Western Ontario Drama League | |
- What the Prez Sez
- BE THE SPARK: Join Our New Adjudicator Roster!
- WODL Award Nominations
- Festival 2026 - Hanover
- Festival 2026 Committee wants your Photos
- Workshops Offered by WODL Member Groups
- MiniFest Update
- Theatre Burlington is Looking for a Treasurer
- Community Theatre in the WODL Region
- What's Happening in the Waterloo-Wellington Region
- What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Hurn Region
- What's Happening in the Halton-Hamilton-Niagara Region
- What's Happening in the Essex-Kent-Lambton Region
- What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region
- Off the Wall - March Courses
- Playwrights Canada Press
- Resource Stage - Upcoming Saturday Workshops
- 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
| | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi fellow theatre-folk, and welcome to March at last!
Mark your calendars - on Sunday April 19 we have our General WODL Meeting at 1:30 p.m. in Hanover, the site of Festival 2026 in May. We will hear our Travelling Adjudicator Mark Mooney share the Award Nominations for our 24 shows that he saw. Each group 's delegate(s) to WODL should attend and everyone is welcome. Zoom is also possible if you can't make the trip to the Hanover Community Players Theatre. Watch for the info in the newsletter at the start of April.
Travelling Festival award winners will be announced at the WODL Festival Gala in Hanover on Sunday May 17th.
For more about this year's Festival and to order tickets, see elsewhere in this newsletter.
Mark Mooney continues to be busy in March with five performances left to watch. These are Elgin Theatre Guild March 6, Simcoe Little Theatre March 14, Ayr Community Theatre March 25, One Act Players in Woodstock, March 27, and Guelph Little Theatre March 28. Now that the weather is a bit nicer, maybe visiting a production at a theatre near your own would be a great way to show your support. Times and show names are on the WODL website.
Here's to good theatre and you hardworking, half-crazed people who make it happen!
| | BE THE SPARK: Join Our New Adjudicator Roster! | | |
Do you find yourself analyzing the lighting design during intermission? Do you have a passion for seeing local productions reach their full potential?
WODL is officially rebuilding our Adjudicator Roster, and we are looking for fresh voices, technical experts, and theatre lovers to help shape the future of our stage. Whether you are a veteran director, a technical wizard, or an educator, we want your perspective.
Why Join Us?
-
Give Back: Support the growth of local artists and theatres.
-
Network: Get an "all-access pass" to the regional theatre scene and meet fellow creatives.
-
Professional Growth: Sharpen your own "director’s eye" by analyzing a wide variety of work.
No Experience? No Problem.
We are open to Trial Adjudications as part of our Adjudicator selection process. You will attend a local production (often a community theatre show or a dress rehearsal) just like a regular audience member. You will take notes and then give them to the cast and crew.
We Are Looking For:
-
Directors & Actors with a keen eye for storytelling.
-
Technical Specialists (Lighting, Sound, Set, Costumes).
-
Educators & Dramaturgs who love the "why" behind the "what."
-
Enthusiastic Theatre-Makers who believe in constructive, kind, and professional feedback.
"Ready for your Test Drive?" Think you have the eye for adjudication but aren't sure how to put it into words? Sign up for a Trial Adjudication. It is all the fun of a night at the theatre, plus a deep-dive conversation with a cast and crew with absolutely none of the 'Opening Night' jitters.
Ready to take the best seat in the house?
Contact Renata Solski adjudications@wodl.on.ca.
Help us build a stronger theatre community, one production at a time.
| By Renata Solski, WODL Adjudications Chair, adjudications@wodl.on.ca | |
Date: April 19, 2026, Location: Hanover, ON
Mark Mooney our Traveling Adjudicator will be in Hanover on April 19th to officially present the public announcement of the Award Nominations for this season.
Mark looks forward to celebrating the incredible work of our member groups and sharing his results with us all soon.
| By Bricklin Perkins, WODL Festival 2026 chair, bricklin@wodl.on.ca | |
Big things are happening in Hanover this spring! From May 14-17, 2026, we’ll be hosting the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival, bringing some of the best community theatre productions in the region right to our stage. Many Hanover local organizations have been getting behind our event and showing support through sponsorship and advertising. The community is looking forward to having the best community theatre productions come to us.
