To our Members:
Notes for World Theatre Day
Hello fellow theatre lovers! We're doing a special edition of Theatre Buzz today on the 50th Anniversary of World Theatre Day.
Theatre Alberta exists to promote the continued growth and healthy development of the Albertan theatre community and to serve all facets of that community as a resource centre and information network. We are an evolving organization, as the community itself is evolving, and we continue to encourage our members to let us know how best we can serve. |
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Many wonderful thoughts and messages about World Theatre Day are available online. The Playwrights Guild of Canada, The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and Association des théâtres francophones du Canada have commissioned Daniel David Moses to pen Canada's Message for World Theatre Day 2012 (translation provided by David Baudemont). Actor, director and producer, John Malkovich, has written this year's annual International Message (an excerpt is posted below) - click here to watch his speech on YouTube. And, while less official, this is a cool and appropriate World Theatre Day post found on the blog "Around the World in 80 Plays."
Finally, it is appropriate that on this day we suddenly find ourselves with an incredible opportunity to advance our cause: the writ has fallen and Alberta will be electing a new government on April 23. Now is the time to let your MLA and your riding candidates know that theatre is an important, strong and vibrant industry in our province that deserves community support and community funding. Let us have our collective voice be heard!
Wishing you all a happy World Theatre Day,
Keri Mitchell
Executive Director
“May your work be compelling and original. May it be profound, touching, contemplative, and unique. May it help us to reflect on the question of what it means to be human, and may that reflection be blessed with heart, sincerity, candor, and grace. May you overcome adversity, censorship, poverty and nihilism, as many of you will most certainly be obliged to do. May you be blessed with the talent and rigor to teach us about the beating of the human heart in all its complexity, and the humility and curiosity to make it your life's work. And may the best of you - for it will only be the best of you, and even then only in the rarest and briefest moments - succeed in framing that most basic of questions, "how do we live?" Godspeed."
~ John Malkovitch
What's New at Theatre Alberta
Click the headline for more information.
A HUGE thank you to the most recent donors to 100 Angels of Theatre Alberta:
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Amy Dettling
Fentsi Imprint Inc.
Frank Tichy
Brenda Sutherland
Andrea Martinuk & Jeff Osterlin
Campus Tower Suite Hotel
Anne Marie Szucs
Donna & John Mitchell
Andrew Carter (x5!)
Sparky Johnson
Helen Rogers
The Pine Tree Players (x4!)
Sandra & Peter Moloney
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Misty Oakes & Shawn Defoy
David Prestley
Zenovia Adams
Linda Wood Edwards
Marcia & Phil Bell
Amanda Bergen
Kristen M. Finlay (x2!)
Jan Taylor
Duane Mills
Holly Turner
Geller Logan Family
Karyn Mott
Karen King
Matt Gould
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We're over halfway there! However, there are only 5 days remaining in our campaign.
We are so grateful to those who have already donated. We need 42 (or more) of you to help us reach our goal by Saturday, March 31. That’s just over eight $100 donations per day over the next week! We will update our website daily so you can watch our progress.
Why now? March 31 is Theatre Alberta's fiscal year-end, and our small but mighty organization is facing a manageable but nonetheless significant deficit situation.
Your contributions now will help ensure Theatre Alberta can start the 2012/2013 year on April 1 bolstered to provide Alberta theatre artists with the best possible programs and services. Your contribution will help us continue to maintain Canada’s largest fully circulating theatre library. Your contribution will help us continue to grow Artstrek, including the addition of a third week in 2013! Your contribution will help us promote local productions – professional, independent and community-based – across the province. And so much more…
The 100X100 campaign requires theatre patrons and lovers who believe in a strong and united Albertan theatre community to come forward.
On World Theatre Day 2012, will you become an Angel of Theatre Alberta?
For more information about donating, please contact Dawn Ius, Fund Development Coordinator, by phone at 780-422-8162 (or 888-422-8160 toll free outside of Edmonton) or by email at dawn@theatrealberta.com. Thank you so much for your support!
ARTSTREK 2012 IS TWO-THIRDS SOLD OUT
On March 15th, Theatre Alberta made registration for Artstrek - our annual residential summer school for teens - available exclusively online.
Our expectation was that registration would happen more speedily than in the past...
In the first 24 hours the registration form was live, Artstrek was over a quarter sold out. In less than a week, we were at 50% capacity. Now, not even two weeks later, Artstrek 2012 is two-thirds sold out!
We are so grateful for your enthusiasm and support. We do still have plenty of room for males in Exploration I. Please pass along the word - especially if you have already registered and know of a fellow student or friend who would be great for the program.
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Remember, our program dates for 2012 are:
Exploration I (13-15 year-olds) - July 8-14
Exploration II (16-18 year-olds) - July 15-22 The application process is quite extensive, so please carefully review information on how to apply before you register.
If you did not receive an Artstrek 2012 brochure, not to worry. You can download a PDF copy on our website. Click here to download.
