Call for Submissions: Under 30 National Playwriting Competition, Tarragon Theatre/RBC Foundation

Since 1970, Tarragon Theatre has been a leader in the development of new Canadian plays, introducing theatre audiences to talented home-grown playwrights, and contributing countless plays to the Canadian canon. As part of our mandate to seek out and nurture new and vital voices, Tarragon Theatre, with the generous support of RBC Foundation, is pleased to announce our inaugural Under 30 National Playwriting Competition. The purpose of this competition is to offer Canadian playwrights under the age of 30 the opportunity to receive financial support to further develop their play, benefit from working with artists skilled in new play development, and gain national recognition for their writing. The winner of this competition will receive a cash award of $3,000, and the opportunity to participate in Tarragon’s annual Play Reading Week in 2009.

All application packages must arrive at Tarragon Theatre by Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 5:00 pm.

Please read the Contest Guidelines carefully. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

CONTEST GUIDELINES

Download The CONTEST GUIDELINE

ENTRY FORM

Download an ENTRY FORM

TAPA Membership: Discount Tickets to Talking Masks, One Little Goat

TAPA members receive major discounts and a FREE copy of the published script* for the Premiere of TALKING MASKS by Adam Seelig. Walmer Centre Theatre, 188 Lowther, Tue-Sat 8pm, running until November 28, 2009 (www.OneLittleGoat.org).

Tickets are only $12 for CAEA members (regular $20); and only $15 in the final week (regular $23). Call 416.915.0201 (no service charge!); or purchase at the theatre before performances. (*Free books while supplies last.)

Starring Richard Harte, Jane Miller, Andrew Moodie, Cathy Murphy. Stage Managed by Wendy Lee. Written & Directed by Adam Seelig.

SYNOPSIS

TALKING MASKS involves a son, two mothers and an absent father who, in exploring the intertwined fates of their family, fuse two of the world’s most enduring myths: the tragedy of Oedipus, and the harrowing tale of half-brothers Isaac and Ishmael. What unfolds is a wild progression of rapid-fire interactions that expose as much as they mask about the “charactors”. The play is written and directed by Adam Seelig, whose “Antigone:Insurgency” was a top production of 2007 in NOW.

Tix and info: 416.915.0201, www.OneLittleGoat.org

Announcement: Sony Centre Announces Senior Marketing Appointments in Preparation for 50th Anniversary Season, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

Dan Brambilla, CEO of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, announced today the addition of Ronni Mandell and Bruce Morrison to the Sony Centre’s Marketing Department.

Ronni Mandell has been appointed Director of Marketing and Communications.  Prior to joining the Sony Centre, Ronni was Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Richard Frankel Productions in New York City, where she was responsible for the marketing campaigns of a variety of Broadway, Off-Broadway and international touring productions including Hairspray, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Young Frankenstein, STOMP, Little Shop of Horrors, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Smokey Joe’s Café, The Fantasticks, The King and I and various other productions.  A native Torontonian, prior to joining Richard Frankel Productions, Ronni directed the marketing for the Toronto productions of STOMP, Forever Plaid and Forever Tango.  She also was responsible for marketing for Roy Thomson Hall and Massey Hall.

Bruce Morrison has been appointed Associate Director – Ticket Sales and Patron Communications.  No stranger to the Sony Centre, Bruce served as Box Office Manager for the Centre in 1993 and 1994.  Since then he has held a variety of positions with Ticketmaster Canada and Concert Productions International, and most recently was Vice President and General Manager of A.K.A. New Media Inc., a Toronto communications and technology company.  Bruce will oversee the Centre’s ticket sales, group sales, and patron communications programs.

“I’m delighted to have Ronni and Bruce join the Sony Centre team,” Brambilla says.  “They bring great depth and a variety of industry experience, and have a passion for establishing the Sony Centre as a theatre of the 21st century.  We are very happy to have such top-notch talent.”

The Sony Centre for the Performing Arts opened on Oct 1, 1960 as the O’Keefe Centre, and will celebrate its 50th Anniversary season starting in October, 2010 after undergoing a year-long renovation and restoration initiative.

Workshop: Masterclass for Directors, Magnetic North Theatre Festival

JUNE 9 – 19, 2010

The Masterclass is open to both mid-career directors and established theatre artists making a transition to directing. Participants will be led and mentored by National Arts Centre Artistic Director Peter Hinton who will guide the nine days of instruction, including a three-day session with a senior Canadian director and a second three-day session led by an acclaimed International Director

The directing sessions will be augmented with a special workshop featuring a professional lighting designer discussing the development of an effective and creative relationship between theatre direction and lighting design.

Applicants must be Equity members in good standing. Each participant’s tuition will be subsidized as part of the Association’s mandate to support high-quality professional development opportunities available to Equity members. Participants will also be provided with artists’ passes to 2010 Magnetic North Theatre events.

The deadline to apply is November 19, 2009. The application from is available on EQUITYONLINE at www.caea.com or email masterclass@caea.com for more information.

Presented by Canadian Actors’ Equity Association in association with the upcoming Magnetic North Theatre Festival in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario

Job Posting: Executive Director, Canadian Dance Assembly

The Canadian Dance Assembly is seeking a full time Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is charged with leading the Canadian Dance Assembly into the next phase of its journey, with its mission, vision and community values as a guide. The scope of responsibility will include oversight of external and community relations, membership services, revenue generation, long range planning and the overall internal operational, financial and administrative responsibility for the organization. The Executive Director will maintain an institutional culture that balances the diversity and richness of the Canadian dance milieu with the efficacy of best business practices, fiscal accountability and institutional impact.

Term: Full time

Compensation: Commensurate with experience

Start Date: No later than 1 April 2010

The Canadian Dance Assembly (CDA) is the national service organization representing the professional dance sector in Canada. Together with its membership of over 360 dance professionals and organizations, CDA advocates for a healthy, sustainable environment in which professional dance practice can grow and thrive. CDA is a reputable source of information on the current state of dance in Canada and provides representation to policy-makers and the public. CDA enables its national membership of dance professionals and organizations to connect with their peers through regular communication, conferences, forums and workshops, and facilitates opportunities for networking, dialogue and exchange on topics relevant to the Canadian dance sector.

Job Description:

Advocacy and Organizational Advancement
Identify stakeholders, develop strategies and define how key messages will be delivered to various individuals, funders and organizations to maximize visibility, brand and earned and contributed revenues. Guide the public image and brand awareness of the organization, clearly articulating its mission, vision, programs and impact, and acting as a primary spokesperson with the Board President and/or the Chair of the Advocacy Committee.

Operational and Strategic Planning and Management
Oversee short-term operational and long-term strategic planning and implementation processes, including the effective mentoring and supervision of the organization’s professional and volunteer human resources, mobilization of technical resources and decision making related to appropriate use of fiscal resources.

Finance
Working in close collaboration with the Board, the Executive Director will be responsible for resource management, including the preparation of government and foundation funding proposals for operations and projects; development of a workable annual budget, monitoring financial activity and cash flow regularly, ensuring ongoing accurate and informative reporting, and making decisions in accordance to financial realities, priorities and risk management contingencies and development of marketing and public relations programs that achieve earned income goals.

Governance
Provide support to best utilize the talents and resources of the Board, stimulate involvement, recruit new members and work closely with the Board to ensure fiscal health and effective governance of the organization.

Traits and Characteristics
The ideal candidate will possess the following traits and characteristics.

• Imagination, vision, leadership and a passion for furthering the artistic and community development of the dance milieu;
• Results oriented leadership with ability to organize and motivate people to accomplish goals while creating a sense of order and strategic direction. The ability to build and sustain collaborative team efforts;
• Broad ability to interact with internal and external stakeholders in a positive manner with superior interpersonal, verbal and written presentation abilities;
• Strong reading, writing and verbal skills in English, with a competency in communicating verbally in French;
• An undergraduate degree or commensurate professional experience.
• Sensitivity to the diverse constituencies and the complexity of the dance community, with the depth of knowledge to make appropriate, effective and tactical decisions within this context;
• Ability to distil ideas, clarify issues and think strategically with pragmatic knowledge and a hands on approach to accomplishing goals and objectives;
• Good organizational and administrative skills with the ability to plan, set goals and objectives and follow through;
• Senior level management experience, including an excellent knowledge of fiscal management, with strong skills in technology, organizational image building, marketing, external relations, revenue generation;
• Integrity and fairness with the highest ethical standards.
• A dedication and interest in the arts.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter by 31 December 2009 to:
Search Committee
Canadian Dance Assembly
55 Mill Street, Suite 312, Case Goods Building
Toronto, ON M5A 2C3
Fax: 416-515-9444
Email: info@dancecanada.net

Submissions accepted via post, fax or email (in Word or PDF format only). No phone calls please.