What’s Happening?
Our dedicated team of volunteers have been working hard preparing and planning Festival 2026. Following the set up of Leamington last year, there will be an an invitation-only opening ceremony at Hanover's newest event venue, the Carriage House, followed by three nights of adjudicated performances at The Hanover Civic Theatre. In addition to the shows, attendees can take part in workshops which will be Minifest, Script writing, and set/production design. The Festival wraps up with an Awards Gala on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The finalists will be announced on April 19th, at The Hanover Civic Theatre during the WODL General Meeting.
Tickets are available for individual performances, or as part of a Festival package, as well as the Gala. They are selling fast! Secure your seats now on the WODL Festival website www.wodlfestival.ca.
There is now a dedicated Instagram page for Festival, so if you could give us a follow our handle is @festivalwodl
If your group is, or members of your group are, looking to get involved in some way with Festival please reach out to Bricklin at bricklin@wodl.on.ca. She will be able to direct you to the correct places. An example of where a group might assist is to provide lunch to the performing group that day.
We are very excited to bring you these updates as they come in. Stay tuned for more!
For all the latest news about Festival 2026, check the Festival website, www.WODLfestival.ca, often.
| | |
Festival 2026 Committee wants your Photos | By Linda Lloyd-McKenzie, Festival 2026 Committee, linda.mckenzie@gmail.com | |
FOR FESTIVAL 2026: A Call For Photos and Video
The 2026 Festival Committee is seeking pictures and video clips of our member groups’ current season productions. We’d like to honour all of the hard work of our member groups by displaying them at Festival.
If you have photos and/or short video clips, please forward to Linda Lloyd-McKenzie at linda.mckenzie@gmail.com.
| Workshops Offered by WODL Member Groups | By Laurel Gillespie and Kim DiLello. WODL workshop chairs, laurel@wodl.on.ca, kim@wodl.on.ca | The following workshops are open to all members of WODL member groups: | By Jay Peckham, WODL MiniFest Planning Chair, jay@wodl.on.ca | |
Hello MiniFesters!! We are well on track to another great weekend! The pieces are falling into place. Thistle Theatre in Embro is hosting, and their group is deep into planning a great time for all participants! The dates are set ... August 7, and 8, 2026. The script has been chosen, it is Jersey by Brad Fortman and is now available in our Facebook Group! You can also download it HERE.
We have selected a workshop leader, and we are all very excited about this. The name is still top secret until the Board votes later in March. Suffice to say, this person has a ton of energy and a passion for MiniFest!
The MiniFest Planning Committee is working with the Host Theatre now to build the MiniFest Experience for all of our attendees. What we will be looking for shortly are participating member companies. That will be our next major announcement. So, read the script, and start looking for your teams. When we open up the registration, be the first to get on board!! You won't want to miss this!! Keep an eye on the WODL - MiniFest Facebook group for all of the details!!
Cheers!
| Theatre Burlington is Looking for a Treasurer | |
The board of directors at Theatre Burlington is seeking a new treasurer, with QuickBooks experience, to join the board.
For more information email president@theatreburlington.on.ca.
| | |
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 April 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
Queen Milli of Galt by Gary Kirkham, directed by Deanna Clatworthy runs March 25-29, 2026.
https://www.ayrcommunitytheatre.com/
Cambridge Community Players
Rope by Patrick Hamilton, directed by Michele Hildebrandt runs March 20-29, 2026.
https://www.cambridgecommunityplayers.com
Elmira Theatre Company
A world premiere of A Delicate Art by Michael Grant and directed by Michael Grant will run April 17-26, 2026.
https://elmiratheatre.com/
Elora Community Theatre
The Three Musketeers adapted by Catherine Bush from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, directed by Catherine Johnston runs May 1-10, 2026.
https://www.eloracommunitytheatre.org
Guelph Little Theatre
Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward runs March 26-April 12, 2026, with adjudication on March 29, 2026.
https://www.guelphlittletheatre.com/
Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre
March Madness takes place on March 7, 2026.
Auditions run March 22-24,2026 for You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner, Directed by Elizabeth Wallis with performances June 12-18, 2026.
https://kwlt.org
Theatre Wellesley
The Gentleman Clothier by Norm Foster, directed by Al Cook runs April 23-May 6, 2026.
https://theatrewellesley.com/
| | What's Happening in the Bruce-Grey-Huron Region | By Deb Deckert, WODL Area VP Bruce-Grey Huron, debbie@wodl.on.ca | |
Goderich Little Theatre
Ordinary Magic, Theatre for Young People will be presenting one acts performed by their youngest company members.
Ages 5-8: The Environmental Show
Ages 9-12, Bunch of Munch and Dragon Song. Back to back shows run March 26-29.
Ages 13-18: Peter Pan and The Lottery. Back to back shows run April 23-26.
https://www.thelivery.ca
Hanover Community Players
Unnecessary Farce runs April 24-26 and May 1-3.
The company is excited to be hosting the WODL Festival during the long weekend in May, 2026. Check out the info in this newsletter.
https:/hanovercommunityplayers.ca
Kincardine Theatre Guild
Wyrd Sisters runs April 24-26, and May 1-3, 7-9
https://kincardinetheatreguild.com
Owen Sound Little Theatre
Witness for the Prosecution runs 16-19 and 22-25.
https://roxytheatre.ca/
| | What's Happening in the Halton-Hamilton-Niagara Region | | |
Binbrook Little Theatre
https://binbrooktheatre.ca/
Calendar Girls
Based on the Miramax motion picture
by Juliette Towhidi and Tim Firth
Directed by Valerie Harrison
April 10 - 25, 2026
| |
Dundas Little Theatre
https://dundaslittletheatre.com/
Late Company
By Jordan Tannahill
A gripping, acclaimed drama by a Canadian playwright who wrote it at the age of 23. It takes place at a dinner in which two sets of parents try to come to terms with a case of bullying that led to a tragic outcome for one of their sons. Time Out (London, England) called it “Harrowingly powerful … a superb play, which deals compassionately yet unflinchingly with grief’s desperate search for an answer to the question: Why?”
April 24 – May 10, 2026
| |
Peninsula Players Community Theatre Company
https://peninsulaplayersgrimsby.ca/
7-10 Split
By Michael G. Wilmot
Directed by Lisa Cook
Show Dates:
March 13, Opening Night Gala, doors opening at 7:00pm.
March 14, 20, 21, 27 or 28, 2026 at 8:00 pm
March 15, 22 or 29, 2026 at 2:00 pm
| | |
The Players’ Guild of Hamilton, Inc.
https://playersguild.org
Where You Are
Written by Kristin DaSilva
Directed by Diane Brokenshire
March 13, 14, 19, 20, 26, 27, and 28, 2026 at 8pm
March 15, 21, 22, and 28, 2026 at 2pm
| | |
Theatre Burlington
https://www.theatreburlington.on.ca/
Hurry Hard
The Olympics may be over, but Theatre Burlington is continuing the on-ice action with its final production of the season, Hurry Hard by Kristen Da Silva.
Directed by Jerrold Karch and produced by Julie Donoahue.
It’s a hilarious comedy about friendship and the power of love, that takes place during a hotly contested regional curling bonspiel.
The cast includes, Woodrow Dixon as Terry, Michael Anania as Bill, Jennifer Vince as
Sandy, Andrea Montgomery as Darlene, and Braden Worton as Johnny.
Show dates are April 17-May 2.
Lighting Workshop
Thanks in part, to a grant from WODL, we are holding an intensive lighting workshop.
The day long event (March 7, 10 am-5 pm) will cover all aspects of theatre lighting and
console programming/operation.
| | What's Happening in the Essex-Kent-Lambton Region | | By Corey Robertson, WODL Area VP Essex-Kent-Lambton, corey@wodl.on.ca | | |
There’s something special happening across our corner of the league right now. The stages are busy. The houses are full. And the stories we’re telling feel like they matter.
I recently had the pleasure of attending The Tin Woman with Theatre Sarnia — and what a beautiful reminder of why we do this. The production balanced humour and heartbreak with grace, and the audience left changed. At its core, the play reminds us that connection heals — that grief shared becomes lighter, and that community quite literally gives us life. It’s the kind of theatre that lingers long after curtain call.
Coming up next, Theatre Kent takes the stage with The Royal Flush, running March 6-7 at St. Andrew’s Fellowship Hall. They’ll follow that with Bare Bear Bones, May 8-9 at the Kiwanis Theatre - a strong spring lineup for Chatham-Kent.
Over in Windsor, Windsor Light Music Theatre continues a packed season. Newsies Jr. hits the stage April 11-12, followed by Frozen: The Musical running May 1-3 and 8-10. Youth programming is thriving, and large-scale musicals are filling seats - a great sign for the health of live theatre in our region.
Back in Leamington, The Bank Theatre has completed auditions for Farce of Nature, a Jones Hope Wooten comedy, and the cast is now hard at work bringing this fast-paced spring production to life. It runs May 1–3 and 8–10. Get ready for big laughs and even bigger characters.
Across Essex, Kent, Lambton, and Windsor, our theatres are telling stories about resilience, reconciliation, laughter, love, and community. Different scripts. Different stages. Same heartbeat.
This is WODL at its best -volunteers showing up, artists stretching themselves, audiences leaning in.
See you in the seats.
| | What's Happening in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford Region | | |
OAP COMMUNITY THEATRE:
Rehearsals are well under way for the March 28 and 28 production of Whimsy State (or the Principality of Outer Baldonia) by A.J. Demers. This is a historical comedy based on the true story of Russell Arundel and his two Nova Scotian buddies who buy an island off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1948 and declare it a separate country from Canada.
The play is directed by Ted McLauchlin and produced by Virginia Moffat. It stars local veteran actors Lionel Santos, Aaron Gorlick, Jeff Sweete, Karen Trick and Joanna Sweete.
This is one of those times where truth is stranger than fiction, and it’s one of the most amazing fishing stories in Canadian history. The Principality of Outer Baldonia is now a defunct micro-nation whose territory comprised the roughly four acres of the bleak, wind swept Outer Baldonia Tuskegee Island, not far from the southernmost corner of Nova Scotia.
The production will be adjudicated on March 27, 2026 and the author, A.J. Demers will be present.
SIMCOE LITTLE THEATRE:
Chess, the Musical in Concert music by Benny Anderson and Bjorn Vlvaeus, lyrics by Tim Rice, directed by Andy Dominick will appear March 5 to 15, 2026. Loosely based on “Match of the Century” during the Cold War, Chess follows Freddie, the eccentric, egotistical American Grandmaster defending his title against Anatoly, the conflicted Soviet Grandmaster. Behind the scene, strings are being pulled to decide the fate of the game.
Don’t forget the Improv Workshop being hosted by Joe Shiek on March 26, 2026 from 7 to 9 pm.
Be sure to join everyone in the theatre’s newly renovated basement for Cafe Nights -Open Mic on March 28, 2026.
THEATRE TILLSONBURG:
Auditions have been held and rehearsals have begun for Having Hope at Home by David Craig, directed by Mark Smith and appearing May 28-31 and June 4-7, 2026. This powerful and funny family drama is delivered on one unforgettable night where Caroline goes into labour at her grandparents farmhouse just as her estranged parents arrive for dinner. As generations clash and old wounds are opened, this heartwarming story explores motherhood, traditions and the strength of family ties.
THEATRE WOODSTOCK:
After a successful, completely sold out performance of Jesus Christ Superstar, the theatre’s next production, The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow, directed by Rob Coles has been cast and is in rehearsal and set to hit the boards on April 17 to 26. 2026. This play is a comedy that spoofs Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film, of the same name, by condensing the spy thriller into a fast paced farce.
Don’t forget to register for the Improv Workshop, hosted by Heather May on March 13, 2026 from 7 to 9 pm.
|
| Off the Wall - March Courses | |
By Michele Boniface, Chair, Off the Wall Stratford Artists Alliance, mboniface@cyg.net
| | Click the thumbnail below to view the Creative Sparks video: | | |
Check out these new books from Playwrights Canada Press!
