Announcement: Ravi Jain Receives $10,000 Urjo Kareda Residency Grant For An Emerging Artist, Tarragon Theatre

Tarragon Theatre is pleased to announce that the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant, with a value of $10,000, has been awarded to actor, director and teacher Ravi Jain. The grant is made possible by an annual donation from the Youssef-Warren Foundation for an emerging professional theatre artist who has spent between two and five years in his or her chosen field and who has demonstrated a strong interest in and potential for working in theatre. Beginning in September 2009, Ravi will spend twenty weeks at the Tarragon working in collaboration with staff and artists to strengthen his skills as a director working with new plays as well as developing his own project focused on strengthening the quality of his own writing.

Ravi is artistic director of Why Not Theatre. He works as an actor, director and teacher internationally. Toronto credits include: Brimful of Asha, TOOLS, SPENT (in collaboration with Adam Paolozza, Dean Gilmour and Michelle Smith). Direction: The Prince Hamlet, I’m So Close Its Not Even Funny and Streetscape: Living Space (Commissioned by the Luminato Festival) and assistant to Daniel Brooks on Hardsell. Associate Producing credits: Wrecking Ball, Dishoom! Festival, Fringe Charettes, international workshops with Anne Bogart and SITI Company and Complicite. Ravi is the Community Arts Associate at Canadian Stage Company and directing the inaugural young company.

Why Not Theatre is in residence at the Theatre Centre where their current show, I’m So Close its not even funny will be presented as part of Free Fall, Harbourfront’s World Stage and Vancouver’s Tremors Festival in 2010.

Ravi is a graduate of Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Training includes: workshops with Anne Bogart and the SITI Company, various members of Theatre De Complicite and with Arianne Mnouchkine and Theatre du Soleil in Paris.

Ravi received a nomination for the Ontario Arts Council’s John Hirsch award for emerging director.

Tarragon congratulates Ravi Jain on the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant and acknowledges the generosity of the Youssef-Warren Foundation which made the residency possible.

Workshop: Personal Publicity, The Shehori Brothers

A brand new seminar from the award-winning publicists of the Second City, the 2009 SCTV reunion, 30 Rock’s Judah Friedlander and the Canadian Comedy Awards…

Personal Publicity
The Shehori Brothers show everything you’ll need to know to promote your shows, events,
and your career like a professional publicist

Sunday, June 28th, 10am to 5pm
The Mainstage Theatre of the Second City
51 Mercer St. at Blue Jays Way, next to Wayne Gretzky’s

Registration $185+GST (Total: $194.25). You can register 3 ways:
In person: The Second City Training Centre Office, 70 Peter Street, Lower Level, Toronto, ON
Online: https://secure.secondcity.com/forms/toronto_tc.php. Type ‘Personal Publicity’ in the field that asks ‘Class You’d Like To Enroll In’
By phone during EST business hours: 416-340-7270 or 1-888-340-7270
Other questions? Simply go to www.sweatequity.ca

**Full money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the value of this seminar**

Hiring a publicist for even one event will cost between several hundred and a couple of thousand dollars– with no guarantees whatsoever. This seminar will give you literally all the tools you need to do the job yourself and get the results you’re looking for.

The Shehori Brothers will, in plain and simple terms, share their proven publicity methods and secrets on how to obtain significant media attention for yourself and your endeavors. In addition, they’ll  teach you to think about your career in a new way that will move you quickly and confidently towards your goals.

Whether you are a comedian, an actor, a musician, or an entertainment producer/promoter of any genre, the methods taught by the Shehori Brothers will work for you. This seminar will show that not only do you not need to hire a publicist, but why it’s in your best interest to do it yourself.

Here’s what this seminar will do for you:

• Increase your media profile in Toronto, Canada , the U.S., or anywhere you choose to work
• Help you get an agent, or help your current agent get you more work
• Help you get into comedy, theatre, TV and music festivals
• Help you book corporate work
• Help you get a U.S. Work Visa
• Help you get government grants

With this seminar, you will learn how to:

• Write a captivating press release that stands out from the rest, and avoid the mistakes others make
• Create a unique, eye-catching press kit, and know where & when to send it
• Make your show stand out and appear attractive to newspapers, radio, TV and web sites
• Establish solid long-term relationships with the media
• Start up your very own publicity company (it’s cool – the brothers don’t mind some competition!)

