Theatre at UBC
Awards - Past
CONGRATULATIONS TO BFA ACTING ALUMNA BARBARA KOZICKI ON BEING NAMED BEST ACTRESS AT THE 24 HOUR FILM FESTIVAL FOR HER PERFORMANCE IN HALF + HALF.
The film also won Best Actor and for Best Film. This means Half & Half will be featured in the International 24 Hour Film Festival in New York later this year.
The 24 Hour Film Race 2012 is an international competition that challenges filmmakers to create original short films in just 24 hours. The films are showcased in theaters across North America and the top films compete for thousands in cash and prizes. Find out more at www.filmracing.com
Catch Barbara's award winning performance here with co-star Brendan Taylor:
NEWLY MINTED GRADS AND ALUMNI SHINE AT 2012 JESSIE RICHARDSON AWARDS
On Monday, June 26, Vancouver’s professional theatre community held the 30th Annual Jessie Richardson Awards. In addition to providing recognition of outstanding work done in the past theatre season, the evening was steeped in appreciation for theatre pioneers who paved the way. The awards night is founded in the name of Jessie Richardson, who was Costume Mistress here at UBC’s Department of Theatre in the 1960’s. In a recent interview with the Vancouver Sun’s Peter Birnie, alumna Jane Heyman shared her memories of Jessie.
Jessie was the heart of Vancouver theatre," Heyman says. "She was passionate about theatre and supportive of it, but she was also tough, a very tough critic." "You'd go down the stairs to the Costume Department at the Freddie Wood Theatre and Jessie would have a cup of tea, she'd be sewing and dispensing advice and keeping all of us on the straight and narrow. She was the engine, keeping us grounded, reminding us it's not just about being in front of an audience, but it's also about doing the laundry and sweeping the stage."
Read more at: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment
Congratulations to our alumni who received awards at this year’s Jessie Richardson ceremony. Special kudos to our newly minted grads Marshall McMahen, who earned Set Design Small Theatre for All the Way Home and Vanessa Imeson who took home Costume Design Small Theatre for the alumni-heavy The Bomb-itty of Errors (which also earned Significant Artistic Achievement, Small Theatre).
Bravo to alumna Katey Wright, whose company Patrick Street Productions earned four awards forThe Light in the Piazza, including the coveted Outstanding Production and Significant Artistic Achievement.
Kudos to our other alumni-founded and/or -directed theatre companies that brought home Jessies. They include The Electric Company (Artistic Director and co-founder, alumnus Kevin Kerr), Pound of Flesh (Artistic Director, alumnus Stephen Drover) and Théâtre la Seizième (Artistic Director, alumnus Craig Holzschuh).
Here is a list of all our individual alumni who were recognized:
LARGE THEATRE
Alan Brodie - Outstanding Lighting Design, Large Theatre : The Light in the Piazza, Patrick Street Productions
SMALL THEATRE
Parjad Sharifi - Outstanding Lighting Design, Small Theatre : project x (faust), Leaky Heaven Circus
Marshall McMahen - Outstanding Set Design, Small Theatre : All the Way Home, Electric Company
Vanessa Imeson - Outstanding Costume Design, Small Theatre : Vanessa Imeson The Bomb-itty of Errors, Temporary Thing / Twenty-Something Theatre
Alumni David A. Kaye, Jameson Parker and Brian Cochrane with Niko Koupantsis and Oker Chen - Significant Artistic Achievement, Small Theatre : The Bomb-itty of Errors, Temporary Thing / Twenty-Something Theatre Outstanding Ensemble Performance with Live Music and DJ
SPECIAL AWARDS
Meghan Gardiner - Sydney Risk Prize for Outstanding Original Script by an Emerging Playwright
Craig Holzschuh - The John Moffat & Larry Lillo Prize
See a wonderful photo of UBC's first lady of theatre, Dorothy Somerset, with Jessie Richardson and another contributor to the early days of theatre at UBC, Sydney Risk, in the Vancouver Sun's coverage of the 2012 Jessie Richardson Awards at: http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/
2012 LEO AWARDS FOR OUR ALUMNI AND FACULTY:
Congratulations to UBC Department of Theatre and Film faculty and alumni who have had their films recognized with 2012 Leo Awards!
Carl Bessai’s Sisters&Brothers led the field in the Feature Length Drama category earning a total of six awards. In addition to Best Editing going to Film Production alumna Sabrina Pitre, the film picked up Best Feature Length Drama, Musical Score, Best Direction, Best Lead Actress - and Best Supporting Actor, which went to UBC Associate Professor and Theatre UBC alumnus Tom Scholte. The film, which also led the Leo nominations with twelve nods, also featured a nominated performance by Theatre at UBC alumna Camille Sullivan.
Also in the Feature Length Drama category Doppleganger Paul, which was produced by alumnus Dylan Aiko Smith, earned Leos for Best Directing and Best Screenwriting. Donnovan’s Echo, produced by UBC Film alumna Andria Spring, took home Leos for Best Overall Sound and Best Sound Editing.
The Leo Awards are the awards program for the British Columbia film and television industry, celebrating excellence in artistic achievement. Held yearly in Vancouver, Canada, the Leo Awards honour nominees and winners in 13 program categories and up to 19 craft categories. The Leo Awards are a project of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia. See all the recipients at http://leoawards.com/2012/nominees_2012
Here is a list of UBC Department of Theatre and Film faculty and alumni who took home a 2012 Leo Award.
Congratulations to all the nominees and recipients on being recognized for your outstanding work:
FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA
Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Film Production alumna Sabrina Pitre - Sisters&Brothers
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Alumnus & Associate Professor Tom Scholte - Sisters&Brothers
SHORT DRAMA
Best Cinematography in a Short Drama
Film Production alumna Amy Belling - Le Jeu des Soldats
Best Screenwriting for Youth
Theatre UBC alumnus ERyan Warren Smith
See all the nominees at: http://leoawards.com/2012/nominees_2012
Jessie Richardson Nominations are in!
It’s Jessie Season and our students, faculty and alumni have earned a whopping 27 nominations.
Congratulations to our many students involved, as well as the entire the cast and crew of The Idiot and its producers, Neworld in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre. The production, which we co-presented with PuSh International Festival for the Performing Arts, was recognized with seven Jessie Richardson Award nominations, including Outstanding Production.
Other highlights of the nominations include our MFA Design Student Vanessa Imeson's nod to the knock out costumes she created for Bombitty of Errors. She joins our talented alumni in the same production, David A. Kaye, Jameson Parker and Brian Cochrane, who were recognized with the rest of the performers, for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. Alumna Catriona Leger was a key part of the Bombitty magic, receiving a nomination for Outstanding Direction. Finally, a nomination for Outstanding Production brought the total nominations for this electric show to four.
A special congrats to alumna Sasa Brown who earned a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role in Main Street Theatre’s Endgame directed by Theatre at UBC Professor Stephen Malloy.
Congratulations to all of our alumni who were recognized, alumni founded companies and to Vancouver thespians, one and all. See you at the Awards Ceremony, which will be held at the Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, on Monday, June 25!
