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Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Awards
The Theatre Ontario Festival 2019 Awards were presented on Sunday, May 19 at noon. See official list on Theatre Ontario site.
Outstanding Coordinated Production as chosen by the Festival Production Managers
(The gift of Ottawa Little Theatre)
Presented by The Curtain Club Theatre’s Steve Hetherington and Jesse Gordon, congratulations to Theatre Sarnia and “Girls Like That”!
Adjudicator Award #1
(The gift of Domino Theatre)
Congratulations to Assistant Stage Manager Susan Poole of The Village Players Toronto and “Late Company” for her work with all that food!
Adjudicator Award #2
(The gift of Markham Little Theatre)
Congratulations to Verne Dorge of Gore Bay’s “This Is How We Got Here” for original music!
Adjudicator Award #3
(The gift of Toronto Irish Players)
Congratulations to Whitney Purdy of “Outside Mullingar”, Domino Theatre for set décor!
Adjudicator Award #4
(The gift of ACT-CO)
Congratulations to the ensemble of “Girls Like That”, Theatre Sarnia, for their dance and movement!
Adjudicator Award #5
(The gift of The Curtain Club)
Congratulations to the ensemble of “This Is How We Got Here”, Gore Bay for their storytelling and monologues!
Outstanding Visual Presentation
(The gift of Sue and Dave Perkins)
Congratulations to “This Is How We Got Here”!
Honourable mention to “Late Company”.
Outstanding Technical Achievement
(The gift of WODL)
Nominees: set design “Girls Like That”, lighting design “Outside Mullingar”
Congratulations to David L Smith for Lighting of “Outside Mullingar”!
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role (2 awards)
(The gift of EODL)
Nominees: “2 people who made me believe in their world”: Dylan Mills Capote (Curtis) in “Late Company” and Will Smith (Jim) in “This Is How We Got Here”
Congratulations to Will Smith of Gore Bay for Jim in “This Is How We Got Here”!
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role (2 awards)
(The gift of London Community Players)
Nominees: Shannon McMullan (Liz) in “This Is How We Got Here” and Sandie Cond (Aoife) in “Outside Mullingar”
Congratulations to Sandie Cond, “Outside Mullingar”
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role (2 awards)
(The gift of Peterborough Theatre Guild)
Nominees: Andrew Horbatiuk (Bill) in “Late Company” and Geoff Johnson (Anthony) in “Outside Mullingar”
Congratulations to Geoff Johnson in “Outside Mullingar”!
Outstanding Director
(The gift of QUONTA)
Nominees: “These were all outstanding directors! So I looked at how clear and powerful choices were communicated to actors”: Ian Malcolm’s “Outside Mullingar” and Valary Cook’s “Late Company”
Congratulations to Valary Cook for “Late Company”!
Outstanding Festival Production—The Elsie
(The gift of Theatre Ontario)
Nominees: “We had a week of outstanding performances and I had to pick one!”
Congratulations to “Outside Mullingar”!
Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre 2019
Theatre Ontario is excited to announce that the 2019 Michael Spence Award for Contribution to Community Theatre will be presented to Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny of Toronto. This award is presented by Theatre Ontario from the nomination by Burl-Oak Theatre Group, and on the recommendation of ACT-CO, the Association of Community Theatres—Central Ontario.
The award honours individuals for sustained contribution to community theatre, generosity of spirit, involvement, and commitment to community theatre that is legendary within their region, helping community theatre flourish. Chantal and Tim will receive their award on May 19 at the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Luncheon in Richmond Hill at the Langstaff Community Centre.
“I am delighted to congratulate Chantal Forde and Tim Cadeny on being this year’s 2019 Michael Spence Award recipients,” said Linda Lyons, President of ACT-CO. “Together since their return to the BurlOak Theatre Group in 2012, this creative and talented dynamic duo have continued to breathe new life and excitement in both the theatre, and the community.”
Chantal and Tim have been passionate members of the Burl-Oak Theatre Group (BOTG) since 2012. They wrote, directed, and choreographer Burl-Oak’s first annual holiday pantomime, creating an annual tradition that has involved hundreds of members of the local community.
Chantal has taken on membership at BOTG to encourage others to become involved with community theatre, and Tim is the Vice President, taking on BOTG’s graphic design. They have been involved in the Oakville community at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and local children’s festivals, and are two of the organizers of Toronto Cold Reads, a weekly series for actors and writers to develop new works. They have been instrumental in successfully implementing the BOTG’s 50/50 draw which raised proceeds for local charities such as Ian Anderson Cancer Hospice, the Humane Society, and Lighthouse for Grieving Families.
Chantal is also a member of the core group of Got Your Back Canada, artists who have come together to lead initiatives to improve safety, health and equity in the performing artists, and she is part of the organizing committee for their spring Artist Educator Conference.
“We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, being a part of a community with so much passion and dedication is inspiring,” said Chantal and Tim. “We love that we are able to be involved with shows with children as young as eight, who have just been bitten by the bug, to experienced artists who have been in the theatre for longer than we’ve been alive!”
The Michael Spence Award honours legendary contributions to community theatre in Ontario, and is named after Michael Spence, the founding President of Theatre Ontario. Michael was active in community theatre at Hart House Theatre, London Little Theatre, and the University Alumnae Dramatic Club (now known as Alumnae Theatre.) He was a member of the Board of Governors of the Dominion Drama Festival, a past President of Arts Etobicoke, and he continues to be an enthusiastic supporter of Theatre Ontario.
Past recipients of the Michael Spence Award in the ACT-CO region are Lillian Sievanen, David Glover, Maureen Lukie, Jo-anne Spitzer, and John Storey.
Awards Presentation
Join us at the awards presentation at the Langstaff Community Centre on May 19 as part of the Theatre Ontario Festival Awards Luncheon by buying tickets via the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts website
Awards Sponsors
The following awards are generously sponsored by the following people and organizations. We thank them for their support of local theatre.
Outstanding Director – QUONTA
Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role:
- Ken Stephen
- Peterborough Theatre Guild
Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role:
- EODL
- London Community Players
Outstanding Technical Achievement – WODL
Outstanding Visual Presentation – Sue and Dave Perkins
Outstanding Coordinated Production – Ottawa Little Theatre
Special Adjudicator Awards:
- Domino Theatre
- Markham Little Theatre
- Toronto Irish Players
- ACT-CO
- The Curtain Club