Recently released:
Rogers v. Rogers by Michael Healey
From the award-winning author of The Master Plan comes an outrageous new political comedy adapted from Alexandra Posadzki’s bestselling exposé. Telecom titan Ted Rogers built a fortune from Canada’s airwaves. Now his son Edward, long dismissed by his father, fights to seize control of the family empire, while civil servant Matthew Boswell battles to block Rogers’s multi-billion-dollar merger with Shaw Communications. An electrifying solo show of succession, corporate intrigue, and family betrayal, Rogers v. Rogers pulls back the curtain on power, legacy, and the cost of unchecked ambition.
Chasing Champions: The Sam Langford Story by Jacob Sampson
Sam Langford, born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia, rose from humble beginnings to become one of boxing’s all-time greats, despite never holding a world title. Racism and the notorious “colour line” denied him the opportunities he rightfully deserved, but his relentless pursuit of glory defined his incredible life and enduring relationships. Chasing Champions: The Sam Langford Story is a gripping biographical drama that reveals the man behind the legend, celebrating his resilience and humanity in the face of overwhelming odds.
Coming soon:
Against the Night by Evelyne de la Chenelière, translated by Linda Gaboriau
Every evening Bernard and Viviane gaze across their vast estate, maintained by the ex-convict gardener Jérémie, as their runaway daughter Léna returns home once again. Beneath the bourgeois malaise lies a latent violence waiting for release. To free themselves, Léna and Jérémie must sacrifice everything—their estate, heritage, and Bernard and Viviane. Against the Night is a surreal, tragicomic descent into familial collapse, where identity unravels and reality bends. Evelyne de la Chenelière’s haunting play invites us into a dreamscape where nothing is certain and everything is up for reinvention.
+ 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.
| | Resource Stage - Upcoming Saturday Workshops | By Samadhi Perera, Horizon Solutions, samadhi@horizonsolutions.net | |
Struggling to get the look you want on stage?
Resource Stage Saturday Lighting Workshop with Kaileigh Krysztofiak is designed for community theatre technicians, designers, and directors who want practical, achievable improvements — not just theory, not product demos.
Led by Kaileigh, this workshop dives into creating depth and dimension with conventional and LED fixtures, building flexible looks that support multiple scenes, and programming efficiently under time pressure. You’ll also learn how to make smarter design choices with the inventory you already have — so your next production looks stronger without increasing your budget.
This is lighting workshop is built for groups like yours — practical solutions you can take straight back to your theatre.
Saturday, March 7th, 9am - 3pm
Resource Stage, 1910 Huron St, London, ON
Limited spots available
$50 per person (lunch included)
Learn more and register:
https://www.resourcestage.ca/lighting-workshop
| |
Are you relying on ad-hoc playback tools or makeshift cue systems for your shows?
When audio cues don’t run smoothly, it can throw off timing, distract performers, or disrupt the audience experience — especially in community theatre settings.
Our Resource Stage Audio Design Practical Workshop on Saturday, March 28 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) is a hands-on session focused on building reliable audio cue workflows using Show Cue Systems (SCS) — a widely used platform in theatrical playback and live performance. You’ll work step-by-step through real-world tasks like organizing audio files, building playlists and cue lists, structuring show files for reliability, and managing playback with confidence. A temporary full license and show files are provided so you can follow along on your own laptop.
This workshop is ideal for sound designers, tech volunteers, stage managers, and anyone running cues in live productions — from school plays to community theatre shows. No prior SCS experience required, just a desire to improve your workflow and reliability.
Saturday, March 28th, 9am - 12pm
Resource Stage, 1910 Huron St, London, ON
Limited spots available — small group learning
$25 per person.
Register and learn more:
https://www.resourcestage.ca/audio-workshop
| 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
| | | | Deadline for submissions for the March newsletter. | | | | WODL Festival 2026, Hanover | | | | Minifest, Thistle Theatre, Embro | | |
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 2026. All Rights Reserved.
| |
| See what's happening on our social sites | | | | |
