We are asked the following questions on a regular basis by parents and campers. Hopefully, the telephone numbers and websites below will prove helpful. Please note that Centauri is not in a position to recommend any of these services; this is simply a list that will get you started. Good luck!
1. In our view, Soulpepper Theatre produces some of the best live theatre
in Canada, with an emphasis on modern classics.
Soulpepper is based in Toronto;
contact: 416 973 4000 for tickets or 416 203 6264 for information. Web site:
www.soulpepper.ca
2. The Canadian Stage Company produces high quality modern Canadian plays in their 2 Toronto venues. Contact: www.canadianstage.com
3. The Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake is easily accessible to campers living in upstate New York, as well as campers from the G.T.A. Contact: 1 800 511 SHAW or www.shawfest.com
4. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Toronto: 416 363 5131
5. For theatre for young people in the Buffalo area, try: http://www.theatreofyouth.org/
6. For theatre in Western New York, go to: http://alleyway.com /- this website serves an alliance of four professional theatres, some of which also offer educational programs.
7. For more listings of professional theatre companies all over Southern Ontario, go to: www.stage-door.org
8. www.theatreontario.org and http://www.theatrecanada.com provide additional resources for people of all ages looking for an opportunity to explore theatre. If you live in Canada, these organisations are a ‘must’.
If your son/daughter also has an interest in dance, try the following:
www.ontariodance.com www.danceumbrella.net
For school projects and as an educational resource, the following website are useful:
www.backstage.com www.theatrelibrary.org
www.artslynx.org (U.S. Based listing of numerous arts links)
www.canadiantheatre.com (an excellent encyclopedia of Canadian arts)
1. Avenue Road Arts School, close to Avenue/Lawrence in Toronto, offers a range of high quality after-school arts programs, including dance, theatre, art and film. 416 961 1502
2. Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People offers acting classes in 3 different locations in Toronto: 416 947 1027
3. www.theatreontario.org is an excellent resource of theatre workshops throughout Ontario.
For all other areas, try calling your local theatres or library and they should have information on theatre classes run locally.
Creative Writing and Fine Art courses are harder to come by. Try your local library for information, and keep an eye on arts newspapers in your area. There’s always the option of starting a writing or art group of your own! All that’s needed is a group of kids with similar interests - try a posting in your school. Adult writing groups usually consist of as few as 4 people and meet informally to share ideas and inspiration once per month in someone’s house. There’s no reason this shouldn’t work for young writers, too. Here’s some web resources to help maintain enthusiasm:
www.essortment.com/in/Hobbies.Writing/ - some excellent writing activities!
www.stonesoup.com (New York based award-winning magazine and website for writers and Artists aged 8-13)
First, think hard about this before doing anything. If your child wants to get an agent because they think they are going to be ‘discovered’ and hit the road to stardom, it’s bound to lead to disappointment. Most auditions and professional work can be cut-throat, and not always a positive experience for young people. We recommend training first - and trying for the career later. However, if your child is firmly fixed on doing this, do your research before fixing on agents. Getting an agent on recommendation is the best policy - too many will ask for money up front, insist on expensive head shots and never call you again. There are some real gems in the business, however. If you live in Ontario, contact Theatre Ontario first and ask their advice. Their website: www.theatreontario.org
Your best resource is our counsellors, since most of them are registered in arts programs in Canadian universities. Encourage your son/daughter to ask their counsellors about the programs they are taking in university. Here’s some website addresses for preliminary research:
www.ryerson.ca - Ryerson University, Toronto. Programs include acting, dance and journalism
www.ubc.ca/ - the University of British Columbia offers a Creative Writing degree
www.sheridanc.on.ca - Sheridan College is located in Oakville, west of Toronto and is known
Internationally for its programs in graphic arts and animation
www.erin.utoronto.ca - offers an academic degree combined with an acting diploma From the skills of its graduates, we conclude this is an outstanding program
www.yorku.ca - fine art degrees in Toronto, including dance.
www.ocad.ca - the Ontario College of Arts & Design in Toronto is internationally known for its applied art courses.
www.ent-nts.qc.ca/nts/school.htm - the National Theatre School of Canada, in Montreal. You’re more likely to get in after you complete a degree than straight from high school