Creating a New Vision for Canadian Theatre (Guest Post)

The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres is convening a national conversation about Canadian theatre. The Dialogue on Theatre series asks: “What are the most critical issues that must be addressed to ensure Canadian theatre is able to tell a success story in 2017?”

You are invited to participate in a PACT roundtable to help shape the vision of a vibrant Canadian theatre community on Tuesday, December 13, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. This session will be taking place at Alberta Theatre Projects, ATP Rehearsal Hall. Please enter through stage door at:

EPCOR Centre, 3rd floor
220 – 9th Ave SE
Calgary, AB

Over the next year, PACT will host a series of face-to-face roundtable gatherings for the community. We will be facilitating conversations about the top-of-mind and long-term preoccupations of our community. The roundtables will complement and feedback more information to the online community throughout the year.

PACT would like to thank all of the theatre professionals that have already participated in roundtable discussions held in Grand Bend, Toronto, and Victoria. We would also like to thank our community hosts, Drayton Entertainment (Grand Bend, ON), the Belfry Theatre (Victoria, BC), ATP (Calgary, AB), Catalyst Theatre (Edmonton, AB), RMTC (Winnipeg, MB) and MTSpace (Kitchener, ON) for their support.

Conversations are also taking place on-line, where you can sign-up as a member of the Dialogue on Theatre here. The online community site includes a discussion forum, a notes section, and dialogue events. Make the site your own by joining any conversation already started or by initiating a discussion on any topic that you want to explore.

Please encourage the theatre professionals you know, of all levels of experience and responsibility, to join in. This “Dialogue” series is not just for PACT members! We encourage and welcome theatre instructors, presenters, artists, board members, and audiences to participate.

Wondering what the conversations are about? Here are standout discussion points from previous roundtables. What do you think?

  • “Canadian theatre has historically excelled at literary component of theatre. Know that some smaller theatres more deeply embrace art of staging, theatricality, but feel that this is generally a weaker point in our theatrical tradition.”
  • “Interaction is important between community and theatre; opportunity to build bridges, travelling; development of audience, bridge to creative industries; creativity is valued. How do we create bridges?”
  • “Toward 2017, we’ll have to get more creative about revenue streams; some guaranteed level of funding (from public, or even private) will not be the case in the future.”
  • “To be productive in an authentic partnership between institution and artists, we need to address first the whys of engaging and the relevance of engaging. It can’t be top down or curated; it must be holistic.”

Please join PACT in person, online, or both.

For in-person roundtables, please email your RSVP (pact@pact.ca) to Lucy White, Executive Director.

Posted in Arts & Culture, Calgary Theatre, News | Leave a comment

Be the King of Fools at the Calgary Fringe Festival and Inglewood Sunfest

Are you feeling clownish? Do you have the compulsive need to share the gift of your lovable self with the world? Man, do you just NEED TO EXPRESS? Then this is for YOU!

Sign up for our King of Fools contest. Applicants must be dynamic, fun loving, engaging, outgoing, goofy, and sunny… you get the idea. We will whittle down the entrants to five special finalists. The winning King of Fools will be selected from our finalists during Inglewood Sunfest on Saturday, August 4 at noon.

The King of Fools will then be escorted and squired about by his/her loyal subject to participate in different activities and fun functions throughout the day, like judging a pie-eating contest, goofing it up with kiddies in the Kids Fun Zone, or joking around with the patrons, just to name a few. The King of Fools winner will also receive a Calgary Fringe Festival All-Access Pass and Fringe Button, good to use at any of our 2012 indoor theatre performances during the entire run of the Festival until August 11, 2012… over a $200 value!

So what are you waiting for? This is your time to SHINE. Apply now and be our first inaugural King of Fools! Contest ends on Wednesday, July 25 at 5 pm. The five finalists will be notified via email after that date with further instructions on the next steps selection process.

To enter, please go to the entry submission page and share with us a brief description of why you think you should be the King of Fools for Fringe and Sunfest this year, along with a a sample work showcasing your charm (video, pictures, etc.) and basic contact information.

Let the games begin. Good luck!

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Billet for 2012 Calgary Fringe Fest Artists

The Calgary Fringe Festival continues to be grateful for the support that the Inglewood and Ramsay Communities have given towards the success of this annual event. This year, we have 20 performing groups from out of town coming to Calgary to entertain us. We need your help to provide these artists with a comfy place to lay their head after a long day of performing for the public at Fringe Fest. Most artists sleep in and work late, so you hardly see them!

