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| Hello, You are receiving this e-bulletin because you are a preferred contact of the National Theatre School of Canada (NTS). |
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AND SO IT BEGINS
On September 6 at 9 am, fifty-six students, 26 Anglophones and 30 Francophones, were greeted by program and administrative directors, teachers and staff in the Pauline-McGibbon Studio of the main campus. They have come from across Canada, France, Venezuela and Zambia; they are fresh, hopeful, energetic and ready to meet the challenges of their different programs of study. The School held its traditional "welcoming cocktail" at 5 pm that same day, where greetings and summer stories were exchanged in a warm and festive atmosphere – |
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what better way to
kick off a new school year AND the "beginning of the end" of NTS's 50th anniversary celebrations!
The School extends a warm welcome to its 56 new students! |
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THE ARK ON FOGO ISLAND
Do you know the way to Fogo Island? Now you will. Thanks to The Ark Project, an NAC English Theatre project initiated in 2006, the School's 2nd year actors are presently on Fogo Island in Newfoundland Labrador, studying the work of Norwegian poet and playwright Henrik Ibsen with Peter Hinton, Artistic Director of NAC's English Theatre and professional theatre artists from across the country. This unique three-week theatre research and development project is being produced on Fogo Island in partnership with the Fogo Island Arts Corporation and in association with the National Theatre School of Canada. (+) Read more |
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NTS OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, FROM 11:00 AM TO 5:00 PM Facebook, Twitter... Our ways of developing new relationships are changing; we have created new virtual communities which we value and that are here to stay. However, we still need human contact and theatre offers an immediate, direct and live experience. It instantly creates a consensual social network, and ultimately, a community that comes together around a performance, where each individual contributes his perceptions and his expectations. So this year, during the 15th anniversary of Quebec's Les Journées de la culture, the School invites the public to investigate the theme: Theatre, The Other Social Network. Our program directors, teachers and students have imagined many activities around our theme; they will also give visitors the opportunity to attend open classes and rehearsals, lectures, conferences, scale model exhibits and more. On that day, human and virtual contacts will meet and walk parallel lines. Diana Uribe (Set & Costume Design, 2011) is the designer of the outdoor scenography and indoor signage and Mallorie Casey (Production, 2011) is production manager for this event. |
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A MURAL CELEBRATING THE SCHOOL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY
A spectacular project is underway on one of the sidewalls of the NTS (Laurier Street), just as the School welcomes its new and old students back to school after the summer break. MU, in partnership with the NTS, is creating a mural measuring approximately 700 m2. This work of art will be completed by the end of October 2011 thus bringing NTS's 50th anniversary to a close. The mural is a lively tribute to the theatre disciplines taught within the School's walls, as well as a testament to the NTS's cultural, artistic and social contribution to the city it calls home – Montreal. It is also a legacy to the School's immediate neighbourhood, providing citizens the opportunity to revel in its poetic vision. The design was conceived by artist Richard Morin, who graduated from the Set and Costume Design program in 1988. (+) Read more |
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EN FRANÇAIS COMME EN ANGLAIS, IT'S EASY TO CRITICIZE A BILINGUAL FIRST FOR NTS'S 50TH For the first time in its 50-year history, the School is presenting a bilingual play, En français comme en anglais, it's easy to criticize, bringing together on the same stage, the 2012 graduating classes of the English and French sections. A creative and collaborative laboratory – it will run from October 25 to 30, 2011, at the Ludger-Duvernay Theatre of the Monument-National. The play is jointly directed by two graduates of the School, Chris Abraham (Directing, 1996), Artistic Director of Toronto's Crow's Theatre and Christian Lapointe (Mise en scène, 2005), Artistic Director of Quebec City's Théâtre Péril. |
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A NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR ACTING STUDENTS
