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Shows Opening
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"The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster." – Oscar Wilde

What's New at TA

ARTSTREK DATES CORRECTION NOTICE!

The dates for Artstrek 2010 have changed since the publication of Theatre Alberta's Playbill Calendar. The correct dates are as follows:

July 4 - 10 (Exploration I) and July 11 - 18 (Exploration II)

The Artstrek web page and online Playbill calendar have been updated for your information. We apologize for any confusion.

THEATRE ALBERTA IS HIRING!

PART-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Theatre Alberta is seeking a creative and dynamic individual to take on the role of Program Coordinator. This is a flexible, part-time position (21 hours per week). The ideal candidate will have strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. Duties include the coordination of Theatre Alberta's annual Emerge program, Safe Stages, and the publication of this monthly e-newsletter, Theatre Buzz. A solid connection to the arts community is an asset. Send us your employment resume and a cover letter stating your interest.

Application deadline: February 12, 2010

HEAR YE! HEAR YE! 2010 ARTSTREK SUPERVISORS NEEDED!

Have you attended Artstrek in the past and would you like to return as a supervisor? Theatre Alberta is seeking individuals with strong leadership abilities, excellent interpersonal skills, and previous Artstrek experience. Applicants must have been away from the program for at least one year and be between 19 and 25 years of age.

To apply, send Theatre Alberta your theatre and employment resume(s), cover letter, and headshot/photo. Please note: limited positions are available. More >

Application deadline: March 26, 2010

AVAILABLE: 1 SUMMER POSITION FOR ARTSTREK 2010 REGISTRAR!

Each year at Theatre Alberta, one die-hard theatre devotee processes Artstrek applications from all over the province.

The ideal candidate for this position will have the ability to work under pressure, have first-hand experience with the Artstrek program, be familiar with Mac computers, show attention to detail, and possess a high degree of accuracy in all their work.

Interested individuals must be available to work onsite at Artstrek (Red Deer College) from June 30 until July 4 inclusive. The remainder of the employment period will be at Theatre Alberta’s office in Edmonton.

This position offers 13 to 14 weeks of full time employment. Preference will be given to full time, post-secondary student applicants.

Think you got what it takes to be a Regi-star? Send us your employment resume and a cover letter stating your interest.

Application deadline is March 26, 2010

LIBRARIAN'S TIP

February 21-27, 2010 is Freedom to Read Week

Did you know, that we have several plays that have been challenged and/or banned in our library collection, including Le Tartuffe, Angels in America, The Merchant of Venice, and The Laramie Project?

Freedom to Read Week provides an opportunity for Canadians to focus on issues of intellectual freedom as they affect our community, our province, our country, and countries around the world.

You can help mark this annual event by:

Reading a banned book  

Freeing a challenged book 

Attending an event in your community  

CELEBRATE FREADOM!

LIBRARY HOURS

Please note that the library will be closed and the book drop unavailable February 13th - 15th, 2010, for Family Day.  

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Theatre News

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF ARTSTREK AND DRAMAWORKS!

2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Alberta's summer theatre programs, beginning as the Olds Drama Seminar in 1960, changing in 1965 to the Drumheller Summer Drama School, and finally becoming ArtsTrek in 1982, in Grand Prairie, Vermillion and then Red Deer. Adult ArtsTrek became Dramaworks in 1986 when it moved to Edmonton.

To celebrate this anniversary, Theatre Alberta is reaching out to alumni, staff, and instructors from all incarnations of the program. Share your memories and photographs at our Facebook groups (Artstrek 50th Anniversary and Dramaworks 50th Anniversary), or by emailing artstrek50@theatrealberta.com.

Send us your name, address and which years you were involved and we'll enter you into the database of our 50 year history, and send you an invitation to the official celebrations in Red Deer and Edmonton this summer.

You can also share the gift of Artstrek with a new generation by contributing to our new scholarship fund, intended to help students who might not otherwise be able to attend. Donate $50 in honour of 50 years, or whatever you can afford. We're hoping to have the funds matched by the province, so every little bit helps! Cheques can be made out to Theatre Alberta with "Artstrek Scholarship" in the subject line. Unfortunately tax receipts are not available as we are still working on receiving charitable status from Revenue Canada.

Please contact Paul Morgan Donald for more information.

HRSDC OPENS EI SPECIAL BENEFITS TO THE SELF-EMPLOYED

In a press release issued just before Christmas, the federal government announced that Royal Assent has been given to the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act. This is legislation that the cultural sector has been pressing for, for many years.

Self-employed Canadians will be able to voluntarily opt into the Employment Insurance (EI) program effective January 31, 2010, in order to take advantage of the EI special benefits. "Special benefits provided to self-employed individuals will mirror those currently available to salaried employees under the EI program."

Regulations are still being written, but the commitment has been made and the option for the self-employed to access a social security net as do employees will soon be in place. As of January 31, 2010, it will be possible to register with the EI program through the Service Canada website. More >

MINISTER OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT SEEKS FEEDBACK FROM ARTS STAKEHOLDERS

The Minister of Culture and Community Spirit, Honourable Lindsay Blackett, is meeting with Nonprofit/Voluntary Sector and Arts Sector organizations in six Alberta communities. So far the Minister has met with representatives of these sectors in Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge and Calgary. Sessions will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer in the coming weeks. The purpose of the dialogue is to identify challenges and opportunities for government and both sectors to work better together to help support healthy and vibrant communities. Albertans who are unable to attend these meetings are welcome to participate in an online dialogue that is now posted online at www.culture.alberta.ca and www.affta.ab.ca.

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Shows Opening

February 3 - March 2

Full Playbill

CALGARY

Enbridge playRites Festival of New Canadian Plays
Feb 3 - Mar 7, Alberta Theatre Projects More >

Musical Theatre Showcase 2010
Feb 3 – 5, The Playhouse North School Of Theatre More >

Bone Cage
Feb 4 – 13, Downstage More >

Brighton Beach Memoirs
Feb 4 – 12, Mount Royal College  More >

Closer
Feb 5 - 7, Feb 9 – 13, (Parenthesis) Company More >

Jewel
Feb 6 – 8, Feb 12 – 14, Attic Players attic.players@gmail.com

China
Feb 9 – 13, Theatre Junction Grand  More >

The Daily Mischief: Haunted Summer
Feb 10 – 15, Calgary Young People's Theatre More >

The Revenge of the Space Pandas
Feb 13 – 27, Storybook Theatre Society More>

The Valentine's Day Massacre: Comic Mystery
Feb 13 & 26, Pegasus Performances More >

The Highest Step in the World
Feb 16 - Mar 6, Ghost River Theatre with Alberta Theatre Projects More >

The Humorous Magistrate
Feb 16 – 27, University Of Calgary - Faculty Of Fine Arts More >

Beyond Eden
Feb 16 - Mar 7, Theatre Calgary with The Playhouse Theatre Company (Vancouver) More >

Roadkill
Feb 17 – 22, Theatre Junction Grand More >

The Glass Menagerie
Feb 17 – 20, Centre Stage Theatre Company More >

Italian American Reconciliation
Feb 24 - Mar 6, Rogues Theatre More >

Everyman
Feb 25 - 27, Mar 2 - 6, Theatre Encounter More >

EDMONTON

I'll Show Ya Crazy!
Feb 2 – 7, Break the Wall Productions More >

Spine
Feb 4 – 13, University Of Alberta, Studio Theatre with Realwheels (Vancouver) More >

L'homme du hasard
Feb 4 – 14, L'uniThéâtre More >

The Tortoise And The Hare
Feb 5 – 14, Fringe Theatre Adventures/Promise Productions More >

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Feb 6 - Mar 7, Citadel Theatre More >

Pirates of Penzance
Feb 6, 9 & 11, Edmonton Opera More >

Beautiful Thing
Feb 10 – 20, Walterdale Theatre Associates More >

i google myself
Feb 11 – 21, Northern Light Theatre More >

The Early Bloomer
Feb 12 – 13, Concrete Theatre More >

Nevermore, The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe
Feb 13 – 21, Catalyst Theatre More >

Athabasca’s Going Unmanned
Feb 17 – 19, University of Alberta/Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation More >

Fly by Night
Feb 19 – 20, Firefly Theatre More >

Courageous
Feb 20 - Mar 14, Citadel Theatre (co-production with Tarragon Theatre, Toronto) More >