Job Posting: Media Assistant, Stratford Shakespeare Festival

Reporting to the Media Manager this position will assist the Media Manager with all administration duties relating to the Media department, including scheduling interviews and monitoring media coverage of the Festival. The Media Assistant will maintain and update databases, gather and edit bios for the Acting Company and Artistic staff, maintain biography files (including securing updated headshots), facilitate photo approvals for all Festival publications, monitor, compile and distribute media clippings and undertake other projects, including writing for Festival publications and pitching story ideas to the media. Proofreading and editing skills are an asset. This is an ideal position for an arts graduate with a Public Relations Diploma or equivalent.

It is essential that you have superb written, verbal and interpersonal skills; are a self-starter with initiative and the ability to effectively coordinate multiple assignments and projects, demonstrate the ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines and handle multiple projects; ability to use basic computer programs and update databases (word processing, Excel). Familiarity with or an interest in theatre or the arts is essential.

This is a full time position. Evening and weekend work will be required.

Apply by December 15, 2009 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.

Job Posting: General Manager, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre

The School of Toronto Dance Theatre has an opening for a General Manager. This full-time, permanent position, commencing as soon as available after January 4, 2010, is the senior administrative post at the School. The School offers a variety of training programs for professional and recreational dancers of all ages from its studio/office space in the Cabbagetown area of Toronto and operates with an annual budget of approximately $700,000.00.

Working collaboratively with the Artistic Director and directly accountable to the Board of Directors, the General Manager will be responsible for overseeing the administrative function of all programs at the School on a day-to-day basis. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Writing and presenting funding requests for both public and private sector funders, and maintaining strong relationships with these bodies;
• Administering the School’s finances, from preparation of budgets and cashflow projections through bookkeeping and managements of accounts payable and receivable;
• Overseeing development and implementation of plans related to marketing, publicity, and public relations for all programs and events of the School;
• Developing and managing appropriate human resources policies and procedures, including supervision and training of administrative staff;
• Acting as the School’s registrar in matters related to the Private Career Colleges Act and provincial and federal loan plans for students;
• Acting as the administrative liaison with Toronto Dance Theatre on matters of building policy and management;
• Attending meetings of the Board of Directors and serving as the primary liaison between the Board and the School’s staff; and
• Contributing to the School’s day-to-day operation as part of our administrative team.

The successful applicant will be a visionary individual, capable of supporting the current programs of the School through long-term growth. They will possess:

• Significant senior-level experience in arts administration, including, where possible, management of a performing arts company or school;
• Financial experience, including work with the development of budgets;
• Experience in grant writing and/or fundraising;
• An ability to work independently;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; and
• An ability to provide leadership to a dynamic staff team, combining both authority to achieve the needs of the School and a respect for the contribution of other team members.

The following qualifications would also be considered significant assets, though individuals without this background are still encouraged to apply:

• Professional experience as a dance artist or an artist in a performing arts medium;
• Familiarity with the legislation related to the administration of a Private Career College and/or government student loan programs; and
• A knowledge of French.

The School offers a positive work environment, a salary range in line with other mid-sized arts organizations, and a full benefits package.

Individuals interested in applying should forward their résumé with a cover letter, including references, to:
General Manager Search Committee
The School of Toronto Dance Theatre,
80 Winchester Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1B2
fax: 416-967-4379; gmsearch@schooloftdt.org

Individuals applying by e-mail should use “Job Posting – General Manager” as the subject heading of the e-mail.

Deadline for applications: November 30, 2009.

Announcement: Artscape Triangle Lofts Nearly Sold Out, Artscape

ARTSCAPE TRIANGLE LOFTS Nearly Sold Out! Affordable. For The Arts. Forever.  ONLY 5 UNITS LEFT Register Today For Your Chance To Live in the Heart of the Arts

Appointments available now for artists and non-profit arts professionals www.artscapetrianglelofts.ca

Artscape Triangle Lofts – a new condominium development of 70 units created with the specific purpose of preserving vital artist work and living space in the Queen West Triangle neighbourhood. Scheduled for occupancy in Summer 2010, a limited number of these live/work units are still available at substantially below-market rates.

QUALIFICATION PROCESS
In order to purchase at Artscape Triangle Lofts, you must qualify as an artist or non-profit arts professional as determined by the Artscape Artist Advisory Committee. During your online registration you will be asked to submit your artist CV or non-profit arts professional resume and a Letter of Intent, describing how you intend to use your space, to determine your status as a artist and/or non-profit arts professional. Please see Artscape’s Qualifier for Artists and Non-Profit Arts Professionals for more detailed information.

