e g a n S WINTER 2007 e d y d l t i o e i H o c h o s c S n S s o e ' i h r n t t g e c i a u e r d d H h l i o s T e r ll h P i t g s C d t H e i h t r g g u r i n Q e b L i b h t l t n y e & u t A ie t L for all stages s H c a S f G 5 o o 7 S n rs e re o y e r t ti it y at a a s la e he i r P h T oc e re T e ss iv nt rs us A n e ye o e U C Pla ph tr ow re m ea re t R at Pu h nt n he es l T e Fro T nc ica C re eak ma us ff eat rs P for M an Th aye Per rard B Exit e Pl asus he he ire entr Peg y S l T ool F w C atre ciet oo Sch t Ro The newsrs So Sch n e High Fro manc Playe igh tholic ollegePerfor town st H ert Ca ain Cabbit Sheep lhur St Alb Mo Yuenltlow R uild l Coa School e aRdoercsk yO ne Players G estiva ve Lake Musical Theatre Assoc briodsgitee HSti gJahmes Phleaayt rRe on Theatre PLAY F ers Sla iatiSoghnoeSepcrpsh aorofd LCeothmp y Scorpio Tadow Theatre Visi rray inter Play ouse Theatreer s R oPslsa y rths e aRlt ra ep i Sd o c FWiierte tTashkeiawtirne Sh rs Fort McMu illow rriage H e Play olilneg eA T Theatre Society/Water Works Playe d W l Ca e Tre eerfro Crm Re hoo Pin Rede D Pe h Sc eatre nt o f th Hig Th tme y th oup epar dem be Gr s D ca liza ers Art A E lay ing ol en y P rm ho ue ne rfo Sc Q d Pe h ew ge ig D olle H C or eer ni D Ju ed ic R ol h inside at C in ev K t S What’s New at Theatre Alberta 3. Tales from the Stacks 3. Meet the Board 4. Kickstart in the Arts 5. The Show Must Go On? 7. Franco-Albertan Theatre 8. Leaving the Drama on Stage 11. Albertans Abroad 12. Widows & Orphans 14. The Buzz 15. STEVE JODOIN IN COW-BOY POETRÉ, PRESENTED BY L’UNITHÉÂTRE. STORY ON PAGE 8. PHOTOGRAPH BY ED ELLIS 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. 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 (300 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 necessarily reflect those of Theatre Alberta. check-in Office and Library hours Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Holidays Office and Library closed December 22–January 2 An important milestone (Christmas/New Year’s) and February 16–18 (Family Day). for Theatre Alberta took place at the end of September.Safe Stages, our resource binder Theatre Alberta News for health and safety in theatre and developed in collaboration with Alberta Employment, EDITOR Jill Connell [email protected] Immigration and Industry, was officially launched in both Edmonton and Calgary. DESIGNER Carey van Eden [email protected] And grand occasions they were! We were fortunate to have both the Northern and Southern Submission deadlines and publication dates January 25 for February 29, 2008 Jubilee Auditoriums offer to host the launches. As approximately 80 of us sat on the stage of April 25 for May 30, 2008 the Jube in Edmonton with the house providing a stunning backdrop, I really did have one July 11 for August 22, 2008 October 17 for November 21, 2008 of those moments when the stars aligned and all was right with the world. Advertising rates Safe Stages has been an immensely challenging project and it was wonderful to celebrate its Back Cover (11” high x 6.5” wide) $275 Full Page (9.5” high x 7” wide) $200 launch with so many supporters. Half Page (4.625” high x 7” wide) $120 Quarter Page (2.25” high x 7” wide) $80 We were so pleased to host special guests Janet Sellery, Health and Safety Manager of the Ads are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis and space is limited. Book ad space at least one month Stratford Shakespeare Festival of Canada and Monona Rossol, President and founder of prior to the submission deadline. Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety and Health and Safety Director for IATSE Local 829 in New Theatre Alberta Board of Directors York. I found them to be both inspiring and challenging. They provided an affirmation If you have questions or concerns regarding Theatre Alberta, you are welcome to contact Theatre Alberta Board members. that what we had accomplished was important and useful, while letting us know that there Officers PRESIDENT remains a great deal more work to do. Mary-Ellen Perley ~ Edmonton [email protected] VICE PRESIDENT They spoke eloquently and passionately about the importance of health and safety