Western Ontario Drama League
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- What the Prez Sez
- Travelling Adjudicator 2025/2026 Season - Mark Mooney
- Adjudications Schedule
- Memories of Mona Brennan-Coles
- Remembering Mona Brennan-Coles
- WODL Festival 2025 - Book Your Tickets & Hotel Rooms
- Workshops
- Minifest Playwright - Gord Walker
- Community Theatre in the WODL Region
- What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region
- What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region
- Off the Wall - March Courses
- Horizon Solutions - Resource Stage Workshop - February 22
- 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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Hello everyone.
I begin on a sad note. A great theatre friend of WODL passed away in January. Mona Brennan-Coles was the President of WODL during covid times and she was determined to keep WODL viable and stay in communication with groups that were wondering how they would survive. When she was on the WODL Board, she held a demanding full-time job, a demanding part-time job, and also produced or stage managed multiple shows a year in multiple community theatres. I stood in awe of her drive. She was a force who got things done, solved problems and encouraged people. A memorial for Mona will be held in May. Miss you greatly already, Mona! To her husband and partner in theatre, Rob Coles, I know the WODL family sends our deep sympathies and support.
Our WODL out-of-festival adjudication process continues on! If you follow our adjudicator Trevor Smith-Diggins on Facebook, you’ve been seeing him post a picture of the theatre program at each play he attends for WODL. Thanks for the shoutouts, Trevor.
Here are the upcoming local adjudication nights remaining this year:
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Forever Love (entered in-Festival) | |
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Head in the Game (playing in K-W) | |
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Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) (Revised) (Again) | |
If you have any comments or questions about WODL, feel free to send an email to president@wodl.on.ca
Happy 2025!
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Travelling Adjudicator 2025/2026 Season - Mark Mooney | |
Mark is well known in the Western Ontario community theatre region as an adjudicator, director, lighting designer, set designer and has been nominated and won awards in all these categories.
After graduating with a degree in Drama and Theatre Arts from the University of Waterloo, he spent nearly three decades teaching drama at the secondary school level in Ontario.
Since 2011, he has adjudicated for the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT) at the regional (multi-state) level, the Western Ontario Drama League, the Eastern Ontario Drama League, and several Sears Drama (now National Theatre School) Festival districts competitions (Wellington, Waterloo and Lambton-Kent). Due to snow issues at one Festival, some of those schools were adjudicated using Skype technology.
He has mentored new directors and designers for many years and has been a play polisher and conducted workshops on a variety of topics. He was travelling adjudicator for WODL in 2019 -2020 for the unfortunate Festival that never was.
He has served on the education committees of the Grand Theatre (London, ON) and the Stratford Festival – Teacher Liaison Committee and on the boards of several community theatre groups, the Western Ontario Drama League, and Theatre Ontario.
He has worked in every facet of theatre production: mentoring new talent, and providing technical support, design and equipment for elementary, secondary, college, university and museum productions as well as semi-professional and alternative theatre companies.
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To see the latest adjudications schedule visit the WODL website. |
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Memories of Mona Brennan-Coles | |
By Anne Mooney, London Community Players |
I can’t remember exactly when I first met Mona. It was definitely at a play, most likely at a theatre festival.
Mona and her husband, Rob have been very involved with London Community Players for many years. She volunteered in almost all aspects of theatre. I don’t think she was ever onstage, at least not as long as I have known her. She was a great costume designer and was especially good at Stage Management, or as she liked to call it being the “Booth Jockey”.
While travelling with Mark and me to many theatres in Ontario, Mona discovered she was at heart a Shavian. She loved the intellectual writing of Shaw, his exploration of science and philosophy. She would go to see Shakespeare plays assuming that she wouldn’t be a fan, but often times was surprised and delighted by the productions. She loved traveling to all the community theatres in WODL.
She was a life-long learner. She discovered lectures and educational weekends at the Shaw Festival along with our other theatre weekends. She enjoyed the workshops presented by WODL both online during covid and at Festivals.
She was a volunteer at WODL Festivals in Woodstock and London and Theatre Ontario Festival in London. One of our favourite jobs together at several festivals was selling the latest scripts from Playwrights Canada Press. Mona did all the work. She arranged shipment and return of unsold scripts with Annie Gibson from PGC. She created spreadsheets and costed out all the scripts including the generous discounts provided by PGC. All I had to do was show up, help set out the scripts on the table and talk about the plays with anyone who would listen. It was one of our many symbiotic relationships.
Not one to miss and opportunity to support others, she wanted to use her talent and experience in project management by joining the Board of WODL. She came onboard at an incredibly difficult time and steered WODL and its member groups through the Covid pandemic.
She is a force that will be greatly missed by those who knew her.
In the truest sense of theatre, Mona has found her light.
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Remembering Mona Brennan-Coles | |
From the London Community Players newsletter | |
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Mona Marie Brennan-Coles on January 10, 2025 at Victoria Hospital in her 76th year of life. She was the beloved wife and soulmate of her spouse Robert Coles.
Mona was an avid theatre goer and enjoyed seeing live performances. There were forays to other theatres across Canada as well as the USA and UK. Mona also joined the Board of Directors of WODL, first as an area representative and then later moved into roles as Vice President and culminating as President. She remained on the Board as Past President until 2024. Over the years, Mona worked behind the scenes at many community theatre productions as a Costume Designer, Stage Manager, Assistant Manager, or as Producer.
Over the years, Mona met many people and many of whom became fast friends. She always had a smile on her face and thought highly of those that she encountered. Mona gave hugs freely to everyone she knew. Mona continuously strived to broaden her knowledge and to pass this knowledge onto others. She held everyone she met in high esteem and always encouraged and supported them to dream big, be adventurous, expand their life experiences, and live life to its fullest.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 3 2025 at 1:00 pm at the Palace Theatre.
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WODL Festival 2025 - Book Your Tickets & Hotel Rooms | |
The 2025 WODL Festival is fast approaching, and we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates!
Tickets, Hotel Rooms & Gala Tickets Now Available!
Festival tickets, hotel room bookings, and Gala Awards Brunch tickets are officially open for purchase at www.banktheatre.com. Whether you’re joining us for a single night or immersing yourself in the full Festival experience, now is the time to secure your spot. Don’t wait too long availability is limited!
Sponsorship & Advertising Opportunities
Support community theatre and gain valuable exposure by becoming a Festival sponsor or placing an advertisement in our Festival program. There are a variety of sponsorship levels and advertising options available. Learn more and secure your spot today at www.banktheatre.com.
Workshops Are Set!
We’re excited to offer three engaging workshops during the Festival:
- Playwriting
- Acting
- Lighting Design
We’ll be announcing the talented workshop leaders later this month, so stay tuned!
Stage Design & Lighting Grid
For participating companies, the stage design and lighting grid will be available soon. This will help you plan your technical needs in advance. Watch for an update in the coming weeks.
Gala Awards Brunch & A Warm Welcome to Leamington
The Festival will conclude with the Gala Awards Brunch on Sunday morning, where we’ll celebrate the incredible talent and dedication of our community theatre groups. Join us for a delicious meal as we recognize outstanding achievements and bring the Festival to a memorable close.
And while you’re here, take some time to explore Leamington! Known as the Tomato Capital of Canada, Leamington offers stunning waterfront views, fantastic local dining, and a welcoming community. Whether you’re strolling along the shores of Lake Erie, visiting Point Pelee National Park, or enjoying a bite at one of our great restaurants, we hope you take in all that our host town has to offer.
Get your Festival tickets, hotel rooms, gala tickets, and sponsorship/advertising opportunities now at www.banktheatre.com!
Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes to make this Festival a success. Stay tuned for more updates, and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions!
See you at the Festival!
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Join us for a pre-recorded Zoom session on February 17, 2025 at 7:00 pm for Part 1 of 2.
Part 2 will be announced at a future date.
Let us know if your Theatre is holding a workshop. We would like to hear about the educational opportunities you are planning. Contact laurel@wodl.on.ca or kim@wodl.on.ca.
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Minifest Playwright - Gord Walker | |
Please give a big round of applause to this year’s minifest playwright Gord Walker.
Since retiring from his career as an avionics professor, Gord has shifted his focus from lecturing and technical writing, to acting and playwrighting. Having performed in several productions including Angel Street, Cemetery Club, and Mending Fences, Gord has worked extensively with Theatre Tillsonburg and also Periscope Playhouse in his hometown of Port Burwell.
Author of three plays produced by Periscope Playhouse, Treble Maker, Gangster Movie, and Double Trouble Gord also writes and records original music for his own shows as well as many others produced by the company. When not treading the boards or pounding the keys, Gord assumes his alter-ego as musician “Rich Deathrisk”, and is the rhythm guitarist and musical director of two bands...the Port Burwell based “Beast Row Band” and London based “Cherry Street Loft”. Gord is honoured and excited to be part of this year's Minifest.
Scoundrels in Kelowna by Gord Walker takes place in a bar with a cast of seven characters. Three of the characters Rich, Ron, and Doug haven't seen one another in years, but the passing of their friend Pete inspires them to reunite to honour and celebrate his life. However, grief is a complex emotion, and processing it can lead to surprising, and often hilarious results with these particular Scoundrels in Kelowna!
Do you want to read more? The play Scoundrels in Kelowna is available for your reading pleasure on the WODL website http://wodl.on.ca Minifest 2025 will take place in Binbrook, ON the weekend of July 25 & 26, 2025 with workshop leader Joe Shiek. There is only room for six groups. If your group is interested in participating, email Bev at bev@wodl.on.ca to reserve your spot. It’s first come first served!
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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 March newsletter, please send the information to communications@wodl.on.ca.
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What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region | |
Theatre Tillsonburg:
Don’t miss Opening Night by Norm Foster, a comedy directed by Mark Smith and produced by Joe Sheik.
This clever play-within-a-play explores the ups and downs of bringing a show to life, filled with unexpected surprises and plenty of laughs.
Featuring an outstanding cast and crew who have worked tirelessly, this production showcases the magic of theatre and its ability to bring people together.
Get ready for an unforgettable night of comedy! Be sure to secure your tickets NOW before they’re all sold out!
Show Dates: February 13-16 & 20-23, 2025
https://www.theatretillsonburg.com/get-tickets-live/
Box office: 519.688.3026
Theatre Woodstock:
CABARET illuminates the stage at Theatre Woodstock from Thursday, February 6, until Sunday, February 16. Immerse yourself in the captivating story of love, ambition, and the struggle for freedom, all set against the backdrop of a tumultuous time in history.
This iconic musical features a sensational live orchestra that will bring every note to life and sweep you off your feet! Preview Night/Thrifty Thursday is on Thursday, February 6, at 7:30 PM and Opening Night is on Friday, February 7, at 7:30 PM and is followed by a reception. The run also includes another Thrifty Thursday on February 13, at 7:30 PM, two Saturday shows at 7:30 PM, and two Sunday matinees at 2 PM. Be sure to check out the new Dining tab on the Theatre Woodstock website to find a perfect spot to visit the day of your tickets.
Spirit Speaks with Tania Thomas on Sunday, February 23, at 2 PM, is a special event that will change the way you see life following physical death. Tania Thomas is a well-respected evidential medium who is well-known for her give-it-as-she-hears-it messaging style. She brings comfort and a twist of humour to every event. Please note that a ticket purchase does not guarantee a reading.
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What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region | |
Let’s give a round of applause to the Snow Globe survivors of Ontario’s West Coast for keeping their shows up and running!
Goderich Little Theatre
Picasso at the Lapine Agile, Feb. 27–Mar. 2, Mar. 6-9
Play That Goes Wrong, March 20-23, 26-29
https://www.thelivery.ca
Hanover Community Players
Love Loss and What I Wore, Feb. 22-23, 27-Mar. 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, Feb. 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, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, Feb.5-8 Out of Festival Adjudication Feb. 6
Encore: The Voices of OSLT Past and Present, Feb. 15. A fundraiser showcasing the talents of past and future OSLT musicals.
http://www.roxytheatre.ca
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Off the Wall - March Courses | |
By Michele Boniface, Chair, Off the Wall Stratford Artists Alliance, mboniface@cyg.net
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Horizon Solutions - Resource Stage Workshop - February 22 | |
In 2025 we all know that our theatres are used for a variety of events and performances that look different from your traditional Norm Foster. Whether it’s part of the musical or it’s a special event to help pay the bills, a live band performance on stage seems to happen in community theatres across the province every season.
For over 40 years Horizon has been working with clients to design and implement live performance sound systems of all shapes and sizes. As part of our 2025 training opportunities, we’re hosting a Live Band Mixing Workshop - a hands-on session designed to help volunteers, technicians, and operators in theatres, schools and churches to adapt their skills for live music events.
This workshop will feature live demonstrations with a band, teaching essential mixing techniques, troubleshooting tips, and best practices to ensure your theatre delivers a great audio experience—whether it’s for a musical or special concert event.
When: Saturday, February 22nd, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Forest City Community Church – East Campus, 716 Classic Drive, London, ON
Register Now: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/6t8vyx8
Don’t miss this opportunity to refine your skills and be ready for any performance your community theatre hosts. Let’s make every event sound exceptional!
Everyone is welcome, whether you’re new to sound or you’ve been doing this for years. Our goal is to help everyone gain some knowledge and tips that will help the next time you get behind the sound console.
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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 | |
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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Marketing workshop via Zoom | |
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Deadline for submissions for the March newsletter. | |
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WODL GM, Leamington
Festival announcements
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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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