Fundraisers

A Huge Success! Shakespeare Challenge 2016

Thanks to the tireless work of our team at Shakespeare in Action, our wonderful donors and the amazing work of our participates – The Shakespeare Challenge 2016 production of “A Midsummer Nights Dream” was a great success. We would like to take the time out to acknowledge and thank those whose planning, time and effort made our 2-night sold out performance possible.

First we would like to thank the group of 14 volunteer, non-actors from the community who worked tirelessly with our Artistic Director Michael Kelly and Stage Manager/ Event Coordinator, Jeanine Thrasher. Our participants volunteered 3 hrs a week for over eight weeks for this project. Without their passion, enthusiasm and dedication this production would not have been possible. A particular thank you goes out to the talents of Costume Designer – Mary Margaret Annab, our Technical Director – Adam Bromley and Assistant Stage Manager – Lydia Connor.

Secondly, a thank you to the over 180 attendees in the community for their continued support and interest in the important work of Shakespeare in Action in the community and this production. Access to the Arts and community engagement is a fundamental cornerstone to Shakespeare in Actions mandate and with tremendous community support in events like these we continue to make important strides.

Once again, thank you so much to everyone involved – see you next year for Shakespeare Challenge 2017!

Lastly, we must also thank our incredible list of Donors who helped us create a successful Online, Silent/Live Auction to support our fundraising efforts.

AGO
Alexandre Antique Prints, Maps & Books
Aquabella
Archery District
Arthur Murrary Dance Studio
Battle Sports
Black Daffodil Inc
Canadian Opera Company
Call Collyn
Chocolateria
City Dance Corps
Chateau Des Charmes
Crema Coffee
Dufflet Pastries
Duke of Somerset
Escape Zone
Factory Theatre
Fanny Chadwicks
Foxy Originals
Great Escape Book Store
Hart House Theatre
Hot Docs
Konzelmann Estates
Kula Yoga Studios
Mabel’s Fables Bookstore
Margaret Atwood
Mariposa Cruises
Marni Wassernman
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
Moksha Yoga
Mysteriously Yours
Ontario Science Center
Opera Atelier
Oxford Inn
Paupers Pub
Sanagan’s Meat Locker
Shaw Festival
Skyzone
Sleuth of Baker Street
Soul Pepper
Steam Whistle
Stratford Festival
Strewn Winery
Suzanne Manvell
Svengali Salon and Spa
Tafelmusik
Tarragon Theatre
Team RajPal
The Merchant
Theatre Passe Muraille
TIFF
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Yankee Lady Cruises
York University
Ines Buchli

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS- ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER

Shakespeare in Action is looking for a volunteer Assistant Stage Manager to help bring to life A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the 5^th annual Shakespeare Challenge fundraiser. The Shakespeare Challenge is a fundraising event that will raise funds for Shakespeare in Action’s educational programming, serving thousands of at-risk youth across Toronto.

The Challenge will feature up to 14 community members coming together to unleash their inner thespian under the direction of Shakespeare in Action’s renowned Artistic Director Michael Kelly. Our Challenge Champions will rehearse and perform an abridged version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In a race against time, these brave souls will rehearse one night a week for eight weeks to prepare and present this memorable production. That’s the Shakespeare Challenge!

The Assistant Stage Manager will be responsible for:

Helping supervise rehearsals
Provide cues and prompts to actors during rehearsals
Organizing and maintain rehearsal space
Liaising with Shakespeare in Action office staff regularly throughout the duration of the rehearsals
Assist with backstage business during performance
Assist with the building and collecting of props, costumes, and set

Must be available for the following dates and times:

6PM -9:30PM on March 1, 15, 22, 29, 2016
2PM- 8pm March 20
The dress rehearsal on March 30, 2016 and final performance on March 31, 2016 from 2:30PM- 11:30PM (Exact call time TBD)

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a resume and cover letter to info@shakespeareinaction.org. Cover Letters can be addressed to Michael Kelly, Artistic Director.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS- Stage Manager

Shakespeare in Action is looking for a volunteer Stage Manager to help bring to life A Midsummer Night’s Dream as part of the 5^th annual Shakespeare Challenge fundraiser. The Shakespeare Challenge is a fundraising event that will raise funds for Shakespeare in Action’s educational programming, serving thousands of at-risk youth across Toronto.

