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"Flies purify the air, and plays -- the morals." – Anton Chekhov

What's New at TA

THEATRE ALBERTA ANNOUNCES A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

We Say Farewell to Marie...

Marie Gynane-Willis will be deeply missed as the Executive Director of Theatre Alberta. Marie has steered the ship with wisdom and foresight for eight years, and while the decision to step down was not an easy one for Marie, she feels it is time for her to focus on other priorities and opportunities. The organization has seen tremendous growth during her tenure with an increase in membership and library use as well as the creation and evolution of several programs including Playworks Ink, Emerge, All Stages Magazine, Theatre Buzz and Safe Stages. Marie has contributed a tremendous amount to the organization both with her time and with her constant, careful vigilance for improvement in the world of Theatre Alberta and the growth of theatre in Alberta. Marie’s exceptional human resources skills are in no small part responsible for the healthy and viable  organization we have today. She has always cared deeply for her staff, respecting and supporting their outside pursuits to make sure they are fulfilled as artists and individuals as well. The Board of Directors and the staff wish Marie the very best in her future endeavors. Marie will continue to work for Theatre Alberta on a contract basis as the Artstrek Director.

Marie was presented with a gift from the Theatre Alberta Board of Directors, fused glassware created by Edmonton artist James Lavoie at Studio Vitro.

And Welcome Keri…

The Theatre Alberta Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the appointment of Keri Ekberg to the position of Executive Director, with an official start date of May 1. Keri is not new to our organization, Keri worked for Theatre Alberta from 2003 to 2007 - first as Dramaworks Registrar and then as Program Coordinator. As Program Coordinator, Keri headed several programs including Dramaworks and Emerge; one of Keri’s most significant contributions being her work on the creation of the Safe Stages program and manual. Since 2007, Keri has worked with the Citadel Theatre as an Artistic Associate and most recently as the Outreach Coordinator for the Manitoba Theatre Centre in Winnipeg, where she managed education activities, audience enrichment activities and was the tour manager for a five-week professional theatre tour that visited over 20 communities. Keri’s experience with the Citadel Theatre, the Manitoba Theatre Centre, and her past experience with Theatre Alberta, make her a perfect fit as our incoming Executive Director and we’re pleased to have her back. Keri can be contacted at keri@theatrealberta.com.

PSSST...PLAYBILL IS COMING!

The call for submissions for the Theatre Alberta Playbill will be going out in late May/early June and the deadline for submissions will be June 30. A heads up for all you groups who close down shop or don't start planning your season until late summer or are busy putting up your last show, to gather your 2010/11 season information now so you'll be ready for the call and can be included on next season's poster. A reminder that inclusion on the Playbill poster is free of charge as a benefit of valid group membership and available to non-members for a small per event fee -- but really, why wouldn't you want to become members! Click here to learn more about the benefits of group membership with Theatre Alberta.

DRAMAWORKS AND PLAYWORKS INK TO BE OFFERED IN ALTERNATING YEARS

Starting this summer, Theatre Alberta will be offering Dramaworks and PlayWorks Ink in alternating years - a change designed to keep both programs viable in the face of budget constraints, while continuing to provide the highest quality learning and networking opportunities to our members and the community. Since PlayWorks Ink will not be offered in 2010, we encourage regular PlayWorks Ink participants to look at this summer's Dramaworks programming. There are workshops in collaborative directorial vision, technical theatre and backstage magic, best practices for theatre safety, and stage-fighting with expression. Of particular interest to professional theatre artists is our Special Feature NACL Theatre Intensive, led by NACL Artistic Director, Tannis Kowalchuk.

Enrollment in classes is limited! For more information or to register, click here.

Playworks Ink will be offered in 2011.

ARTSTREK IS FULL!

Thank you to all the Artstrekers who made this year the quickest application period ever! Both Exploration I and II are completely full and we can no longer take names for the waiting list for Exploration II - there are still a few spots available on the waiting list for Exploration I, but they won't last long. Click here for more information on what is sure to be a fabulous year at Artstrek.

