Western Ontario Drama League | |
- What the Prez Sez
- WODL General Meeting - Sunday 13 April 2025
- Adjudications Update
- Adjudications Schedule
- WODL Festival 2025 - The Bank Theatre Takes Centre Stage!
- The Big Ask- Festival 2026 – Can Your Group or Area Host WODL Festival Next Year?
- Blythe Festival Offer
- Minifest
- Workshops
- Community Theatre in the WODL Region
- What's Happening in the Waterloo-Wellington Region
- What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region
- What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region
- Off the Wall - Summer Courses
- Playwrights Canada Press
- Playwrights Guild of Canada - Canadian Play Outlet
- Concord Theatricals New Plays
- If you are Producing Canadian Plays this Season - Check This Out
- Is your WODL Membership Information Up-to-date?
- Dates for your Diary
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Hi everyone. Hope all is well at your theatres as you work on the final shows of your season. Here at WODL it’s our busiest time of year as we rev up for coming events!
Sun April 6 – Final Preliminary Adjudication takes place.
Sun Apr 13 - General Meeting of Delegates from Member groups - in Leamington and on Zoom. This is where we’ll give you all the info about participating in our Minifest in July. Trevor Smith Diggins will announce all the nominees for the awards. Full details about this meeting are later in this newsletter. Everyone is welcome.
Festival 2025 at The Bank Theatre in Leamington May 14-18. The 3 plays are decided. The tickets are selling well. The Festival committee is amazing and what plans they have for us! Opening Reception Weds night, 3 incredible morning workshops (Thurs-Sat), 3 plays, adjudications you can observe on Fri and Sat afternoon and Sunday morning, and the Awards event Sunday afternoon. Not to mention evening snacks and shenanigans at the hotel into the wee hours. 😊 I can’t wait to see as many of you as possible at Festival.
Want to Participate in our Minifest weekend in July?
Do you have a fun-loving group and a director who wants to learn? Consider putting on the Minifest play – it’s short, and it needs props, costumes and sound, but not lighting or set work. Hear all about it and get to know the script at our April 13 meeting. Spots for several groups to participate.
I look forward to seeing lots of you in April and again in May!
| | WODL General Meeting - Sunday 13 April 2025 | | |
The day is almost here! Delegates from all our WODL member groups will meet on Sunday Apr 13 at 1 p.m. at The Bank Theatre in Leamington. You can come in person or join us on Zoom.
This very interesting meeting includes:
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The usual Delegates meeting with WODL reports, updates and new business.
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Info on our insanely fun summer Minifest workshop! (Binbrook July 25-26)
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Informal read-through of this year’s Minifest script – about 20 minutes long. (This helps groups decide to join the event and put on the show)
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Preliminary Adjudicator Trevor Smith-Diggins makes his announcements of Award Nominations for your out-of- Festival productions.
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Opportunity to check out The Bank Theatre. (Very helpful if you are performing here in May.)
After the announcements we expect a flurry of ticket buying for the Awards Brunch on May 18, where final winners for both out-of-festival and in-festival shows will be announced. Don’t miss out!
Official meeting invites and agendas for April 13 will be sent to each group’s president and WODL delegates in advance. Everyone is welcome to join and listen.
Here is the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4943684165?pwd=K0ZOYllsZzhuL0ljY0xHQjN2Y2Rxdz09&omn=83563369194
In case you need it, Meeting ID: 494 368 4165 Passcode: 242241
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The travelling adjudicator, Trevor Smith Diggins will be at the General meeting in Leamington at the Bank Theatre at 1:00 pm on Sunday April 13. He will announce his picks for nominations but not the winners of all the pre-Festival awards. WODL hopes that many of the nominees will attend Festival in Leamington on the Victoria Day weekend to find out if they won and to collect their award if they won.
In March I attended Sylvia by Gurney put on by the Elgin Theatre Guild in St. Thomas. This play deals with the impact of a man getting a dog who he adores on his marriage. It needs a very good actor to play the dog. Fortunately, it had one. Trevor gave a good adjudication afterwards.
I do not know how I forgot in the last newsletter to mention two plays I saw in February: Owen Sound’s Prelude to a Kiss and Elora’s Diary of Ann Frank. While I had seen each before, I learnt something new from each production. Trevor gave adjudications afterwards that were well received as usual.
There are three adjudications left: Cambridge on Friday, April 4; London Community Players on Saturday April 5 and Guelph on Sunday April 6. ATTEND ONE OR MORE
| | To see the latest adjudications schedule visit the WODL website. |
| WODL Festival 2025 - The Bank Theatre Takes Centre Stage! | | |
We’re in the home stretch! The Western Ontario Drama League Festival 2025 is just around the corner, and excitement is building. If you haven’t booked your accommodations yet, now is the time—book your rooms before it’s too late! Our Festival hotel is the Best Western in Leamington, conveniently located near our host venue, The Bank Theatre.
Festival Lineup
Tickets are moving fast for our three outstanding productions, so don’t wait too long to secure your seats! This year’s Festival features:
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Thursday, May 15 – Forever Love (Elmira Theatre Company)
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Friday, May 16 – My Old Lady (Theatre Woodstock)
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Saturday, May 17 – Halfway There (The Bank Theatre)
For the best experience, consider the Three-Night Package, which includes:
✅ A ticket to all three shows
✅ A $10 concession stand coupon
✅ An invitation to our Opening Reception on Wednesday, May 14, from 6–8 PM
And don’t forget to drop by the Hospitality Room at the Best Western, where you can unwind, chat with fellow theatre lovers, and keep the Festival spirit going late into the night!
Exciting Announcements Ahead!
Mark your calendars for Sunday, April 13, when we’ll reveal the Out-of-Festival nominees. This is always a thrilling moment as we celebrate even more of the incredible theatre happening across our region.
Workshops & Special Events
We have an incredible lineup of workshops this year, led by top professionals in the industry:
🎭 Thursday, May 15, at 10 AM – Playwriting with Paula Wing
Paula Wing is an acclaimed playwright, translator, and educator. Her work has been produced across Canada and internationally. This session is a must for aspiring playwrights looking to refine their craft. A book sale will, also be available after the workshop.
🎭 Friday, May 16, at 10 AM – Acting (Connecting with the script) with Martha Burns
A veteran of Slings & Arrows and a multiple-time Genie, and Gemini, Award winner, Martha Burns brings a wealth of experience to this hands-on acting workshop. Whether you’re an actor or a director, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from one of Canada’s best.
🎭 Saturday, May 17, at 10 AM – Lighting Design with Mark Mooney
Mark Mooney has worked in theatre lighting design for decades, with a focus on how lighting shapes storytelling. This workshop is ideal for tech crews, directors, and anyone curious about the power of stage lighting.
Meet Our Adjudicator: Lyndsay Price
We are thrilled to welcome Lyndsay Price as this year’s festival adjudicator! With a wealth of experience in directing, acting, and adjudicating across Canada, Lyndsay brings keen insight and a deep appreciation for the craft of theatre.
Awards Gala Luncheon – Sunday, May 18, at 1 PM
The Festival wraps up with our Awards Gala Luncheon on Sunday, May 18, at 1 PM—a time to celebrate excellence and recognize the incredible work of our Festival participants.
Everything is coming together for an unforgettable week of theatre, learning, and community. I can’t wait to see you all there!
| | The Big Ask- Festival 2026 – Can Your Group or Area Host WODL Festival Next Year? | | |
We are still seeking a group to be the host for next year - Festival 2026 in (insert your town here). We need to make these plans in the next 60 days. Ideally the next group would visit Leamington in May so they can see a Festival in action to help their planning.
We have approached groups, but so far no takers. As President, I’d ask you to take a minute and read the requirements and benefits, and then give the idea another think within your group.
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The Theatre: Current format is 3 evening productions. The theatre only needs to be available those 3 days. Venue needs to hold at least 150 patrons. 180 or more is better. You need a basic lighting and sound setup – doesn’t have to be state of the art!
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Other Festival Events and Locations: Need a local-ish hotel for visitors, and a couple of meeting rooms are usually used for daytime activities (workshops and adjudications). Need a venue for an awards event – can be a room at the hotel or at a hall offsite.
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Show Me the Money: WODL shares the Festival profits with the host group and usually the event makes money for us both. Our Treasurer helps the group with a budget. Hosting a Festival can really help your group’s finances.
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The Planning: You need a few committed folks to organize the social and theatre logistics. If there are other groups nearby, you may want to work together to co-host.
WODL is really open to what might work with your group – what May dates work for your theatre? How can we assist/partner with you? Can we put you in touch with interested folks in neighbouring groups? If you see obstacles, but are interested, let us know, maybe we can help. One year WODL people ran the Awards Event. One year Guelph and Elmira partnered. One year the host group asked neighbouring groups to look after the social events. Be creative! If you want to chat, please get in touch! President@wodl.on.ca
Your Area VP will be reaching out to ask one more time about this.
Thanks for considering this need.
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Exclusive Offer – Save 20% on Select Blyth Festival Tickets!
The Blyth Festival is thrilled to announce this season’s productions to the Western Ontario Drama League community!
Highlights include the world premiere of a new musical by best-selling author Emma Donoghue, a revival of an Anne Chislett classic, and Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion—a whip-smart comedy full of history, hijinks, and heart.
All Western Ontario community theatre participants can save 20% on select performances using promo code wodl at checkout. This limited-time offer is valid April 4–18. The promo code applies to the following performances:
🎭 The Wind Coming Over the Sea – June 26, 27 & July 11
🎭 Sir John A: Acts of a Gentrified Ojibway Rebellion – June 28, July 10 & 19
🎭 Quiet in the Land – July 3, 10 & 17
You don't need to be a WODL member to use the promo code wodl, so please spread the word to your community theatre participants.
Maximum 12 tickets per person.
This offer expires at 11:59 pm on April 18. No refunds or exchanges. Book now at blythfestival.com or call 519-523-9300.
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Plans are coming along swimmingly for Minifest 2025 - Binbrook on the Rocks - "Drink the Theatre Juice"!! We can't wait to welcome you back to Binbrook after 10 long years. We are adding information to our website: www.binbrooktheatre.ca/minifest as it becomes available. Please check back regularly for updates! Recently we have added a link to the script and information about booking hotel rooms.
One broad change we are making to the process is to make most "paperwork" electronic for 2025. Here is the link to register your group as a participant in Minifest . Weekend workshop tickets and individual show tickets will be available soon on our ticketing platform, or through our box office if necessary.
We are planning a great experience. You won't want to miss it!
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Michael Adams, Senior Director of Marketing and Audience Development for Stratford Festival, has prepared a workshop outlining his marketing ideas. This workshop will be available soon to be viewed by WODL members. Stay tuned for more information in the next newsletter.
Congratulations to Kat Sandler, who led our Playwriter’s Workshop at WODL’s Festival last year. She will be directing Anne of Green Gables at Stratford this season. All the best Kat.
| | Community Theatre in the WODL Region | | |
A good place to find out about what other WODL groups are doing is the WODL Facebook page, WODL | Facebook. Most of the announcements are at fairly short notice, so check in often!
If your group is putting on an event that you would like included in the May newsletter, please send the information to communications@wodl.on.ca.
| | What's Happening in the Waterloo-Wellington Region | | By Bev Dietrich, WODL Area VP Waterloo-Wellington, bev@wodl.on.ca | | |
Ayr Community Theatre
Harvest by Ken Cameron, directed by Sarah Scott runs April 30 – May 4, 2025.
Cambridge Community Players
Rose’s Dilemma by Neil Simon, directed by Jane McWilliams runs April 4-13, 2025. Adjudication is April 4, 2025.
Elmira Theatre Company
Marion Bridge by Daniel MacIvor, directed by Robin Bennett runs April 25-May 4, 2025.
Elora Community Theatre
ECT is hosting Johns’ Boys Welsh Male Voice Choir on April 22, 2025, 2:00 & 8:00 pm at the Fergus Grand Theatre, Fergus, Ontario.
Guelph Little Theatre
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridge) [revised] [again] by Adam Long, Daniel Singer & Jess Winfield, directed by Stephen Sherry runs April 4-6, 11-14, 2025. Adjudication is April 6, 2025.
The Ward One Acts 2025 will be held July 3-6, 2025. There are four original one act plays for this year’s festival. Auditions will be held mid-April.
Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre
Applications are open until April 20, 2025 for participants to take part in The Popcorn Plays Workshop Series. The Popcorn Plays are a programme that combines a series of educational workshops with opportunities to participate in all aspects of a production: as director, actor, stage manager, and technician in a collection of ten-minute plays. The programme will kick off in early May and continue into the summer.
New Works Staged Readings will take place April 16, & 17, 2025. At 7pm a new play by Rachael MacIntosh-Douglas with audience feedback session to follow. At. 8pm Late Comers by Zivy Hardy, directed by Adrienne Dandy with an audience feedback session to follow. Admission is free.
Penny and Pound Theatre Productions
The world premiere of The Return: A Ghost Story by Piper J. Distel and Lori Robinson Distel runs April 10-13, 2025, at KW Little Theatre.
Theatre Wellesley
Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock, directed by Mary Beth Jantzi runs April 24-27, May 1-4 Upstairs at the Wellesley Library.
| | What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region | | |
Theatre Tillsonburg:
Get ready for a night of laughter and mystery at Theatre Tillsonburg!
This hilarious Canadian comedy murder mystery, Habit of Murder, by Joanne Miller, directed by Joe Sheik is hitting the stage, and tickets are NOW ON SALE!
Hockey sticks, bonfires, and a plot twist that’ll keep you guessing! This is unlike anything you've seen before at Theatre Tillsonburg. Don’t miss your chance to experience the fun!
Grab your tickets today at www. theatretillsonburg.com and mark your calendars for May 29-June1 & June 5-8, 2025.
Let’s solve this mystery together!
Theatre Woodstock:
A Rock Sails By by Sean Grennan, directed by Scott Rooney runs April 3-13, 2025.
Astrophysicist Dr. Lynn Cummings has always believed in science over faith in the unknown. But now that her life is changing, the certainty that was once a source of comfort has become a source of emptiness. When an unidentified flying object is sighted heading toward Earth, she grants an interview to a journalist who misquotes her. With her credibility on the line, she invites him to witness the object as it comes closest to the Earth with her. Dr. Cummings hopes it will pass without incident, but there is no telling what she will discover beyond the stars.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
| | What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region | | |
Goderich Little Theatre
Ordinary Magic by the Young Players, April 3-6 and April 24-27. This program for ages 5-18 runs throughout the year culminating in a performance. With about two and a half weeks rehearsal shows run two separate weekends, April 3-6 and April 24-27.
The Play That Goes Wrong, June 4-8, 12-15
https://www.thelivery.ca
Hanover Community Players
Bare Bear Bones, April 25-29 and May 1-4
There will be a Mix and Mingle at the Lions Club to support HCP on May 25 at 6:00. Cost is a ticket for the May 25 show.
http://hanovercommunityplayers.ca
Kincardine Theatre Guild
Finding Nemo Jr., April 25-27 and May 2-4.
http://www.kincardinetheatreguild.com
Owen Sound Little Theatre
Roxy Young Company presents Alice in Wonderland Jr., April 26 (two shows) and May 2 and 3.
Seven Stories, June 12-15, 18-21
http://www.roxytheatre.ca
| | Off the Wall - Summer Courses | |
By Michele Boniface, Chair, Off the Wall Stratford Artists Alliance, mboniface@cyg.net
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Check out these new books from Playwrights Canada Press!
Recently released:
Eraser by Bilal Baig and Sadie Epstein-Fine with Christol Bryan, Marina Gomes, Yousef Kadoura, Tijiki Morris, Anthony Perpuse, and Nathan Redburn, Illustrated by Cleopatria Peterson
An immersive experience, Eraser delves into the memories and fantasies of a classroom of students as they figure out who they want to be. Six students guide readers through their different journeys, taking them along to the cafeteria, change rooms, and playground, to the places where they feel safest and the most brave, vulnerable, and afraid. Finding a balance between tough realities and honest fantasies, Eraser is an energetic and sentimental look at what it’s like to navigate differences and connections as a kid.
The Extractionist by Michaela Jeffery
A young woman is missing. The prime suspect is an affluent member of the secretive Luminia organization. Enter Asha Ray, a deprogrammer who specializes in extracting people from dangerous cults. With no business card or office, Asha is known only by reputation—a last resort for desperate loved ones willing to work outside the law. Teaming up with retired detective Reuben Medina, she descends into a treacherous world of hidden motives and elite corruption. In this razor-sharp, neon-noir thriller, Asha and Reuben must work to outsmart a powerful predator and uncover the truth before time runs out.
The First Stone by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard
Can something torn apart by war be put together again? The First Stone is an epic-yet-intimate parable that explores the transformation of ancestral cycles of violence into healing and forgiveness. In a small village, two children are captured by an army and forced to commit unspeakable atrocities while their family longs for their return. Modelled after the civil conflicts in Uganda, this insightful drama follows the arduous plight of child abductees, the communities from which they are stolen, the determination to bring them home, and the hard road to reconciliation that follows.
ICEMEN by Vern Thiessen
A wealthy businessman wakes up bound and gagged in a utility shed, kidnapped by his own employees—brothers and icemen Joe and Rennie. In the midst of the Great Depression, the brothers’ ice harvesting livelihood in Kempenfelt Bay is melting away due to the advent of refrigeration, only to further line the pockets of their employers. Desperate to claim what is rightfully theirs, these honest workers turned reluctant captors will stop at nothing to bring their greedy boss to a final reckoning. ICEMEN by Governor General’s Literary Award–winning playwright Vern Thiessen is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that exposes the human cost of capitalism and asks, when the wealthy exploit the working class, who are the real criminals?
Coming soon:
Rise, Red River by Tara Beagan
A woman searches a dry riverbed with a makeshift plough, hoping to uncover stories amid a desolate, fire-ravaged landscape. Accompanied by an ancestor, she seeks secrets long hidden beneath the soil. Inspired by the organization Drag the Red, which searches for evidence of missing Indigenous women, girls, and 2 Spirit people in the Red River of Treaty One Territory, this ethereal drama honours those who persist through sorrow. Told in Anishinaabemowin, English, and French, Tara Beagan's play links the treatment of Indigenous peoples with environmental abuse. Fluid and majestic, Rise, Red River is an invocation, revelation, and call to action.
+ see what else is coming soon!
Did you know you can browse our plays by subjects and casting?
Want to hear more about sales and upcoming events? Sign up for our newsletter!
You can find more new releases, a blog full of interviews and excerpts, and more on playwrightscanada.com.
| | Playwrights Guild of Canada - Canadian Play Outlet | | Concord Theatricals New Plays | | If you are Producing Canadian Plays this Season - Check This Out | | 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, Shirley Steele, know at membership@wodl.on.ca
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WODL GM, Leamington
Festival announcements
| | | | Deadline for submissions for the May newsletter. | | Victoria Day Long Weekend, 15 - 18 May 2025 | | WODL Festival 2025, Leamington. | | Victoria Day Long Weekend, Sunday 18 May 2025 | | Awards brunch, Leamington. | | |
This newsletter was prepared by:
Tricia Ward
Communications coordinator
WODL
Western Ontario Drama League | communications@wodl.on.ca | www.wodl.on.ca
Copyright © Western Ontario Drama League 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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