IMG_2226 Shakespeare in Action - Shakespeare Challenge - 2015 - Locked Door

The Comedy of Errors, 2015

The Stage Manager will be responsible for:

Organizing rehearsal schedules
Preparing list of contacts
Maintaining weekly contact with participants, informing of them of any changes, updates, etc.
Assisting Director with recording blocking and taking other necessary notes with Stage Management Prompt Book
Organizing and maintain rehearsal space
Liaising with Shakespeare in Action office staff regularly throughout the duration of the rehearsals

Must be available for the following dates and times:

6:30 pm-9:30 pm on January 12, 19, February 2, 9, 23, March 1, 15, 22, 29, 2016
The dress rehearsal on April 5, 2016 and final performance on April 6, 2016 (Times TBD)

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send a resume and cover letter to info@shakespeareinaction.org. Cover Letters can be addressed to Michael Kelly, Artistic Director.

5 Acting Exercises to Improve Work Performance

Our annual event The Shakespeare Challenge is coming up, and we are getting excited! Registration has been open for about a month now and will remain open until Dec 18 2015, so time is starting to run out! We think Shakespeare is great, but did you know that performance can actually improve your performance in the office? Here are 5 easy acting exercises based off of the Alexander Technique that you can do daily at work to feel great!

1. Vocal Clarity & Power – Think of your voice as a hood that rises over your head from the nape of your neck, or as rising up from the top of your head. Just this simple shift in thought will open your voice up and give you vocal clarity and power! Keep this in mind and you’ll find it easier to project to the back of the conference room during your next presentation.

via GIPHY

2. Breathing – This one is a big one, though it’s not something we usually have to actively think about. Try focusing in on your exhale, letting it extend longer than your inhale. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and then take 8 seconds to exhale. This simple exercise will lengthen and increase the efficiency of your breaths! Having more control over your breath will help you stay calm when stressed, and will make speaking for long periods of time a little easier on your body.

via GIPHY

3. Posture – The way you carry yourself can affect the way that others perceive and react to you. If you’re constantly hunching your shoulders you physically appear smaller, and may send the message “I don’t deserve to take up as much space as my colleagues.” Try broadening your shoulders and chest, or elongating your neck and spine—you’ll project more confidence, and others will pick up on it.

via GIPHY

4. Ease of Movement – Actors are rarely standing still, so being able to move freely is important, especially during a performance, but you can take this mentality with you to the office too. Take 5-10 minutes out of your workday to stretch and move your body! Roll your neck and shoulders, bend forward and try to touch your nose to your knees, or stretch out those wrists and forearms! These exercises are easy to do at your desk and will help loosen up any stiff muscles.

via GIPHY

5. Feeling Grounded – This means putting both feet on the ground, trying feel each toe connecting with the floor, and bending your knees slightly. You’ll find your balance, posture, and breathing will improve with this power-stance, and your coworkers will perceive you as more confident.

via GIPHY

Alexander Technique info source: http://www.freeyourneck.com/acting-the-alexander-technique/

Step out of the office and into the spotlight- Take the Shakespeare Challenge!

Have an inner flair for the dramatic? Ever wanted to perform Shakespeare on stage? Here’s your opportunity! We are calling on all professionals with the desire to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth!

The Shakespeare Challenge is an annual fundraiser, where community members from all walks of life (no acting experience required) come together to rehearse an abridged version of a Shakespeare play to raise funds for Shakespeare in Action’s educational programming!

Two past Shakespeare Challenge champions share their experience participating in the fundraiser, and why you should get involved!

Visit www.shakespeareinaction.org/shakespeare-challenge for more info!

Registration for the 5th Annual Shakespeare Challenge is Officially OPEN!

CALLING ALL PROFESSIONALS with the desire to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth!

Toronto, the city of work – Toronto, take a break and play! Step out of your Winter routine and into the spotlight this Spring, and join the cast of Shakespeare in Action’s 5th annual Shakespeare Challenge!

About the Challenge:
For the past four years, community members from the corporate sector fearlessly took to the stage in productions of some of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays to raise funds for Shakespeare In Action’s educational programming. Their generosity has helped to foster literacy, enhance creativity and promote speech arts for youth at risk in Toronto’s priority neighborhoods.

Shakespeare Challenge 2016
In celebration of the 5th Shakespeare Challenge, this year we are looking for a group of 14 courageous community members to volunteer their time to rehearse and perform an abridged version of one of Shakespeare’s beloved comedies, chosen between A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing,and As You Like It, at the Historic Arts and Letters Club of Toronto.

Requirements for Shakespeare Challenge participants:

8 rehearsals, a small amount time. Tuesday’s only from 6:30pm – 9:30pm, January 12th– April 5^th, 2016.

8 tickets, sold for $75 each to friends, family members, and colleagues to the final show.

Be professionally coached and directed by our renowned Artistic Director, Michael Kelly.

Socialize & meet new friends that help to create an exciting community event that supports youth.

Ensure youth from priority neighbourhoods get access to professional theatre arts programming.

Make a commitment to have fun, exercise your inner actor and enjoy the magic of Shakespeare.