THEATRE ALBERTA AGM HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED

Theatre Alberta’s Annual General Meeting is now scheduled for 1pm on July 3rd, 2010, at the University of Alberta. We look forward to seeing you there!

LIBRARIAN'S TIP

Community Theatre Handbook

Whether you are looking for advice on how to start your own community theatre, stage your first production, or are part of an established company looking for guidance on your operations, the information in this handbook will help you organize, implement and sustain your theatrical endeavours. We have structured the material to provide a basic skeleton of theatre operations, and hope that it not only confirms your current practices, but also sparks new ideas.

The Theatre Handbook: An Introduction to Planning and Design of Performing Arts Facilities by Alberta Culture Facility Development

The Theatre Handbook organizes existing and well-documented theatrical knowledge in such a way as to provide non-expert planning groups with expert advice. The Handbook discusses building design principles as they relate to particular theatre situations, and provides enough technical and costing information to inform planning groups' major decisions and help them maintain control of their project.

The above titles are available in the library for loan or you may purchase them from Theatre Alberta. The price is $10.00 for members and $15.00 for non-members.

Library Hours

Please note that the library will be closed and the book drop unavailable May 22 – 24, 2010 for Victoria Day.

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Theatre News

CULTURE DAYS ACROSS CANADA

Plans have been unveiled for Culture Days, a free annual event inviting Canadians to celebrate and explore arts and culture in every province and territory in Canada. Culture Days in Alberta will take place between September 17-19 under the existing event Alberta Arts Days.

Interested artists and organizations may register online at www.culturedays.ca. Artists and organizations who register their activities will benefit from a national marketing and communications campaign as well as access to materials to help promote activities within their communities. More >

2010 ALBERTA LITERARY AWARDS RECOGNIZES EDMONTON PLAYWRIGHT

The Writers Guild of Alberta has announced the finalists for the 2010 Alberta Literary Awards. The Alberta Literary Awards recognize and celebrate the highest standards of literary excellence from Alberta authors. Awards jurors have deliberated 183 submissions to select 32 finalists in nine categories. Finalists represent extraordinary literary work written by Alberta authors and published in 2009 and include Charlie Tomlinson, Daniela Vlaskalic and local actor/playwright Beth Graham for their play The Drowning Girls, a recent production at the Citadel Theatre.  More >

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Shows Opening

May 5 - June 2

Full Playbill

CALGARY

BD&P Emerging Director Presentation
May 12 - 15, Lunchbox Theatre More>

Honour Our Elders
May 26, TALES Calgary 403-283-9489

Ivanka: Not Just Another Pretty Perogy
May 17 - 29, Lunchbox Theatre More >

Love's Labour's Lost
May 7 - 22, The Shakespeare Company More >

Murder U: Comic Mystery
May 14, 28 & June 11, 25, Pegasus Performances More >

Nunsense
May 21 - June 5, Front Row Centre Players More >

Petro-Canada Stage One Festival
May 31 - June 5, Lunchbox Theatre More >

Rebecca
May 1 - 23, Vertigo Mystery Series, Vertigo Theatre Centre More >

Reverie
May 28 - 29, Ghost River Theater More >

The Course Acting Show
May 7 - 15, Workshop Theatre More >

EDMONTON

A Midsummer Night's Dream
May 19 - 26, Theatre Prospero More >

Disney's Beauty and the Beast
May 1 - 30, Citadel Theatre More >

From Cradle to Stage - Walterdale's One-Acts
May 19 - 29, Walterdale Theatre Associates More >

Housebound (former title 3 Beds, 2 Baths)
May 6 - 16, Indie5 More >

Tchekhov (pièce communautaire)
May 13 - 16, L'uniThéâtre More >

The Good Woman of Setzuan
May 13 - 22, University of Alberta, Studio Theatre More >

The Liars
May 27 - June 13, Shadow Theatre More >

Victoria School Festival of the Arts
May 28 - 29, Victoria School of the Arts More >

ALBERTA

Anything Goes
May 14 - 21, Leduc Drama Society, Leduc 780-986-9501

Big Hair
May 8 - 9, Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts, Leduc More >

