Hart House Players Exec

April 30, 2012
Hi everyone,
 
The Hart House Players is about to start its second year, but first we’ve got an executive to fill. We are looking for people interested in the positions of: 
Artistic Director
Producer
Company Manager
Technical Director
PR Manager
 
Below, I’ve included a brief overview of the role of each member of the executive. If you are interested in applying for any position, please send a theatrical resume to jeremy.hutton@utoronto.caindicating the position you are interested in applying for. Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to working with you.
 
Artistic Director:
 Conceives of, and oversees the implementation of the entire artistic vision of the company for the season. Will work with the AD of Hart House Theatre for mentorship and advice. Working with the Technical Director and the Company Manager, the AD is in charge of hiring all members of the artistic team for each
show, as well as leading the script selection process. The AD should attend weekly meetings, would be acclaimed to the Hart House Theatre Standing Committee as a member of the Hart House Players sub-committee and is responsible for reporting to the Hart house Theatre Standing Committee on all sub-committee artistic dealings at bi-monthly meetings. Will also work with the producer and company manager to finalize all marketing and publicity decisions and contribute to the social media for the group (most notably through a blog). In general, the AD will not have a strong presence in the process of each show once the script and artistic team have been selected, but
will be available to them for artistic consultation. 
The Assistant Artistic Director shares the AD’s responsibilities and helps them with completing specific tasks, developing the artistic vision of the season and choosing the scripts and artistic team for each show.
 
Producer:
Oversees all major financial arrangements for the company such as the annual budget, grant applications and fundraisers. The producer will work closely with the general manager for mentorship and advice. Responsible for major areas of communication between members of the company as well as to external parties that may be interested in
getting involved with the company or have some relation to the company (e.g. sponsors or agencies approving grants). The producer should attend weekly meetings, would be acclaimed to the Hart House Theatre Standing Committee as a member of the Hart House Players sub-committee and is responsible for reporting to the Hart house Theatre Standing Committee on all sub-committee artistic dealings at bi-monthly meetings. Supervises (and recruits) all administrative staff.
 
Technical Director:
  Working closely with the technical director of Hart House Theatre, the technical director is responsible for ensuring that all technical staff for all shows understands how to work the equipment of the theatre and that they treat it with care. Should be readily available during tech week and the show’s run for technical consultation, supervision and to take over any roles that need to be filled. Works with the artistic director, producer and company manager to
appoint technical staff.
The Assistant Technical Director works closely with the TD, taking on the same set of responsibilities. The ATD is also present during the major technical dates of each show, ensuring all technical equipment is handled with safety and proficiency.
 
Company Manager:
Works with both the production team and the company executive to schedule rehearsals and production meetings and to ensure that all production deadlines are met within budget and at the satisfaction of the artistic team. Will also work closely with the general manager of Hart House Theatre, assisting with budget and communication tasks as well as overall administrative tasks to do with the company.
 
PR Manager:
In charge of the bulk of marketing, advertising and social media; includes working with the general manager and artistic director of Hart House to conceive of all marketing materials, writing all press releases, gathers content for the website and serves as the main contributor to Twitter and Facebook.

TCDS Director Submissions

April 7, 2012

The TCDS has reopened submissions for their Fall production! If anyone was looking to direct a play for the TCDS’ 2012-2013 season, the attached proposal form is due by Thursday April 12th at midnight. Submissions can be e-mailed to trinity.dramatic.society@gmail.com or placed in the TCDS mailbox in the Trinity Porter’s Lodge. There will then be an interview the following day to discuss your proposal.


