To our Members:
Notes for World Theatre Day 2013
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We asked Theatre Alberta Board President Michele Fleiger to write a few words in honour of World Theatre Day 2013.
Michele (BFA/MFA) currently practices THEATRE in classrooms, stairwells, lobbies, art galleries and other assorted spaces. She practices with students at the University of Alberta in the Departments of Drama, Music and Medicine, as well as at the International Student Centre and at Portage College in Lac La Biche. |
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People who practice THEATRE
meant to be read out loud
People who practice THEATRE don’t just work on plays.
They also work in libraries,
sell houses and cars and clothes and drinks,
They go to school.
They are 8 and 22 and 45 and 88.
People who practice THEATRE don’t just write, act, direct, design, manage, publicize and produce plays.
They also raise kids, teach, practice law, practice medicine, play music, play sports, run for office, run businesses, legislate and oppose, rally and occupy, protest and defend and celebrate.
Because people who practice THEATRE understand that the practice of THEATRE extends waaaayyyy beyond the walls of a theatre.
It happens in alleys and elevators and abandoned storefronts and bars and shipping containers.
It happens in classrooms and lobbies and hallways and stairwells and on the street.
People who practice THEATRE understand that theatre offers us a chance to connect.
to ourselves.
to each other.
to the world.
Because at a time when we increasingly engage with our communities as siloed solos, going to see a piece of theatre gives us an opportunity to enter into a silent communion with people.
with people we know but,
more importantly,
with people we don’t know.
When we make the choice to go to the theatre we are making ourselves available to the present and all of its vagaries
We make ourselves available to the possibility of a renewal of faith, of spirit, of grace.
for ourselves and each other.
SO
buy a ticket,
go to a play,
make a donation to a theatre or
to a theatre organization whose mandate is to serve its community of theatre!!
but know too,
that the essential power of the theatre extends waaaay beyond the performance of a play.
People who practice THEATRE get this.
They get that those so called “soft skills” like
collaboration and creativity,
the importance of openness to diversity,
and cooperation
and peace making that are part of the practice of any creative process like making theatre are critical to the practice of EVERYTHING.
Every relationship. Every workplace. Every city and province and territory and state and country.
They are the strategies of an attendance to the present that make the future possible.
People who practice theatre also understand that when you trigger passion you also trigger the potential for conflict and that somehow you have to find a way to deal with this often inexorable fact.
Now, I’m not saying that people who practice THEATRE have all the answers but
We do know where to start.
We start by knowing…
that we are all made out of shipwrecks, every single board
washed and bound like crooked teeth on these rocky shores
so come on and let’s wash each other with tears of joy and tears of grief
and fold our lives like crashing waves….
if we hold on tight we’ll hold each other together
and not just be some fools rushing to die in our sleep
all these machines will rust I promise, but we'll still be electric
shocking each other back to life
(an excerpt from Wooden Heart by Dan Smith)
Now more than ever the world needs people who practice THEATRE.
Happy World Theatre Day to you all!
~ Michele Fleiger
Theatre Alberta Board President
2013 World Theatre Day Messages
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“As far as I can remember, everything I have ever learned, and that has mattered to me, I have learned through storytelling. And I have learned much by being told and telling stories through theatre."
~ Micheline Chevrier
from her 2013 Canadian World Theatre Day Message
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Micheline Chevrier has been commissioned by The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT), Playwrights Guild of Canada (PGC) and l'Association des théâtres francophones du Canada (ATFC) to create and deliver the Canadian World Theatre Day message for 2013.
Micheline was chosen as Canada's 2013 message author and is currently the Distinguished Visiting Artist at the University of Alberta and guest director of Saint Joan at U of A Studio Theatre.
All are invited to hear Ms. Chevrier deliver her World Theatre Day message publicly at 12 noon on March 27th in the Timms Centre for the Arts lobby.
Micheline has written both French and English versions of her message. Click here to watch Micheline's 2013 Canadian World Theatre Day message on YouTube.
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Playwright, author and Nobel Prize winner Dario Fo has been commissioned by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) to author the World Theatre Day message for 2013. Click here to read Dario Fo's message.
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Donate to Theatre Alberta on World Theatre Day
Theatre Alberta is a non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity. We rely on support from our members and the wider provincial theatre community to continue to offer our world class programs, services and resources.
Last year at this time, Theatre Alberta was overwhelmed by the
generosity of the Albertan theatre community through the success of our 100 Angels of Theatre Alberta giving campaign. We hope that in celebration of World Theatre Day 2013, you will consider donating to Theatre Alberta. Donate in the name of a theatre artist, administrator or technician that has made a difference in your community! We will publish the names of all those who donate on World Theatre Day in Theatre Buzz.
Click here to donate online or call us at 1-888-422-8160 (or 780-422-8162 in Edmonton). And, thank you again for your support.
Artstrek 2013 Update
*** Remember: Artstrek registration begins on April 2nd at 10 a.m. The Artstrek 2013 website includes:
If you plan to attend Artstrek, why not join our Facebook event? Click here to join.
If you're on Twitter, tweet your favourite Artstrek memory using the hastag #Artstrek or #Artstrek2013 and Theatre Alberta will RT!
(You can follow us at @TheatreAlberta.)
SPONSOR A STUDENT TO ATTEND ARTSTREK 2013
Every year, dozens of students receive financial assistance from individuals or local organizations from their own communities to attend Artstrek. Theatre Alberta encourages and facilates this community grassroots initiatve through our Community Sponsorship program.
Sponsoring a teen to attend Artstrek with either a full or partial sponsorship is an investment in the future of your community and Alberta’s young people. Educators’ and theatre organizations’ feedback consistently includes the benefit of the Artstrek program on students’ theatre and life skills, as well as to their local arts communities.
If you would like to sponsor a teen to attend Artstrek 2013 but don't know where to start, please contact Theatre Alberta toll-free at 1-888-422-8160 (or 780-422-8162 in Edmonton), or email us at theatreab@theatrealberta.com.
A Tribute to David van Belle
ALL STAGES ONLINE: AN EXIT INTERVIEW WITH DAVID VAN BELLE
Theatre Alberta's long time All Stages Magazine Editor, David van Belle, has wrapped up his tenure with our organization in order to focus more on his Calgary theatre company Ghost River Theatre... and on being a new dad! After five years and 15 issues as editor, which included transitioning our member newsletter format into an actual magazine, we are very grateful for the time, verve and energy that David has committed to our publication.
And so, we thought we'd pick his brain a little bit. Click here to watch our exit interview with David. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did filming it!
And be sure to check out all the extra online content from the latest issue of All Stages: Spring 2013 - An Actor's Life for Me.
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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
