.JPG)
bridging disability and the performing arts
Archives
 |
Heather Wilis and Christina Wong,
|
Read our archives of past activities and events. More to come soon.
Highlights:
SEPTEMBER: Launch of the Picasso PRO website and communications network.
OCTOBER: Picasso PRO Launch, October 16th, 2005, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre: The festive celebration and official launch was attended by over fifty artists, associates and supporters and featured remarks by EST President Cathy Murphy and Executive Director Sharon Poitras, General Manager of Theatre Direct Canada John Watson, OOPs! playwright and co-director John Feld and Don Peuramaki, and performances by the dynamic Jack Raccanelli, and 'Kavli' - the magical Trio featuring Karin Randoja, Randi Helmers and Rob Clutton.
NOVEMBER: BYOB + B: Bring Your Own Buddy + Bottle. Sunday, November 20th, 2005,2:00 - 4:30 p.m. Windmill Line Co-op, Toronto: Thirty-five artists and arts practitioners gathered to expand the Picasso PRO circle through an informal exchange of personal stories about making art, achieving access, and aiming high in the world of live performance. Project Manager Rose Jacobson facilitated the conversation and shared plans about upcoming Picasso workshops, clinics and activities. Expressions of interest were captured on simple forms available on request (contact rose@picassopro.org ). People also indicated areas such as Outreach and Political Action where they want to become more involved. Artists promoted their own projects and exchanged brochures and cards. BYOB+B was an energizing way to build community and camaraderie among artists who are potential collaborating partners. We agreed to gather and connect this way two or three times a year.
JANUARY: January 17th, 2006, the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) in cooperation with Picasso PRO hosted a special Information Session about the granting system and its programs in Theatre, Dance and Community Arts for Deaf artists and artists with disability. Sixteen talented artists representing diverse projects braved a winter storm to meet with Grants Officers Margo Charlton (theatre); Soraya Peerbaye (Dance) and Dan Yashinsky (Community Arts) and were welcomed by new Executive Director Claire Hopkinson. The TAC offices are accessible and the session was interpreted for Deaf participants. The exchange was fruitful and will likely encourage several project applications from individual artists and groups in upcoming funding cycles. Issues of representation, access and art related to disability were also discussed. Equally important, people met, shared experiences and planned follow-up activities to continue the dialogue.
FEBRUARY 2006: Working Artists: What Are Your Rights?
What Are Your Responsibilities?
Sunday, February 19th, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m., Theatre Direct Canada Rehearsal
Space. We held an informal but essential panel discussion with people in the
know to help map out the professional scene, respond to some typical
scenario’s and discuss the basics of developing a professional career in
theatre, film or tv. 28 people attended and a number of concrete actions
emerged. New alliances were formed and consolidated!
Rose Jacobson Moderator; Gwen Bartleman Business
Representative, Canadian Actors Equity (CAEA); Joanna Bennett ASL
Interpreter, ACTRA Councillor, actor; Leesa Levinson Diversity Committee
ACTRA, actor; Lynda Hill Artistic Director, Theatre Direct Canada
Kishwar Iqbal Talent Agent, Gary Goddard & Associates; Julian Sleath
Technical Director, Canadian Opera Company
‘REVERBERATIONS’ - Creation Through Ensemble Singing February 23-26,
2006: The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre (EWGTC) Rehearsal Studios:
Wonderful director, actor, teacher and singer Karin Randoja led a four
day Ensemble Singing workshop dedicated to examining the power, versatility
and uniqueness of each participant’s voice. 11performers participated,
submitting original songs and stories to create an adventurous 17 minute
experimental Soundscape which was performed in the round to an invited
audience on the final day. New collaborative relationships have
emerged and will hopefully enjoy an extended life through a possible remount
of the presentation and applications of the workshop’s process to individual
projects and performances. Participants included: Melissa Addison-Webster ,
Sharon Brant, Mark Brose, Linda Carter, Martin Courcelles, Wanda Fitzgerald,
Brenda Gough , Brian McCurdy Helen Posno, Kazumi Tsuruoka and Ed Wadley.
“Suck and Blow” by Judith Snow was presented as part of this year’s
Rhubarb Festival, Buddies in Bad Time Theatre’s annual new works
festival, ran nightly during Week Two: Feb. 8-12th at 9:00 p.m. in the
Chamber, BIBT, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto. Created by Judith Snow, Tara
Beagan, Michael Rubenfeld & Caleb Yong.
Theatrical Interpretation of Theatre Direct Canada's “Beneath The Banyan
Tree”: Theatre Direct Canada offered two performances of its acclaimed
production, “Beneath The Banyan Tree, a delightful theatre and dance
production for young people with ASL Theatrical Interpretation.
THE WINTER ISSUE OF IMPact! -the quarterly members' newsletter of the
Professional Association of Canadian Theatres [PACT] published a special
edition called 'Opening Doors: A Focus on Theatre Accessibility'. Included
several articles, the results of an internal Accessibility Survey of PACT
member theatres, an Introductory Report by Jessica Schneider, Chair of the
PACT Diversity Committee, with references to Picasso PRO, plus
recommendations drawn from the Picasso Project's Research Report(2004) and
excerpts from "Can Somebody Kickstart Toronto?" by Mark Brose which appeared
in the same report.
APRIL 2006: Spring Workshop: Intro to Clown With legendary
clown Michael Kennard, performer and co-creator with John Turner of the
Canadian clown duo, Mump & Smoot,took place April 21-23, 2006. It offered a
tantalizing glimpse into the magical world of clown and was an opportunity
to experience the Pochinko technique, through games, exercises and the
transformative donning of noses and hats to discover their individual clown.
ASL SHOWCASE: Sign Language Theatre at Harbourfront Centre. Two
exciting premiere performances, April 30 and May 1st at the Studio Theatre,
Harbourfront Centre.
MAY 2006: New links were made available on the Picasso PRO
Resource Page. 'CP SALON' starring Kazumi Tsuruoka embarked in a
highly successful tour of Regina and Vancouver accompanied by a vocal
workshop in each city, co-led by Tsuruoka and co-creator, director, voice
teacher and singer Fides Krucker.
August 2006: Open Studios
OCTOBER 2006: Launch of Year 2: Picasso PRO Friday, October 13th, 7:00 p.m. at Tallulah’s Cabaret, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Remarks and a brief look back and forward will be followed by Picasso ExClusive 2006, a performance anthology curated by Wanda C. Fitzgerald & Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. PicEx 2006 poses the question: “have you ever been on the outside looking in or on the inside bursting out?” If so, you’ll enjoy this creative romp through the minefield of exclusivity and exclusion via performance, movement, text, imagery, film, sound. Featured artists included: Andre Arruda, Mark Brose, Elizabeth Dawn Snell, Linda Carter, Andrya Duff, Tina Fushell, Kelly Macdonald, and more. ExPic’s MC’s Wanda C. and Donna M. took us on the journey, which included figuring out why they haven’t been invited to their own party!
Picasso PRO and Equity Showcase Theatre
gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation
