Western Ontario Drama League
WODL

Newsletter November 2022

In this issue:
  • What the Prez Sez
  • WODL Nominating Committee Update
  • Gerry Butts
  • Workshop - GST/HST Audits and Examinations and Books and Records
  • WODL Workshop Series from Revenue Canada

  • Community Theatre in the WODL Region
  • Off the Wall - Wig Making Workshop
  • New Plays from the 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
Quick Links
WODL board
WODL website
WODL on Facebook
Join our mailing list
WODL on Twitter
LinkedIn Share This Email

What the Prez Sez

By Linda Lloyd-McKenzie, WODL President, [email protected]

I hope you are all doing well - enjoying the autumn splendor and drinking in the last of the pumpkin spice-flavoured hot beverage of your choosing. I myself am more of a peppermint-flavouring kind of gal, so at least I'll have that to look forward to when I'm hunkered down in my house with the wind howling outside, pushing up snow drifts that bury the cars and much of the house in a duvet of heavy snow.  


I've had some communication with a couple of the other drama leagues in Ontario: QUONTA (Quebec/Ontario North Theatre Association) and EODL (Eastern Ontario Drama League). The three of us shared our updates on what is happening in our areas. I thought I'd share those updates with you.


Andrea Emmerton, President of QUONTA: QUONTA actually had a face to face meeting in September. It was nice to get together again. We had representatives from five member groups in attendance. Gateway Theatre in North Bay has agreed to host an on- site Festival in 2023. The dates will be May 17, 18, 19 with a brunch on 20th. John P. Kelly has agreed to adjudicate. There will be three groups entered. Sault Theatre Workshop, Gore Bay Theatre and Gateway.


Moving the dates to May means that we don’t have to worry about winter travel in the north.


Lisa Leroux, President of EODL: We are very excited to be gathering for our first One Act Festival since 2019! Hosted by Creative Force, we will be gathering in Lindsay, Ontario on November 4, 5 and 6 to view 9 one act plays. Our adjudicator is Janet Kish. It will be so wonderful to see familiar faces and greet new friends!

Our Travelling Full Length Play Festival opened on October 1 and will run until the end of April. It will be adjudicated by Caroline Smith. At this point, I am waiting to hear back from our Festival Liaison regarding how many entries he has received. In the past, we had up to 8 different member groups participate. It would be wonderful if that were to happen again for 2022-2023!


It is very heartening to see theatre all across Ontario buzzing with excitement and getting back to normal programming. Although we have made the decision to temporarily switch up the format of our typical Festival, to a Travelling Festival / Reunion Gala in May, I am nevertheless excited to know that our area is also buzzing with activity, and that we will gather in May and pass the quaich, drink to our friendship and look back fondly on the 2022-2023 season.

WODL Nominting Committee Update

By Mona Brennan-Coles, WODL Past President, [email protected]

WODL is pleased to announce the appointment of Nadia Comeau as the Area VP for Bruce-Grey-Huron. Nadia will be introducing Phyllis Leighton at the Owen Sound adjudication on  Thursday, November 24, 2022, so if you are at this performance, please introduce yourself to Nadia. Look for Nadia at other performances in the area.


WODL is still looking for an Area VP  to represent the member groups located in the Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk-Oxford area: Paris Performers' Theatre, Simcoe Little Theatre, Theatre Tillsonburg and Theatre Woodstock


This is a great opportunity to represent your region, to support community theatre across WODL and to influence WODL direction. In my years as a WODL board member, both the community theatre groups I participate with and I personally have benefited from my participation. 


WODL does not directly pay any expenses incurred on behalf of WODL e.g., tickets to performances, mileage, meals, etc. WODL does offer a tax receipt for expenses (e.g., meals, mileage, accommodation, etc.). - the impact of the tax receipt varies. In the past, potential board members have declined the opportunity to participate on the WODL board because of financial constraints. WODL is committed to all meetings being hybrid – in person and via Zoom and is hoping that this makes it possible for more individuals to participate on the board.

 

Duties of the Area VP include:


Representing the member groups in their area to the WODL board by:


  • interacting with the member groups to support them on behalf of WODL – reporting about the groups at the board meetings and ensuring that the member groups are aware of what WODL is doing and able to provide input


  • attending their performances when possible


  • participating in their adjudications e.g., introducing the adjudicator


 

Attending board meetings in person, or via Zoom, as makes sense for the Area VP. 