Wildfire High School Improv Festival
Feb 24 - Mar 6, Rapid Fire Theatre More >

King Arthur's Kitchen
Feb 26 - Mar 7, Fringe Theatre Adventures/Axis Theatre Company More >

Stage Struck! 2010
Feb 26 – 27, Stage Struck! 2010 ADFA Edmonton Region Adult One Act Festival, 780-420-1757

ALBERTA

The Mousetrap
Feb 3 – 6, Playgoers of Lethbridge, Lethbridge More >

The Shape of Things
Feb 4 – 13, Ignition Theatre, Red Deer More >

Dinner Theatre Production
Feb 5 – 20, Kelsey Drama Club, Kelsey, 780-375-2418

An Evening of One-Acts
Feb 6 – 7, Peace Players, Peace River More >

Hair
Feb 9 – 13, University Of Lethbridge, Lethbridge More >

Disney's High School Musical
Feb 11 – 20, Keyano Theatre, Fort McMurray More >

Wuthering Heights
Feb 11 – 20, Red Deer College, Red Deer More >

The Love List
Feb 2 - Mar 14, Central Alberta Theatre, Red Deer More >

Hockey Dad: A Play In 3 Periods
Feb 12 – 13, Burnt Thicket Theatre, Strathmore More >

Faith County
Feb 12 - 14, 19 – 20, Leduc Drama Society, Leduc, 780-986-9501

The Andrews Brothers - New '40s Musical
Feb 14 - Apr 3, Cornerstone Theatre & Restaurant, Canmore More >

The Odd Couple - Female Version
Feb 18 – 27, Wetaskiwin Theatre Society Waterworks Players, Wetaskiwin More >

Deathtrap
Feb 18 - Mar 6, Grande Prairie Live Theatre, Grande Prairie More >

Annie
Feb 19 - 21, 25 – 27, Sherard Musical Theatre, Sherwood Park More >

Deathtrap
Feb 18 - Mar 6, Grande Prairie Live Theatre, Grande Prairie More >

Sonny's Song
Feb 25 - 27, Mar 4 – 6, Theatre Rising, Grande Prairie Regional College  More >

WinterPLAY Festival
Feb 26 – 28, Fort McMurray Interplay Society (Events Wood Buffalo), Fort McMurray More >

Oliver!
Feb 26 - Mar 7, Stageworks Academy Of The Performing Arts, Leduc More >

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Jobs & Auditions      

JOBS

{ CALGARY }

Costume Technician, Heritage Park Historical Village

Director, Arts Space Initiatives, Calgary Arts Development Authority

Managing Director, Alberta Theatre Projects

Sewing Assistant, Heritage Park Historical Village

{ EDMONTON }

Chair – Theatre Arts Program, Grant MacEwan University

Program Coordinator, Theatre Alberta

{ ALBERTA }

There are no postings at this time. Visit Theatre Alberta for updates.

{ CANADA }

Logistics Coordinator – Magnetic North Festival, Waterloo, ON

AUDITIONS

{ CALGARY }

As You Like It, Mob Hit Productions

Forbidden Broadway, Front Row Centre Players

Nunsense the Mega Musical, Front Row Centre Players

The Course Acting Show, Workshop Theatre

The Life & Times of Gloria Cheston, Humble Wonder Theatre

The Summer Street Theatre Program 2010, Heritage Park Historical Village

Zanna, Don't!, Attic Players

{ EDMONTON }

Fringe Play (TBA), Wild Oranges Theatre Company

From Cradle to Stage - An Evening of One-Acts, Walterdale Playhouse

General Auditions, Kompany Family Theatre

Ladies In Lights: A Tribute to the Ladies of Musical Theatre, Edmonton Musical Theatre

RENT the musical, Two ONE-WAY Tickets To Broadway Productions

Touch, The Odd-Lot Puppetry Co.

{ ALBERTA }

There are no postings at this time. Visit Theatre Alberta for updates.

{ CANADA }

National Audition Tour, The Canadian College of Performing Arts

Only NEW job & audition opportunities (received since the previous Buzz issue) are listed above.

Postings are updated weekly:
Full Jobs Postings  |  Full Auditions Postings

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Submissions & Workshops

SUBMISSIONS

CALL TO ARTISTS FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

The Alberta Jubilee Auditoria Society is calling Alberta artists to help contribute to the Community Engagement’s art initiatives across the province. They are creating a database of artists from various towns and cities across Alberta. The Community Engagement programs are looking for a wide variety of artists to help facilitate art programs with children, teenagers and adults. They seek artists with experience in but are not limited to: theatre, music, performance, visual art, and dance. More >

THE 2010 CALGARY 24-HOUR PLAYWRIGHTING COMPETITION

February 27 - 28, 2010 - Calgary

Challenge yourself to write a first draft of a play, from start to finish, in 24 hours! The contest is brought to you by Albert Playwrights' Network and the registration fee is only $35. Sign up now online! More >

2010 ALBERTA SCREENWRITER'S INITIATIVE

2010 marks the fourth year for the Alberta Screenwriters Initiative. The Alberta Association of Motion Picture and Television Unions (AAMPTU) are seeking submissions of feature film scripts of any genre, to a maximum length of 250 pages, from Alberta based screenwriters. This annual prize awards avid Alberta screenwriters a first prize of $1000 and a professional workshop with a carefully matched experienced story editor or screenwriter. The Writers Guild of Alberta administers the Initiative on behalf of the AAMPTU.  More >

Deadline: March 15, 2010

ARTS TOURING ALLIANCE OF ALBERTA SHOWCASE 2010

Application forms for Showcase 2010, The Alberta Touring Directory 2010, and ATAA 2010 Memberships are now available for download online! Showcasing artists are selected through a jury process. Artistic excellence is the main criterion for selection, but programming, fee structure and a proven track record in booking and marketing tours are important considerations. More >

Deadline: March 31, 2010

CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF THEATRE TECHNOLOGY AWARDS  

The Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT) is proud to recognize individuals and companies that excel in their field of live performance in Canada. The CITT Awards are designed to honour individuals and companies from a wide spectrum of the Canadian live performance industry.

The nomination of candidates for CITT Awards is driven directly by the membership. This is your chance to recognize a company, the work of a mentor, a colleague or someone whose work you admire. The final selection is made by the Award Committee, and the awards are handed out at the award banquet held during the CITT annual conference. For more information about the awards and nomination procedures, click here. 

Deadline: March 31, 2010

WORKSHOPS

MASTERCLASS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER/STORY-TELLER WILLIAM YANG

February 13, 2010 - Calgary

Theatre Junction GRAND is pleased to present William Yang’s China, running February 9-13, 2010. As part of their ongoing 09/10 Masterclass Workshop Series, William Yang will be giving a workshop to the arts community on his unique blend of story-telling and photography. This Masterclass is open to performers, writers, visual artists, and anyone interested in learning more about William Yang’s process. Participants will be asked to bring a minimum of two photographs, one which depicts their grandparents’ generation and one which depicts contemporary life, along with a short family story that accompanies the photograph. More >

MUSICAL THEATRE MASTERCLASS WITH SETH RUDETSKY

February 20, 2010 - Red Deer

Looking to refine that 32 bars of audition material, or new ways to spruce it up and stand out from the crowd? Maybe you want help finding something best suited to your voice or help adjusting that song that's just out of your range to fit perfectly. Or maybe you want to spend the afternoon simply learning from one of the best in the business. Ignition Theatre hosts a musical theatre master class with Seth Rudetsky. More >

BOARD LEADERSHIP 2010: ALL ON BOARD!

March 20, 2010 - Edmonton

Board Leadership 2010: All on Board is a day-long program of engaging and informative workshops focused on board members of voluntary and non-for-profit organizations. This event will provide a variety of sessions and networking opportunities addressing not-for-profit board fundamentals and new trends. Registration Fee: $63 (includes lunch and G.S.T.) To view the day's Agenda, choose your sessions, then register, click here.