and Jane Heather ~ Edmonton [email protected] TREASURER provided us with real impetus to continue moving forward with the hard work of creating Russell Thomas ~ Fort McMurray [email protected] policy and providing ongoing training. SECRETARY David Owen ~ Edmonton [email protected] It is heartening to learn that Safe Stages is having an impact not only in Alberta, but Directors Gail Hanrahan ~ Lethbridge [email protected] also across Canada. We know that B.C.’s Safety and Health in Arts, Production and Karen Johnson-Diamond ~ Calgary [email protected] Entertainment (SHAPE), who were so generous about allowing us to draw from a number Andrea Martinuk ~ Edmonton [email protected] Steve McHugh ~ Wetaskiwin [email protected] of their excellent publications, are hoping to use some sections of Safe Stages for a new Kevin McKendrick ~ Calgary [email protected] Steve Penman ~ High River [email protected] publication. Janet Sellery recently told us that she was using Safe Stages for some of her Harold Truckle ~ Red Deer [email protected] teaching work at the National Theatre School, University of Waterloo, and York University. Staff EXEC U TIVE DIRECTOR Marie Gynane-Willis [email protected] Timing is everything and with the completion of this phase of Safe Stages, long-time Theatre OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Alberta employee, Keri Ekberg, resigned from her position as Program Coordinator. In some Kate Mahoney (Janice Hoover on leave) [email protected] ways her departure made sense—Keri had played a crucial role in the development and writing PROGRAM COORDINATOR of Safe Stages and we had just finished the launch. Keri’s contribution to Theatre Alberta over Vanessa Sabourin [email protected] PROGRAMMER the past five years has been most significant. Although we are sad to see her go, we wish her Jill Connell [email protected] ADMINISTRATOR every success in her new job as Artistic Associate at the Citadel Theatre. Julie Sinclair [email protected] LIBRARIANS We warmly welcome Vanessa Sabourin as Theatre Alberta’s new Program Coordinator. Solveig Anderson and Brenda Sutherland [email protected] Vanessa brings a wealth of theatre training with her, a background as a professional actor, FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR and a recent 6-month stint as an Administrative Intern at the Centre for Performance Zenovia Adams Research in Aberystwyth, Wales. Change of address information and undeliverable copies to: Theatre Alberta Society 3rd Floor Percy Page Centre December and a myriad of festivities is almost upon us. As I think about 2008, I hope the year 11759 Groat Road, Edmonton AB T5M 3K6 brings excellent health for our provincial theatre community and a plethora of opportunities for Phone: (780) 422-8162 Fax: (780) 422-2663 Toll Free: 1-888-422-8160 [email protected] the making and consumption of great theatre. www.theatrealberta.com MARIE GYNANE-WILLIS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2. winter 2007 WHAT’S NEW AT THEATRE ALBERTA THE EVOLUTION OF PLAY MEET MADDY—CANADA DAY FIRECRACKER! We’re delighted to report that our fifth annual Madeline Josephine came rushing into the world on July 1, 2007 at 7 lb PlayWorks Ink theatre conference event, 8 oz. We suspect her two year old brother Thomas should be able to do co-presented with Alberta Playwrights’ Network, was a magnificent success! From the majority of the babysitting. Meanwhile, Theatre Alberta Administra- November 1-4, the Glenbow Museum in down- tor Janice Hoover has been on maternity leave since late June, claiming town Calgary was overrun with 70 participants, to be occupied with something. Congratulations to Janice & Al! Not all 16 instructors and special guests, four casts and of us look this cute in a pink rabbit jumper. crews, and many a supporter in the audience, as theatre practitioners from across Alberta took part in workshops, play readings, panel discussions, and socials. Featured guests Morwyn Brebner and Kevin Kerr were intelligent, inspiring, and generous, both performing outstanding readings at our opening reception and dishing out insights and advice in workshops and panel discussions throughout the weekend.