PLUS: Everyone in attendance will receive a copy of the Sweat Equity Publicity booklet, which includes:

• Entertainment media list (over 250 media contacts & e-mail addresses)
• Numerous sample press releases & templates
• Sample posters
• Key Industry contacts for photography, poster services, videographers, graphic designers, etc…
• Info on how to contact the Shehori Brothers directly for free follow-up questions

“The Shehori Brothers are highly respected in the industry as publicists & writers/producers of live theatre and television. And in addition to working with established artists, they take a lot of time to help up-and-comers with their careers.  Besides being talented, they’re generous as well, which I find a rare combination in this business.”
Richard Ouzounian – Theatre Critic: The Toronto Star & Variety

“The Shehori brothers are tireless, knowledgeable and above all universally respected in the Canadian entertainment industry. Having them in your corner gives you a lot better chance of surviving the ridiculously tough battle that is Canadian show business.”
Steve Patterson – Host of CBC’S The Debaters

“Daniel and Steven Shehori have the business and art of comedy in their blood. They are devoted advocates of young aspiring comedians, writers and actors, and they have the innate ability to understand what it takes to promote, produce and develop a career in the entertainment biz. They have done an extraordinary job publicizing the Second City and the 8-year run of the Tim Sims Theatre.”
Andrew Alexander – Proprietor & Executive Producer of the Second City

“Over the past 5 years the Canadian Comedy Awards has had the pleasure of working with Daniel and Steven Shehori. From assisting in PR and media launches to the planning of live events, and of course serving on committees due to their reputation as top-flight live show producers and comedy writers; working with them has not only been professionally rewarding but a great experience.”
Tim Progosh – Founder: The Canadian Comedy Awards

“Daniel and Steven have an exceptional grasp of the industry and have always steered my company in the right direction. I’ve had the Shehoris work on a number of productions for me, including shows for Louis C.K. (which was voted top show in Toronto in 2008), as well Paula Poundstone and Debra Digiovanni. They are the link between selling out and not.”
Jake Labow – Jake Labow Productions

Workshop: 11th annual Mini-Conference on Dramaturgy, LMDA Canada in association with 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, go to www.lmda.org

Internship: Marketing, Publicity and Box Office Intern, Nightwood Theatre

The Marketing/Publicity/Box Office Intern is an active member of Nightwood’s team and provides support to the Director of Marketing and Audience Development. The Intern will learn in a very hands-on environment how a communications and sales department in a not-for-profit performing arts organization functions. The Marketing/Publicity/Box Office Intern will participate in the many varied stages and tasks that comprise the communication and sales behind a season of performances at Nightwood Theatre.

The Intern’s work week will be divided between the following areas:

Marketing:

• Research – outreach, promotional opportunities, new groups
• Assist with group events (set up for event, liaise with key contacts, being an ambassador for Nightwood)
• Assist with all aspects of passholder program
• Assist with School sales
• Assist with the circulation/distribution of marketing materials i.e. posters, season brochures etc.
• Assist with proof reading and circulation of various marketing/promotional material for approval
• Assist in updating and maintaining promotions binders
• Misc. administrative duties i.e. faxing, mailing, couriering, filing, photocopying
• Collect materials for storage in Archives
• Database entry and upkeep

Publicity:

• Research – online, print publications, for new sources
• Mount, format, copy and post clippings
• Track upcoming coverage
• Assemble and collate media kits, print and photocopy articles
• Assist with updating and maintaining publicity binders
• Assist with research and updates of PR database
• Miscellaneous administrative duties i.e. couriering, mailing, photocopying

Box Office:

• Supports box office staff as needed
• Knowledge of all show times, ticket prices, special price promotions, complimentary ticket protocol, etc
• Answers incoming Box Office calls for ticket orders and general inquiries
• Assists box office staff by processing ticket sales over the internet and phone in times of high volume
• Captures accurate data for all subscribers including full names, addresses, phone numbers
• Possibility of some evening work required

Requirements:

• Post secondary education in related field an asset
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, written communication and administrative skills
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team with minimal supervision
• Ability to support several projects at one time
• Strong computer skills
• Web research, computer skills such as excel, word
• Strong communication skills (phone, email, etc)
• Basic database entry skills

SKILLS DEVELOPED:
All of the above plus learn about theatre marketing, outreach and audience development (great transferable skills that can be used in any area of the arts)

Additional Information:
Qualified candidates should e-mail resume and two references to rebecca@nightwoodtheatre.net by July 17, 2009

TIMELINE: 3 ½ months P/T starting August 17, 2009
(August to end of November, 2 days/week. May go up to 3 days/week in
October).

Job Posting: Two Part-Time Box Office Representatives for 4×4 Festival, Nightwood Theatre

Nightwood Theatre, Canada’s National Women’s Theatre, is seeking two part-time Box Office Representatives for its 4×4 festival. Both positions are part-time to cover a 52 hour week for 13 weeks, running from the beginning of September through to the end of November 2009. There will be a training day in late August. Box Office staff report to Nightwood Theatre’s Director of Marketing and Audience Development.

Duties are as follows:

Single Ticket Sales:

• Answers incoming Box Office calls for ticket orders and general inquiries
• Process phone and online ticket orders
• Keep accurate record of sales
• Captures accurate marketing data – names, addresses, source
• Handles ticket exchanges and returns
• Assists in solving complaints, upholding the company’s reputation for excellent customer service
• Responsible for sending final sales report for next day performances to partner venues

Festival Passes, Group and School Sales:

• Processes internet, phone and mail orders in a timely manner
• Captures accurate data for all subscribers, group and school orders including full names, addresses, phone numbers, email address
• Ships passes, group and school order tickets and booking receipt to purchaser on a daily basis

Other Responsibilities:

• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately to the other box office staff
• Reports any concerns or problems to the Director of Marketing
• Assists as required with other Box Office work
• Assists other departments as required (time permitting)
• Participates in staff meetings when required

Experience and Skills required:

• At least one year experience as box office rep, preference given to those familiar with TixHub software
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Ability to keep calm and collected in a hectic festival environment
• Computer skills such as excel, word and database entry skills
• Strong communication skills (phone, email, etc)

Additional knowledge in these areas are an asset:

• Familiarity with festivals and/or event organization
• Familiarity with the theatre industry

Benefits will include:

• Access to all Festival events and productions as well as special industry events

Salary: $12.00/hour

Application:
Interested candidates should email a current résumé and cover letter along with two references on or before July 17, 2009 to rebecca@nightwoodtheatre.net

Nightwood wishes to thank all those that apply, however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

Internship: Website and Communications Intern, ArtsBuild Ontario

• Initial 9-week paid contract offered, with possibility of extension
• Toronto based, 5 days a week, from 9 am – 5 pm (flexible)
• Closing date for applications:  June 24, 2009
• Start date:  July 6, 2009

Overview

Are you passionate about arts, business and communications? Do you believe in the power of communication to make a difference? Do you take an active interest in ways of communicating important messages to organizations, governments and business and are you up to speed with developments in new media? If so, read on.

ArtsBuild Ontario is looking for a website and communications intern to help develop communications tools for our constituency.  This will involve expanding and updating the ArtsBuild Ontario website, designing and writing the next ArtsBuild newsletter and updating the contact database to facilitate ArtsBuild’s communications program and the 2009 survey of facilities needs that will be conducted in September.

Your creativity will be constantly in demand, as will your organizational skills, enthusiasm and self-motivation. This is a paid position.

Key Responsibilities

• Research and recommend a plan for updating the website, including new pages and recommended content.
• Help to write new content and manage the website – including uploading materials, checking content, monitoring data on hits and downloads
• Support our organization’s leadership and those we seek to reach to think creatively about how to use media and communications to influence our audiences
• Help to construct and maintain a constituency contacts database
• Other admin and support jobs as necessary

Experience / Skills

• Ideally educated to degree level (recent graduates or current students welcome)
• Knowledge of website development
• Excellent communications skills, especially written
• Familiarity with online media and social networking
• Web writing and editing experience a bonus
• Fluent in English.
• Confidence, willingness to learn
• Creativity, tenacity and ability to work with a high degree of independence

To Apply
Send your CV and a covering letter to Adele Dobkowski, Executive Director at adele@artsbuildontario.ca

Call for Submissions: Facility Operator of the Arts and Cultural Centre at Regent Park, Toronto Community Housing

Unique Opportunity -Operate Toronto’s newest Arts and Cultural Centre

The Regent Park Neighbourhood is being revitalized through a 12-15 year multiphased process that involves creating a mixed-use, mixed-income community of approximately 5,500 units of new condominium and rental housing, along with a blend of retail and community facilities.

Many community-building opportunities are being leveraged through the Revitalization initiative and the development of an Arts and Cultural Centre has been a major objective since the inception of the revitalization plan. Now, Toronto Community Housing and its development partner, The Daniels
Corporation, are pursuing the creation of a purpose-built 50,000 square foot Arts and Cultural Centre that will serve Regent Park and the broader Toronto community.

The Centre will be a showcase for artistic talent, an incubator of creative people and organizations, a workshop for new artistic creations, and the social heart of the Regent Park neighbourhood with particular focus on supporting local and grass-roots arts groups operating in Regent Park.
Toronto Community Housing and The Daniels Corporation are looking for an innovative, engaged Facility Operator to be part of this opportunity.

For more information on the Request for Proposals for a Facility Operator of the Arts and Cultural Centre at Regent Park, please download a copy of the Request for Proposals

Proposals are due July 9, 2009.

We thank you for your interest and urge you to forward this information to groups and individuals who might be interested in this unique and exciting opportunity.

Call for Submissions: 2009 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards, Toronto Arts Council Foundation

Toronto Arts Council Foundation Now Accepting Nominations for 2009 Awards Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards which celebrate artists, cultural professionals and arts supporters from every creative discipline who have made significant contributions to Toronto’s artistic and cultural life.  Nomination forms, criteria and awards adjudication policies for the 2009 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards are available here.  The 2009 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards are:

Arts for Youth Award – a $15,000 cash prize established in 2007 by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck and Jim Pitblado, this award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto youth in the arts

The Globe and Mail Toronto Business for the Arts Award – recognizes a Toronto-based business that has made a significant contribution to the arts in Toronto. Established in 2006, this award is presented in partnership with Business for the Arts. The recipient will receive an original work of art created by Nobuo Kubota

RBC Emerging Artist Award – a $5,000 cash prize presented to an emerging Toronto artist working in any medium or performing arts discipline in celebration of current accomplishments and future potential. Established in 2006 by RBC Foundation, this award is intended to support the development or completion of new work.

Muriel Sherrin Award for International Achievement in Dance – a $10,000 cash prize presented to an artist or creator who has made a contribution to the cultural life of Toronto through outstanding achievement in dance. The recipient will also have participated in international initiatives, including touring, studying abroad and participating in artist exchanges.

Rita Davies Cultural Leadership Award – a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Margo Bindhardt and Toronto Arts Council Foundation. This award is presented biennially to an individual who has demonstrated creative cultural leadership in the development of arts and culture in Toronto. Administrators, volunteers, artists and creators are eligible for consideration

Winners of the 2009 Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards will be announced on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Mayor’s Arts Awards Lunch.

Email submissions only please. The deadline for nominations is Friday, July 17, 2009 at 5 pm.

Call for Submissions: Weesageechak 22, Harvest Program and Young Voices, Native Earth Performing Arts

Applicants can apply to more than one program!

1 – weesageechak 22
Native Earth Performing Arts is seeking submissions for its 22nd annual festival of new works by Native artists. Weesageechak Begins to Dance is a festival devoted to showcasing and developing new works of Aboriginal theatre and dance. Next season, the Festival is scheduled for January 2010.