Here is the list of nominations for our students, faculty & alumni. For a complete list seewww.jessies.ca
LARGE THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role — Large Theatre
Alumna Kathleen Duborg for Snowman (Rumble Productions)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — Large Theatre
Alumna Luisa Jojic for All Shook Up (Gateway Theatre)
Outstanding Lighting Design — Large Theatre
Alumnus Alan Brodie for The Light in the Piazza (Patrick Street Productions)
Outstanding Costume Design — Large Theatre
Alumnus Phillip Clarkson for La Cage aux Folles (Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company)
Outstanding Direction — Large Theatre
Alumna Rachel Ditor for The Merchant of Venice (Bard on the Beach)
Alumnus Craig Hall for Snowman (Rumble Productions)
Outstanding Production — Large Theatre
The Idiot (Neworld Theatre in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre, presented by PuSh International Festival and Theatre at UBC)
Significant Artistic Achievement — Large Theatre
Nicholas Harrison (Richard III, Bard on the Beach) for Outstanding Fight Direction
SMALL THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role — Small Theatre
Alumnus Thomas Jones for Woody Sed (Two Dollar Shoes Equity Co-op)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — Small Theatre
Alumnus Evan Frayne for Re:Union (Pacific Theatre / Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Theatre)
Adjunct Professor Adam Henderson for Waiting for Godot (Blackbird Theatre)
Marcus Youssef for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Pound of Flesh Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — Small Theatre
Alumna Sasa Brown for Endgame (Main Street Theatre)
Alumna Dawn Petten for The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Pound of Flesh Theatre )
Outstanding Lighting Design — Small Theatre
Alumnus Alan Brodie for Gordon (Arts Club Theatre Company)
Alumnus Parjad Sharifi for project x (faust) (Leaky Heaven Circus)
Outstanding Set Design — Small Theatre
Alumnus Lauchlin Johnston for Mary’s Wedding (Gateway Theatre)
Alumnus Marshall McMahen for All the Way Home (Electric Company Theatre)
Outstanding Costume Design — Small Theatre
MFA design student Vanessa Imeson for The Bomb-itty of Errors (Temporary Thing)
Outstanding Direction — Small Theatre
Catriona Leger for The Bomb-itty of Errors (Temporary Thing)
John Murphy for Woody Sed (Two Dollar Shoes Equity Co-op)
Outstanding Production — Small Theatre
The Bomb-itty of Errors (Temporary Thing Theatre)
Significant Artistic Achievement — Small Theatre
Alumnus David A. Kaye, Jameson Parker, Brian Cochrane with Niko Koupantsis & Oker Chen (The Bomb-itty of Errors, Temporary Thing) for Outstanding Ensemble Performance with Live Music and DJ
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Outstanding Performance — Theatre for Young Audiences
Alumna Sarah Wilson for Role Call (Green Thumb Theatre)
Outstanding Artistic Creation — Theatre for Young Audiences
Rachel Peake (Direction, Le portrait Gooble)
Significant Artistic Achievement — Theatre for Young Audiences
Alumna Mishelle Cuttler with Kayvon Kelly, Melissa Oei & Mike Stack (Aesop’s Fables, Carousel Theatre for Young People) for Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Original Script
Alumnus Dennis Foon for Scar Tissue (Arts Club Theatre Company)
Additional awards to be presented at the Jessie ceremony — the Georgia Straight Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.
The 30th Annual Ceremony will be held at the Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, on Monday, June 25, 2012; doors open at 5:30pm, ceremony at 6:45pm. Tickets are $28.75 plus service charges, through Ticketmaster 1-855-985-5000 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. The ceremony is being produced and directed by Vancouver TheatreSports who will produce a festive evening. For further information visit www.jessies.ca
* Pictured in Photo - Jessie Richardson: Jessie Richardson was an extraordinary individual whose supportive involvement in Vancouver theatre spanned over four decades. She began in the 1930s, in the Vancouver Little Theatre Association, where she acted, directed, and designed costumes. In the mid-50s, she helped to form the children's touring company Holiday Theatre, which later became Playhouse Holiday Theatre. Jessie's contributions to the growth and vitality of Vancouver's theatre scene were the foundation on which our current thriving theatre community was built. She gave us a sense of community and purpose, and we are proud to present these annual awards in her name.
LEO ROARS FOR UBC THEATRE & FILM ALUMNI
Congratulations to our UBC Department of Theatre and Film faculty, alumni and students who have been recognized with a whopping twenty-five 2012 Leo Award Nominations.
We couldn’t be more proud of their outstanding contribution to British Columbia’s film and television industry. The Leo winners will be announced at a Celebration Awards Ceremony Friday, May 25 and Gala Awards Ceremony Saturday, May 26th at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. See all the nominees at http://leoawards.com/2012/nominees_2012
Best Feature Length Drama
Doppleganger Paul
Film Production alumnus Dylan Akio Smith, with Katherine Hazon, Oliver Linsley, Dylan Akio Smith, Kris Elgstrand
Best Direction
Film Production alumnus Dylan Akio Smith, with Kris Elgstrand - Doppleganger Paul
Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Film Production alumna Sabrina Pitre - Sisters&Brothers
Film Production alumnus Greg Ng - Sunflower Hour
Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Alumnus & Associate Professor Tom Scholte - Sisters&Brothers
Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Feature Length Drama
Theatre at UBC alumna Camille Sullivan - Sisters&Brothers
Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series
Film Production Alumnus Glen Winter - Charlies Angels
Best Make-Up in a Dramatic Series
Theatre alumna Rebecca Lee, with April Boyes, Ceilidh Dunn - Stargate Universe - Epilogue
Best Short Drama
Lillian Code
Film Production alumnus Matthew Gordon Long, Theatre at UBC alumnus Orsy Szabó – Producers
Best Direction in a Short Drama
Film Production alumnus Matthew Gordon Long - Lillian Code
Film Production alumnus Nicholas Humphries - The Little Mermaid
Best Cinematography in a Short Drama
Film Production alumna Amy Belling - Le Jeu des Soldats
Film Production alumna Melody Chan - Lillian Code
Film Production alumna Amy Belling - The Provider
Best Documentary Series
Dust Up
Theatre Production alumnus Ed Hatton with Shannon Jardine, Cal Shumiatcher, David Paperny, Terry Mialkowsky – Producers
Best Information or Lifestyle Series
West Coast Style
Theatre at UBC alumna Mana Mansour – Producer
The Wedding Belles
Theatre at UBC alumna Sarah Groundwater Law – Producer
Best Direction in an Information or Lifestyle Series
BA Theatre alumna Mana Mansour - West Coast Style
Best Host(s) in an Information or Lifestyle Series
Theatre at UBC alumna Mana Mansour - West Coast Style
Theatre at UBC alumna Sarah Groundwater Law with Aubrey Arnason - The Wedding Belles - Fun and Photos
Best Music Video
Bad Choices by Shout Out Out Out Out
Film Production alumnus A.J. Bond, with Chris von Szombathy, and Theatre at UBC alumna Amy Belling – Producers
Best Screenwriting for Youth
Theatre at UBC alumnus ERyan Warren Smith
Best Student Production
FTW - Film Production Student Tyler Funk
See all the nominees at:
http://leoawards.com/2012/nominees_2012
Congratulations to BFA Student Wladimiro Woyno who has been named as the first recipient of Theatre at UBC’s “Kensaku Asano Memorial Award in Theatre”.
Wladimiro Woyno is in his final year of the BFA in Design and Production. This season he has designed the set and lighting for the Suburban Motel plays. Last season he was the lighting designer for Wild Honey. He recently completed the set and lighting design for Burnt by the Sun at the Jericho Arts Centre.
‘Wlad’, as he is addressed by his friends, was cited in two nominations, one comments “ …it is joy, humour and warmth that Wlad brings to his friends' lives; I am grateful to be counted among them …this same warmth and humour are what he brings to the theatre as a part of our close-knit community." Another nomination reads, "In my personal opinion, Wlad will be a respected member of the international theatre community and will be a valuable alumnus to the department. Wlad has pushed the boundaries, taught his peers and had a smile on his face the whole time." High praise from his peers.
Our heartfelt thanks to all who helped make this award come to pass, particularly Kensaku Asano’s family, friends and colleagues. The award now joins the other sixteen Theatre Program Departmental Recommended Scholarships, Awards and Prizes that we give out annually to undergraduate and graduate students. Find out more about them here: http://www.theatre.ubc.ca/scholarships
Kensaku Asano studied Theatre and English Literature at UBC and worked as a theatre and television actor in the years after he graduated from university. He died of cancer at the age of 25. The prize in his memory is given to a theatre major or minor in third or fourth year, in any stream, who exhibits the traits for which Kensaku was known: an unshakably positive attitude toward theatrical work, a gift for encouraging other students, and a healthy sense of humour at all times. The award is made on the recommendation of faculty in the Department of Theatre and Film from nominations by the department's student body.
See Wladimiro Woyno’s exceptional design projects and class work here: http://wawr.ca
Ovation Award nominations, for remarkable work in the Vancouver musical scene in 2011
Congratulations to our Professors Robert Gardiner & Alison Green, Adjunct Professor Jonathan Holmes, student Alia Stephen, alumni Bill Millerd, Alan Brodie, Phillip Clarkson, Chris McGrgor, Sarah Rodgers, Carmen Altorre, Katey Wright, Megan Gardiner, Meghan Anderssen, Marsall McMahen, and Andrew Cohen. BRAVO!
The recipients are chosen by general public voting – until January 15-26 (midnight) - so if you have seen musicals during the past year hurry on over to the Ovation website and vote for your favorites!
HERE IS THE LINK TO VOTE: http://survey.constantcontact.com - Note: For a list of nominees click on "OA: Nominations" on the left.
Winners will be announced at a public awards ceremony, Sunday January 29.