What will you get in return? Besides making new friends, you will receive two unlimited all-access Fringe Passes that will get you into any of the 2012 Fringe Festival shows (subject only to seating availability).

Here are the details:

Time period: July 30th to August 12th, 2012

What’s needed?
A comfy bed, couch, mattress, even a vacant RV… anything that the Fringe artist can call home for the duration of their stay. Access to a shower would be nice!

How many people?
We have several singles, a few duos and two groups of four and one group of eight.

Need to supply food?
No… unless you want to, of course. Starving Fringe artists will never turn down an offer of free food!

Billeting is another great way to support the Calgary Fringe by providing accommodation for our artists. If you would be able to be a host to one or more of these artists, please contact the Calgary Fringe Festival via email at billet@calgaryfringe.ca or call the Fringe office at (403) 451-9726.

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Wanted: Box Office Staff for 2012 Calgary Fringe Festival

Think you’ve got what it takes to join our team? Calgary Fringe Festival is on the hunt for some dynamic individuals who are passionate about the Fringe and love to work with people.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Two (2) Box Office Front of House Managers/Venue Supervisors
Responsible for all Front of House activities between the four main stage Fringe venues.

· At the door ticket sales
· Venue float reconciliation (cash and Fringe Buttons inventory)
· Artist at the door reconciliation reports and payouts
· Maintenance and/or management of the Fringe venues
· Training and supervision of Fringe box office volunteers
· Coordinator between Fringe Technician and Fringe box office volunteers/patrons
· Ambassador of the Fringe (answering patron questions, conflict resolution, etc)

One (1) Info Booth Captain/Box Office Central Coordinator
Responsible for Box Office Central activities with some additional responsibilities for Front of House activities at the Main Box Office tent.

· Management/control and reconciliation of master box office float
· Master controller/manager of Fringe Box Office online ticketing and reporting systems
· Prep and restocking of all Fringe venue box office boxes
· Recalibrating and restocking venue cash and Fringe Button inventory floats
· Stocking day of tickets and day of artist reconciliation reports
· At the door artist payouts for all Venue Boutique artists who do not collect at a main stage venue
· Final artist reconciliation and payouts on artists’ last performance day
· Day of ticket sales for all Fringe venues, Fringe inventory sales, such as Fringe t-shirts and Fringe lapel pins
· Venue float reconciliation (cash and Fringe Buttons inventory)
· Maintenance and/or management of the Main Box Office tent
· Training and supervision of Fringe box office volunteers
· Ambassador of the Fringe (answering patron questions, conflict resolution, etc).

One (1) Venue Boutique Front of House Manager
Responsible for all Front of House activities between the four Fringe Venue Boutiques.

· At the door ticket sales, venue float reconciliation (cash and Fringe Buttons inventory)
· Artist at the door reconciliation reports
· Maintenance and/or management of the Fringe venues
· Training and supervision of Fringe box office volunteers
· Coordinator between the Venue Boutique staff/management and Fringe box office volunteers/patrons
· Ambassador of the Fringe (answering patron questions, conflict resolution, etc)

The following general information applies to all available positions:

Renumeration
Box office staff openings are paid honorarium positions. Staff honorariums are commensurate with level of responsibility and commitment.

Time Commitment (subject to change)
· May and June: two weeknights a month
· July: increasing to two weeknights a week, and a weekend day
· Monday July 30 to Sunday August 12: full time/overtime hours

Desirable Qualities
· Front of House management and/or box office staffing experience
· Good time management skills
· Superstar communication skills
· The ability to function effectively in high pressure situations

Prospective box office staff should also be highly organized with a knack for quick problem solving and graceful conflict resolution. And hey, a killer smile never hurts.

To learn more about these positions or submit your resume, please contact Blair Gallant at boxoffice@calgaryfringe.ca – and remember, the SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2012 @ 5 PM.

Good luck!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

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Calgary Fringe Fundraising Casino Event

We are looking for volunteers to help out with our fundraising casino event which will take place on Monday, February 6 and Tuesday, February 7 at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino.

Benefits:

1. You get a free meal from the restaurant/kiosk, and the restaurants have great food.
2. You can do a lot of people watching for future character studies. You would not believe the amazing personalities there to watch and learn from!
3. You can assist us, the Calgary Fringe Festival, with our fundraising efforts. We require a certain number of volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly.

Please take a moment to check your schedule to see if you can assist on one or both days of the casino. You can view the Calgary Fringe Volunteer Casino schedule and see what works best for you. There are lots of different positions to fill, so we need lots of different people! You’re also welcome to check out the list describing every available position.