Big Show
May 7 - 8, Stageworks Academy of the Performing Arts, Leduc More >

Blithe Spirit
May 6 - 8, Calmar Prairie Players, Calmar 780-985-3482

Hamlet
May 13 - 15, Horizon Players, Spruce Grove More >

Oliver!
May 28 - August 29, Rosebud Theatre, Rosebud More >

The Last 5 Years
May 20 - 29, Ignition Theatre, Red Deer More >

The Love List
May 13 - 29, Grande Prairie Live Theatre, Grande Prairie More >

The Tooth Fairy
May 5 - 8, New West Theatre, Lethbridge More >

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Jobs & Auditions      

JOBS

{ CALGARY }

Client Services Coordinator, The School of Alberta Ballet

Executive Director, Alberta Ballet

Facility Supervisor/Front of House, Storybook Theatre

Head of Lighting, Theatre Junction

Head of Sound, Theatre Junction

Head Stage Carpenter/Rigger, Theatre Junction

Production Assistant , Theatre Calgary

Production Crew, Beyond Closed Doors

Theatre School Teachers, Centre Stage Theatre School

Ticket Seller, The EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts

{ EDMONTON }

Chair - Theatre Arts Program, Centre for the Arts and Communications, Grant MacEwan University

Marketing/Development Assistant- Fringe Theatre Adventures Society

{ ALBERTA }

Stage Manager, Keyano Theatre, Fort McMurray

{ CANADA }

Artistic and Education Director, Canadian College of Performing Arts, Victoria, BC

Assistant Stage Manager, Pacific Opera Victoria, Victoria, BC

College Director, Canadian College of Performing Arts, Victoria, BC

AUDITIONS

{ CALGARY }

General Auditions, Centre Stage Theatre Company

General Auditions, Liquid Meld Theatre

StoryBook Glee Club Theatre School,StoryBook Theatre

{ EDMONTON }

Eurydice, University of Alberta - Timms Centre (MFA Directing/Design Production)

General Auditions, Northern Light Theatre

General Auditions, Concrete Theatre

Hansel and Gretel, Alberta Opera Musical Theatre for Young Audiences

Hemorrhage (film) , BMC Pictures

Jack and the Beanstalk, Alberta Opera Musical Theatre for Young Audiences

Perfect Pie, Walterdale Theatre Associates

The Stank (film), Highwire Films

{ ALBERTA }

Jesus Christ Superstar, Medicine Hat Musical Theatre, Medicine Hat, AB

{ CANADA }

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

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

DR. DASHA GOODY MEMORIAL FOUNDATION - Scholarship Submissions

Alberta musical theatre students have a great opportunity to boost their future aspirations to take the stage. The Dr. Dasha Goody Memorial Foundation is granting up to $7,500 in scholarship funding this year to aspiring youth between the ages of 16 – 30 years of age who love to sing, dance and act…the triple threat! More >

Deadline May 15, 2010

THE 2011 CITADEL/BANFF CENTRE PROFESSIONAL THEATRE PROGRAM

Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre and The Banff Centre will provide an opportunity for Canadian actors to improve their skills and perform with one of Canada’s leading theatres in 2011. More >

Deadline May 14, 2010

StArts FEST 2010 - St. Albert Cultivates the Arts

The St. Albert Cultivates the Arts committee is busy preparing for this year’s Alberta Arts Days, September 17-19th. As part of the festival we will again be hosting a one act festival, featuring plays from people just like you. We are looking for local submissions, so if you live, work, learn or play in St. Albert, please send us your shorts! More >

Deadline May 28, 2010

CALL FOR WRITER/SCRIPT PROPOSALS AND SUBMISSIONS - Canadian Badlands Passion Play

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play has produced 3 different incarnations (scripts) of The Life of Christ over the past 16 years. We are currently seeking resumes, proposals, or submissions of finished scripts that fit (or can be adapted to) the needs of a large, outdoor production in our award-winning setting. More >

Deadline July 1, 2010

WORKSHOPS

SIX WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE

June 28 - August 6, 2010 - Calgary

A six week performance workshop presented by the Playhouse North School of Theatre, featuring the Meisner technique, taught by Canada's only certified practicing instructor, Cindy Vanden Enden. Intensive also includes, Dance, Singing, Movement, Alexander Technique and Creativity Tutorials. More >