The transition from acting student to young professional actor is at once exciting and challenging. Gone is the sense of security that exists within the confines of the School. Actor and NTS alumnus Gregory Prest (Acting, 2004 and recently with Soulpepper Theatre, Tarragon, Canadian Opera Company – our photo) remembers this stressful time and he wanted to do something concrete to ease graduating students into their new life, as well as help 1st-years navigate the huge learning curve they face when they start the Acting program. Gregory approached English Section Artistic Director Sherry Bie about implementing a mentorship program that would pair recent NTS graduates with current NTS students. In 2010, as a pilot project, 12 mentors were each assigned a 1st-year and 3rd-year Acting student. "It's an informal pairing, explains Gregory, also a mentor. It's up to each team to decide when and how often they chat." In 2011, 12 new mentors are being added to the roster. Second-year Acting student Shannon Currie has been paired since last year with mentor Trish Lindström (Acting, 2002 and a regular with Soulpepper Theatre, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival). "I was able to see Trish a great deal over the summer, in Toronto. She's become a friend, Shannon admits. We just hang out and have nice discussions about theatre and the day-to-day of an actor – big things like how to prepare for the Stratford auditions, or just how to act at opening parties. Trish is a very generous soul: she's taken the sting out of my fears that the industry is only a harsh one." |
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THEATRE ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
In 2011, thanks to the support of several of its major donors, the School established Theatre Engaging Communities (TEC), a permanent program created in the wake of the Cultural and Artistic Leadership Program (CALP). TEC's mission is to encourage NTS artists to explore a theatre that reaches individuals and the communities to which they belong. TEC is designed for all NTS students and the 2011, 2010 and 2009 graduates of all its programs. The next deadline for submissions is October 1, 2011. (+) Read more |
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NTS HOMECOMING: END OF OCTOBER
The first ever NTS Homecoming is fast approaching and we are looking forward to welcoming back our alumni to their School on October 28, 29 and 30, 2011. Already, many alumni from coast to coast and around the globe have confirmed their presence, including NTSers from Australia, Germany, Britain, and France, not to mention Texas and California! The reunion will be a great opportunity to renew friendships and share memories, meet people who trained at NTS during very different eras and have a look at what is happening at the School today. From the Welcome Back Reception to the Goodbye Cocktail, the weekend will be filled with entertaining events such as the bilingual play, En français comme en anglais, it's easy to criticize; conferences; tours (of the School and the Monument-National); and, of course, the Alumni Cabaret – 2 evenings of performances by the School' graduates including musical numbers, songs, poetry readings, stand-up routines, and a few unpredictable surprises! (+) Contact information and more |
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ALUMNI NEWS
The following is a brief sampling of the news you can find in the ALUMNI NEWS section of our website. For more news on NTS alumni, their performances, projects, awards, etc., please click here. Kristen Thomson (Acting, 1993 and our photo) performs in Another Africa at Canadian Stage's Bluma Appel Theatre, from September 26 to October 22, 2011. Sarah Phillips (Directing, 1996) is the Artistic Director of Festival Players of Prince Edward County (ON). She directed Amelia: the Girl Who Wants to Fly, by John Gray, at the Great Canadian Theatre Company, from September 13 to October 2, 2011. The show features Karin Randoja (Acting, 1988); it was first presented at the Festival Players in July 2011. Last June, Brian Linds (Acting, 1981), Michael Blake (Acting, 2001) and the rest of the ensemble cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee received a Jessie Award for significant artistic achievement. The show was co-produced by the Arts Club Theatre (Vancouver) and Belfry Theatre (Victoria). Nancy Palk (Acting, 1979) directed White Biting Dog, written by her NTS classmate Judith Thompson (Acting, 1979), at Soulpepper Theatre, from August 13 to October 1, 2011. Featuring Joseph Ziegler (Acting, 1979) and Gregory Prest (Acting, 2004); set and costumes designed by Christina Poddubiuk (Set and Costumes Design, 1980); lighting designed by Louise Guinand (Production, 1980). Rylan Wilkie (Acting, 2001) performs in The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon directed by Alan Dilworth, at the Globe Theatre, from September 28 to October 16, 2011. Set and costumes design, Robin Fisher (Set and Costume Design, 2001); assistant stage manager, Stephanie Link (Production, 2008). Sandra Oh (Acting, 1993) was inducted into the 2011 Canada's Walk of Fame; she finds herself in the company of neurologist and one-time astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, singer/songwriter Burton Cummings, tennis champ Daniel Nestor, comedy rock-star Russell Peters, actor Ryan Reynolds, and the late Mordecai Richler. To submit information for the ALUMNI NEWS section, kindly contact Andrée McNamara Tait at the NTS Alumni Office: alumninews@ent-nts.ca. |
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SCHOOL AND LIBRARY HOURS
The School's Saint-Denis Campus is open from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, except during public holidays and the Bleviss Family Library is back to its regular daily library hours. (+) For the library's operating hours, please click here |
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Next e-bulletin :: end of September 2011
PHOTO CREDITS Fogo Island Bridge Studio (Fogo Island Arts Corporation) NTS Archives (Homecoming): Lakeboat by David Mamet (1983); Left to right: Michael Riley and Edward Leefe Public domain (Kristen Thomson) Sandy Nicholson (Gregory Prest) Maxime Côté (2010 Open House) Laurent Pinabel (Design, 2011 Open House poster) |
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