Specific awards include outstanding new work, production, performance, direction, music direction, choreography, design, and newcomer. Special awards are also given for “significant contribution in 2010" as well as an award for “major contribution” awarded to a company or member of the community who has contributed a minimum of 10 years to the development, promotion and continuation of musical theatre in the lower mainland.
The 8th Annual OVATION Awards
Celebrating the musicals of 2011!
Sunday January 29, 2012
Vancouver Academy of Music, 270 Chestnut Street - Vancouver
Doors open at 6:30 followed at 7PM by a revue including performances from various productions and special guest presenters.
$25 Early Bird - Till January 5th (midnight)
$30 Regular tickets
Don't miss out. Buy early. The show has sold out three years in a row.
Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/216959
David and Manjy Sidoo
Family Scholarship
Congratulations to current Theatre at UBC BFA Acting student Scott Button, a recipient of one of this year’s David and Manjy Sidoo Family Scholarships!
Awards Season: It rains, it pours!
Congratulations to Professor Robert Gardiner who recently won Edmonton's
Sterling Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for his work on Studies in
Motion a play which was work shopped and first premiered here at the
Frederic Wood. Studies in Motion was written by alumnus Kevin Kerr who is a
co-founder of Electric Company Theatre.
More awards news our favourite funny man, BFA Acting alumnus Gavin Crawford (of TV's This Hour Has 22 Minutes fame), won Toronto's Dora award for Outstanding Actor, Leading Man for his performance in Sky Gilbert's new play The Situationists which premiered at Canada's renowned Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.
Kudos to all our talented faculty, students, alumni - and yes even staff - who continue to inspire us with their dedicated work in theatres both near and far.
Photo Credit: David Hawe
Caption: Alumnus Gavin Crawford (BFA Acting) in Sky Gilbert's The
Situationists. (Actors L-R: Haley McGee, Gavin Crawford and Gil Garratt)
11 Jessie Richardson Awards
Recognize Alumni, Faculty and Students
Congratulations to our talented alumni and faculty who were recognized at this year’s Vancouver professional theatre awards – the Jessie Richardson Awards!
In the small theatre category, Professor Stephen Malloy was named outstanding director for the Main Street Theatre equity co-op production of A Lie of The Mind (actress Barbara Pollard earned best supporting actress for that production, as well.) Alumna and adjunct professor Susan Bertoia won outstanding lead actress for the Firehall Arts Centre/Western Canada Theatre's Mambo Italiano. Outstanding costume design for small theatre went to alumna Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh for Touchstone Theatre's Mimi; or A Poisoner's Comedy.
In the large theatre category the alumnus founded Arts Club Theatre Company came away the biggest single winner of the evening, taking 10 Jessies for six of its productions. Professor and alumna Alison Green took outstanding set design and alumnus Phillip Clarkson won outstanding costume design for George Bernard Shaw's The Philanderer at the Arts Club Theatre. The innovative multimedia production Tear the Curtain!, an Arts Club co-production with Electric Company Theatre, earned two prizes – one for lighting design going to alumnus Alan Brodie (with Brian Johnson) and another for outstanding original script which went to alumnus Kevin Kerr (with Jonathon Young).
Two of the evening’s most notable awards went to alumnus Dave Deveau, who received the Sydney Risk Award for emerging playwright for My Funny Valentine, and alumnus Evan Frayne who received the Sam Payne Award for most promising newcomer.
The artistic achievement award in Theatre for Young Audiences went to alumni Yulia Shtern and Al Frisk (with Jeff Harrison, Jeff Tymoschuk and Heidi Wilkinson), the design team behind Carousel Theatre’s Pharaoh Serket and the Lost Stone of Fire.
Last but not least distinguished UBC alumna Jane Penistan earned the Georgia Straight’s Patron of the Arts Award.
A round of applause is due to our entire Vancouver theatre community for an inspirational year in our theatres – bravo! Read about all the winners at: www.jessies.ca
Congratulations to all of Theatre at UBC’s Faculty, Students and Alumni who received a total of 27 nominations in the 28 categories announced at the annual Jessie Richardson Awards nominations party!
Professor Stephen Malloy earned a well deserved Jessie nod for his direction of Main Street Theatre’s Lie of the Mind, which was recognized with four additional nominations for Outstanding Performances and another one for Outstanding Production.
Faculty member and alumna Alison Green was nominated for both Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Set Design for The Philanderer - Arts Club Theatre Company.
One of our very own 2010 -11 season shows Jade in the Coal, a co-production with Pangaea Arts, received nominations for both Significant Artistic Achievement and Outstanding Costume Design.
See our 27 nominations below – and a complete list at http://www.jessies.ca:
29th Annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards:
LARGE THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Large Theatre
- John Murphy
Much Ado About Nothing - Bard on the Beach
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre
- Dawn Petten
Tear the Curtain! - Arts Club Theatre Company (in association with Electric Company Theatre)
Outstanding Lighting Design, Large Theatre
- Alan Brodie
Noel Coward's Brief Encounter - Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company
(co-production with Manitoba Theatre Centre) - Alan Brodie
Tear the Curtain! - Arts Club Theatre Company
(in association with Electric Company Theatre)
Outstanding Set Design, Large Theatre
- Alison Green
The Philanderer - Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Costume Design, Large Theatre
- Phillip Clarkson
The Philanderer – Arts Club Theatre Company - Alison Green
Dangerous Corner - Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company - Rebekka Sorensen
The 39 Steps - Arts Club Theatre Company - Sheila White
Don Quixote - Arts Club Theatre Company
(in association with Axis Theatre; co-produced with Centaur Theatre)
Outstanding Integration of Film/Video
- Kevin Kerr (with Kim Collier and Jonathon Young)
Tear the Curtain! - Arts Club Theatre Company
(in association with Electric Company Theatre)
SMALL THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Small Theatre
- Susan Bertoia
Mambo Italiano - Firehall Arts Centre
(co-production with Western Canada Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Small Theatre
- Ashley O'Connell
The Pillowman - Wild Geese Equity Co-op
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Small Theatre
- Kathleen Duborg
A Lie of the Mind - Main Street Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design, Small Theatre
- Lauchlin Johnston
Playland - Pacific Theatre
Outstanding Set Design, Small Theatre
- Lauchlin Johnston
My Name Is Asher Lev - Pacific Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design, Small Theatre
- Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh
Mimi, or A Poisoner's Comedy - Touchstone Theatre
Outstanding Direction, Small Theatre
- Anthony F. Ingram
Playland - Pacific Theatre - Stephen Malloy
A Lie of the Mind - Main Street Theatre - Richard Wolfe
The Busy World Is Hushed - one2theatre
Outstanding Production, Small Theatre
- A Lie of the Mind - Main Street Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement, Small Theatre: Outstanding performing Ensemble
- Meghan Gardiner (with Greg Armstrong-Morris, Lauren Bowler, and Shawn Macdonald)
Home Shark - Equity Co-op
Significant Artistic Achievement, Small Theatre: Outstanding Work of International Collaboration
- Jade in the Coal - Pangaea Arts (co-production with Theatre at UBC)
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Outstanding Design, Theatre for Young Audiences: Outstanding Scenery & Props Design
- Kevin McAllister
500 Words - Green Thumb Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences: Outstanding Design Team
- Al Frisk and Yulia Shtern (with Jeff Harrison, Jeff Tymoschuk, and Heidi Wilkinson)
Pharaoh Serket & The Lost Stone of Fire - Carousel Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences: Outstanding Ensemble Performance
- Naomi Wright (with Gaelan Beatty and Josue Laboucane)
Bird Brain – Carousel Theatre
Outstanding Original Script:
- Dave Deveau
My Funny Valentine – Zee Zee Theatre - Kevin Kerr (with Jonathon Young)
Tear the Curtain! - Arts Club Theatre Company (in association with Electric Company Theatre)
There are additional awards that will be presented at the Jessie ceremony – the Georgia Straight Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Prize, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award, the Critics’ Choice Innovation Award sponsored by the Vancouver Sun and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.
The 29th Annual Ceremony will again be held at the beautiful Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, on Monday, June 20, 2011, doors open at 5:30pm, ceremony at 6:45pm. Tickets are $25.50 plus service charges, through Ticketmaster 1-855-985-5000 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. The ceremony is being produced and directed by Vancouver TheatreSports who will produce a festive evening.
See a complete list of the nominees and find out more about the awards party on Monday, June 20th at http://www.jessies.ca
Leo Awards Roar for Students, Faculty and Alumni: UBC Department of Theatre and Film
The 2011 Leo Award Nominations have been announced and the UBC Department of Theatre & Film has much to celebrate!
