History
Theatre Ontario came into existence in 1971, as the result of a meeting of theatre leaders at the Ontario Theatre Conference at Lake Couchiching. From the beginning it was determined that Theatre Ontario would be a unique service organization with membership, programs and services for all the sectors that make up theatre in the province—community, educational, and professional.
Incorporated in August 1971, Theatre Ontario immediately filled the gap created by the demise of the Dominion Drama Festival. Theatre Ontario's first employee was the late Maggie Bassett who pioneered dynamic training programs that benefited the entire province.
Milestones
1971
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- Meeting at Geneva Park
- Founding of Theatre Ontario
- Maggie Bassett hired as first employee
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| 1972 |
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| 1973 |
- Launched magazine Scene Changes (published until 1981)
- Held first Theatre Ontario Festival (at Brock University in St. Catharines)
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| 1976 |
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| 1977 |
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| 1980 |
- Presented Ontario Playwrights Showcase Festival at Hart House Theatre
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| 1981 |
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| 1985 |
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| 1986 |
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| 1988 |
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| 1995 |
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| 1997 |
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| 1998 |
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| 2002 |
- Compiled and edited an anthology of one-act plays written by Ontario playwrights and published by Playwrights Canada Press
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| 2003 |
- Partnered with the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres to share offices and equipment expenses
- Launched "To Act In Safety" providing health and safety training for theatres
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| 2004 |
- Launched Biweekly Auditions Email Bulletin (now our online auditions posting)
- Launched "From Page to Stage" with Playwrights Canada Press, providing over two thousand plays, anthologies and resource books into two hundred high schools
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| 2007 |
- Compiled and edited Ontario Playwrights a second anthology of one-act plays written by Ontario playwrights and published by Playwrights Canada Press
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| 2008 |
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| 2009 |
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| 2010 |
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| 2011 |
- Partnered with Playwrights Canada Press to compile and edit Grassroots, an anthology of full-length plays that premiered at Ontario community theatres
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Key Personnel
Secretary/Administrator, Ontario Theatre Conference, Geneva Park (1971)
Maggie Bassett
Founding Members
Patricia Beharriell, James Costley, Arno Gotthardt, Margaret McCauley, Dusty Miller, Ron Payne, Michael Spence, Cicely Thomson
Presidents of the Board of Directors
Michael Spence, Patricia Beharriell, Elsie Thomson, Ed Procunier, Sandy Black, Don Bouzek, JoAnn McCabe, Gerald Smith, Rod Smith, Ed Minchin, John Storey, Jane Gardner, Colin Taylor, Marian Doucette, Marilyn Lawrie, Janet Irwin, Kay Kanbayashi, Mike MacLean, Richard Poore, Julianne Snepsts (current)
Chairpersons of the Board of Directors (until 1990)
Norman Griesdorf, Paul Eck, John Plank, Dusty Miller, Anne Wilson
Executive Directors
James Costley, Robert Ellison, Gene Maddox, Don Herbertson, Bryan Thomson, Catherine Smalley, Sandra Tulloch, Jane Gardner, Barbara Anderson-Huget, John H. Goddard, Carol Beauchamp (current)