Western Ontario Drama League
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- What the Prez Sez
- Adjudications Update
- Adjudications Schedule
- WODL Festival 2025 Update: Spotlight on Leamington and The Bank Theatre
- Workshops
- Minifest
- 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 - March Courses
- Horizon Solutions - Resource Stage Conversations - January 14
- 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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Welcome to 2025 everyone! I wish that each of you will have a very happy new year, filled with everything you need for health and happiness. Oh, yes, and I wish you great theatre to see and be part of.
Here at WODL, as most of you know by now, this is the year that the in-person WODL Festival returns. I'm already looking forward to spending the May long weekend in beautiful Leamington, seeing 3 plays from our groups and enjoying adjudications, local adventures and good times with other theatre lovers.
Adjudications at home theatres are in full swing! Our adjudicator Trevor Smith Diggins has already seen 12 of the productions. We hope he is enjoying the current break before his final 11 nights on the road. Hopefully the snow will not prevent his travels!
During the winter, why not go and see another show in our region? There are many to choose from.
You may want to consider attending on one of the local adjudication nights. Upcoming plays on the adjudication list have something for everyone... be it comedy, drama, or musical. There are old favourites, plus it's extra-exciting to see 2 brand new play premieres in the list below. Variety is alive and well in WODL.
Here are dates for the January and February adjudications:
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Friday January 24 | Leamington | Halfway There * | Thursday February 6 | Owen Sound | Prelude to a Kiss | Saturday February 8 | Elora | Diary of Anne Frank | Sunday February 9 | Woodstock | Cabaret | Saturday February 15 | Elmira | Forever Love * | Sunday February 16 | Burlington | Timepiece | Friday February 28 | Penny & Pound
(playing at KW) | Head in the Game | | |
*In-Festival
If you have any comment or questions about WODL, feel free to send me an email at president@wodl.on.ca
Happy 2025!
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I attended two adjudications by Trevor Smith Diggins, our adjudicator, in December. He continues to do excellent adjudications. The first was of Ingersoll’s production of a The Play that went Wrong. This is a difficult play to adjudicate as much goes wrong, hilariously. Pointing to where the play went wrong would miss the point of the play. The adjudicator pointed to how the set was an important part of the play as it collapsed around the actors.
The second adjudication was of The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet: A Cyberpunk Story, at Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance which showed me the underlying logic of this play better than any previous performance which I have seen.
A list of future adjudications is on the WODL website. You are most welcome to buy a ticket and attend any one you might like.
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To see the latest adjudications schedule visit the WODL website. |
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WODL Festival 2025 Update: Spotlight on Leamington and The Bank Theatre | |
The excitement is building as we prepare for the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival 2025, hosted in the vibrant community of Leamington, Ontario! With incredible plays, talented performers, and opportunities to connect with fellow theatre enthusiasts, the Festival promises to be a highlight of the year.
Why Leamington?
Leamington, often referred to as the “Tomato Capital of Canada,” offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, culture, and hospitality. Here are three great reasons to fall in love with our welcoming town:
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Point Pelee National Park: As the southernmost point of mainland Canada, Point Pelee is a nature lover’s paradise. Enjoy birdwatching, hiking, or simply taking in the stunning views of Lake Erie.
- Rich Agricultural Heritage: Beyond tomatoes, Leamington boasts a thriving agricultural scene. You’ll find farm-fresh produce, local markets, and culinary delights that celebrate the area’s bountiful harvest.
- Vibrant Arts Community: Leamington is a hub for creativity, with galleries, public art installations, and community events showcasing local talent.
The Bank Theatre: The Heart of the Festival
Our Festival performances will take place at The Bank Theatre, a beautifully renovated gem in Leamington’s cultural crown. Here’s what makes it so special:
- State-of-the-Art Facilities: Thanks to a recent Ontario Trillium Foundation grant and community support, The Bank Theatre features cutting-edge lights and sound, ensuring every performance is unforgettable.
- Rich History: Originally a historic bank building, the theatre has been transformed into a vibrant cultural venue while maintaining its unique charm.
- Community-Driven: The Bank Theatre is a true labour of love, powered by passionate volunteers and generous community support. It’s more than a venue—it’s a testament to the power of the arts in bringing people together.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Leamington for WODL Festival 2025. Stay tuned for more updates, and start planning your visit to experience all this charming town and its incredible theatre have to offer!
See you at the Festival!
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Save the date February 17, 2025 for a previously recorded Marketing Zoom session featuring Michael Adams, Senior Director of Marketing and Audience Development, Stratford Festival.
Michael has laid out some of his Marketing ideas that he has used successfully at the Stratford Festival and that he thinks our Community Theatre groups can also incorporate. There will be time during the session for participants to talk about his ideas, share their thoughts, and offer recommendations.
Stay tuned for further information.
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Just a quick update from Minifest Central, here in Binbrook!
This week we will be selecting the all-important Minifest Signature Cocktail. You may recall the Pebbles and the Bam-Bam from 2015. Stay tuned for details on the 2025 winner!
Also happening in January is the selection of the script. The WODL Minifest committee is hard at work selecting the best submission, based a number of factors including entertainment value and suitability for Minifest as a learning tool.
The venue and caterer for the Saturday night awards banquet have been booked and plans are well under way.
Mark your calendars for July 25/26. You won't want to miss it!
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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 Febuary 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 | |
Elora Community Theatre:
Auditions for Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen Adapted by Ashley J. Barnard. Directed by Deb Stanson on Thursday January 9 & Friday January 10 from 7-9:00 pm.
https://www.eloracommunitytheatre.org/
Guelph Little Theatre:
Rehearsal for Murder written by Richard Levinson & William Link, Adapted by D.D. Brooke, directed by Alex Kanarek opens January 31, 2025
https://guelphlittletheatre.com/
Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre:
Auditions for Just Friends, Written and directed by Faith Andrew on January 26-28, 2025
https://kwlt.org/
Penny and Pound Theatre Productions:
Daddy Long Legs, Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon, Book by John Caird, based on the novel by Jean Webster, directed by Lori Robinson Distel runs January 17-18, 2025, at KW Little Theatre.
https://www.pennyandpoundtheatre.com/
Theatre Wellesley:
Auditions for Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock, directed by Mary Beth Jantzi on Wednesday January 8, 2025, 6:45 pm and on Sunday January 12, 2025, at 1:45 pm at 1137 Henry Street Wellesley, upstairs above Library in the Studio space.
https://theatrewellesley.com/
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What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region | |
Theatre Tillsonburg:
Theatre Tillsonburg is excited to be rehearsing to share the next in the “The Foster 4” fabulous series with Opening Night which runs February 13-16 and 20-23. Tickets are available at https://www.theatretillsonburg.com/get-tickets-live/
Theatre Woodstock:
Get double the fun as STAGES, Theatre Woodstock’s youth theatre company, presents Switchermoo and We Will Rock You running January 10-12, 2025. Tickets are available at 519-537-2582.
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What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region | |
Despite cast illnesses, road closures and blizzards, these groups have embodied that old theatre adage “the show must go on!” Well done! We’ll keep our fingers crossed for these next winter productions.
Goderich Little Theatre:
Picasso at the Lapine Agile, February 27 – March 2, March 6-9.
https://www.thelivery.ca
Hanover Community Players:
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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Horizon Solutions - Resource Stage Conversations - January 14 | |
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.
Join us as we kick off the year with a Resource Stage Conversation featuring Jacquie Lazar, Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS).
With over 20 years of experience in the theatre and live entertainment industry, Jacquie has held roles such as Front of House Manager, Technical Director, and Production Manager. Career highlights include Head Electrician at Young People’s Theatre, leading technical productions at St. Andrew’s College, and managing performance facilities at York University.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an industry expert!
Register Today!
Everyone is welcome to join us at Horizon Solutions
1910 Huron Street, London, ON
or online at www.resourcestage.ca
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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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Deadline for submissions for the February newsletter. | |
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Marketing workshop via Zoom | |
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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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