With a total of over 30 nominations, no less than 25 students, alumni and adjunct professors are honoured in categories ranging from Best Student Film and Best Documentary to Best Music Video and Best Feature Length Drama.
Highlights include the first Student Production nomination since the launch of the revitalized UBC Film Production program for the short Little Big Kid.
Multiple nominee Terry Miles’ feature A Night for Dying Tigers, produced by UBC alumni and Film Production Alumni Association President Sidney Chiu, is nominated for four Leo Awards.
Other multiple award nominees include Mark Ratzlaff’s short drama Voodoo, which is nominated for a total of 11 Leo Awards – 8 of which are for UBC alumni including one for Camille Sullivan in the category of Best Performance.. Cinematographer Lindsay George and director/cinematographer Glen Winter are both nominated for two awards each.
A hearty congrats to professor (and BFA Acting, MFA directing Alumnus) Tom Scholte who along with co-star Ben Ratner has received a Leo Award nomination in the category Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama for work in the film Fathers & Sons.
We wish al our UBC Theatre & Film alumni luck at the Leo Celebration Awards Ceremony June 8th at Club 560 and the Gala Awards Ceremony June 11th at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
The Leo Awards celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television, for a complete list of nominees, please visit: www.leowards.com
Drum roll please? And the UBC Department of Theatre and Film nominees are....
STUDENT PRODUCTION:
Best Student Production
Kathleen Jayme – Little Big Kid
FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA:
Nominee for Feature Length Drama
Stephen Hegyes – Producer - Gunless
Nominee for Best Direction in a Feature Length Drama
Terry Miles - A Night for Dying Tigers
Nominee for Best Screenwriting in a Feature Length Drama
Dennis Foon – Life, Above All
Terry Miles - A Night for Dying Tigers
Nominees for Best Cinematography in a Feature Length Drama
Gregory Middleton - Gunless
Terry Miles & Lindsay George - A Night for Dying Tigers
Nominees for Best Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Chris Bizzocchi – Altitude
Richard Martin - Transparency
Terry Miles - A Night for Dying Tigers
Mark Shearer – Repeaters
Nominee for Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama
Anka Bakker, Jeff Davis, Dean Giammarco, Gord Hillier, Maureen Murphy –Altitude
Nominee for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Feature Length Drama
Tom Scholte – Fathers & Sons
DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM OR SERIES:
Nominee for Best Feature Length Documentary Program
Yves J. Ma, Sturla Gunnarsson, Janice Tufford – Producers – Force of Nature
Nominee for Best Short Documentary Program
Eric Hogan, Tara Hungerford, Lauren Grant, Murray Battle – Producers – A Window
Looking In
DRAMATIC SERIES:
Nominee for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series
Glen Winter – Smallville
Nominee for Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series
Glen Winter – Smallville
YOUTH OR CHILDREN’S PROGRAM OR SERIES:
Nominee for Best Direction in a Youth or Children’s Program or Series
Brenton Spencer – Smallville
SHORT DRAMA:
Nominee for Best Performance by a Female in a Short Drama
Camille Sullivan - Voodoo
Nominees for Best Short Drama
Amy Belling, A.J. Bond – Producers – Madam Perrault’s Bluebeard
Mark Ratzlaff, Jessica Cheung- Producers – Voodoo
Nominees for Best Direction in a Short Drama
Mark Ratzlaff – Voodoo
Nominees for Best Screenwriting in a Short Drama
Mark Ratzlaff – Voodoo
Nominees for Cinematography in a Short Drama
Amy Belling – Madam Perrault’s Bluebeard
Lindsay George – Voodoo
Nominees for Best Editing in a Short Drama
Lauren Mainland – Voodoo
Nominees for Best Musical Score in a Short Drama
Adam Locke-Norton – Voodoo
Nominees for Best Production Design in a Short Drama
Madeleine Grant – Voodoo
Nominee for Best Production Design in Short Drama:
Karen Mirfield - Hop the Twig
MUSIC VIDEO:
Nominee for Best Music Video
Chris von Szombathy, A.J. Bond – Producers – Soft Serve by Audio Ahdeo Awdio
INFORMATION OR LIFESTYLE SERIES:
Nominee for Best Information or Lifestyle Series
Sarah Groundwater, Producer – The Wedding Belles
Nominee for Best Host – Information or Lifestyle Series:
Sarah Groundwater - The Wedding Belles "Food or Wong Foo"
WEB SERIES:
Nominee for Best Web Series
Maureen Bradley, Julia Dillon-Davis, Eliza Robertson, Daniel Hogg – Producers –
Fisherman’s Wharf
Find out more at www.leoawards.com
MFA directing grads Catriona Leger (also BFA Acting Alumna) and Patrick Gauthier have been nominated for Ottawa Theatre Awards.
Ovation Award News
Marshall McMahen and current Theatre at UBC BFA Design and Production student Amanda Larder recently tied for the win of Outstanding Set Design in the Ovation awards!
Outstanding Set Design (tie):
- Amanda Larder - Sweeney Todd, Fighting Chance Productions (BFA)
- Marshall McMahen - The Sound of Music, Footlight Theatre (BA)
Current graduate student Alex Ferguson is awarded the Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS-Doctoral Award!
A hearty congratulations to Alexander Ferguson, who finished his MA and begins his PhD in Theatre with us this fall. Alex just learned that the prestigious SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship he won earlier this year has been upgraded to an even more prestigious Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS-Doctoral Award.
The Joseph-Armand Bombardier CGS Master's Scholarships program seeks to develop research skills and assist in the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students in the social sciences and humanities who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies. This program, together with the SSHRC Doctoral Awards, the Vanier CGS doctoral nominations, and SSHRC's Postdoctoral Fellowships program, helps train Canada's researchers and leaders of tomorrow.
Celebrating the musicals of 2010
7th Annual Ovation Award Nominations Announced!
Congratulations to our students and alumni who have been recognised with Ovation Nominations this year:
BFA student Amanda Larder (Outstanding Set Design - Fighting Chance Productions) and alumnus Alex McMorran (Outstanding Lead Performance - Fighting Chance Productions) have both been nominated for their work in Sweeney Todd. More nominations went out to alumni Sarah Rogers (Best Direction - Godspell, Pacific Theatre) and Yulia Shtern (Outstanding Costume Design - A Year With Frog and Toad, Carousel Theatre). Also nominated in the category of “Outstanding Gypsy – Female” for a “chorus/ensemble member who demonstrated exceptional performance, enthusiasm, and team spirit” is BFA Acting student Christine Quintana (Seussical The Musical, Carousel Theatre).
The 7th Annual OVATION Awards - Celebrating the musicals of 2010!
Awards Ceremony: Sunday January 30, 2011
PAL Studio Theatre - 7PM
Doors open at 6:30 followed at 7PM by a revue including performances from various productions and special guest presenters.
Cash bar, before and after show.
Tickets $25 (includes a $20 tax receipt)
Available online: www.applausemusicals.com
Latest Research in Film and Theatre: Prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grants awarded for Theatre Research
Department of Theatre and Film Head Jerry Wasserman has received a SSHRC Standard Research Grant of $84,000 over three years. His area of investigation is a complex historical entertainment phenomenon, “Captain McDonald’s Trained Indians,” a sensational travelling performance act that lasted from 1874 to 1877.
San Francisco drillmaster and impresario Charles E.S. McDonald recruited 24 young aboriginal men and women from western tribes, including seven Haida and Tsimshian from the new Canadian province of British Columbia, all of whom he shaped into a spectacular performance troupe. The popular show (also known as The Occidentals and Captain McDonald’s Sioux) began with the colonial spectacle of fierce Native dancing. The performers then threw off their traditional garb to reveal Zouave military uniforms and display precise Western martial skills.
McDonald’s troupe performed in San Francisco and Victoria, marched in New York’s July 4th Centennial parade, played to sold-out houses on Broadway and in London and Paris. Although short-lived and fallen into obscurity, the company and its performance history comprise a complex matrix within which 19th century spectacle, Canadian and American Indian policy, and a variety of other elements intersect at a crossroads of theatre, history, politics, and popular entertainment.
This research will address a gap in performance studies by theorizing and documenting the popular spectacle entertainment of military drill, and will add another chapter to the histories of Native people performing the American West. It will help unpack a crucial moment in Canadian-American cross-border attitudes towards aboriginal people, shed light on the relatively unknown McDonald—a theatrical entrepreneur as innovative in his own way as P.T. Barnum or Buffalo Bill Cody—and reveal at what price these Native North American performers of the 1870s experienced show business careers and saw the world.
