Newsletter
Summer 2001 Issue

A Celebration of Theatre in Peterborough

Theatre Ontario Festival 2001 held in Peterborough May 16-20, 2001 featured the best in Ontario community theatre productions. Fifteen awards were presented on May 20th by adjudicator Ken Albanese. The festival, hosted by Peterborough Theatre Guild, Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) and Theatre Ontario, represented the finals of an Ontario wide drama competition comprising the four best theatre productions from each of Ontario's four drama regions. Theatre Ontario Festival 2002 will be held in Sarnia from May 15-19, 2002 co-hosted by Theatre Sarnia, WODL and Theatre Ontario.

Participating in the Theatre Ontario Festival 2001 were over 250 volunteers working behind the scenes to bring to the stage in Peterborough:
Homeward Bound by Elliott Hayes presented by Domino Theatre, Kingston (representing EODL - Eastern Ontario Drama League)

All My Sons by Arthur Miller presented by Borelians Community Theatre, Port Perry (representing ACT-CO - Association of Community Theatres-Central Ontario);

Me & My Friend by Gillian Plowman presented by Burlington Little Theatre (representing WODL - Western Ontario Drama League); and

The Beauty Queen of Leenane by Martin McDonagh presented by Family Life Theatre, Sault Ste. Marie (representing Quonta region of northern Ontario);

The five day festival organized by co-chairs Bud Bethune and Mary Helen Moes of Peterborough also featured a workshop led by Ken Albanese; play readings by Colleen Curran and David French hosted by Playwrights Union of Canada (with support from the Canada Council for the Arts) and Theatre Ontario's annual general meeting.

WINNERS OF THEATRE ONTARIO FESTIVAL - Announced May 20th at a Special Awards Ceremony

BEST PRODUCTION    Me & My Friend, Burlington Little Theatre

BEST DIRECTOR    Tom Mackan Me & My Friend, Burlington Little Theatre
* also nominated were William Walker (All My Sons) and Michael Hennessy (Beauty Queen of Leenane)

RICHARD HOWARD AWARD William Walker, Director of All My Sons, Borelians Community Theatre
* Albanese added "The award is given to a first time director who I feel from seeing his work shows tremendous promise and deserves to be encouraged to continue to build his skills and contribute them to the theatre scene in his community."

BEST COORDINATED PRODUCTION Homeward Bound, Domino Theatre

BEST ACTOR in a Leading Role Graham Clements and Peter Churey  for their roles of Bunny and Oz in Me & My Friend, Burlington Little Theatre
* also nominated were Peter Aston (Homeward Bound) and David Robinson & Dave McKay (All My Sons)

BEST ACTRESS in a Leading Role  Ruth Smith for her role as Kate Keller in All My Sons,
Borelians Community Theatre
* also nominated were Heather Bonham (Homeward Bound), Jennifer Kersley (Beauty Queen of Leenane) and Natasha Frid and Dia Frid (Me & My Friend)

BEST ACTOR in a Supporting Role  Harry Noble as George Deever in All My Sons,
Borelians Community Theatre
* also nominated were Michael Franic and Chuck Holgate  (Beauty Queen of Leenane)

BEST ACTRESS in a Supporting Role Mary Saindon as Sue Bayliss in All My Sons,
Borelians Community Theatre
* also nominated were Linda Murray (Homeward Bound) and Robin McKay (All My Sons)

BEST VISUAL PRESENTATION  The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Family Life Theatre
* also nominated Me & My Friend (Burlington Little Theatre) and All My Sons (Borelians Community Theatre)

BEST TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT   Production Staff of Me & My Friend, Burlington Little Theatre
* also nominated was the production staff of The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Family Life Theatre)

SPECIAL ADJUDICATOR AWARDS
a) TOM MACKAN - for Sound Design, Me & My Friend, Burlington Little Theatre
b) ANDREW OXENHAM - "For the wonderful set design evocative of innocence of small town America", All My Sons, Borelians Community Theatre
c) HEATHER BONHAM and PETER ASTON  - "For their wonderful work as a couple bringing humour, charm and intelligence to their respective roles" in Homeward Bound, Domino Theatre
d) JENNIFER KERSLEY- "For a chilling performance that gave us humour and pathos", The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Family Life Theatre
e) CHUCK HOLGATE - "For a charming and touching supporting performance that brought some light to an otherwise bleak emotional landscape" The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Family Life Theatre