Upon registration, each champion will make a tax deductible deposit of $100.00, and will commit to attending scheduled rehearsals, and selling a minimum of 8 tickets to the final performance on April 6, 2015.

To register, click on the Register Now button below!

The deadline to register is December 18, 2015.
Participants must be at least 18 years old.

For more information on rehearsals and other ways to get involved, please visit our website!

Let the 2015/16 Season Begin!

Shakespeare in Action is back in action after a restful summer break, and we are ready to bring you another great season for the 2015/16 school year! Whether you are looking to bring The Bard to your classroom, or your entire school, Shakespeare in Action has a program to meet your needs. Take a look below to read about all of the great things we have in store for the next year!

Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop– School Tour, Nov 23- Dec 4, 2015 and April 18- May 6, 2016

Returning for the 2015/16 season by popular demand, Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop is avibrant, interactive presentation that demonstrates how modern hip-hop shares many similarities with the themes, language and rhythm used by Shakespeare. Both are full of poetry, word play and lyricism, and both deal with what it is to be human.

Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop brings alive the parallels between the world of the plays and their own contemporary experience. It’s the perfect complement to your in-class teaching of a specific play, in the beginning, in the middle or at the end.

Visit our website for more information, or to book your school today!

Masterclass Workshops– Available from September- July!

75-minute exploration of any Shakespeare play.
An opportunity to work with an experienced actor-educator who visits your school.
A chance for students to be on their feet, exploring the text through voice and movement exercises.
For Kindergarten – Grade 12, up to 30 students per workshop.
Programs available for ELL, ESL/EDL students.

For more information, or to book a workshop, please visit our website!

Suddenly Shakespeare– Tour, April 4-15, 2016

Shakespeare in Action brings Kim Selody’s sparking production of Suddenly Shakespeare to your school in the Spring of 2016!

This hour long performance brings four of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays –Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Macbeth and Twelfth Night – to life for children ages five to seventy-five. Featuring music, dance and physical comedy, the performance is the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for young audiences. Make this a must see culture event for your students in the spring of 2016!

Visit our website to find out how to reserve your spot today!

School Residencies– Available from September- June!

An in-depth study of a Shakespeare play over several weeks.
An opportunity to work with a professional actor-educator who visits your school.
An interactive and dynamic approach to Shakespeare that gets students on their feet and exploring the story.
For Kindergarten – Grade 12, up to 30 students per Residency.

Fore more information, or to book a residency, please visit our Residencies page!

TD Shakespeare for Kids Library Club– Fall, Winter, and Spring Sessions

A free readers’ theatre program for kids ages 7-12
Magic, witches, ghosts, silly mix-ups, and swordplay in some of the greatest stories ever told!
Explore plays such as The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night.
Read aloud and play drama games and meet other Shakespeare fans!
Led by professional actors and educators.
Up to 24 participants per session.

Check our website for dates and locations!

The Shakespeare Challenge– April 6, 2016

For the past four years, community members from the corporate sector fearlessly took to the stage in productions of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and The Comedy of Errors to raise funds for Shakespeare In Action’s educational programming. Their generosity has helped to foster literacy, enhance creativity and promote speech arts for youth at risk in Toronto’s priority neighborhoods.

Play announcement and registration information coming soon! Check our website for updates!

Shakespeare Summer Camp for Kids and Young Company for Teens Summer Training Program

Kids will learn to act, sing, improvise, construct costumes, and design sets – all while having the time of their lives! The program runs for 2 weeks, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm daily. Our team of highly skilled professional actors provide master-class level instruction. Kids perform their very own Shakespeare production for parents, extended family, and friends!

Teens will participate in a 4-week intensive training program in stage and film performance. Professional actors and directors lead workshops in theatre and film techniques. No drama or performance experience is required. Participants rehearse and perform one of Shakespeare’s more challenging plays. Teens are encouraged to develop their own interpretations of Shakespeare’s works to create and showcase a multi-media performance.

For more information, please visit the Shakespeare Summer Camp for Kids or Young Company for Teens page on our website!

Doug Miller Books – What do you read, my lord?

In the summer of 2014, we posted an interview with Doug Miller, our beloved local bookmonger. Since then, he has moved across the street, to 650 Bloor Street West and opened the door to a larger store, which offers a great selection of discounted adult fiction and non-fiction; children’s picture books and novels; as well as many comics. It’s one of BuzzFeed’s 35 Charming Canadian Bookstores You Need To Visit, and the now not-so-hidden gem of Korea town.

Doug Miller and his LEGO desk, which currently boasts 28,482 blocks!

“Business is better than ever,” says Doug. “Some people did not see us across the street. I lost count over 400 people welcoming us to the neighbourhood…They were shocked that they didn’t see us. Now they see us.” Doug has some theories as to why his store is being noticed more on the north side of the street – it’s sunnier, there’s more retail, and all the subway entrances/exits are on the same side.