A Casino Volunteer Worker Application form is required by Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. Please take a moment to fill it out and then either scan and e-mail the form to Michele Gallant at michele@calgaryfringe.ca or fax it in to (403) 236-0662.

Name of Organization: Calgary International Fringe Festival Society
AGLC ID#: 347711
Dates(s) of Casino: February 6th and 7th, 2012

NOTE: Only those applying for General Manager, Alternate General Manager, Banker, Cashier or Count Room Supervisor volunteer positions are required to fill out this form. For all other positions (e.g. chiprunner, count room), you  simply need to bring in is a form of picture ID (like your student ID card or driver’s license).

When you are volunteering for a casino event such as this, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission stresses that our volunteers are not permitted to gamble at any time throughout the duration of the two day casino event, and are not allowed to consume alcoholic beverages during their shift(s). It may sound like common sense, but it’s important to be aware of and you’d be surprised how many people don’t realize this!

If you are interested, then please return your completed AGLC Casino Volunteer Worker form (where applicable) to Michele and/or advise her as to what position you would like to volunteer for and for what shift by Friday, January 27th, 2012. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michele at (403) 451-9726 or via email.

This is an important fundraising event which raises close to $ 70,000 every 18 months for the Calgary Fringe. Help us continue the Fringe Movement and volunteer today!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

Posted in Arts & Culture, Fringe Fest News, Fundraising | Leave a comment

Donate to the Bill Brown Trust Fund

Bill Brown of Sets ‘n Stuff, a long time supporter/supplier of “sets and  stuff” for the Calgary theatre community and of the Calgary Fringe, is in need of your help. Recently, Bill and his family suffered a tremendous loss when the high wind fires in Nanton took away his home, ranch, and his shop/storage.

He has given so much to the arts community over the years, and we would like to return the favour and show Bill our support in this time of crisis. Bill has been a huge support and assistance to the local theatre arts scene in Calgary (close to 30 years), and is a generous in terms of his dedication, time, and services.

Let’s show Bill our appreciation by donating to the Bill Trust Fund. Online donations can be made through the Morpheus Theatre website (www.morpheustheatre.ca) or for cheque donations, please make the cheques payable to Calgary ACTS, indicate “Bill Brown Fund” on the cheque, and send it in to:

Calgary-ACTS
Community Arts Centre
2633 Hochwald Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T3E 7K2

NOTE: Donations to the Bill Brown Trust fund do not qualify for a tax receipt.

Please, let’s give generously to the man who’s given so much of himself to the community arts scene in Calgary over the years. Thank you for your support!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

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See Cirque Du Soleil’s OVO in Calgary Fall 2011

Receive a big discount on tickets to see Cirque Du Soleil’s OVO in Calgary, September 7 to 25. This deal is one that we’re offering to all Fringe fans. Hope you feel special! Order online and take advantage of this opportunity to snag 30% off tickets and get your Fringe on at Cirque Du Soleil. Cirque Do Soleil has also added 19 additional performances of OVO from September 27 to October 9, and for a limited time we’re passing along a savings of $10 off tickets to these shows, too.

We are also going to do a very exciting ticket giveaway this week for prime seats at OPENING NIGHT on September 7th! Three pairs are up for grabs and you can enter to win them three different ways:

1. Facebook: Post on our wall with what impresses you the most about Cirque Du Soleil, or if you’ve never ever been to a Cirque Du Soleil show before, tell us why you want to go.

2. Twitter: Same as above. Send us a tweet with what you love most about Cirque Du Soleil or why you really want to see the OVO show this fall in Calgary.

3. Random draw: Sign up for the Calgary Fringe newsletter to have a shot at winning Cirque tickets and cross for fingers for good luck. We only send periodic emails throughout the year, so no worries about clogging your inbox.

Curious about OVO? Watch the official OVO trailer to learn more about the show.

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

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OPEN CALL: An All-New Visual Competition… The Calgary Fringe Awards!

For the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival, we are launching an all-new visual competition; it is a unique opportunity that will speak to Fringe Fest and film/photography lovers alike. Consider this an open call to local, national, and international filmmakers and photographers that are passionate about creativity, community, arts & culture.

The Calgary Fringe Festival takes pride in bringing unrestricted, uncensored, unforgettable theatre to our city. Fringe Fest provides established as well as emerging artists across genres an opportunity to perform and connect with the public. We believe in evocative performance art that pushes boundaries. We want to make you think just as much as we want to make you laugh – and most of all, we want you to be moved. In this new visual competition, unbridled exuberance and bold individuality are what we would like to serve as your source of inspiration to capture Fringe expressions.