Each selected piece will receive dramaturgical/directorial support, a workshop and public showing. Out-of-town creators will receive travel expenses and per diems. To be eligible, creators must be available to attend the festival.

All submissions and support material will be read and reviewed by the reading committee. The Weesageechak Festival is open to Aboriginal creators from across the country.  We are particularly interested in new work that examines contemporary Native challenges and experiences.

Please mail or e-mail:

• A completed script or script excerpt for work-in-progress (single-sided, unbound)
• A description of the work or work-in-progress
• Videotape support material  (for dance/movement)
• Your contact information (address, telephone/fax/e-mail)
• A letter outlining your piece’s developmental history and describing what you would like to accomplish if selected for the Festival
• A self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your material returned

To: Yvette Nolan, Artistic Director, Native Earth Performing Arts, 55 Mill Street, Building #74, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Deadline for submission:  July 1, 2009
For more information, please contact Native Earth 416.531.1402 or office@nativeearth.ca

2 – Harvest Program
Funded by RBC Foundation
As the first peoples of this land, we have always had a strong commitment to honour the earth and preserve it. The Harvest Project commissions emerging Aboriginal creators from within our Young Voices Program and across the country to create new work that will focus on the environment. Each young artist will be given the parameters of writing their play based on issues in the environment that concern them. Ultimately the project will result in between six and twelve new works by emerging Aboriginal artists. These works will be disseminated to selected theatre presenting partners for consideration in their future programming.

Are you an emerging writer who wants to reap the benefits of this program? Please mail or e-mail:

• A cover letter out lining your reasons for interest in the Harvest Project.
• Your contact information (address, telephone/fax/e-mail)
• A short bio about your work as an artist. Remember: Emerging and established artists are welcome to apply.
• A proposal of your project and what you would like to achieve.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope if you want your material returned

To: Yvette Nolan, Artistic Director, Native Earth Performing Arts, 55 Mill Street, Building #74, Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Deadline for submission:  July 1, 2009
For more information, please contact Native Earth 416.531.1402 or office@nativeearth.ca

3 – young voices
Ready to test drive your ideas? Apply to the Young Voices Program.

Not for the faint of heart, this program is made for the brave few who have a performance piece that they want to see onstage. Now in its fifth year, the Young Voices Program gives a group of First Nations youth the chance to develop their new work with established performing arts professionals through workshops and writing sessions. Endeavouring to help youth create a viable career in the arts, Young Voices culminates in a public reading at the annual Weesageechak Festival. The program has been so successful that past participants have gone onto mainstage productions at Native Earth and other theatre companies.

Got a play that’s been on the shelf? Want to hear it read? Working on something new? Want to learn alongside established professionals? Be a part of the 5th Young Voices Unit! Call us at 416.531.1402 to find out how.

Not in Toronto?  No problem.

How does Distance Dramaturgy work?
Participants in Native Earth’s Distance Dramaturgy Program will be paired with an appropriate dramaturg, with whom they will work on their plays over a period of approximately six months.

The two have an initial phone conversation about expectations and desires for the script, after which they can set a schedule of work.  Usually, there will be three sessions of notes and rewrites on a script.  These sessions will often be by e-mail, though the dramaturg and playwright may choose to use Skype, iChat, snail mail, or telephone as well.

Email us at office@nativeearth.ca or call at 416.531.1402 to find out how.

Job Posting: Managing Director-English Theatre, The National Arts Centre

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Peter Hinton, you will play an integral role in contributing to the building of a powerful and inspirational Theatre Company for Canada. The appropriate candidate should be well known to Canadian English Theatre Communities, bring an in depth knowledge of the Canadian theatre landscape,  including Canadian dramatic works and key artists and above all demonstrate a real passion for the vision of a national theatre.

Experience in producing and presenting theatre, touring, sound financial management and accounting skills, knowledge of theatre sector collective agreements, experience as a Managing are the necessary prerequisites for this position. You are invited to visit our website for more details about this exciting opportunity with Canada’s National Arts Centre:

www.NAC-CNA.com

Comprehensive medical and leave benefits and membership within the Superannuation pension plan are included. Annual salary is commensurate with education and work experience.