WODL

  
   Newsletter April 2016

In this issue:
Quick Links


 WODL website   WODL on Facebook   WODL board
 

WODL Festival 2016 Awards

Ron Cameron-Lewis during his final public adjudication on Friday 18 March 2016 (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)

THE ANNE WILSON AWARD
 
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
The Gift of Theatre Woodstock
 
Nominations:
  • Jaime Doucet as Candy in Suburban Standoff presented by Elmira Theatre Company
  • Andrea Hughes Coleman as Dr. Gertie Ladenburger in 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
  • Ashley Grech as Cynthia, Sherrie and Leslie in All the King's Women presented by London Community Players
 
Awarded to Ashley Grech for creating an emotional journey in all three characters
 
 
THE PLAYERS GUILD AWARD
 
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
The Gift of The Players Guild of Hamilton
 
Nominations:
  • Shane Davis as Anton Schindler in 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
  • Stephen Flindall as Announcer, Paul and Eddie in All the King's Women presented by London Community Players
  • Darryl Heater as Mike Clark in 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
 
Awarded to Shane Davis for strong stage presence coupled with solid vocal delivery
 
 
THE GARY CHAPMAN AWARD
 
Best Co-ordinated Production (selected by Host Group Stage Manager)
The gift of Guelph Little Theatre
 
Awarded by Rob Coles to Theatre Sarnia
 
 
THE SPANIK AWARD
 
Best Visual Production
The Gift of John and Michelle Spanik
 
Nominations:
  • Suburban Standoff presented by Elmira Theatre Company for the coordination of set design (Phil Dietrich), costumes (Kimberley Young) and lighting design (John Leclair)
  • The Drawer Boy for set concept by Julie Wheeler Bryant and set décor and finishing by Maggie Parent, presented by Elora Community Theatre
  • All the King's Women presented by London Community Players for set design (Mark Mooney), set décor (Pat Bell, Ken Johnston), costume design (Margaret Bildy), properties (Jeanne Quarrie), makeup design (Susan Hillis) and hair design (Dianne Taylor)
 
Awarded to All the King's Women presented by London Community Players for visual detail through the decades as we all took a trip down memory lane
 
 
THE HAROLD P. SELLERS MEMORIAL AWARD
 
Outstanding Technical Achievement
The Gift of Theatre Burlington
 
Awarded to Theatre Sarnia's production of 33 Variations, specifically for set design (Jen Paquette) and projections (Ian Alexander and Alexandra Westelaken) - for creating a flexible playing area that provided fluid acting space and kept us grounded in the right century at all times
 
 
THE BONANNO AWARD
 
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Major Role
The Gift of Lawrence and Fay Bonanno
 
Nominations:
  • Audrey Hummelen as Dr. Katharine Brandt in 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
  • Deanna Stevens as Lenore in Whole Lotto Love presented by Simcoe Little Theatre
  • Chris Grose as Nancy in Suburban Standoff presented by Elmira Theatre Company
 
Awarded to Audrey Hummelen for her nuanced portrayal of the progression of ALS and for her radiant warmth in the Beethoven moments
 
 
THE TERRY DOYLE MEMORIAL AWARD
 
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Major Role
The Gift of Joyce Doyle
 
Nominations:
  • Tom Bolton as Hank in Suburban Standoff presented by Elmira Theatre Company
  • Gary Bryant as Morgan in The Drawer Boy presented by Elora Community Theatre
  • Kym Wyatt McKenzie as Dwight in Whole Lotto Love presented by Simcoe Little Theatre,
 
Awarded to Tom Bolton for his stage presence and his impeccable delivery of comic lines
 
 
THE PAT & VINCENT MATHEWSON MEMORIAL AWARD
 
Outstanding Ensemble Work
The Gift of Lyn Mathewson
 
Nominations:
  • The cast of The Drawer Boy presented by Elora Community Theatre
  • The cast of Whole Lotto Love presented by Simcoe Little Theatre
  • From the production of All the King's Women presented by London Community Players, Mary Jane Walzak, Ruth Korchuk, and Catharine Sullivan
 
Awarded to Mary Jane Walzak, Ruth Korchuk, and Catharine Sullivan for stunning character work in "When Nixon Met Elvis" and "Warhol Explains Art to Elvis"
 
 
SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR AWARDS
 
1.
Awarded to  Cy Giacomin, the pianist in  33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia for superb rendition of Beethoven's music providing an emotional through-line to the show

2.
Awarded to  Barbara Kidd , the Fiddler in  The Drawer Boy  presented by Elora Community Theatre, for grounding us in the world of the play

3.
Awarded to The WODL family and company of Whole Lotto Love for "The Show Must Go On" spirit

4.
Awarded to  Jackie Burns  of  33 Variations  presented by Theatre Sarnia for delightful period choriography

5.
Awarded to  Michael Grant  of Elmira Theatre Company for skill in wearing two hats, playwright and director of  Suburban Standoff

6.

Awarded to Brandon Maxwell as Ty for the skillful handling of a weapon on stage in Suburban Standoff presented by Elmira Theatre Company 


 

 

THE ANNA GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD
 
Outstanding Direction
The Gift of Lloyd and Carol Lindsay
 
Nominations:
  • Sue Perkins, director of All the King's Women presented by London Community Players
  • Matthew R. Willson, director of Whole Lotto Love presented by Simcoe Little Theatre
  • Henri Canino, director of 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
 
Awarded to Henri Canino for her vision of these two worlds, for impressive research, for sensitive direction and for an unforgettable emotional roller-coaster ride
 
 
THE D. PARK JAMIESON MEMORIAL AWARD
 
Best Production in Festival
The Gift of Theatre Sarnia
 
Awarded to: 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia
 
 
W.O.D.L. REGIONAL TROPHY
 
Presented by WODL to the Winner of the Best Production
(Presented annually and kept by the winning group for  one year)
 
Awarded to: 33 Variations presented by Theatre Sarnia

The cast of 33 Variations

Festival Week Review from the Woodstock Sentinel-Review

Theatre Sarnia's production chosen to progress to Theatre Ontario Festival as Western Ontario Drama League Theatre Festival ends for another year 

By Megan Stacey, Woodstock Sentinel-Review

Actors, directors and theatre crews from across the province converged on Woodstock last week as an annual theatre festival took over the local arts scene.

The Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Theatre Festival wrapped up with an awards banquet on Saturday night.

The weeklong festival saw five different theatre companies launch productions in the Market Centre Theatre, one each night from Monday to Friday, along with in-depth adjudications, daily workshops, and a whole lot of community building.

To read the rest of the article click here.
Festival 2016 Pictures
Click here to view photos of the Festival 2016 Awards Gala from Theatre Woodstock's album.

Michael Grant, director of Suburban Standoff (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)




Sue Perkins, director of All the King's Women (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)




Julie Wheeler Bryant, director of The Drawer Boy (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)
 



Matthew Willson, director, and Kevin Land, author, of Whole Lotto Love (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)



Henri Canino, director of 33 Variations (Photo: Bonnie Hartley)
WODL Festival 2017 - Guelph
By Dennis Johnson, Chair Festival 2017


Plans are afoot for Festival 2017 which will be hosted by the Guelph Little Theatre. It will be a year of celebration in Canada - the 150th Anniversary of Confederation. A Canadian milestone.  Our festival adjudicator will be Bea Quarrie, well-known to WODL members. But, you may be less familiar with Lindsay Price, our preliminary (travelling) adjudicator who will see all the IN- and OUT-of-Festival productions, and select the final five for the 2017 festivities.

Most of the adjudicators we know have found their way to this job through acting, directing, stage managing, designing, or a combination of any-or-all of the above. Only a few adjudicators have followed the path of the playwright. Lindsay Price may indeed be the best-kept secret in Canadian play writing. You may know her as the adjudicator/facilitator at Mini-Fest 2014 in Elmira.

Some community theatres are familiar with her longer works. But EVERY secondary school on the continent knows who Lindsay Price is. She has published over 60 plays, most of them one-acts and most of them published on-line by her company, Theatrefolk. Her works average over 400 productions a year. She has adjudicated festivals and conducted workshops throughout the United States and Canada. She is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Educational Theatre Association, and the Talent Bank of Theatre Ontario.

