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The canadian Stage . A history and understanding of an incredible theatre for the arts! By Alexandra Watt . History of the theatre. CanStage is the Canadian Stage Company. It is Canada’s largest non- profit contemporary theatre company.
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The canadianStage A history and understanding of an incredible theatre for the arts! By Alexandra Watt
History of the theatre • CanStage is the Canadian Stage Company. It is Canada’s largest non- profit contemporary theatre company. • It was founded in 1987 by merging CentreStage and Toronto Free Theatre. • The company is dedicated to international contemporary theatre and to develop and produce Canadian works. • Matthew Joceyln is the artistic and General director, appointed in 2009. The company’s board of directors has over 30 members. • CanStage has a long-standing commitment to education and enhancement programs for the public. The theatre plays a highly essential role in producing thought- provoking theatre and high quality entertainment in Toronto!
Size and facilities • CanStage has four distinctive venues. • The 876-seat BlumaAppel Theatre; the intimate 244 and 167-seat Berkeley Street Theatres; and the 1000-seat outdoor amphitheatre which is the home of the CanStage TD Dream in High Park. • CanStage presents a rich variety of Canadian plays and musicals as well as international. They are edgy, provocative works that are shown at the Berkeley Street Theatre.. • Universal productions with broader appeal are shown at the BlumaAppel Theatre and Shakespeare is shown at the TD Dream in High Park. • CanStage has produced and performed more than 300 productions featuring Canada’s best acting and creative talents. • Over half of the productions performed are Canadian plays.
Season offerings • Fernando Krapp Wrote Me This Letter • Saint Carmen Of the Main • The Anderson Project • Studies in Motion • Untitled • The List • The Middle Place • Our Class • Spotlight.Italy • (the operating budget and mandate are classified information.)
Challenges for the shows • The biggest challenge this year for the Canadian Stage is that a new director has taken the company in a very different direction in terms of shows. • It is a challenge to try new shows that old audiences are not accustomed to, when they are used to the shows prior. It is a difficult transition. • It is also a challenge to attract new audiences to these shows. • A lot of the programming has racy content, which can be an issue with teachers bringing their classes to the Canadian Stage.
Highlights of the shows • Artistically these controversial shows are incredible. They are some of the most innovative and best shows in Canada. • The Canadian stage is multidisciplinary and includes many different forms of music and dance. • The company does not take anything for granted, and it offers shows and entertainment that can not be seen anywhere else.
Rob kempson, education manager • Robert Kempson’s role in the Canadian Stage is highly influential. • Mr. Kempson does all the educational programming for the company. • He organizes school group visits, student workshops, writes study guides for students. • He creates programs for educators and community members. • Mr. Kempson’s role is to enhance the experience for the audience.
Challenges and highlights • Toronto is an incredibly large city and community. It is a massive challenge to compete with other companies that they would rather collaborate with. • The Canadian Stage company loves making shows and their main goal is to keep doing the work they love, but it is a challenge being a non profit company. • The positives are that by being an education manager, Rob gets to expose people to his love of theatre. • It is an incredible feeling to show audiences a piece of theatre that can truly move them and open their eyes to the magic of the arts.
The Canadian Stage vision • Matthew Johnson is the newly selected artistic and general director. • In March 2010, Johnson unveiled a new company mandate along with the 2010-2011 season. • Marks his first season programmed for the company as well as his directorial debut with Canadian Stage. • The company is aiming to head towards multidisciplinary work. • The aim is to pursue projects that are not traditional theatre forms. To perform and work on projects around the world that are of international caliber. • The work is becoming more director focused. The director makes the most impact on whether the performance is creation based or text based. The director guides the vision. • The Canadian Stage has recently opened a new MFA program. This helps young directors move forward through director training and opportunities for Canadian theatre.
Thank you for listening to my presentation! I hope that I educated you about this incredible company, and that I have inspired you to go and enjoy one of their works first hand.