About the SSHRC:
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its programs and policies, the Council enables the highest levels of research excellence in Canada, and facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration across research disciplines, universities and all sectors of society.
Research in the social sciences and humanities advances knowledge and builds understanding about individuals, groups and societies—what we think, how we live and how we interact with each other and the world around us. Find out more about the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council at www.sshrc.ca.
Congratulations go to our Theatre at UBC Alumni at the 2008 Leos!
The LEO AWARDS were established in 1998 to celebrate excellence in British Columbia film and television. 2008 marks the 10th Anniversary of the LEO AWARDS with the Celebration and Gala Awards Ceremonies taking place May 23 & 24 at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver. The LEO AWARDS are a project of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, and produced by Troika Productions Inc. and Events One.
Theatre at UBC Alumni 2008 Leo Award Winners Include:
Camille Sullivan (BFA acting 1996) won Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Full Length Feature for Normal.
Zaib Shaikh (MFA Directing, 2001) won the Best Performance by a Male in a Comedy Series for Little Mosque on the Prairies - Five Year Plan.
More information can be found on the Leos Awards website.
Congratulations to our Theatre at UBC Students, Alumni, and Faculty Award Recipients in the 2008 Jessie Awards!
Theatre at UBC congratulates our talented alumni, faculty, adjunct professors, alumni companies and associates on their awards:
26th ANNUAL JESSIE RICHARDSON AWARD RECIPIENTS
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Large Theatre **
Lois Anderson (Alumna BFA Acting & MFA Directing candidate) Romeo and Juliet, Bard on the Beach
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre **
Kerry Sandomirsky (Alumna, BFA Acting) is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre, How It Works, Touchstone Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design, Small Theatre **
John Webber (Adjunct Professor) for Tiny Apocalypse, Rough House
Significant Artistic Achievement **
Norman Armour (Adjunct Professor) Outstanding Contribution to Vancouver Theatre for the PuSh International Festival of Performing Arts
Outstanding Direction, Small Theatre **
Johnna Wright (Alumna BFA Acting) The Triumph of Love, Blackbird Theatre.
Ray Michal Award for Outstanding Work or Body of Work by an Emerging Director**
Johnna Wright (Alumna BFA Acting)
John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award**
Chris McGregor (MFA Directing Candidate)
Congratulations to our alumni founded company on their Award Outstanding Production, Small Theatre **
Blackbird Theatre The Triumph of Love, Blackbird Theatre
Congratulations to our Theatre at UBC Students, Alumni, and Faculty Nominees in the 2008 Jessie Awards!
The Nominees for the 26th Annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were announced at the Christie Lites Nominations Party held at the New Revue Theatre on Tuesday May 20, 2008.
For 26 years the Jessies have been recognizing outstanding achievement in professional theatre in Vancouver. This year over 130 individuals were nominated in more than 25 categories, a real tribute to our thriving theatre community.
Theatre at UBC congratulates our talented alumni, faculty, adjunct professors, alumni companies and associates:
26th ANNUAL JESSIE RICHARDSON AWARDS NOMINEES
Theatre at UBC 2008 Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Nominees Include:
Alan Brodie Theatre at UBC Alumnus BFA Design/Tech 1989, is nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design, Large Theatre, His Greatness Arts Club Theatre Company.
John Webber, Theatre at UBC Adjunct Professor, is nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design, Large Theatre, How It Works, Touchstone Theatre.
John Webber is also nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design, Small Theatre for Tiny Apocalypse, Rough House and for Revenge, Felix Culpa.
Lois Anderson Theatre at UBC MFA Candidate, and BFA Acting 1990, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Large Theatre, Romeo and Juliet, Bard on the Beach.
Lois Anderson is also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre, Shirley Valentine, Gateway Theatre.
Kerry Sandomirsky, Theatre at UBC Alumna BFA Acting, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre, How It Works Touchstone Theatre.
Tim Matheson is a frequent contributor to Theatre at UBC and is nominated for Significant Artistic Achievements, Large Theatre Projection Design, The Wars, Playhouse Theatre.
Tim Matheson is also nominated for Significant Artistic Achievements, Small Theatre: Outstanding Body of Work.
Cherise Clark, Theatre at UBC Alumna, BFA Acting, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Small Theatre, Revenge, Felix Culpa.
Cherise Clark is also nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Small Theatre, Tiny Apocalypse, Rough House.
Norman Armour, Theatre at UBC Adjunct Professor, is nominated for Outstanding Contribution to Vancouver Theatre for the PuSh International Festival of Performing Arts.
Nicola Lipman, an Alumna of Theatre at UBC, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Small Theatre, Hecuba, Blackbird Theatre
Johnna Wright, Theatre at UBC Alumna, BA Theatre, 1997, is nominated for Outstanding Direction, for The Triumph of Love, Blackbird Theatre, Small Theatre.
Alison Green, Theatre at UBC Design Faculty, nominated for Outstanding Design, Theatre for Young Audiences, for Set Design Seussical The Musical, Carousel Theatre.
Aaron Bushkowsky, Alumnus UBC Creative Writing, is nominated for Outstanding Original Script, My Chernobyl, Gateway Theatre.
Allan Gray, Theatre at UBC Alumnus, is nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Large Theatre, for His Greatness, Arts Club Theatre Company.
Dennis Garnhum, Theatre at UBC Alumnus, MFA Directing, 1993, is nominated for Outstanding Direction - Large Theatre for The Wars, Playhouse Theatre.
Julie Martens, Theatre at UBC Alumna, is nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design - Small Theatre for La Vue d'en Haut, Theatre La Seizieme
Naomi Wright, Theatre at UBC Alumna, is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actress - Small Theatre for Stupidity, Theatre Conspiracy.
Jonathan Winsby, Theatre at UBC Alumus, is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Performance by an Actor - Small Theatre for Into the Woods, Patrick Street Productions.
Congratulations to our alumni founded companies on their nominations: Arts Club Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Company Playhouse Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, Patrick Street Productions and Blackbird Theatre.
The Jessies’ 26th Anniversary celebration will be held on Monday, June 30th at the Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street beginning at 6:45pm. Doors open at 5:30pm, dinner is available. Tickets are $25 plus applicable surcharges available at Ticketmaster at 604-280-4444, online at www.ticketmaster.ca.
Expert Panel Announced for How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Comedic Sensation Theatre at UBC Acting Alumus (1993) Gavin Crawford to Host Cbc’s Televised Search for the Next Maria Von Trapp
CBC announced today that Simon Lee, Elaine Overholt and John Barrowman will help narrow the field of talented performers from all over Canada in the televised search for the next Maria von Trapp. The actress the country picks will star in the North American premiere of The Sound of Music at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre in October 2008.
This Hour Has 22 Minutes’ star Theatre at UBC Acting alumnus Gavin Crawford will host the seven-week series HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? A success on stage and screen, Crawford is best known for his standup comedy and as a series lead on CBC-TV’s This Hour Has 22 Minutes. As host, he knows a thing or two about stage presence, having performed at the foremost comedy festivals in North America including H.B.O.’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (Aspen), and Just for Laughs Comedy Festival (Montreal).
The panel is internationally renowned: Simon Lee has worked closely with Andrew Lloyd Webber as his music supervisor and principal conductor for the last 12 years. He has worked in theatre, opera, film and the recording studio, with talents as diverse as José Carreras and Björk. Elaine Overholt is one of North America’s most respected vocal coaches, working with individuals, the casts of feature films (Chicago, Hairspray) and even the San Francisco Ballet. She has coached Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger and John Travolta. West End and Broadway leading man—and familiar to Canadian audiences as the star of Torchwood and Doctor Who—John Barrowman is a veteran performer who stars in musical theatre and television and performs in concerts worldwide.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? is the brainchild of legendary composer and impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber, producer David Ian and the BBC. It was developed for a BBC television series with the hope of finding a bright young star for the UK production of the Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse musical The Sound of Music.
After auditioning Maria hopefuls in seven Canadian cities, the field has been narrowed to 50. The series will follow the “Marias” through rigorous auditions, training sessions and professional evaluations. The role of Maria von Trapp requires acting ability, singing ability and stage presence; and how they can be a nun-in-training, a governess, a will-o-the-wisp and a singing sensation. After each live performance show, the panelists will offer their feedback and the voting Canadian viewers will determine who will win the coveted role.