You can read more about Lindsay on her website, www.lindsay-price.com
Theatre Ontario Festival 2016 - May 18 to 22 2016 - North Bay






The annual Theatre Ontario Festival is:
  • showcase of outstanding community theatre productions
     
  • classroom for passionate, dedicated community theatre artists
     
  • celebration of excellence in community theatre
     
  • destination bringing together theatre lovers from across the province


Hosts

Theatre Ontario Festival 2016 is co-hosted by Theatre Ontario, Gateway Theatre Guild, and QUONTA.

Performances

The Festival Theatre is the St. Joseph-Scollard Hall C.S.S. Auditorium.

Festival Passes of tickets for all four shows are $96. Individual tickets are $24 each.

Festival Awards Brunch tickets are $30 each.


For more information, please contact  [email protected] 

Date
Production
Theatre
Association

Wednesday, May 18
7:30pm
Curved by Kristin Shepherd
Gateway Theatre Guild
(North Bay)
QUONTA
(Northeastern Ontario)

Thursday, May 19
7:30pm
TBA
TBA
(Eastern Ontario)

Friday, May 20
7:30pm
33 Variations by Moises Kaufman
Theatre Sarnia

(Southwestern Ontario)
Saturday, May 21
7:30pm
TBA
TBA

(Greater Toronto Area
and Central Ontario)
 

Education


Date Event
Thursday, May 19
10:00 AM
Detailed Adjudication of QUONTA entry
Thursday, May 19
1:30 PM
Comedy Scene Study workshop, with Michelle Jackett-Webster
Friday, May 20
10:00 AM
Detailed Adjudication of EODL entry
Friday, May 20
1:30 PM
Playwright-in-Person, with Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Saturday, May 21
10:00 AM
Detailed Adjudication of WODL entry
Saturday, May 21
1:30 PM
Stage Combat 101, with Joshua Bainbridge
Sunday, May 22
10:00 AM
Detailed Adjudication of ACT-CO entry


Adjudicator


Our adjudicator at Theatre Ontario Fesival 2016 is Mimi Mekler.

Mimi Mekler's work as director, actor, dramaturge, writer and adjudicator has taken her from California to Czechoslovakia and Italy to Israel. She is a professor in the Acting Discipline at Sheridan College's Music Theatre Department. She also teaches for the joint Theatre and Drama Studies programme at Sheridan and University of Toronto at Mississauga, and for the Digital Character programme for Sheridan's acclaimed Computer Animation.




Playwright-In-Person


Our Playwright-in-Person at Theatre Ontario Festival 2016 is Donna-Michelle St. Bernard.

Playwright-in-Person brings a professional playwright to Festival communities for script readings, Q&A, and more. Playwright-in-Person is made possible by a grant from the Playwrights Guild of Canada, funded by the Canada Council.




Awards


The Theatre Ontario Festival 2016 Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 22.




Visit North Bay

The Festival Hotel is the Holiday Inn Express,  1325 Seymour Street, North Bay, P1B 9V6

Reservations at 705.476.7700

Room rate is $132/night plus HST, and includes a hot buffet breakfast

Specify "Theatre Ontario Festival" to get the room rate.  Deadline is April 26, 2016.


For More Information

For more information about the Theatre Ontario Festival, please contact Brandon Moore, Community Theatre and Communications Manager, at [email protected] or 416.408.4556 x.13.
Canadian Play Map of Canada

Each month the Playwrights Guild of Canada publishes a map showing which Canadian plays are being produced and where. To see the map for April  click here.
ONstage Theatre Listings

Theatre Ontario publishes an online list of current and upcoming productions by its member groups. To see what is on  click here.
Is your WODL Membership Information Up-to-date?

Are you on the board of a theatre group that belongs to WODL? If your group has:
  • A new President
  • New WODL delegates
  • A new Treasurer
Please let our membership chair, Sue Perkins, know at  [email protected]
Dates for your Diary


18 to 22 May 2016 Theatre Ontario Festival 2016, North Bay.

7 to 13 August 2016 Theatre Ontario Summer Theatre Intensive

13 to 18 March 2017 WODL Festival 2017, Guelph

May 2017 Theatre Ontario Festival 2017, Ottawa
This newsletter was prepared by:  

Tricia Ward
Communications Coordinator
WODL

Western Ontario Drama League | [email protected] | http://www.wodl.on.ca