THE BENEFITS

• Below-market ownership: substantially lower monthly carrying costs compared to other new-build loft condominiums in Toronto
• Occupancy scheduled for Summer 2010
• Artscape requires only 5% deposit at the time of purchase
• Purchasers may complete the purchase of their unit by paying 75% of the purchase price and giving Artscape a payment-free second mortgage (the Artscape Mortgage) worth 25% of the purchase price (see our Finance Centre section for more information on the Artscape Mortgage)
• Conventional first mortgages for 70% of the purchase price are available for qualified purchasers from many sources, including from Creative Arts Savings & Credit Union at competitive rates
• Exclusive to artists and non-profit arts professionals

LOCATION
Located at Sudbury and Abell Streets Artscape Triangle Lofts is situated in the heart of the arts: close to The Theatre Centre, Gladstone Hotel, Drake Hotel, The Great Hall, Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) and the largest concentration of art galleries in Toronto.

Full information on Artscape Triangle Lofts is available at www.artscapetrianglelofts.ca

Job Posting: Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Opera Hamilton

 

Opera Hamilton invites applications for the position of Executive Director.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director is the Chief Operating Officer of Opera Hamilton.  He/she will assume leadership of the day-to-day administrative operations of the company, overseeing the company budget, and seeking and managing the revenues necessary to assure a sound financial base.

Since its inception in 1980 Opera Hamilton has established itself as a strong artistic presence within the Hamilton community and its surrounding area.  Its 2009/10 30^th anniversary season includes DIE FLEDERMAUS and LA BOHEME,a POPERA PLUS Gala, the annual school tour, as well as many other educational activities, and a number of special celebratory events.

In 2007/08 the company made the very difficult but necessary decision to abridge its season in favor of focusing on the financial challenges facing the organization.  Since the Fall of 2007 Opera Hamilton has retired more than $1.5 million of debt and has completely re-organized its operations.  Extraordinary funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the Ontario Ministry of Culture has facilitated the repositioning of Opera Hamilton in the community.

This funding, plus the generosity of the company’s audience, contributors, business and artistic partners, corporations, foundations, and government has made it possible for Opera Hamilton to overcome enormous financial obstacles and to move forward in a stable and sustainable manner with new strategic and business plans.  The new Executive Director is a key player in Opera Hamilton’s future progress, working closely with General Director David Speers.

The successful candidate will have experience in the areas of financial management, strategic planning, staff/board development, and have a proven track record in seeking earned and contributed revenues (including subscriptions, corporate sponsorships, grantsmanship, individual contributions, and special events).

Fund-raising would be a shared responsibility with the General Director who has a key role as an ambassador and advocate for Opera Hamilton in the community.

Major areas of responsibility include finance, recruiting and supervising administrative personnel, carrying out the long-range plan, board liaison, and income generation.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with experience in not-for-profit cultural management, preferably opera; excellent analytical, financial and organizational skills; prowess in both written and oral communication; a knowledge of opera production and repertoire, as well as track record in responsible fiscal stewardship and good board relations.  Political savvy and the ability to deal humanely with a broad spectrum of personalities would be essential characteristics.

Training in not for profit management/arts administration or finance would be helpful.  Preference would be given to qualified Canadian applicants.

Salary commensurate with experience.  Please send resume and cover letter with salary requirements and a list of references by Tuesday, January 5, 2010 to:

 

Margaret Genovese

Senior Partner

Genovese, Vanderhoof & Associates

77 Carlton Street, Suite 1103

Toronto, ON

Canada M5B 2J7

gvasearch@gmail.com

For additional information: www.operahamilton.ca; www.genovesevanderhoof.com.

 

TAPA Membership: $20 Artsworker Tickets to NO EXIT, Nightwood Theatre

$20 ARTSWORKER TICKETS available for a live-cinematic interpretation of JEAN-PAUL SARTRE’S masterpiece

NO EXIT

Nightwood Theatre presents the Virtual Stage and Electric Company Theatre Production.

Nov 11 – 21 | Buddies In Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON

Don’t miss this innovative, daring and award-winning show from Vancouver’s Kim Collier in her Toronto debut.  Here for only 9 days, this production promises to blow you away.  CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO TRAILER

For tickets call 416-955-0101 or book online the Nightwood Theatre website.  Same-day tickets are available at the Buddies box office.