ALL STAGES MAGAZINE THEATRE IN ALBERTA | WINTER 2013 THIS ISSUE: WRIGHTING PLAYS The Craft of Play Creation in Alberta Zina Lee and Richard Lam in Concrete Theatre's Paper Song by Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull. Photo credit: Epic Photography. www.theatrealberta.com contents [7] [11] [14] ADAPTING TO CHANGE I WANT TO DO IT ALL Q2Q A primer on the elements of noteworthy Alberta Theatre Projects' current Playwright Scott Peters on 'harnessing' the technical adaptation for the stage by dramaturg in Residence Rebecca Northan on creating challenges in the world premiere of Colleen Shari Wattling. theatre, spontaneously. Murphy's Pig Girl. [1] Check in [3] Community Profile [4] 80 Years of New Play Production at Alberta’s “Nonprofessionalized” Theatres [6] Table Work [7] Adapting to Change [8] Sides [10] Foils [13] This Much I Know is True [14] Q2Q [16] Opinion Want to subscribe to All Stages? Become a member of Theatre Alberta at theatrealberta.com/membership and receive all three issues of our publication, plus access to our library, professional development programs and production resources! Publications Mail Agreement Number 40051164 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Theatre Alberta Centre Page Percy 3rd Floor, 11759 Groat Road Edmonton, AB T5M 3K6 Theatre Alberta is a Provincial Arts Service Organization and registered Canadian charity committed to encouraging the growth of theatre in Alberta. All Stages Magazine is a publication of Theatre Alberta issued three times a year. The opinions and views expressed in All Stages Magazine are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Theatre Alberta. Subscribe to All Stages Magazine by becoming a member of Checkin Theatre Alberta at theatrealberta.com/membership. Read past issues and view exclusive online content at One of my first tasks, after recently joining theatrealberta.com/all-stages. All Stages Magazine the Theatre Alberta team, as Programmer, was EDITOR to help facilitate our biennial playwriting Frazer Andrews – [email protected] DESIGN conference PlayWorks Ink, which was co- Perpetual Notion Design Inc. – [email protected] presented with Alberta Playwrights’ Network Advertising Ads are booked at the discretion of Theatre Alberta. and The Banff Centre. While there, I had the For details on advertising rates and dimensions, please visit theatrealberta.com/all-stages. Contact Aaron Talbot at pleasure of meeting many Albertans writing and [email protected] for more information or to book an ad. creating plays—they ranged from the seasoned professional Ad Submission Deadlines January 15 for Spring 2014 edition to the curious and adventurous first timer. I was absolutely inspired July 15 for Fall 2014 edition by their desire to learn at any age or ability and the simple act of wanting October 15 for Winter 2013 edition Next Issue to grow at all stages. I see playwriting/making/creation as the seed of the medium Spring 2014: Training Letters and idea submissions for articles or online content of theatre. Where would we be without these purposeful creative individuals? are welcome. Theatre Alberta Library Hours So now that Playworks Ink is over and we have descended from the Rockies, Mondays 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays I am beginning to settle into my new role at Theatre Alberta. I start my journey 10:00 am to 3:00 pm as All Stages Editor by exploring that seed of the theatrical process: we look at Theatre Alberta Office and Library Closures December 21 – January 5 (Winter Holiday Break) the playwright as creator, those that draw on vast sources, compile, focus, and February 15 – 17 (Family Day) create theatre. Theatre Alberta Board of Directors If you have questions or comments regarding Theatre Alberta, we invite you to contact Theatre Alberta Board Members at We’ve taken the word ‘wright’ and separated it from playwright to link back to its [email protected]. origins. Wright is an old English word related to occupational trades, shipwright or PRESIDENT Jeremy Mason ~ Lethbridge wheelwright for example, its root meaning is to craft, make, or build. Be it a ship, VICE PRESIDENT wheel, or play, to ‘wright’ something requires great practice, effort, and skill. Lynda Adams ~ Red Deer TREASURER In the following pages we highlight methods and origins of playwriting in our Claude Giroux ~ Fort McMurray SECRETARY province. We are fortunate to glimpse the processes of two very talented theatre Kristen Finlay ~ Edmonton creators in our newest regular feature, Foils: acclaimed improviser/creator PAST PRESIDENT Michele Fleiger ~ Edmonton Rebecca Northan and Governor General’s Award nominated playwright Meg DIRECTORS . Our Technical Editor takes us stagecraft troubleshooting Michelle Brandenburg ~ Calgary Braem Scott Peters Cyril Cook ~ Grande Prairie on a challenging new script in production. Offering some insightful counsel Stacy Fysh ~ Edmonton Kevin Rothery ~ Calgary on adaptation is Theatre Calgary’s Shari Watling. Drama Professor Robin Nathan Schmidt ~ Rosebud Elizabeth Wilkie ~ Edmonton Whittaker pulls back the curtain on Alberta’s history of new play development Theatre Alberta Staff in ‘nonprofessionalized’ theatres. We turn the tables and have Calgary actor EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Keri Mitchell – [email protected] Braden Griffths give us his perspective on the workshop process. Drama OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Teacher Pamela Schmunk takes us to school on the playwriting component Maura Penn – [email protected] PROGRAMMER of the Senior High curriculum. Playwright and Concrete Theatre Co-Artistic Frazer Andrews – [email protected] Director Mieko Ouchi gives us her opinion on the potential of theatre for COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Aaron Talbot – [email protected] young audiences as a social catalyst. We are proud to share excerpts of the ARTSTREK DIRECTOR winning plays from the 2013 Alberta Playwriting Competition by Katherine Marie Gynane-Willis – [email protected] LIBRARIANS Koller and Ryan Reese in our Sides feature. Solveig Anderson and Becca Barrington – [email protected] FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR I want to humbly thank my new colleagues at Theatre Alberta for their sage Zenovia Adams advice and constant support in the process of bringing this, my first, issue Change of address information and undeliverable copies to: Theatre Alberta Society to print. It would not have been possible without them. 3rd Floor Percy Page Centre 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton AB T5M 3K6 Phone: 780-422-8162 Fax: 780-422-2663 FRAZER ANDREWS Toll Free: 1-888-422-8160 Email: [email protected] EDITOR Web: www.theatrealberta.com Charitable Registration Number 10669 3039 RR0001 s t t se n a Lost A Memoir Jail Baby Jim Forgetting e Cathy Ostlere and Hope McIntyre Col Cseke l Dennis Garnhum and Cairn Moore e Rece R jgshillingford.com Miss Caledonia Café Daughter Jake’s Gift Melody A. Johnson Kenneth T. Williams Julia Mackey Wrighting Plays Kristjanna Grimmelt, Co-playwright, Grande Prairie Century Play Kristjanna Grimmelt is a writer, educator, and the former editor of the Peace River Gazette. She is researcher and co-playwright of the Grande Prairie Century Play, a community play which has been in development since June 2012 to celebrate the centennial of the City of Grande Prairie, in 2014. The concept of the community play was developed by the Colway Theatre Trust (UK). The process involves using a core group of artists to help develop, create, and produce a play with community members, drawing from the history of area. The Grande Prairie Century Play will be performed June 12-15, 2014 at Muskoseepi Park in Grande Prairie. We had such a great discussion with Kristjanna that we expanded Community Profile for this Kristjanna Grimmelt. issue of All Stages... and we still weren't able to capture the entire conversation. To read the Supplied. full interview, visit www.theatrealberta.com/all-stages. The play is set to encompass 100 years The community play model is a two-year volunteer actors to read each Act. They of history: can you comment on the process. How has it been seeing the and the audience members then gave us challenges of selecting significant project evolve from the ground up? detailed feedback on what they felt was historical details and finding a narrative working or not working. The feedback has Personally, it’s been a huge commitment to that links them together? led to significant revisions and additions to the project and to the Grande Prairie area. the script. Choosing which events to include is a I had only been here a year when I agreed process of determining which are most to contribute, first as a researcher and then Given your background in journalism, how impactful in our area’s history, such as the as co-playwright with Catherine McLaughlin. have you found tackling the playwriting natural human and environmental tensions Sometimes I marvel at how long I’ve been process (on such a grand(e) scale)? created by the evolution of our primary involved and how well I’ve come to know I do think my work in journalism taught economic base: from farming to forestry to this community. I’m also seeing the project me lessons that every writer needs: that oil and gas development. We also looked at emerge from the heart and mind of our accuracy, thoroughness, and timeliness stories we heard from residents and tried Artistic Director, Annie Smith. This has are critical no matter what the genre. to weave in different historical events, become a huge collective project that new I felt extremely fulfilled when I worked as a such as destitute men who came to Grande people of all ages are getting involved in. journalist and I think that’s because I was Prairie during the Great Depression and I’m seeing the strengthening of art, theatre, doing what I loved (writing), completing attended a homestead party. and community in an area that is still very projects that had meaning for people, new itself.