Western Ontario Drama League | |
- What the Prez Sez
- Adjudications Update
- Adjudications Schedule
- 2025 WODL Festival Update
- Minifest Workshop Leader - Joe Sheik
- 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 - February & March 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
The Festival season is now well underway with 10 plays already adjudicated by our Travelling Adjudicator Trevor Smith-Diggins.
I’ve now had the chance to hear 2 public adjudications. In just 10 minutes, Trevor covers a lot that is interesting to the general public and instructive to the theatre practitioners. I was an actor in a show that was adjudicated this month. Now I am a self-confessed life-long adjudication geek, so I always take notes. In the private adjudication, Trevor helped us learn, highlighting our strengths so we felt appreciated, and also helping identify and support our gaps with good suggestions and skill building ideas. That’s the mark of a solid adjudicator.
Trevor will view a total of 21 productions between October and early April. Why not look at the online n schedule and then take in a night at a theatre when they have an adjudication?
4 of our theatre groups have entered in-Festival and are hoping to perform for us at the three day Festival in Leamington on the May long weekend.
Look for Minifest information in this newsletter. It has been 10 years since we last held this fun summer event. This year it’s coming back at the end of July! Maybe your group wants to participate – check it out. Always great for newer directors and actors.
Lots of groups use our WODL Facebook page as a way to spread info about auditions and tickets to the broader theatre community. We are here to help and support our groups with this.
Wishing each of you a festive holiday season now and in the new year, opportunities to see and be part of great theatre.
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By Ken Menzies, WODL Adjudications Chair, adjudications@wodl.on.ca | |
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Trevor Smith Diggins, WODL’s traveling adjudicator, continues to do great adjudications. I heard him adjudicate at Embro and Grimsby. Not only did I hear good adjudications, I also saw two good plays. The size of the stage (shallow in Embro and small in Grimsby) presents challenges and I was amazed at how well these were overcome. I have walked through the spaces, but did not notice the problems during the productions.
In mid-November a trial adjudication was held for Costin Manu in Kincardine. His reputation as a successful actor, his administrative experience (He has run the Victoria Playhouse and was briefly the head of Theatre Ontario) and translator of plays; the reputation of the Kincardine Theatre Guild for putting on good productions and the choice of the musical by Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance, with its famous patter songs, drew the largest crowd of WODL board members (past and present) and former WODL adjudicators to see the production and provide the WODL board with feedback on how good Costin was at his trial adjudication. Thank you Kincardine Theatre Guild for holding this trial adjudication. WODL will discuss his trial adjudication in January.
I have, with the WODL board’s approval, made an invitation to somebody to be next year’s travelling adjudicator.
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To see the latest adjudications schedule visit the WODL website. |
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WODL Festival 2025 Update | |
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We’re thrilled to share exciting updates for the 2025 Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival, hosted in beautiful Leamington from May 14-18, 2025. After a six-year hiatus, the festival is making a roaring return—literally—with our Roaring 20s theme!
Here’s what’s new and in progress:
- Festival Logo: We now have an official logo, setting the stage for a visually cohesive and exciting event.
- Souvenir Program Ads: A rate card for program advertising is ready. It’s a great opportunity to promote businesses or send best wishes to participants. Stay tuned for details on how to book your ad!
- Festival Headquarters: Our host hotel is the Best Western Plus, located on Bevel Line in Leamington. Book your stay early to be part of the action.
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Host Theatre: All performances will take place at the fabulous Bank Theatre, a premier venue with state-of-the-art facilities.
- Workshops and Activities: We’re working hard to finalize engaging workshops, off-site activities, and networking opportunities for attendees.
- Awards Gala: This year’s awards gala will break tradition with a Sunday brunch celebration, making it a festive and elegant way to close out the Festival.
We’re also creating a detailed spec sheet for the stage and lighting grid to ensure smooth planning for participating theatre companies.
Let’s make this a Festival to remember! Mark your calendars, dust off your flapper dresses and bow ties, and join us in Leamington this May as we celebrate the incredible talent and passion for theatre across Western Ontario.
Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months!
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Minifest Workshop Leader - Joe Sheik | |
By Bev Dietrich, WODL Area VP for Waterloo, Wellington, bev@wodl.on.ca | |
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Joe began his theatrical career as a teen with The Sun Parlour Players community theatre and once involved he knew he had found his home and his life’s calling. He has been a high school drama teacher directing multiple award winning productions at Sear’s Festivals and the Canadian Improv Games. He was the first consultant of the arts for his school board promoting the arts locally and at provincial levels. Joe founded and ran the annual Dramafest for his area school board for over 15 years and conducted workshops for educators throughout that time assisting others with their craft while sharing his love of theatre.
In addition to his work as a drama teacher, Joe has spent the better part of 50 years involved in a variety of arts projects learning all aspects of theatrical production. He prides himself of having performed, and or staged, productions in settings from stages to parks to crowded bars and concert facilities and yes even an empty parking lot. No setting is beyond becoming a performance space. He taught the theatrical production course on the thrust stage of the Althouse College theatre. It was there he managed the 660 seat theatre rejuvenating the equipment, lighting grid and production process. He taught every aspect of staging theatre productions to his students and the future drama and music teachers in his course.
His theatre skills have served Joe well. He has been an advocate of human rights and has been a plenary speaker and guest lecturer at conferences around the world. He credits his theatre foundation for his ability to speak publicly and passionately about topics near and dear to his heart. Those same performance skills have lead to voice work for commercials and recorded presentations. On the technical side he also has been hired to manage music festivals, run follow spot for incoming musical performances and run mic tech in a variety of settings. More recently he has been hired to do voice overs for promotional videos.
Joe has also spent a great deal of time polishing plays. His workshop style of polishing and adjudicating comes from his teaching and workshop leader background. It is in these moments Joe feels most grateful. He is always ready to assist others, ready to engage in a dialogue of choices and once involved, Joe often finds himself on a stage ready to demonstrate or perform the point he is making. He is a hands-on person and is excited when he can collaborate with others to enhance and invigorate their passion for the arts.
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Community Theatre in the WODL Region | |
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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 January newsletter, please send the information to communications@wodl.on.ca.
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What’s Happening in the Waterloo-Wellington Region | |
By Bev Dietrich, WODL Area VP for Waterloo-Wellington, bev@wodl.on.ca | |
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Elora Community Theatre:
The Grinch: The Panto Written by Limelight Scripts, directed by Catherine Johnston runs December 13-22 at the Fergus Grand Theatre.
https://www.eloracommunitytheatre.org/
Guelph Little Theatre:
Barbara Robinson’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever directed by Dennis Gray runs December 6-15, 2024
https://guelphlittletheatre.com/
Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre:
Romeo & Juliet: a Cyberpunk Story runs November 22-December 8, 2024. Adjudication will be held Dec. 7, 2024.
https://kwlt.org/
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What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region | |
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Theatre Tillsonburg:
Theatre Tillsonburg is thrilled to announce that we have just finished casting for our February comedy, Opening Night, written by the talented Norm Foster. Directed by the Mark “the Original” Smith and Joe Sheik, we are incredibly excited to get started on this production, which is part of Tourism Oxford’s Foster Four series. This initiative celebrates the works of Norm Foster across four different community theatres in Oxford County (Thistle Theatre Embro, Theatre Woodstock, Theatre Tillsonburg and ITOPA Ingersoll).
We believe that collaborating with other community theatres strengthens our entire arts community. By working together, we can share resources, ideas, and audiences, ultimately enriching the experiences we offer to our patrons. This collaboration not only benefits us but also ‘fosters’ 😆 a spirit of camaraderie and support among all the theatres involved.
We're also curious to see if other theatres are joining in on similar collaborations. Community theatres are all about heart and connection, and when we come together, we create a vibrant tapestry of creativity that showcases the best of what our community has to offer.
For more information about this exciting collaboration and the Foster Four series, please visit:
https://www.tourismoxford.ca/things_to_do/culture_and_heritage/foster4.aspx/
Together, we can continue to nurture the arts and make a lasting impact on our communities!
Theatre Woodstock:
Theatre Woodstock is excited to celebrate the festive season with Norm Foster's A Snow White Christmas. This comedic fractured fairy tale features black light effects and a large cast of adults and children who want to wish you nothing but joy and laughter for the holidays.
As part of the collaborative Foster 4 initiative in Oxford County, A Snow White Christmas runs from December 5 to 15, 2024, with 7:30 PM shows on Thursdays to Saturdays, and 2 PM matinees on Sundays.
All patrons will be welcome to enter a draw to win two season subscriptions (three shows) to The Foster Festival in July and August 2025.
The final auditions of the 2024/2025 season at Theatre Woodstock will be held on January 5 and 6, 2025, in Woodstock, ON, for a production of A Rock Sails By written by Sean Grennan. For more information, click here.
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What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region | |
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Goderich Little Theatre:
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, December 4-8, 12-15
Picasso at the Lapine Agile, February 27 – March 2, March 6-9.
https://www.thelivery.ca
Hanover Community Players:
The Sound of Music continuing December 5-8
Love Loss and What I Wore, February 22-23, 27-March 1
Directed by Past President Linda Lloyd-McKenzie. This is a co-operative shared production with Kincardine Theatre Guild.
http://hanovercommunityplayers.ca
Kincardine Theatre Guild:
Love Loss and What I Wore, February 14-16, 20-21
Directed by Past President Linda Lloyd-McKenzie. This is a co-operative, shared production with Hanover Community Players.
http://www.kincardinetheatreguild.com
Owen Sound Little Theatre:
Prelude to a Kiss, January 30 - February 2, February 5-8
Out of Festival Adjudication February 6
http://www.roxytheatre.ca
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Off the Wall - February & March 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:
我的名是张欣恩 (Gimme chance leh) by Kris Vanessa Teo Xin-En
Kris, a young diasporic Chinese woman, attempts to reconcile her upbringing between Canada and Singapore. In doing so, she comes face to face with herself as she pulls apart the tactics she uses in an attempt to fit into two wildly different cultures. Heartwarming and funny, 我的名是张欣恩 (Gimme chance leh) is about celebrating difference and existing in the in-between.
This Is the Story of the Child Ruled by Fear by David Gagnon Walker
An ingenious exercise in interactive storytelling, This Is the Story of the Child Ruled by Fear is a poetic and participatory fable about how to live with the slowly unfolding emergencies of our time. It’s an invitation to share the joys of creating a story together so that maybe we can all feel less alone.
Espejos: Clean by Christine Quintana, adapted and translated by Paula Zelaya-Cervantes
The lives of two women collide in the illusionary paradise of a Mexican resort. Sarah, a Canadian wedding guest, is a shot glass half empty. Adriana, a fastidious and vivacious hotel floor manager, finds solace in establishing order. When a storm breaks over the hotel, everything they’ve kept hidden comes into sharp focus. A bilingual play performed in Spanish and English, each woman speaks in her own language and shares her unique experiences directly with the audience, creating an attentive microscope on female strength and solidarity to stunning effect.
Coming soon:
Blissful State of Surrender by Sanita Fejzić
Sue and Emir's marriage is haunted by their past in Sarajevo, feeding a bitter rift in their relationship. When a birthday celebration brings their three daughters home after eight years away, life-changing news sparks an epic family clash that disrupts their promising reunion. As tensions and buried emotions bubble to the surface, will this fiery feud reveal the family’s darkest secret?
+ 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.
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Playwrights Guild of Canada - Canadian Play Outlet | |
Concord Theatricals New Plays | |
If you are Producing Canadian Plays this Season - Check This Out | |
The Playwrights Guild of Canada publicises productions of Canadian-written plays through its website, www.playwrightsguild.ca.
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Is your WODL Membership Information Up-to-date? | |
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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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Deadline for submissions for the January newsletter. | |
Victoria Day Long Weekend, 15 - 18 May 2025 | |
WODL Festival 2025, Leamington. | |
Victoria Day Long Weekend, Sunday 18 May 2025 | |
Awards brunch, Leamington. | |
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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 2024. All Rights Reserved.
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