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? is executive produced by Sheila Hockin, David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg. HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with CBC Television.
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.
Former Players Club Member inducted into B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame
Former UBC Players Club member and UBC Alumnus Eric Nicol (BA ’41, MA ’48), one of Canada's foremost humourists had a remarkable career, not only as a writer of humour with 33 books published, but also as a playwright specializing in comedies and children's plays. His columns for the Province, which ran for almost 50 years, broke new ground as they used humour to address such serious issues as capital punishment, racism and the importance of the performing arts.
A three-time winner of the prestigious Stephen Leacock Medal, he was appointed a member of the Order of Canada. This multi-talented man has had a career in broadcasting, journalism and playwriting. His original production of Her Scienceman Lover is most likely the longest running play in local theatre history, as it was performed once a year for 38 years by the Players Club at UBC. His name is now permanently on display on Starwalk along Granville Street in the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame.
Congratulations to the company for Theatre at UBC's entry into the Setkání/Encounter International Festival of Theatre Schools in Czech Republic!
Diary of a Madman, as adapted and directed by MFA Directing Candidate David Savoy from the story by Nikolai Gogol was a huge success at the international festival of theatre schools - 3 sold out performances, rave reviews and 7 curtain calls on the closing performance.
- "In my view, there are participants in Encounter 2008 who can, without question, inspire the rest of us, and this theatre group definitely is one of them." - Katarína Koišová
- “The Russian students particularly loved the show, and urged our company to bring Diary to their own theatre festival in Moscow...” company member Aslam Husain reported, "A latvian man had tears in his eyes when he told us ‘your show was... perfect!’"
The company for Diary of A Madman includes BFA Acting Alumnus Ira Cooper with BFA Acting Candidates Aslam Husain, Maura Halloran, Kate Hilderman and Ryan Warden. The creative team are BFA Design Alumni Ian Giles (Lighting) and Marijka Brusse (Production SM), BFA Design Candidates Gloria Shum (Costumes), Nykiya Graham (Set) and Daniel Jang (Sound Design) with BFA Production Candidates Julian Darius (Stage Manager), Ashley Serl (ASM) and Dan Emde (Technical Director).
The production first premiered as Savoy’s MFA Directing project in 2007 and was named as the top entry the festival judges received. Setkání/Encounter producers chose only 14 applicants from international applicants. Participants this year hailed from Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, South Africa, England, France, Croatia, Germany, Austria and beyond. Find out more about the festival here: http://www.encounter.cz/ENG/act_year.php
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC MFA Directing candidate Patrick Gautier winning the BEST NEW CREATION Award at the Rideau Awards
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC MFA Directing candidate Patrick Gautier on winning with his original script (co-written by Patrick Gauthier and Kris Joseph) the BEST NEW CREATION Award at this year's Rideau Awards (Ottawa's professional theatre celebration).
Emma Luna Davis (Theatre at UBC BFA Design/Tech, 2001) appointed as PI Theatre's new General Manager
Vancouver (April 7, 2008) – It is with great pleasure that the Board of Pi Theatre announces the appointment of Emma Luna Davis as successor to Tammy Isaacson in the role of General Manager.
Davis' tenure as General Manager of Pi will commence April 21. "I am very pleased to welcome Emma to Pi. Her accomplishments, talent and love of theatre excite the board. We look forward to working with her to position the company for our next phase of growth,” said Shawn Bouchard, President of the Pi Theatre Board of Directors. “Tammy Isaacson is moving to Edmonton to start her new job as General Manager of Alberta Opera after eight years with Pi and we wish her the greatest success in all her future endeavors."
Richard Wolfe, Pi's new Artistic Director commented, "Emma has all the qualities one could hope for in a GM and then some and I'm thrilled to have her on board as my partner at Pi Theatre Productions. I'm enthusiastic about the future and am looking forward with great anticipation to the coming months.”
Emma expressed her own enthusiasm about her new position at Pi Theatre: “I’m very excited to join Pi. I’m committed to Pi’s mandate to present international theatre and French Canadian works in translation, and I admire the impressive body of work that Del Surjik and Tammy have built over the last several years. I look forward to working with Richard and the board of directors at this stimulating time of renewal.”
Emma is an accomplished cultural administrator who brings a wide range of experience and an international perspective to her work. She was most recently the Outreach Program Coordinator at Arts Umbrella, where she managed a portfolio of free arts education programs for underserved children in the community. She was also Arts Umbrella’s Dance Program Coordinator from 2005-2007. Emma speaks French and has been an active member of Vancouver’s Francophone theatre scene, having stage managed several mainstage productions and tours for Théâtre la Seizième, and Heritage Canada’s Diversity and Francophone Conference. She has held a variety of positions in logistics coordination and production, including work with many festivals in Vancouver and abroad. Emma holds an MA in Arts and Media Management in a European Context from the Utrecht School of the Arts. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from UBC.
Congratulations to our students and Alumni on being chosen as the top entry and invited to attend the 18th International Festival of Theatre Schools
Setkani/Encounter 2008 – April 15-19; Brno, Czech Republic
The Department of Theatre and Film at UBC production of Diary of a Madman – adapted from the short story by Nikolai Gogol – has been invited to participate in Setkani / Encounter and they were singled out as the top entry into the festival. It’s the first time a theatre school from North America will be represented. The production of Diary of a Madman which was staged in the Dorothy Somerset Theatre last year is entirely a student creation. Diary of a Madman, by Nikolai Gogol is directed and adapted by David Savoy (MFA Directing Candidate). Students and alumni were responsible for the adaptation, direction, acting, design and stage management. Setkani/Encounter 2008 is the 18th International Festival of Theatre Schools which takes place in Brno, Czech Republic. The festival aims to provide a place where students, teachers and other theatre makers can meet to present and discuss their work and methods. In the past schools from Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Belgium and the Czech Republic have participated.
A round of applause for director and adaptor David Savoy (MFA Directing Candidate) his talented cast, company and faculty advisors! Cast: Aslam Husain – Askenty Proprischin - The Madman (BFA – Acting), Maura Halloran – Madgie, Ensemble (BFA – Acting), Ira Cooper – The Director, Ensemble (BFA – Acting), Kate Hilderman – Sophie, Ensemble (BFA – Acting), Ryan Warden – The Department Chief, Ensemble (BA – Theatre and Film Production), Set Design – Nykia Graham (BFA – Production and Design), Lighting Design – Ian Giles (BFA – Production and Design), Costumes – Gloria Shum (BFA – Production and Design), Sound Design – Daniel Jang (BFA – Production and Design), Stage Manager – Julian Darius (BFA – Production and Design), Assistant Stage Manager – Ashley Serl (BA – English/Theatre).
The company is currently fundraising for their production and travel expences, if you would like information on how to get invloved as a sponsor please call Deb Pickman at 604.319.7656
Regarding Sarah Nominated for Genie Award
Directed by UBC Theatre and Film Alumna Michelle Porter, REGARDING SARAH has been nominated for Best Live Action Short at the 28th Annual Genie Awards, which recognize the best of Canadian cinema. Other UBC Film alumni who collaborated on the short include producer Amy Belling, cinematographer Shannon Kohli, and editor Lauren Mainland.
For more info, visit:
Theatre at UBC Artists Win International Acclaim:
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC BFA Acting graduate & Film Production alumna Michelle Porter who has just learned that the short film she wrote and directed “Regarding Sarah” won the Special Jury Award at the Asian International Short Film Festival in Korea. The film stars stars Gina Stockdale, Theatre at UBC alumni Joy Coghill and Stephen E Miller with Nicole Porter. The prize includes a trophy along with 5 million Won (around $5,000)and 2 round trip flight tickets. The AISFF takes place in Seoul, South Korea and the Jury consisted of international filmmakers Changdong LEE,Jon BLOOM, Keiko TAKAHASHI, Anders Thomas JENSEN and Hyungkoo KIM.
The film also earned accolades and awards at the 2007 Leo Awards with Michelle taking away matching set of Leos for Best Direction and Best Screenwriting in a Short Drama for her mantle, as well as an additional pride of Leos for and Best Picture Editing in a Short Drama (by Lauren Mainland BA Film 05), best Production Design (by Amy Belling BA Film 03) & Lead Female Performer (Gina Stockdale).