And the winners are…

April 6, 2012

Congratulations to all the nominees from the DCAs! The awards night was a great success (if we do say so ourselves), and we hope you all enjoyed the night. If you missed it, here are the winners of each category:

  • Best Production – Our Town
  • Best Director – Christopher Mastropietro for Our Town
  • Best Lead Actor – Matthew Lawrence as Algernon in Importance of Being Earnest
  • Best Lead Actress – Louisa Zhu in 4.48 Psychosis
  • Best Lead Actor in a Musical – Bruce Scavuzzo as Link in Hairspray
  • Best Lead Actress in Musical – Victoria McEwan as Tracy in Hairspray
  • Best Supporting Actor – Jesse Watts as Mr Webb in Our Town
  • Best Supporting Actress – Soha Ghanei as Lady Bracknell in Importance of Being Earnest
  • Best Supporting Actor in a Musical – Colin Asuncion as Seaweed in Hairspray
  • Best Supporting Actress in a Musical – Liz Laywine as Cousin Karen in The Who’s Tommy
  • Best Costumes – Alex Vass for Our Town
  • Best Scenic Design – George Quan for Our Town
  • Technical Achievement – Trevor Guyton for Lighting Design & Amr Dodin, Gillian Scott and Mikhail Amyn for Sound Design & Tech for Spring Awakening
  • Award of Merit – Original Production: A Ladylike Murder
  • Award of Merit – Chorus Ensemble of God: A Play
  • Award of Merit – Louisa Zhu for Fight Choreography for A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Thank you again to the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, Doug Floyd & Jeremy Hutton, the Coalition reps and the Academy members.


Thank you!

April 3, 2012

We’d like to send out a big thank you to the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, who have agreed to support the Drama Coalition Awards this year. We couldn’t do it without them!


And the Awards of Merit go to…

April 2, 2012

“WHAT?!”

Yes! That’s right. We’re releasing the winners of the Awards of Merit! We want to make sure everyone gets their moment if they can’t make the night, and since there are no nominations for the Awards of Merit, we figured we’d shine the light on these talented people a little sooner.

“BUT I WANT IT TO BE A SURPRISE!”

Yes, yes, we know we’re ruining the surprise. Some people are even willing to run from the room covering their ears when we talk about winners at meetings. So we’ll keep it spoiler-free:

If you want to see who’s winning, click here. If you don’t want to know, click here to look at a cute puppy instead.


Awards Nominations

March 24, 2012

And the nominees are…

Technical Achievement

  • Spring Awakening (TCDS) for sound & lighting
  • Our Town (VCDS) for lighting
  • Hairspray (SMC) for lighting
  • 4.48 Psychosis (TCDS) for sound design
  • A Ladylike Murder (VCDS) for lighting
Best Costumes
  • The Who’s Tommy (UC Follies)
  • Our Town (VCDS)
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • A Ladylike Murder (VCDS)
  • Hairspray (SMC)
Best Scenic Design
  • 4.48 Psychosis (TCDS)
  • Our Town (VCDS)
  • Taming of the Shrew (VCDS)
  • The Importance of Being Earnest (New)
  • Salome (UTMDC)
Best Supporting Actor in a Musical
  • Colin Asuncion as Seaweed in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Michael Welch as Edna in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Duncan Derry as Uncle Ernie in The Who’s Tommy (UC Follies)
  • Spencer Sawyer as Ernst in Spring Awakening (TCDS)
  • Peter Grant Mackechnie as Corny Collins in Hairspray (SMC)
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical
  • Amanda Greer as The Adult Women in Spring Awakening (TCDS)
  • Arina Turulja as Penny in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Megan Anderson as Amber in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Liz Laywine as Cousin Karen in The Who’s Tommy (UC Follies)
  • Megan Maeve McCarthy as Margaret in A Ladylike Murder (VCDS)
Best Supporting Actor in a Play
  • Jesse Watts as Mr Webb in Our Town (VCDS)
  • Bruce Scavuzzo as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Matthew McGrath as Merriman/Lane in The Importance of Being Earnest (New)
  • Arun Radhakrishnan as Hepatitis in God: A Play (TCDS)
  • Matthew Pellow in 4.48 Psychosis (TCDS)
Best Supporting  Actress in a Play
  • Soha Ghanei as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest (New)
  • Lauren Goodman as Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Siobhan O’Malley as The Page in Salome (UTMDC)
  • Heather Carlson as Trania in The Taming of the Shrew (VCDS)
  • Clara Pasieka as Mrs Webb in Our Town (VCDS)
Best Lead Actor in a Musical
  • Matthew Lawrence as Captain Walker in The Who’s Tommy (UC Follies)
  • Bruce Scavuzzo as Link in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Cameron Reed as Melchior in Spring Awakening (TCDS)
  • Eric Synott as Bruce Fidele in A Ladylike Murder (VCDS)
  • Peter Grant Mackechnie as Brad in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (UC Follies)
Best Lead Actress in a Musical
  • Victoria McEwan as Tracy in Hairspray (SMC)
  • Meredith Free as Mrs. Walker in The Who’s Tommy (UC Follies)
  • Melissa Ringuette as Elaine in A Ladylike Murder (VCDS)
  • Kelsey Crowe as Wendla in Spring Awakening (TCDS)
Best Lead Actor in a Play
  • Matthew Lawrence as Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest (New)
  • Calvin Akler as George in Our Town (VCDS)
  • Franco Recchia as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Nick Duranleau as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Shak Haq as Kaylarino in The Taming of the Shrew (VCDS)
Best Lead Actress in a Play
  • Megan Ready-Walters as Emily in Our Town (VCDS)
  • Clara Pasieka as Petruchia in The Taming of the Shrew (VCDS)
  • Alaine Hutton as Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Louisa Zhu in 4.48 Psychosis (TCDS)
  • Kelsey Murphy as Salome in Salome (UTMDC)
Best Direction
  • Emily Dix for Hairspray (SMC)
  • Shakir Haq for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Chris Mastropietro for Our Town (VCDS)
  • Brian Postalian for Salome (UTMDC)
  • Patrick Kelly for 4.48 Psychosis (TCDS)
Best Production
  • Our Town (VCDS)
  • Hairspray (SMC)
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream (UC Follies)
  • Spring Awakening (TCDS)
  • The Importance of Being Earnest (New Faces)
Don’t forget there will also be two Awards of Merit that will be given out at the Awards ceremony.