THEATRE MASTER CLASS: VIEWPOINTS TRAINING WORKSHOP

June 26 - June 27, 2010 - Banff

The Viewpoints technique has become a dominant form of actor training in North America. Presented by the Banff Centre for the Arts, this workshop will address essential performance concepts: becoming present, active listening, spontaneity, trust, kinesthetic response, shared energy, and spatial relationships. More >

Deadline May 28, 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

OLIVER! COSTUMES NEEDED

Children's costumes needed for a Calgary production set in the "Oliver Twist" era. More >

DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA MANNEQUIN?

A Calgary-based project requires a mannequin from May 6 - 10. More >

EVENTS

FROM PAGE TO STAGE - A Festival of Playwright Development

April 30 - May 7, 2010 - Red Deer

Scripts At Work: Central Alberta’s Playwright Series presents an opportunity to learn and be a part of what goes into developing new works for theatre. The Festival will feature several new plays by Central Alberta playwrights in staged readings, workshops and other exciting events that are open to the public. More >

WORKING TITLE 2 - New Theatre: Productions and Readings

May 6 - 15, 2010 - Edmonton

Working Title is a mini-festival of new works for the stage that are in development at or in association with the Canadian Centre for Theatre Creation. This year, Working Title 2 features a world premier production of The Woodcutter, a new play by Don Hannah, and free readings of three new works: Spot By Ryland Alexander and Eric Nyland, The Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven Blatz by Armin Wiebe, and Seasons by Jane Heather.   More >

FLUSHED! FREE PREFORMANCE - Evergreen Theatre

May 23, 2010 - Calgary

Lolli the goldfish leads a humdrum, boring life swimming around in her bowl until one day her owner Jake accidentally flushes her down the toilet! Now Lolli must navigate the smelly and hazardous world of the Waste Water Treatment Plant. As she searches for what her own purpose in the world might be, Lolli discovers that all things have a purpose, even waste. Join Lolli on her journey as she learns the scoop on poop! More >

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE - Sheeptown Players

May 14-15, 2010 - Fort Saskatchewan

An annual fundraising dinner theatre. This year's show is Star Struck, the Anxiety with Auggies. Tickets are available at Sobeys and Twice But Nice in Fort Saskathchewan for a cost of $35 which includes dinner, performance and silent auction. Doors open at 6 p.m. each night. 780-999-6844

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New & Renewing Members

April 1 - 30, 2010

NEW MEMBERS

Individuals

Delia Barnett, Matthew Bittroff, Adam Cope, Nathan Deobald, Kristina Elliott, Grace Fitzpatrick, Joseph Fowler, Tyler Girard, Melanie Godbout, Celene Harder, Jesse Harlton, Megan Jaster, Kate Jestadt, Alan Johnson, Geran Koornhof, Zina Lee, Brian MacDougall, Chrystal McClellan, Colin McDonald, Jayce McKenzie, Jodie Nichols, Leah Paterson, Juliann Pelz, Joe Perry, Theresa Petryga, Ashley Plomp, Chelsea Preston, Tatyana Rac, Matthew Randolph, Miles Ringsred, Aleksander Ristic, Aaron Tremblay, Nazaima Uppal, Gianna Vacirca, Matthew Van Buuren, Catherine Vielguth, Nikolina Viskovic, Nikolai Witschl

RENEWING MEMBERS

Individuals

Janet Allcock, Megan Baldrey, Bracken Burns, Jeannie Chanter, Brandon DeJong, Beth Dunbar, Terry Ecklund, Alastair Elliot, Katie Elliott, Molly Flood, Janet Hinkley, Michelle Kennedy, Shirley Konrad, Duane Mills, Peter Mueller, Cathy Ostelere, Steve Penman, Wendy Punter, Kimberly Ruecker, Adrianne Salmon, Ruby Swekla, Eric Wigston, Denise Wong

Groups

Northern Crossing Music/Drama Society

DONORS

A warm and sincere thank you to Duane Mills and Catherine Vielguth 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.

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