Friday 15 June 2012

What's Going On!!

So as an actor and a director I always found this time of year when companies were announcing their seasons to be very stressful. You start to realize what opportunities are up for grabs and everyone starts to get tense as they try and scramble to put together a season of work for themselves.

However, this is now my second season at the helm of APN and I've discovered in this position, I really like this time of year. And here's a few reasons why...look at all the APN members who are being produced or recognized next year!!! (Note: ** denotes plays that APN has helped to develop)

First of all...Nicole Moeller, who just received the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Award For Drama for her play An Almost Perfect Thing**, which will also receive its second production at New West Theatre in Lethbridge next year.

Sterling Award Nominees 
- Outstanding New Play - Darrin Hagen for With Bells On** (also nominated for Outstanding Indie Production)
- Outstanding Fringe New Work - Marty Chan for Mothership Down**
- Outstanding Fringe New Work - David Belke for Forsooth My Lovely
- Outstanding Artistic Achievement, Theatre for Young Audiences - Tracy Carroll (Director) Lig and Bittle 


Raunch by Jacqueline Russell & Alice Nelson can be seen as part of Uprising at the Magnetic North Festival of Canadian plays in Calgary.


Andrew Torry's play Hideout** is being performed in both Calgary and Edmonton. In Calgary it is being produced as part of SAGE Theatre's IGNITE Festival and in Edmonton it is being produced as part of Theatre Network's NextFest.

Mike Czuba's play Satellites is being produced at the IGNITE festival as well, along with Jeremy Park's play Kona Sirs. Mike will also be having his premiere production of Satie et Cocteau: A Rehearsal of a Play of a Composer by a Poet at the Mountain View Festival this summer.


Cheryl Foggo is producing in association with the Calgary Stampede Board her play John Ware Reimagined as a series of staged readings as part of the centennial Stampede celebrations.

Chris Craddock's one man show, Public Speaking is being presented as part of SAGE Theatre's 2012/2013 season.

Sequence** by Arun Lakra (winner of the 2011 Alberta Playwriting Competition) will receive its world premiere in Downstage Theatre's 2012/2013 season.

Conni Massing, Neil Fleming, Glenda Stirling, Caroline Russell-King and David Sealy are all having work produced next year at Lunchbox Theatre. Thanks to the entire staff and crew at Lunchbox who continue to be strong supporters and partners of APN in Calgary.

David Haas is having his play A Health Unto Her Majesty performed at the St. Jean Baptiste Festival.

Nathan Huisman has just signed on as the new General Manager at Workshop West Theatre who have also been great supporters and partners of APN in Edmonton.

I know that this list isn't complete and there are omissions, but for those of you who I missed, I do apologize but also remind you to keep us at APN informed of what you are doing and where you are being produced. If you tell us what you're up to, we can tell our membership what you're up to. We are here to help you market your work any way we can and the best way to market yourself is to get the word out that you are being produced.

I hope you all have a great summer of writing or relaxing. I'm going to try and relax as it would appear I have a lot of plays to see next season!!

Trevor