VCDS Director Proposals

March 17, 2012

If you’re interested in directing a show for Vic for their season next year, here’s how to apply!

  1. Click here for an online application, or pick up a paper application outside the VUSAC office.
  2. Fill out the form and then submit the application with one hard copy of the script to the VCDS mailbox in the VUSAC office and email one electronic copy to producer@vcds.ca

Applications are due April 5.


Festival Remount

March 17, 2012

UTM is remounting their award winning shows from this year’s drama festival. Come see Trail of Embrace, Twilight Solider and Days Like These on April 4 at the MiST Theatre. $2 for UTMDC members and $5 general admission. Show starts at 7:15 sharp!

Details on Facebook.


The Drama Coalition Awards

March 14, 2012

As you may have read in an earlier post, there have been some requests for us to consider adding some categories to the DCAs. While we had intended to start small and grow from here, we want to make sure that everyone is getting the recognition that they deserve. We also want to make sure that any categories added can be appropriately decided upon, and that the Academy will have been taking adequate notes on the relevant areas to give out nominations in any new category.

In light of these considerations the Drama Coalition has decided to add the categories of Best Supporting Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

We’re excited to be able to recognize more students at U of T for their hard work across the year. We look forward to seeing you all at the Awards night on April 5! (Check back to our Facebook page soon for details!)


TCDS wants you!

March 7, 2012

Hello theatre lover/future director,

Have you ever thought about directing your own show? Well now is your opportunity! The Trinity College Dramatic Society is currently asking for people to submit proposals for our Fall, Winter, and Spring shows, as well as Shakespeare in the Quad.

If you have a play or musical in mind or would like to direct a Shakespeare play for our annual outdoor Shakespeare in the Quad performance, then submit the attached proposal form (paper copies can be found in the Trinity Porter’s Lodge) by MONDAY APRIL 2ND at midnight to the TCDS mailbox in the Trinity Porter’s Lodge or via e-mail. Your proposal will then be discussed at a meeting on FRIDAY APRIL 6TH, where you will present your proposal.

Best of luck,
Bryn Orth-Lashley & Daniel Bennett