DRAMAWORKS 2012 REGISTRATION - EMAIL NOTIFICATION LIST
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As with Artstrek, Dramaworks 2012 registration will be available exclusively online. As with Artstrek, we expect workshops will fill up sooner than later.
If you're interested in beating the rush, email our Communications and Marketing Coordinator Aaron Talbot at aaron@theatrealberta.com to be added to our Dramaworks 2012 Registration Notification email list. Aaron will email you the moment that the online registration form becomes available.
Dramaworks 2012 - Who Are We Now? will take place from July 4-8, 2012, at the University of Alberta, Department of Drama. |
Our roster of Dramaworks 2012 workshops includes:
MASTER CLASS · JULY 4 – 8 · $450
Immersive Theatre with punchdrunk (Maxine Doyle and Conor Doyle)
presented in partnership with Catalyst Theatre
- For professional theatre artists
INTENSIVES · JULY 5 – 8 · $350
One Weekend, One Play with Vern Thiessen
- For playwrights of all levels
Unleashing the Expressive Resonant Voice with Kim Mattice Wanat
- For drama teachers and performers of all levels
EXPLORATIONS · JULY 6 – 8 · $250
Directing Historical Drama with Kate Newby
- For novice and intermediate directors
Lighting Basics with Sheila Cleasby
- Design and technical theatre for all levels
Meisner Technique with Lori Ravensborg
- Acting for all levels
Theatre Boot Camp with Brian Dooley
- Acting and making theatre for all levels
Not sure what workshop is right for you? We've provided a handy table of suggestions to help you figure out: "What should I take?" For even more information, please email our programmer, Michelle Kennedy, at michelle@theatrealberta.com.
Free Classifieds listings today in celebration of World Theatre Day
Today and today only, Theatre Alberta will post all listings submitted to Theatre Alberta's Classifieds free-of-charge. This is an exclusive perk reserved for Theatre Alberta members - non-members are normally charged $25 per listing.
Theatre Alberta's Classifieds is Alberta's premiere online theatre listings sharing service. It is a searchable RSS feed of new auditions, jobs, workshops, submission calls, theatre news and other theatre resources available to the provincial theatre community. All listings are linked to on Theatre Alberta's Facebook page and Twitter feed, and included in Theatre Buzz - our monthly enews sent to over 2200 subscribers across the province. Click here for more information about how Classifieds works.
Click here to submit a classified online, or send it as an email to aaron@theatrealberta.com by 12 midnight tonight to have your listing posted free-of-charge. Don't forget to include a picture to be included in your listing. Happy World Theatre Day everyone!
Why Theatre?
To celebrate World Theatre Day, Theatre Alberta Staff shares why we do what we do.
(In no particular order.)
Dawn Ius, Fund Development Coordinator
The childhood debates between me and my scholarly sister were often sparked by my absolute belief in the world of make-belief. While she fought back with statistics, I repeated this infamous Albert Einstein quote: Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there will ever be to know and understand." At Theatre Alberta, I am surrounded by artists who understand the importance of self expression, are passionate about a future built with creativity and not only believe in the power of imagination, but hope to inspire and nurture it in others. The "day job" doesn't get much better than that.
David van Belle, All Stages Editor
We are not theatre artists. We are empathy engineers. We help people meet each other, to share experiential knowledge. It feels like it's getting harder and harder for people to do that, so it's an important job to do.
Michelle Kennedy, Programmer
When asked "Why have you dedicated yourself to a career in the arts?" I can't think of a single, reasonable answer except, "Why not?" Wherever this crazy path takes me I am challenged, inspired and excited every single day. I get to meet and work with some of the brightest minds this city, province and country have to offer. I get to travel, to seek, to journey, to fight and to discover. I get to tell stories, stay up late and spend my days surrounded by my best friends. For all those reasons and a million more the only answer to "Why?" is "Why not?"!
Aaron Talbot, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
I feel like I'm returning to the world of theatre after five years in the wilderness. One of the most interesting things I learned about myself during my 5 year sojourn to Toronto is that theatre - although universal - is strongly defined by the community you live in. I wasn't as interested in pursuing a career in theatre in Toronto as I am about continuing my career in Alberta. And I'm incredibly grateful to work for an organization that promotes the very community that I wish to embrace. For me, theatre is home. I'm glad to be back!
Stephanie Leaf, Office Administrator
Theatre has the power of transformation. It certainly changed my life - and I want to bring that same opportunity for growth to as many people as I can. Whether it's participating in it for the first time, or seeing something for the 100th, it has an impact. I love it!
Brenda Sutherland, Librarian
It’s about the people! I’ve been at Theatre Alberta for over a decade and it’s the members, the staff and the board that keep me here. I thoroughly enjoy assisting every member that makes use of our library. The enthusiasm and passion the staff bring to their respective jobs makes for a very dynamic and positive work environment. The support of our equally passionate board completes the “family”.
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indicates production was written/collectively created by an Albertan artist/group
indicates production was written/collectively created by a Canadian artist/group
