READ UP ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Satori Shakoor in ‘da Kink in my Hair. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

PlayPEN

A series of online training workshops presented by Expect Theatre

WORKING TOGETHER: An Agent & Playwright, in Conversation with Colin Rivers & Marcus Youssef

Monday, February 3, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Marcus Youssef is a playwright and Colin’s client. Colin Rivers is a literary agent and Marcus’ representative. Drawing on their 10-year collaboration and friendship, Marcus and Colin discuss the playwright-agent dynamic, the business of playwrighting, and their shared and differing perspectives on the rapidly changing text-based Canadian theatre industry. 

Marcus will talk about anything. Colin may be more circumspect and attuned to the business implications. The conversation should be lively.

  • Marcus Youssef is a playwright, director, actor and cultural advocate. The author and co-author of more than a dozen plays, Marcus is the recipient of The Siminovitch Prize for Theatre, Berlin’s Ikarus Prize, the Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award, the Rio-Tinto Alcan Performing Arts Award, the Chalmer’s Canadian Play Award and numerous local awards in cities across Canada and the US. Marcus has been represented by Colin and Marquis Entertainment since 2013, and he considers their collaborative relationship an essential part of his creative practice.

    Colin Rivers is co-owner of Marquis Entertainment and Marquis Literary, in partnership with Robert Richardson. Founded in 1996, Marquis Entertainment was launched with a purpose of producing Canadian theatrical plays/productions that exhibit national and international appeal. Marquis Entertainment quickly established itself as a leader in the industry and expanded its focus to include representation and promotion of Canadian theatrical work for both national and international markets, as well as selectively co-producing international theatre productions in Canada.

    www.MQlit.ca

CRITICAL THINKING:  The role of theatre criticism & how to use it with Glenn Sumi

Monday, February 24, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Now that your show is up and running, how are you going to get the word out about it? And what do people outside your circle of friends, colleagues and family think of it?

That’s where the theatre critic comes in. But who are these critics, where do they come from, and do their assessments matter — or not? This workshop looks at the role of theatre criticism and arts feature writing, and how both have changed in the world of shrinking traditional media and growing social media influence. It also examines how you can use press coverage to sell tickets and support grant applications.

  • Glenn Sumi has been a theatre critic for several decades, first at Toronto’s NOW Magazine, where he wrote about theatre for nearly 25 years, and more recently as a freelance writer for publications like the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and Variety. In late 2022, after NOW changed ownership, he launched his own newsletter, So Sumi. 

WRITING FOR MUSIC THEATRE: A Step by Step Guide with Beau Dixon

Monday, March 3, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Actor, Musician, Playwright, and Multi-Instrumentalist Beau Dixon will lead you through his process for creating his award-winning, solo chamber musical Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story; and guide you to create your own. You’ll go through brainstorming, identifying moments for song, and writing song lyrics.

  • Actor, Musician, Playwright, and Multi-Instrumentalist Beau Dixon will lead you through his process for creating his award-winning, solo chamber musical Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story; and guide you to create your own. You’ll go through brainstorming, identifying moments for song, and writing song lyrics.

PERFECT PITCH: How to present touring projects, productions, and scripts to Artistic Directors with Jillian Keiley

Monday, January 13, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Over her 30 year career, Jillian Keiley has seen nearly 200 productions through from idea to ovation from both sides of the table as both a theatre maker and producer/ presenter. She will share what is at play for Artistic Directors in selecting a season, as well as talk about the courage it takes to bring your great idea to the person who just might produce it.

  • Jillian Keiley has directed and taught across Canada and Internationally.  She was the Associate Artistic Director at the Resource Centre for the Arts in St.John's, Newfoundland,  and founding Artistic Director of Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland.   She assumed her role as the Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2012.  Tempting Providence, her collaboration with Robert Chafe for Theatre Newfoundland Labrador toured nationally and internationally for 13 years. Jillian finished her tenure at the NAC in August of 2022. Jillian has directed Opera, Musicals, Children's Theatre, Music Theatre, Puppet Theatre, New Work and recognized Classics, as well as concert choreographies, an Olympic medal presentation ceremony, and large scale experiential installations.  She has directed productions in Italy, Australia and Ireland.  She teaches and mentors regularly, including recurring contracts with the National Theatre School in Montreal.  She holds Honorary Doctorates from Memorial University in Newfoundland and Toronto's York University.  She is the Winner of the Canada Council John Hirsch Prize and the 2004 Siminovitch Prize for Directing.

SMALL SCREEN, BIG STAGE: A Crash Course in TV Writing for Playwrights with Chloé Hung

Monday, January 20, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

So you're a playwright who loves TV but you've never written for TV and you want to but you don't know where to start. Look no further! In 90 minutes, we'll talk about how your playwriting skills can translate to a TV writers' room, how to think of a season of TV, the ins and outs of being in a writers' room, and writing pilots.

  • Chloé Hung is a writer and director. Her plays include Three Women of Swatow (Tarragon Theatre, Dora Award nominee for Outstanding New Play; Centaur Theatre), Issei He Say (New Jersey Rep), All Our Yesterdays (Toronto Fringe Fest’s Patron’s Pick, Next Stage Theatre Fest). She has workshopped plays with Geffen Theatre, Great Plains Theatre Commons, Stratford Festival’s Playwrights Retreat, Banff Playwrights Lab, Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, and The Kennedy Center. Chloé is a Playwrights Center Core Writer and holds the Rhimes Unsung Voices commission from IAMA Theatre. In TV and film, Chloé has written for Queen Sugar, Cherish the Day, The Watchful Eye, and developed for Netflix. She is a Film Independent Screenwriting lab fellow. Her short films include SIGNAL (Women in Film’s Production program), and GEM & SHAZ (Bell Media, available on Crave). www.chloehung.com

CREATE YOUR OWN RESIDENCY: A Resource for Playwrights, Directors, and Creators with Amiel Gladstone

Monday, January 27, 2025 - 7:30-9:00 PM EST

Discover the transformative power of creative residencies - how to find and apply for them, and how to make your own. With extensive experience in developing works for stage and guiding emerging voices in theatre, Amiel Gladstone offers an insider’s perspective on how residencies can elevate your creative journey.

  • Amiel Gladstone is a playwright and director, who has worked extensively in new plays and opera.  His plays have been produced across Canada, in the United States, as well as France, Romania and Russia. His plays are published by Concord / Samuel French,  Coachhouse Press and Playwrights Canada Press.  He is currently the Director of Theatre Arts at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

From Script to Soundwaves

Join us for an immersive workshop designed for writers who are ready to harness the power of podcasting and take their storytelling beyond the stage. 

This workshop provides a rare chance to explore the art of writing for audio, whether by crafting original audio dramas or adapting existing stage scripts to work in the podcasting realm. With an emphasis on storytelling that resonates in audio, participants will gain insight into the nuances that make audio drama distinct from traditional theatre.

Through engaging hands-on activities, participants will hone their skills in crafting dialogue, designing soundscapes, and experimenting with foley techniques. These practical skills will empower them to bring their stories to life in the audio medium, ensuring they leave the workshop with a strong understanding of how to produce compelling audio content.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to elevate your craft and share your stories with listeners around the world.

Registration is now closed.