If you would like to participate in this visual competition, we warmly invite you to attend the Calgary Fringe Festival this year to film and photograph the festivities of our nine day celebration of all-things Fringe in Inglewood, with a handful of interesting venues and over 30+ incredible, innovative shows.

The objective of this program is to create a striking visual representation of the Calgary Fringe Festival, while also providing the winner(s) with an exclusive opportunity to be inaugural recipients at the 2011 Calgary Fringe Awards, which are dedicated to recognizing creative excellence in film and photography. We also hope to establish the Calgary Fringe Awards as an annual awards event for the arts in Canada.

Here are the details on requirements and other information regarding submissions for the Calgary Fringe Awards:

1. Since this will be the first year of the Calgary Fringe Awards, there is currently no cost for submission. All entries must be received no later than September 1st, 2011. There will be one first-place winner, two runners up, and five honorable mentions. All winners will be announced on September 30th, 2011.

2. Winners will have their visual work publicly recognized, circulated, and celebrated. Winners are also welcome (and encouraged!) to share their accolades from the Calgary Fringe Awards on their CVs. Videos and/or photography will be featured on the Calgary Fringe Festival YouTube channel and mentioned in various media outlets.

3. All film and photography entries should be of a suitable duration to effectively communicate the artist’s ideas about the Calgary Fringe Festival while also fully utilizing the benefits of their medium, creative tactics, visual strengths, etc. Ideally, this will translate into submissions anywhere from 30 seconds to a maximum of 10 minutes in length.

4. Please submit your Calgary Fringe Awards entry by mail via CD or DVD (.mov format only) to:

The Calgary Fringe Awards
c/o Calgary Fringe Festival
3 Riverwood Close SE
Calgary, AB T2C 3Z4

Best of luck, and we look forward to reviewing your submissions.

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

Posted in Arts & Culture, Contests, Fringe Awards, Fringe Fest News | 1 Comment

Geocaching: Take Fringe Fest Adventure to the Outdoors

We’re introducing another new way to engage with Fringe Fest this year. First it was the summer double pass giveaway contest, and now this: Fringe Fest geocaching! If you aren’t familiar with geocaching yet, learn more about how it works.

We have currently set up a handful of locations throughout the Calgary area. Each geocache contains two Fringe Festival buttons and a note with details about how to redeem those buttons for free tickets to the Fringe show of your choice. In short, you treasure hunt with your friends or family, you find our geocache(s) with Fringe Fest buttons, and then you enjoy a Fringe Fest show.

I should also mention the best part: our buttons don’t expire. This means that if you discover a Fringe Fest geocache before August 6th this year, you’re welcome to use it to attend the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival. But if you find a Fringe Fest geocache after that date – say, later this summer or even sometime next year – the buttons it contains will still be valid for two tickets to any Fringe show and good for next year’s Calgary Fringe Festival (and beyond).

Pretty simple, pretty fun, and pretty fantastic.

If you want to give this high-tech scavenger hunt a try, why not make your debut with a search for Fringe Fest adventure? I will be regularly sharing Fringe Fest geocache IDs online, so make sure to “like” Calgary Fringe on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Happy hunting!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

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Win free tickets to the Fringe!

Wouldn’t it be great to win a double pass to a Fringe Fest show this year? During each week leading up to the Fringe over the summer, there will be a chance to score free tickets.

You can enter this contest a few different ways. Here’s how it works:

1. “Like” Calgary Fringe on Facebook, share the Facebook link with your friends, then post on the wall and tell us what you love most about Fringe Fest.

2. Follow Calgary Fringe on Twitter and send us a tweet about how you like to “get your Fringe on.” In other words, what makes you quirky, bold, and different? Wear it proudly, and when tweeting, please use the hashtag #getyourfringeon.

3. Submit photos you’ve snapped of fun times at Fringe Fest to me via email: rachrwill at gmail dot com. With your consent and credit, they will be uploaded to the Calgary Fringe Flickr stream to share with other Fringe fans.

The contest rules are simple. Each method as shown above, once completed, counts as one entry; you may enter using a single method or all three; and you’re welcome to compete for a chance to win as often as you like – as long as your entries are honest and creative, the more the merrier! If you win, you will be contacted directly with more details. One winner will be selected weekly between now and July 29th, 2011 for a total of six winners.

Every lucky winner will receive a double pass for admission to the show of his/her choice at the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival, the gleeful glory that comes from winning tickets to something cool, and a good excuse to solicit high fives from strangers and friends alike.

Show me what you’ve got, Fringe fans!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

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