This touching film about an elderly woman who desperately tries to record her life before she succumbs to Alzheimer's has previously earned Audience Award for Best Short at the Jacksonville Film Festival, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, the Jury Award at the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada and The Most Memorable Film Award at the NorthWest Film and Video Festival. “Regarding Sarah” has screened at numerous international film festivals and has been selected for television broadcast on CBC’s Canadian Reflections which showcases the rising stars of this country’s big and small screens.
After directing 52 episodes of the animation series Gundam Wing, and a successful theatre career which includes Life of Galileo at the Van East Cultural Centre and Twisted Christmas at the Arts Club and Belfry Theatres, Michelle went full tilt into film. She has received the Telefilm Canada Award for the Best Western Emerging Director for a Short or Midlength Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival as well as “Best Short Film” at the Moving Pictures Festival for her short film “Big Shoes to Fill.” She is currently developing the documentary “Dissolve.”
Angelina Kich wins Making It Big
Theatre at UBC design alumna Angelina Kich wrapped 22 episodes of a new TV series called Blood Ties which premiered recently on City TV. Blood Ties is billed as crime series with a "bite". Tune in Sunday nights to see private investigator Vicki Nelson solving supernatural crimes and joining forces with the mysterious and sexy Henry, who claims to be a 450-year-old vampire! Angelina is currently designing the costumes for a major motion picture for Warner Brothers called Lost boys 2, which is very exciting for her and her crew. She was also recently involved in a reality TV series called Making it Big. In each episode, three hopefuls face the toughest challenge of their young careers as they vie for the reward money can¹t buy: connections with industry experts and mentoring by a high-profile leader in their industry. The episode Angelina was involved in was called "Next Upcoming Costume Designer in North America" which she won! This aired on Lifetime and Slice networks. Congratulations Angelina from Theatre at UBC!
Theatre at UBC Congratulates our Nominees for the Betty Mitchell Award.
Congratulations from Theatre at UBC to our talented alumni Alan Brodie, Nicky Cavendish, Phillip Clarkson and Morris Panych who along with MFA Design Candidate Jennifer Darbellay, were recently singled out for their artistic excellence with Betty Mitchell Award Nominations. The Betty's celebrate excellence in Calgary's professional theatre community. The 2007 Betty Mitchell Awards will be held on Monday, August 27, 2007.
>>More information: www.bettymitchellawards.com
A Tale of Two Ians - Hardly Mickey Mouse!
Theatre at UBC Alumni Ian Giles [BFA Design & Production 2007] and BFA Design Candidate Ian Schimpf earned one of three top prizes in Walt Disney Imagineering’s 16th ImagiNations design competition. ImagiNations is a program designed and sponsored by Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative arm of all Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide, to encourage students and professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds and skills to consider careers in creative and technical fields including digital arts, engineering, and architecture.
As one of eleven finalist teams selected from entries worldwide Giles and Schimpf visited Disney Imagineering in Glendale California from July 16 to 27 to complete their projects, make professional presentations to the judging panel, interview for internships and participate in the awards ceremony.
Their proposal was called "Mickey's Stunt Pilot Academy" and casts guests as stunt pilots in a fictitious 1930's Mickey Mouse cartoon. Guests fly stunt planes through an environment that uses a combination of projections, live dimensional sets and special effects.
The duo returned home after earning “Best in Show: Creative Innovation”, competing against finalists from Exeter University (United Kingdom), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo (Ontario), Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh), Destination Imagination (Illinois), Hampton University (Virginia), Pratt Institute (New York), University of Kansas, University of Miami, and University of Southern California.
Asked about the win Schimpf enthused, “This truly was a once in a life time experience and one that I will remember always. Winning the award truly was the icing on the cake, but the things we got to do and see, and the people we met truly made it a surreal experience. Meeting and becoming really good friends with the other 30 finalists, which made the trip unforgettable. I would definitely encourage anyone who has been amazed by the magic of Disney to enter into the competition.”
His team mate Ian Giles agreed, “It was a dream come true to be able to present an idea to such legends as Tony Baxter and to have met the father of the ImagiNations program and Walt Disney's writer Marty Sklar. I've wanted to be a Walt Disney Imagineer since I was about 12 so even to be able to meet these people and see where they work was a dream come true, let alone being recognized by them. I've always believed what Walt Disney said, dreams come true only if you have the courage to pursue them.”
Media Interviews available contact: Media Contact: Deb Pickman 604.319.7656 publicity.theatre@ubc.ca
Theatre at UBC Congratulates our Nominees for the Siminovitch Prize.
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC MFA Directing Alumni Dennis Garnham and Valerie Methot as well as Adjunct Professor Kim Collier who are among only 26 Canadian directors that have been recognized with nominations for this year’s prestigious Siminovitch Prize. The $100,000 prize – the largest arts award in Canadian theatre – will be presented October 29, 2007, to a professional director whose body of work has advanced Canadian theatre. The winner receives $100,000, of which one quarter is given to a protégé chosen by the recipient. The prize, created by scientist Lou Siminovitch and his late wife Elinore, a playwright, in 2001, honours a professional directors, designers and playwrights by acknowledging excellence and encouraging further exploration in Canadian theatre. The award goes in three-year cycles. Last year's award went to a designer and the 2008 prize will feature a playwright. A shortlist will be revealed in September and the winner on Oct. 29 at a gala in Toronto.
more information: www.siminovitchprize.com
Little Mosque Wins Big for Theatre At UBC Alumnus Zaib Shaikh
Congratulations to UBC Alumnus Zaib Shaikh (MFA Directing, 2001) who stars as the Imam on CBC's quirky new comedy Little Mosque on the Prairie. The show has just won the best TV series and the best writing prizes at an international television festival in Rome, beating out such favourites as The West Wing. The decision was unanimous among the 30 judges at the Roma Fiction Festival. In addition the powerful French broadcaster Canel Plus has jumped on board to distribute the show in France and in French speaking parts of Switzerland and Africa. More than 2 million viewers watched the premiere of Little Mosque on the Prairie when it debuted last year and it regularly attracts 1.3 million viewers per episode. The hit comedy about a small Muslim community in the prairie town of Mercy continues to capture viewers and newspaper headlines internationally. The series takes an unabashedly funny look at the congregation of a rural mosque and their attempt to live in harmony with the often skeptical, even down right suspicious, residents of their little prairie town.
Theatre at UBC grad Zaib Shaikh is an accomplished actor and theatre producer. Film and television credits to his name include Da Vinci's City Hall, Deadzone, Metropia, The Call, Doc, and Shepard. Zaib also has many theatre credits including Helen's Necklace, Midsummer Night's Dream and A Perfect Ganesh. He has had the pleasure of working with some of the largest theatre companies in Canada including Canadian Stage, National Arts Centre, Globe Theatre , Grand Theatre and the Stratford Festival. Shaikh is also co-founder of The Whistler Theatre Project.
The highly anticipated second season of Little Mosque returns to CBC this fall at 8pm on Wednesdays. More at www.littlemosque.ca.
Theatre at UBC Congratulates our 2007 Dora Mavor Moore Award & Jessie Richardson Award Recipients & Nominees
The 25th Anniversary of the Jessie Richardson Awards held in June at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom was a chance to celebrate the best in our burgeoning professional theatre community. The gala evening was produced by Vancouver TheatreSports and graciously emceed by Theatre at UBC alumna and Jessie Richardson Society president Katey Wright.
Winning three awards in the Large Theatre category was Skydive, an innovative Real Wheels production involving complex aerial choreography by a quadriplegic actor, which earned Roy Surette and alumnus Stephen Drover the award for Outstanding Direction. Later in the evening Drover was also announced as the recipient of The Ray Michal Award for Outstanding Work by an Emerging Director. In a moving acceptance speech Drover cited his former UBC professor Peter Loeffler for motivating him with his inspirational love for the theatre.
Alumnus Bill Milerd’s Arts Club Theatre took home three prizes, one of which went to alumna Rebekka Sorensen for her exquisite costume designs in The School For Scandal. Professor emeritus John Wright’s two year old company, Blackbird Theatre, flew away with two awards for its critically acclaimed production of Peer Gynt earning Outstanding Production as well as a Jessie for adjunct professor John Webber's lighting. This critically acclaimed production, adapted by professor emeritus Errol Durbach from Ibsen’s folk epic was supported by a talented cast and company that included alumni Spencer Atkinson, Nicole Braber, Kim Harvey and Melissa Powell.