INTERNATIONAL VOICE WORKSHOPS WITH RICHARD ARMSTRONG

Introductory Workshop: May 24 – 26, 2010 - Banff

Advanced Workshop: May 28 – June 6, 2010 - Banff

The Banff Centre is accepting applications for voice worshops led by Richard Armstrong. These workshops will take participants beyond technique, demonstrating the connection of the voice to the soul. They focus on breath, body alignment, and physical grounding, and also explore how voice and personality are intertwined to unlock a deeper experience for participants. Actors and playwrights, singers, and songwriters, and those who interact with them are welcome to attend. More >

Deadline: March 26, 2010

The above listings are but a sampling of the submission & workshop opportunities listed on our website.

Postings are updated weekly:
Full Submissions Postings  |  Full Workshop Postings

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Odds & Ends

CALGARY ARTS DEVELOPMENT OPERATING GRANT PROGRAM

Applications for Calgary Arts Development's Operating Grant Program are now available. If your organization wishes to apply to the Calgary Arts Development Operating Grant Program for the first time, please click here to complete an eligibility form.

Deadline: February 22, 2010

HUNTING HILLS HIGH SCHOOL SEEKS WILLY WONKA COSTUMES

Red Deer

Looking for specialty costumes for Willy Wonka (the blueberry suit, Wonka coat etc.) for a production in the 2010/11 school year. Needed for March 2011. If you have costumes to rent or borrow, please contact Bill Jacobsen.

WALTERDALE THEATRE SEEKS DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY

Edmonton

Are you interested in media and marketing for Walterdale Playhouse? There will be a volunteer position next season for Director of Publicity but the current Director wants to make sure the person coming in to the role is well prepared. There is opportunity over the next 3 shows to shadow both the media and marketing side and help out while learning the position. Contact Marissa Loewen, current Director of Publicity, for more information.

EVENTS

THE IMPROV GUILD

Fridays - Calgary

The Improv Guild performs every Friday night at 8 pm in their studio, The Impro Depot, located at 2405 Macleod Tr SW. Admission by donation. Join them for the post show reception and floor hockey game each Friday!

THE V.I.P. KID’S SHOW IS BACK!

February 13 & 20 and March 20 & 27, 2010 - Edmonton

Saturday Morning Fun For CHILDREN at the Varscona Theatre! The V.I.P. Kids Show is a series where young and old can enjoy a variety show celebrating the amazing talents of Edmonton’s arts community. Each 45 minute show promises to be jam packed with music, comedy and puppets. Tickets are $5.00 for everyone available at tixonthesquare.ca (credit card) at the door (cash or cheque only).

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New & Renewing Members

January 1 - 31, 2010

NEW MEMBERS

Individuals

Tyson Baker, Sherrill Brown, Julie Casselman, Chase Cownden, Darlene Downing, Nicola Elson, Brooklyne Grant, Nonnie Lagerweij van Heyst, Tereasa Maillie, Paul Morgan Donald, Daniel Vasquez, April Viczko, Janette Watson

Groups

Central Memorial High School, 9th Street Players

RENEWING MEMBERS

Individuals

Marie doAmaral, Wendy Froberg, Brendan Lavery, Brad Leavitt, George Mann, Wolfgang Noethlichs, Prudence Olenik, Jeremy Park, Gordon Pengilly, Bryan Webb

Groups

Fringe Theatre Adventures, Grant MacEwan University, J. A. Williams High School, Louis St Laurent School, McNally High School, Shadow Theatre, Slave Lake Musical Theatre Association, St Luke School

DONORS

A warm and sincere thank you to Julie Casselman, Terri Mort and Beverly Brilz for their generous donations to Theatre Alberta.

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BUZZ ETIQUETTE

Theatre Buzz is an electronic newsletter distributed to subscribers the first Wednesday (or so) of every month. Any information shared when subscribing to Theatre Buzz will NOT be shared with other sources, or used for any purpose other than administering Theatre Buzz.

Back Issues: All our past enewsletters can be found in our online archives >

Subscribe: All you require is an email address!  Sign up now >

Unsubscribe: Please use the "Manage your subscription" link at the bottom of this email.

Your Feedback: We appreciate it!  Send comments to our Program Coordinator.

Submit a Posting: Please send any theatre news, shows, and opportunities for inclusion in Theatre Buzz prior to the first Wednesday of each month. All information submitted via our online postings or online playbill will already be considered for inclusion in Theatre Buzz and need not be resubmitted.  Submit >

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