NEPA Newsletter February 2006.pub

n e w s l e t t e r
WISH LIST
NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS
O F
Jesse Wente
Jed DeCory
Susan Crean
Rex Buckle
PRESIDENT
VICE-PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
James Cullingham and Naomi Powless
E R S O N N E L
Photography by Leon Aureus
P
n e w s l e t t e r
[ Billets for visiting artists from out of town
O R S
A HEARTFELT THANKS!
To the Creator, for the safe and healthy birth of beautiful Jackson
to parents Craig
Lauzon
& Tracy O’Connor
Congratulations!
Lauzon
Lauzon.
A shout out to the wonderful people at Nightswimming, Mammalian
Diving Reflex
To Sandra
and DvXT staff for lending us their nice, spacious room to use
for our recent reading
LeFrancois & David Yee for pitching extra in manpower
Volume 17, No. 3 - Winter, 2006
NATIVE EARTH
T AKES IT P ERSONAL
during Dreary & Izzy
h
D IRECT
2 0 0 5 - 2 0 0 6
O A R D
i
Toronto Arts Council for offering a grantwriting workshop to our Young
f
f
Voices playwrights
donors
to Turtle Gals The Scrubbing Project
Jani Lauzon, Monique Mojica, Michelle St
John, Michelle Latimer, Cheri MaracleCardinal, