about the The Canadian Stage Company Festival of Ideas and Creation: go to www.canstage.com/festival

ABOUT THE CANADIAN STAGE COMPANY:

Nationally and internationally acclaimed, The Canadian Stage Company is Canada’s leading not-for-profit contemporary theatre company. Founded in 1987 with the merger of CentreStage and Toronto Free Theatre, the Company is dedicated to programming international contemporary theatre and to developing and producing landmark Canadian works which have been awarded some of the country’s most prestigious literary and performing arts honours, including the Governor General’s, Chalmers and Dora Mavor Moore Awards. The Company presents the richest variety of Canadian and international plays and musicals – from edgy and provocative works at the Berkeley Street Theatre to productions with universal appeal at the Bluma Appel Theatre and a summer of Shakespeare at the Canadian Stage TD Dream in High Park. With a long-standing commitment to education and enhancement programs for the public, nurturing theatre professionals, and developing new Canadian plays, Canadian Stage plays an essential role in bringing thought-provoking theatre and high quality entertainment into the lives of millions in Toronto, one of North America’s largest theatre centres. For more information, refer to www.canstage.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VOLUNTEERING:

Bob McCarthy, Manager of Volunteer Resources and Interns, bobmccarthy@canstage.com or 416-860-4688

Event: 11th annual Mini-Conference on Dramaturgy, LMDA Canada with the Canadian Stage Company

LMDA Canada in association with Canadian Stage Company presents the 11th annual  Mini-Conference on Dramaturgy Wednesday June 24 & Thursday June 25, 2009, 10am-5pm.

Bringing together playwrights and dramaturgs with other members of the Canadian theatre community, the Mini-Conference features two full days devoted to the art of dramaturgy. Don’t miss this exploration of theatre-making through six case study discussions.

Join us for sessions featuring:

• Ansuree Roy (on her award-winning solo plays)
• Judith Thompson (discussing Body & Soul)
• Yvette Nolan (on designing a play development festival, focusing on last season’s Weesageechak Festival)
• Leah Cherniak & Martha Ross (reviewing 25 years of play creation and playwriting with Theatre Columbus)
• Geoff Proehl & DD Kugler (on the dramaturgy of Geoff’s new book about dramaturgy)
• Bruce Barton & Pil Hansen (presenting findings on their recent survey of play development across Canada)

…and others to be announced in early June.

Location: Canadian Stage’s Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley Street, 1 block west of Parliament, south of Front   Street) as part of their Festival of Ideas & Creation.

Admission to the Mini-Conference on Dramaturgy is free, but space is limited.

To book a seat: RSVP to lmda.conference.coordinator@gmail.com

For more information, click on LMDA & Canadian Stage Festival of Ideas & Creation.

Job Posting: Artistic Director, Buddies In Bad Times Theatre

The Artistic Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, providing artistic and executive leadership, and is responsible for the effective administration of the theatre in accordance with the policies of its Board of Directors.

The Artistic Director provides full oversight of organization-wide strategies, including artistic and strategic planning, board governance, financial stability, community engagement, programming, and staff management.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is one of Toronto’s premier theatre companies, and is North America’s largest Queer theatre. In an average season, it produces between four and six mainstage productions, three festivals, and presents the work of local, national, and international performing arts companies. It runs a year-long Queer Youth Arts Programme, a Young Creators unit, a dramaturgy and play development unit, as well as numerous special events.

Buddies is the resident company of the Alexander Street Theatre Project, a City-of-Toronto-owned building and initiative. It has two performance venues: the Chamber, a flexible black-box theatre that seats 150, and Tallulah’s Cabaret, a bar and cabaret space that seats 120, and is host to weekly performance and dance parties that serve Toronto’s vibrant queer communities.

Buddies strives to be the leading alternative, facility-based theatre in Toronto. It is committed to work that challenges the boundaries of theatrical and social convention. The company is committed to theatrical excellence, which it cultivates through its play development programs, strong volunteer base, youth-mentorship initiatives and ever-increasing wealth of Canadian Queer Talent.

These diverse commitments are articulated in the company’s mandate, which is:

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to the promotion of Queer Canadian Culture. We are dedicated to producing, developing, and supporting queer theatrical works that speak to one, or both, of the following criteria:

1.    QUEER, referring to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered identity, encapsulates the core of our organization. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a queer-run organization committed to representing the LGBT community by supporting its artists, and by telling its stories.

2.    QUEER, referring to anything different or outside of the norm, represents the nature of artistic work presented at 12 Alexander Street. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to work that is different, outside the mainstream, challenging in both content and form. (This second definition of Queer is not LGBT-specific.)

The Board of Directors seeks an industry professional with a strong artistic vision for the company, who will be an articulate champion of queer theatre and performance in Toronto, in Canada, and internationally. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic artist and leader who possesses a thorough grounding in theatre creation, performing arts programming, and a strong acumen for facility and personnel management. The Artistic Director will have excellent analytical, financial, and organizational abilities.

Superb oral and written communications skills, political savvy and diplomacy, and the ability to deal humanely and wisely with a broad spectrum of personalities, are also necessary characteristics. We seek a track record in community participation and partnership, a strong commitment to diversity, and experience in managing staff.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, with a diverse and thriving theatre and cultural scene. It boasts world-class theatres, museums, art galleries, and film, theatre, and dance festivals. It has a large, active, and diverse Queer community with a long history of activism, and a diverse array of organizations, and services.

Salary commensurate with experience. Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest, resume, and list of references by Friday, June 19, 2009 in confidence to:

Vasko Kocovski, Board Secretary

By E-mail:
buddiesadsearch@gmail.com

By Mail:
LAKS, KOCOVSKI
Barristers & Solicitors
303-717 Pape Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4K 3S9

For additional information about Buddies in Bad Times Theatre see: www.artsexy.ca

For questions about the AD position, write to: buddiesadsearch@gmail.com

Call for Submissions: Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards

Nominations are open to the public for the GOVERNOR GENERAL’S PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS

Get involved! Nominate someone today for lifetime artistic achievement or voluntarism in the performing arts.

Deadline: June 15, 2009
www.ggpaa.ca

The Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards recognize lifetime artistic achievement in the fields of theatre, dance, classical music, popular music, film, and radio and television broadcasting as well as for voluntarism in the performing arts.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Awards.

All it takes is:

• a nomination form (find it at http://www.ggpaa.ca )
• a strong supporting letter (maximum two pages) and
• a biography of the artist.
• It can then be submitted by email, mail or fax.

Get involved and nominate a deserving Canadian in the performing arts or arts volunteerism to honour their lifelong commitment and contribution to the arts. Or share and distribute this call for nominations to others in your community.

Find out more about who can be nominated, how the nominees are selected and the criteria for recipient selection. Visit www.ggpaa.ca today.

Le public est invité à soumettre une candidature aux Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts de la scène

Impliquez-vous! Soumettez la candidature d’un artiste ou d’un bénévole canadien du domaine des arts de la scène.

Date limite des mises en candidature : le 15 juin 2009
www.pggas.ca

Les PGGAS soulignent l’œuvre de toute une vie d’artistes qui se sont distingués en théâtre, en danse, en musique classique, en musique populaire, en cinéma ou en radiotélédiffusion et d’individus qui se sont consacrés au bénévolat dans les arts de la scène.

Les candidatures sont présentement acceptées pour les PGGAS 2010.

Procédures :

• compléter un formulaire de mise en candidature (disponible à http://www.pggas.ca )
• écrire une lettre passionnée de mise en candidature (deux pages au maximum)
• joindre une biographie de l’artiste
• Vous devez ensuite acheminer les documents par courriel, par la poste ou par télécopieur.

Impliquez-vous et soumettez la candidature d’un artiste ou d’un bénévole canadien du domaine des arts de la scène afin que ses réalisations exceptionnelles et sa contribution soient honorées. Ou encore, partagez et distribuez cet appel de candidatures auprès des membres de votre communauté.

Pour en savoir davantage sur les critères d’admissibilité, le processus de sélection et les critères d’évaluation, consultez le site www.pggas.ca.