TO OUR MEMBERS:
The recently released "Volunteers and Donors in Arts and Culture Organizations in Canada in 2013" by Hill Strategies Research Inc. is receiving much airtime on social media. One of the findings in particular is truly remarkable:
“... 900,000 Canadians volunteered the equivalent of 56,000 full-time jobs in arts and cultural organizations in 2013... this volunteer contribution can be valued at nearly $1.9 billion.”
And, another: “The four Western provinces have the highest volunteer and donor rates in arts and culture;” although, to those who work within the Alberta theatre community, this will not be surprising. One click on “Volunteer Opportunities” on our website brings up calls for volunteer ushers, box office, casino helpers, and many others. These are the more formal types of contributions upon which the theatre community depends and is certainly reflected in the statistics above.
We also must acknowledge the more casual kinds of support which are just as important to the health of theatre in the province. We cannot forget the individuals who help us but who may not consider themselves "theatre makers." These are the people who provide festival billeting for out-of-town performers, the parents who act as chauffeurs to and from rehearsals and show calls, the community members who bid on silent auction items, the small businesses who sponsor raffle prizes, and the neighbours and friends who purchase tickets to our shows.
Our thanks go out to all who support theatre in Alberta, whether taking on a job title or simply doing what's needed for friends and family. You, too, are theatre makers!
~ Debbie
Communications and Marketing Coordinator
“Fortune reigns in gifts of the world."
~ William Shakespeare
WHAT'S NEW AT THEATRE ALBERTA
Artstrek 2016
Earlier this year, Theatre Alberta sent out a call through social media requesting suggestions for an Artstrek 2016 hashtag. We were thrilled with the response. We settled on a combination of @emmawilmott's and @heyitsdaley's submissions and would like to introduce #JustBreatheArtstrek as the go-to hashtag for this year's Artstrek!
Track us on Instagram for all the Artstrek news!
Use #JustBreatheArtstrek to connect with 2016 Artstrekkers!
Artstrek has been providing summer theatre education for teens for more than 55 years. Community sponsors are integral to the success of the program and a number of organizations consistently step forward to provide Artstrek sponsorships for the youth in their communities.
To help students seeking funding assistance, Theatre Alberta collects and shares information on sponsors with them through our website. If you offer or would like to offer teens community sponsorship funding, please email Debbie MacLeod at debbie@theatrealberta.com to have your organization and program profiled on our Artstrek Community Sponsorship webpage.
Theatre Alberta is seeking applications for Artstrek Supervisors for July 2016. Supervisors (Supers) will need excellent interpersonal skills, strong leadership abilities and experience working with youth, a remarkable work ethic, and a well-cultivated sense of fun. Applicants must have attended Artstrek as a student, been away from the program for at least one year, and be between the ages of 19 and 25 years.
To apply, send Theatre Alberta a cover letter outlining your qualifications, what would make you an asset to the Super team, your theatre and employment resume, and your headshot.
Email all applications to artstrek@theatrealberta.com.
We thank you in advance for your interest. However, only those applicants shortlisted for the interview process will be contacted.
Application deadline: March 1, 2016.
Workshops by Request
To be considered for the 2016/2017 Rocky Mountain Series, master class proposals should be in by midnight, February 15!
We are seeking pitches from artists across the province to help form our season of master classes at The Banff Centre. We encourage pitches from both emerging and established artists, educators and community theatres, and from both Group members of Theatre Alberta and ad hoc groups of Individual members.
Question: If you had the opportunity to work with any world-class artist, from across Canada or beyond, who would it be? In what skills or techniques are you especially eager to get intensive training? If you have an answer to either or both of these questions, The Rocky Mountain Series is for you!
Groups whose proposals are accepted will pay a $1,500 fee, will receive presenting partner recognition, and four registration spots for the workshop. Select promotional and administrative duties will be shared by presenting partner groups.
Pitches can be submitted online here. If you have questions about the program, or want to discuss a pitch idea, our Operations & Partnerships Coordinator Morgan Norwich would be happy to hear from you. She can be reached at morgan@theatrealberta.com.
HOMETOWN SERIES
Technical Theatre: High River's Windmill Theatre Players will host a technical theatre workshop for their community on February 27. The session will be taught by Mark Belkie, the Technical Coordinator for Audio at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary.