In the Small Theatre category alumna Lois Anderson received the Jessie for Outstanding Performance for her leading role in Leaky Heaven’s Salome. Outstanding Sound/Composition went to newly appointed adjunct professor Patrick Pennefather for his work on Wild Excursions’ Beggars Would Ride. Alumna Sasa Brown earned the Outstanding Performance Award for her supporting role in Spank! produced by The Virtual Stage. Another special award, The John Moffat and Larry Lillo Prize for a mature artist, went to alumnus David Adams. In announcing the Gordon Armstrong Playwright's Rent Award for 2007, an Honourable Mention was given to alumna Meghan Gardiner.
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC’s talented Students, Alumni, Faculty, Collaborators and/or their theatre companies who were in the winners circle at this year’s Jessies, weighing in with a hefty total of 60 nominations for 27 awards. In recent news from eastern Canada they are also being recognized with several Dora Mavor Moor Award nominations. Below is a complete list of their nominations for both the Doras and the Jessies:
Dora Mavor Moore Award Nominees
GENERAL THEATRE DIVISON
Outstanding New Play: Morris Panych - What Lies Before Us
Outstanding Costume Design: Astrid Janson & Sarah Armstrong - The Saskatchewan Rebellion
Outstanding Lighting Design: Alan Brodie - The Overcoat
Outstanding Costume Design: Philip Clarkson - Seussical
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Outstanding Performance: Joshua Reynolds - Chasing the Money
Jessie Richardson Award Nominees
LARGE THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Large Theatre: John Murphy - The Optimists for Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre: Lois Anderson - Salome for Leaky Heaven Circus, Nicola Cavendish - Up Island for Arts Club Theatre Company, Lara Gilchrist - Hippies and Bolsheviks for Touchstone Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Large Theatre: Michael Scholar, Jr. - Life After God a Touchstone Theatre & Theatre at UBC Co-Production
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Large Theatre: Kathy Duborg - Recovery for Rumble Productions
Outstanding Lighting Design, Large Theatre: Alan Brodie - Vigil for Playhouse Theatre Company, Robert Gardiner - The Fly Fisher's Companion for Gateway Theatre, John Webber - Peer Gynt for Blackbird Theatre, John Webber - Recovery for Rumble Productions
Outstanding Set Design, Large Theatre: Marti Wright - Peer Gynt for Blackbird Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design, Large Theatre: Alison Green - Cabaret for Arts Club Theatre Company, Rebekka Sorensen - The School for Scandal for Arts Club Theatre Company
Outstanding Direction, Large Theatre: Roy Surette & Stephen Drover - Skydive a Realwheels/PuSh Co-Production, Henry Woolf & John Wright - The Birthday Party for Blackbird Theatre, John Wright - Peer Gynt for Blackbird Theatre
Outstanding Production, Large Theatre: Adrift on the Nile neworld theatre
The Fly Fisher's Companion [Director Rachel Ditor] Gateway Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievements, Large Theatre: Alvin Catacutan, Simon Hayama, Akira Matsui: Execution of Noh Movement - The Gull for Pangaea Arts // Richard Emmert, Ari Solomon, Michael Robinson, Kerry Van Der Griend, Minoru Yamamoto: Ensemble Chorus - The Gull for Pangaea Arts
SMALL THEATRE
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Small Theatre: David Mackay - Thicker Than Water for Yorick Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Small Theatre: Lois Anderson - Trout Stanley for Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Small Theatre: Sasa Brown - Spank! For The Virtual Stage, Dawn Petten - Thicker Than Water for Yorick Theatre
Outstanding Lighting Design, Small Theatre: Alan Brodie - Diplomacy for Western Theatre Conspiracy, Julie Martens - Apocalypse for Theatre la Seizieme, John Popkin - Two Lip Tango for La Luna Productions, Jonathan Ryder & Erin Harris - Dog Eat Dog for The Only Animal, Gillian Wolpert - The Unexpected Man for The Unexpected Co-op
Outstanding Set Design, Small Theatre: Kevin McAllister - Cariboo Magi for Pacific Theatre
Outstanding Costume Design, Small Theatre: Nicole Bach - A Bright Particular Star for Pacific Theatre, Sheila White - Trout Stanley for Ruby Slippers Theatre
Outstanding Sound Design or Original Composition, Small Theatre: Patrick Pennefather - Beggars Would Ride for Wild Excursions Performance
Outstanding Production, Small Theatre: Thicker Than Water - Yorick Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievements, Small Theatre: Andreas Kahre, Sean Lang & Janet Baxter: Outstanding Visual Design - Assembly for Radix Theatre / Lindsay Alford, Lois Anderson, Steve Charles, Thomas Conlin Jones, Cat Main, Tamara McCarthy, Kelly Metzger, Jenna Newman, Joelysa Pankanea, Donna Soares, Ari Solomon, Andy Thompson, Hazel Venzon: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble - The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces for Boca del Lupo
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Joshua Reynolds - The Odyssey for Carousel Theatre
Outstanding Design, Theatre for Young Audiences: Al Frisk Set Design - The Odyssey for Carousel Theatre, Alison Green Costume Design - Silverwing for Carousel Theatre
Outstanding Artistic Creation, Theatre for Young Audiences: Melissa Young & Nick Harrison: Movement & Fight Choreography – The Odyssey for Carousel Theatre
Significant Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences: Emma Jane Carrico, Isabel Ouzanic, Karen McVey, Amber Cruikshank, Karen Zarasun, Catherine Seiler, Patrice Godin, Jay Havens, Christine Hackman, Heidi Wilkinson: Costume Construction - Silverwing for Carousel Theatre
Outstanding Original Script: David Mackay - Thicker Than Water Yorick Theatre
Michael Lewis MacLennan - Life After God a Touchstone & Theatre at UBC Co-pro
Blackbird Theatre: 11 Nominations, Arts Club Theatre Company: 10 Nominations, Yorick Theatre: 5 Nominations, Western Theatre Conspiracy: 1 Nomination
Find a full list of this year’s Jessie Richardson Award recipients & nominees at www.jessies.ca and Dora Mavor Moore Award nominees at www.tapa.ca/doras
Leo Roars for Theatre at UBC Alumna Michelle Porter!
Congratulations to Theatre at UBC BFA graduate & Film Program alumna Michelle Porter who earned accolades and awards at the 2007 Leo Awards for the film she wrote and directed, "Regarding Sarah", starring Gina Stockdale, Theatre at UBC alumni Joy Coghill and Stephen E Miller and Nicole Porter. The film earned Michelle a matching set of Leos for Best Direction and Best Screenwriting in a Short Drama as well as an additional pride of Leos for and Best Picture Editing in a Short Drama (Lauren Mainland BA Film 05), best Production Design (Amy Belling BA Film 03) & Lead Female Performer (Gina Stockdale). This touching film about an elderly woman who desperately tries to record her life before she succumbs to Alzheimer's has previously earned Audience Award for Best Short at the Jacksonville Film Festival, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, the Jury Award at the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada and The Most Memorable Film Award at the NorthWest Film and Video Festival. “Regarding Sarah” has screened at numerous international film festivals and has been selected for television broadcast on CBC’s Canadian Reflections which showcases the rising stars of this country’s big and small screens. After directing 52 episodes of the animation series Gundam Wing, and a successful theatre career which includes Life of Galileo at the Van East Cultural Centre and Twisted Christmas at the Arts Club and Belfry Theatres, Michelle went full tilt into film. She has received the Telefilm Canada Award for the Best Western Emerging Director for a Short or Midlength Film at the Vancouver International Film Festival as well as “Best Short Film” at the Moving Pictures Festival for her short film “Big Shoes to Fill.” She is currently developing the documentary “Dissolve.”
For further details on the many UBC Alumni acknowledged at the 2007 Leo Awards, visit www.film.ubc.ca
Theatre at UBC Alumna Rebecca Lee awarded an Emmy Award as Key Makeup Artist in Tin Man, the highly acclaimed SCI FI Channel mini-series.
An Emmy is heavy, a winged gold figure on a solid pedestal, holding up a globe. And about those sharp wingtips -- Rebecca Lee says she worried about carrying the thing onto the plane home from Los Angeles last weekend.
"What an amazing feeling to go through customs and say, 'We're bringing home an Emmy,'" Lee says.
She and colleague Lisa Love each got a statue last weekend for their makeup work on the Vancouver-filmed miniseries Tin Man, a futuristic reworking of The Wizard of Oz starring Richard Dreyfuss, Zooey Deschanel and Alan Cumming. The show aired on the U.S. Sci-Fi network but hasn't aired in Canada."