New $1-$3 section, 8 bookcases long

Whatever the reason, the store is bigger and has better lighting, which Doug points out. “Soon you’ll be able to get wheelchairs down every aisle. People can bring their carriages in. It’ll be a lot easier to maneuver around; it will be more comfortable to shop here.”

A Shakespeare find in the amongst the advanced picture books!

Marvel at the Marvel comics!

A great store for children’s books

Doug has seen all kinds of kids in his store. He recently had a run on Judy Blume books, because she was in Toronto (at the Toronto Reference Library’s Bram & Bluma Appel Salon) and there was a lot of press. From classics to dystopian worlds, Robert Munsch to Lois Lowry to Louis Sachar, Doug enjoys making recommendations for his young patrons: “What kind of books have you read in the past?” he asks. And when he finds the perfect book, all he has to say is: “Your parents won’t like this, but you will.” And that usually seals the deal.

Bumpkin, the resident rabbit

“I’ve had Bumpkin for 13 years,” says Doug. “I know his habits. He’s very calm; he’s very relaxed. There are sometimes when that changes. One night I forgot to put the music on for him, and I came here in the morning – his water bowl was flipped over; he took his food dish and he had obviously whipped it. There was kibble everywhere. He didn’t destroy any of the books, but you could tell he was angry ’cause he likes the sound of the music at night and he missed it.” In case you’re wondering, Bumpkin has a fondness for jazz and CBC Radio.

One of the new shelf labels

By this August, Doug Miller will have been working in the book trade for 30 years. “Books,” he says, “are more popular than ever. The demand for certain books is always increasing. Classics are steadily moving out from the store. People are re-discovering the book in its oldest form – a sold, hand-held, page-turning piece of art.”

2015/16 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT!

Shakespeare in Action is excited to announce our upcoming 2015/16 season! Tours, workshops, and our free library club are only some of the things that we will be bringing to your school and neighborhood in the coming year. We hope to continue fostering literacy, enhancing creativity and promoting speech arts in the lives of youth across Ontario. Take a look below to read about all of the great things we have in store for next season!

Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop– School Tour, Nov 23- Dec 4, 2015 and April 18- May 6, 2016

Returning for the 2015/16 by popular demand, Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop is a vibrant, interactive presentation that demonstrates how modern hip-hop shares many similarities with the themes, language and rhythm used by Shakespeare. Both are full of poetry, word play and lyricism, and both deal with what it is to be human.

The presentation features three professional actors, thumb-nail sketches of Shakespeare’s life and times, and key scenes & speeches from Shakespeare’s most popularly studied plays – including Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and Hamlet.

Visit our website for more information, or to book your school today!

Masterclass Workshops– Available from September- July!

75-minute exploration of any Shakespeare play.
An opportunity to work with an experienced actor-educator who visits your school.
A chance for students to be on their feet, exploring the text through voice and movement exercises.
For Kindergarten – Grade 12, up to 30 students per workshop.
Programs available for ELL, ESL/EDL students.

For more information, or to book a workshop, please visit our website!

School Residencies– Available from September- June!

An in-depth study of a Shakespeare play over several weeks.
An opportunity to work with a professional actor-educator who visits your school.
An interactive and dynamic approach to Shakespeare that gets students on their feet and exploring the story.
For Kindergarten – Grade 12, up to 30 students per Residency.

Fore more information, or to book a residency, please visit our Residencies page!

TD Shakespeare for Kids Library Club– Fall, Winter, and Spring Sessions

A free readers’ theatre program for kids ages 7-12
Magic, witches, ghosts, silly mix-ups, and swordplay in some of the greatest stories ever told!
Explore plays such as The Comedy of Errors, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest, and Twelfth Night.
Read aloud and play drama games and meet other Shakespeare fans!
Led by professional actors and educators.
Up to 24 participants per session.

Dates and locations coming soon. Check our website for updates!

The Shakespeare Challenge– April 6, 2016

Play announcement and registration information coming soon! Check our website for updates!

Shakespeare Fight Club– Dates and location to be confirmed!

Over eight rigorous weeks, Shakespeare in Actions leads an innovative new program in practical performance training, based in theories of embodiment. We blend stage combat, dance choreography and Shakespearean scene study with urban art forms such as break-dancing and hip hop, culminating in a series of public performances in the neighborhood. The program is led by an expert team of theatre professionals.

The program is based on the premise that young people at risk need safe creative spaces that are stimulating, challenging and thought provoking. We identify and address root causes of violence, and create a performance that seeks to positively reinforce the lives of our young participants, and to engender pride in the community.

For more information on the Shakespeare Fight Club, please visit our website!