Character Study/Analysis: Grande Prairie Live Theatre has requested a workshop on character development. Brian Dooley, the Artistic Director of Edmonton’s L’UniThéâtre, and Director of New Play Development at the Citadel Theatre, will travel to Grande Prairie on February 27.
Singing for Actors: Morpheus Theatre in Calgary has made arrangements for this workshop, which will be taught by Kim Mattice-Wanat on February 27. Kim is the Artistic Director of Opera Nuova, and teaches singing at the University of Alberta.
Workshops by Request: Hometown Series brings adult education on the theatrical topic of your choice to your community! All Theatre Alberta Group Members can initiate up to 3 days of workshops each season. Click here for more info or email Patrick Beagan, Program Coordinator at patrick@theatrealberta.com.
Picks of the Edmonton Fringe Tour
 Picks of the Edmonton Fringe is back on the road! SodHouse Theatre’s Shangri-La by Judy Wensel has enjoyed great receptions in Fort McMurray, Peace River, Grande Prairie, and Whitecourt. You can still catch us in Edson at the Red Brick Theatre this Wednesday at 7pm, and in Medicine Hat at the Esplanade Studio on Saturday at 8pm.
Up next is Azimuth Theatre’s Real Time by Matt Alden. We still have dates available in early April for presenters to bring this show to their community, anywhere in Alberta. E-mail patrick@theatrealberta.com for more info.
This touring stimulus project is a joint venture between Theatre Alberta, Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta, and Fringe Theatre Adventures.
Celebrating the Life and Work of Michael Green
To honour the late Michael Green’s influence on the Edmonton arts community, Metro Cinema, Theatre Alberta, and a group of artists are preparing an evening of performances on Monday, February 8th, 7 pm at the Garneau Theatre in Edmonton.
Artistic collaborators include: Pamela Anthony, Michelle Thrush, Kristi Hansen, Sheri-D Wilson, Lyndon Aginias, Michelle Kennedy, Moe Clark, Tippi-a-go-go, Conni Massing, Making Treaty 7 Eya-Hey Nakoda drum group, Nicole Moeller, and other guests TBA.
All proceeds from the event will be in support of One Yellow Rabbit and Making Treaty 7.
Admission is by donation at the door, with a suggested donation of $25. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $25.
CITT Alberta
The Alberta section of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT) is hosting three days of ETC Ion training for all skill levels. Scheduled prior to the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium's 4th Annual Backstage Access Production Expo, CITT is offering reduced rates for CITT Alberta and Theatre Alberta members.
Alberta Playwriting Competition
The 2016 Alberta Playwriting Competition, presented in association with Theatre Alberta, celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. To mark this milestone, the Alberta Playwright's Network (APN) undertook a review of the contest rules and, as a result, have initiated a number of changes.
"... the biggest change is that APN jury is going to be awarding just one prize of the full $5000.00 to a single writer. A short-list of 5 finalists will be announced in advance of the winner. We felt that in making the cash prize singular, we will be raising the stakes and thus the profile of the competition and the winning play. The short-list allows us to announce and fete a larger group of Alberta playwrights than just the single winner, which widens the scope and reach of the plays, writers and communities represented in the event..."
Complete contest rules can be viewed on the APN website. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2016.
THEATRE ALBERTA LIBRARY
Our sincerest thanks go out to all of you who so generously supported our Gift-A-Play donation campaign. Theatre Alberta received 34 books worth $600 and had to rearrange the shelves to accommodate them all!
Each one of the gifted books has a 2015 Gift-a-Play label affixed to the inside front cover inscribed with the name(s) of the donor(s). Cataloguing of our newest acquisitions is ongoing and the books will soon be available for borrowing by all Theatre Alberta members.
Again, special thanks to:
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Deborah Ferguson
Doug Mertz
Stefano Muneroni
Trevor Rueger
Beth Graham
Julie Sinclair
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Kristen M. Finlay
Ryan Godfrey
Morgan Norwich
Morris McClelland
Aaron Talbot
Patrick Beagan
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If your purchase of scripts or donation of gift cards totaled more than $20, you are eligible to receive a tax receipt. Please forward your Amazon purchase receipt to theatreab@theatrealberta.co.
Our Gift-A-Play donation campaign is ongoing. View our Wish List here.
Next Closure: February 13-15, 2016. The Drop Box will not be available on these days.
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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
