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s r e SPRING 2007 y a l P s k r o w r e t a W 0 7 s 9 r 1 e ( y y la t P ie e for all stages oc tr y S ea et a h ci m T o ts ra ill S c D re je k dm at ro oc in he P stl W T re e rs et at l W ye pp he oo ety Pla Pu T h ci e P. ta Sc So gu . er e rts Ro e W lb dl g A he atr A id in s T he ety M form Art ry T oci n Per ine yste a S ave ills of F o M ram dh o H lty ertig rs D oo Tw Facu d V newslaye W tre ry an P l Thea alga he Gr aviar hoo outh y of Cn - at t ty C er Sc ouse Y iverJsuitnctio a Socie agn Tree H r t Ts hUenatre t Dram . P. W spero Workshop W f Hintonheatrfe FCinaleg Aar d Distric Art W eatre Pro est Theat st T h7e5a t rTeo Rwens toaura nFta cTulty o Beaumont an Visual rk Th o Theatre)l S t a g r e T W h e a tr r a em a i t yic o Af rCtsa l gAalrbyerta Lyric Theatre rming and etwo ent (Studi Schoo m ayn dU Dnivers Walterdale Theatre Associates Victoria School of Perfo re N partm posite Ahceadtree heat a De Com eb obfe rT T ram ville ld Went ta D egre Gui rtm ber l V yers epa Al hoo Pla D of Sc tre dge ity igh hea bri ers H n T th iv ills isio Le n H V of U wo ry y T lga sit Ca er S. iv .E. n .L U T.A re t en C f f an B e h T WEST SIDE STORY PRESENTED BY MEDICINE HAT MUSICAL THEATRE. GAIL WHITTEN AND MIKE WASKALIK. STORY ON PAGE 8 PHOTOGRAPH BY EMMA BENNETT, COURTESY OF MEDICINE HAT NEWS inside What’s New at Theatre Alberta 3. Tales from the Stacks 3. Calling the Next Sharon Pollock 5. Meet the Board 5. Calgary’s PCC Conference 7. Medicine Hat Community Theatre 8. RADA’s Performance Breath 11. Conference Wendy Lill on Dramatizing 12. in a Time of Change Dry Martini 14. News from Alberta’s Drama 15. Festivals The Buzz 15. 10 Theatre Alberta is the Provincial Arts Service Organization (PASO) for theatre in Alberta, dedicated to the growth and development of the Alberta theatre community and all its constituencies. Theatre Alberta News is a publication of Theatre Alberta issued four times a year. Contribution of notices, news and articles about theatre are welcome, as well as high quality (350 dpi or higher) photographs. Theatre Alberta News also accepts signed letters to the editor but reserves the right to refuse any material it considers inappropriate. The opinions and views expressed are those of the writers and do not check-in necessarily reflect those of Theatre Alberta. Office and library hours Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm I love it when things change. Holidays Office and Library closed April 6–9 (Easter), Fresh beginnings, new opportunities, a blank slate and endless possibilities that inspire. and May 19–21 (Victoria Day). Out with the old and in with the new. Embrace the unknown! Submission deadlines and publication dates April 27 for June 1, 2007 At the same time I hate it when things change. Embrace the unknown?? Yuck. Better the July 20 for August 24, 2007 October 19 for November 23, 2007 devil I know than the devil I don’t. Moving out of my comfort zone, extra demands and January 25 for February 29, 2008 challenges that are added to my already busy schedule. Sometimes it means letting go of Advertising rates Full Page (9.5” high x 7” wide) $200.00 things that have been good and not knowing exactly what will take their place. But as we all Half Page (4.625” high x 7” wide) $120.00 know, nothing stays the same—including the provincial government. Quarter Page (2.25” high x 7” wide) $80.00 Please supply high-resolution files Alberta now has a new Premier, Ed Stelmach. The word “culture” has returned as the title of (at least 350 dpi at actual size) in greyscale or black and white. Prices include GST. Ads are booked on a one of the 18 Ministries formed by Premier Stelmach—Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation first-come, first-serve basis and space is limited. Book ad space at least one month prior to the submission deadline. and Culture—and this newly formed ministry has a new Minister, Hector Goudreau. While it’s definitely encouraging to see the word “culture” reinstated in a Ministry portfolio title, Theatre Alberta Board of Directors If you have questions or concerns regarding Theatre Alberta, and while Minister Goudreau has already let the arts community know that we should you are welcome to contact Theatre Alberta Board members. expect an increase to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts budget, we shouldn’t expect a Officers PRESIDENT doubling of it. Is this to be our fresh beginning, our endless possibility? Tanya Ryga ~ Red Deer [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT Karen Towsley ~ Calgary [email protected] It is truly important that we help Premier Stelmach and Minister Goudreau further develop TREASURER Wendy Punter ~ Cochrane [email protected] their knowledge of the provincial arts scene. Their increased understanding of the full spectrum SECRETARY of artistic work going on in this province is essential to keeping the arts healthy and vibrant. David Owen ~ Edmonton [email protected] I hope every arts group in Alberta, rural and urban, grass roots to professional, performing, Directors Jane Heather ~ Edmonton [email protected] literary, and visual arts, is inundating both of these gentlemen with letters as well as Andrea Martinuk ~ Edmonton [email protected] Harold Truckle ~ Red Deer [email protected] invitations to attend their events. Because only through getting to know the arts community, Steve McHugh ~ Wetaskiwin [email protected] by participating in it as artists or audience, do you begin to understand, appreciate, and value Gail Hanrahan ~ Lethbridge [email protected] Mary-Ellen Perley ~ Edmonton [email protected] it. Write to them about the kind of artistic work you are involved in and how it affects your Russell Thomas ~ Fort McMurray [email protected] world and the world around you in terms of quality of life and fiscal impact. Johanne Deleeuw ~ Calgary [email protected] Staff EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The winds of change have also blown through Theatre Alberta. It’s official—Sam Varteniuk Marie Gynane-Willis [email protected] OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR is now the ‘former’ Theatre Alberta Programmer. We miss his outstanding programming Janice Hoover [email protected] work, dry sense of humour, great tech skills, and last but not least, his handyman abilities. PROGRAM COORDINATOR Keri Ekberg [email protected] One of Sam’s significant contributions was his work on our website—he took it forward PROGRAMMER light years. He is now working at the Citadel on the Student’s Club and we wish him well. Jill Connell [email protected] ADMINISTRATOR I am delighted to welcome Jill Connell as our new Programmer. She is a playwright with Julie Sinclair [email protected] LIBRARIANS a strong and diverse theatre background, who recently completed a Masters degree at the Solveig Anderson [email protected] University of New Brunswick. Jill is the new editor of the newsletter and will soon be Brenda Sutherland [email protected] FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR launching our e-newsletter. Zenovia Adams Change of address information and undeliverable copies to: Finally, don’t forget to celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27th. Started by UNESCO Theatre Alberta Society 3rd Floor Percy Page Centre in 1962, World Theatre Day is an opportunity for theatre people to celebrate the power of 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton AB T5M 3K6 theatre on a local level while knowing that we are part of a bigger global celebration. Tell Phone: (780) 422-8162 Fax: (780) 422-2663 Toll Free: 1-888-422-8160 [email protected] your audience, tell your actors, tell the general public, post a sign, insert the UNESCO www.theatrealberta.com message (easily found on the internet) into your program. MARIE GYNANE-WILLIS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2. spring 2007 WHAT’S NEW AT THEATRE ALBERTA EMERGE 2007 DRAMAWORKS & ARTSTREK Registration begins soon! Calgary: Monday, April 16 at Dramaworks is a summer theatre workshop program for adults that One Yellow Rabbit’s Big Secret Theatre takes place at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton; it has been running Edmonton: Monday, April 23 at the in the province since 1959. This year the program runs during the Citadel Theatre first two weekends in July—each weekend includes both beginner Emerge is Theatre Alberta’s annual general and advanced workshops for performers, directors, designers, tech- audition event for graduates of post-secondary nicians, playwrights, and more! Check with your local community acting programs across the province. Participa- theatre or employer about subsidizing your trip to Dramaworks tion is by invitation only. this summer. Workshop Weekends: July 5-8 & 12-15 Professionals—Please mark your calendars. If you have not received an official invitation, contact Keri for information at Artstrek is Alberta’s residential summer theatre program for teens [email protected]. that takes place at Red Deer College.