In person board meetings are hosted by various member groups throughout the WODL region. Here is the 2022-2023 schedule:


  • January 15, 2023 @ 10:30 am – London (London Community Players at the Palace Theatre)
  • February 19, 2023 – @ 10:30 am – In person TBD
  • March 19, 2023 – @ 10:30 am – In person TBD
  • April 23, 2023 @ 11:00 am followed by Delegates Meeting @ 1:00 pm – In person TBD
  • May 7, 2023 @ 10:30 am – Special Board Meeting for Travelling Adjudicator’s Report - via Zoom
  • June 4, 2023 @ 10:30 am – In person TBD
  • August 13, 2023 – @ 11:00 am followed by Delegates Meeting @ 1:00 pm – In person TBD


If you are interested, please contact Mona Brennan-Coles at [email protected]

Gerry Butts

Gerry Butts, a long time member of Guelph Little Theatre, died on 22 October. You can read his obituary here.

Workshop - GST/HST Audits and Examinations

By Terri Graham, WODL Second Vice-president, [email protected]

November 16, 2022 at 1:00 pm via Zoom


GST/HST Audits and Examinations and Books and Records


Do you want to know more about GST/HST audits and examinations?

 

Would you like to hear about record-keeping for GST/HST? 


If you would like to learn more about these issues you should attend CRA’s GST/HST Presentation on GST/HST Audits & Examinations and Books & Records. You will hear directly from CRA’s GST/HST Headquarters Representative who has 30+ years experience working in CRA’s GST/HST programs. 


LEARNING OBJECTIVES:


  • Introduce GST/HST pre- and post-assessment processes
  • Learn what to expect
  • Understand books and records for GST/HST 


TOPICS INCLUDE: 

 

  • Contact
  • Responsibilities during audits
  • Record-keeping legislative provisions 

 

 WHO WILL BENEFIT: 

 

This Presentation is designed for various types of organizations and sectors. It is intended for individuals within your organization who may deal directly with CRA on GST/HST issues and for all board members. You will hear about CRA’s overall compliance processes, including both GST/HST audits and GST/HST examinations. The Presentation will review what to expect during a GST/HST audit or examination. And you will be introduced to the GST/HST rules for record-keeping.


To attend contact Terri Graham at  [email protected].

WODL Workshop Series from Revenue Canada

WODL and Revenue Canada are offering a series of free workshops to WODL members. Each workshop is 60 minutes long and is available on Zoom. The slideshow will be available to all attendees after each workshop.


All workshops are at 1:00 pm. To attend contact [email protected].

November 16, 2022:

GST/HST audits and examinations plus books and records

January 11, 2023:

Directors Liability and Taxpayer Rights

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 December newsletter, please send the information to [email protected].

Off the Wall - Wig Making Workshop

By Michele Boniface, Chair, Off the Wall Stratford Artists Alliance, [email protected]
Facebook @offthewallstrat
Hashtags: #stratfordoffthewall #theatreproduction #backstage

New Plays from the Playwrights Canada Press

By Jessica Lewis, Sales & Marketing Manager, Playwrights Canada Press, j[email protected] 

Check out these new books from Playwrights Canada Press!

 

Recently released:

 

Public Enemy by Olivier Choinière, translated by Bobby Theodore

Dysfunctional family members blame each other for society’s wrongdoings.

 

Blow Wind by Daniel Macdonald, with music by Eileen Laverty

A daughter returns to the family farm, and everything changes.


Bluebirds by Vern Thiessen

Three Canadian nurses in the Great War find their independence.

 

Coming soon:

 

Dividing Lines | Líneas Divisorias by Beatriz Pizano

A loving reflection on how to honour loved ones’ deaths.


Wildfire & The Shoe by David Paquet, translated by Leanna Brodie

Two dark, absurdly charming comedies explore empathy, desire, and fate.


 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

The Canadian Play Outlet has over 2000 Canadian Plays right at your fingertips. Looking for something specific? Check out the curated Collections.


Every month you can take a look at the newest unpublished and published plays available!


See October 2022 releases.

Concord Theatricals New Plays

See their latest scripts click here.

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.

If you want to perform a Canadian play but cannot figure out where to obtain the amateur performance rights, view this presentation from PGC.

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 Bieman, know at [email protected]

Dates for your Diary:

16 November 2022

GST/HST audits and examinations plus books and records workshop

30 November 2022

Deadline for submissions for the December newsletter

23 April 2023

WODL  General Meeting

30 April 2023

Adjudications end

Victoria Day Long Weekend, May 20-22, 2023
WODL Festival 2023

13 August 2023

WODL  AGM

TBD
WODL Festival 2024, Leamington
This newsletter was prepared by:
Tricia Ward
Communications coordinator
WODL

Western Ontario Drama League  | [email protected]a | www.wodl.on.ca

Copyright © Western Ontario Drama League 2022. All Rights Reserved.
See what's happening on our social sites
Facebook  Twitter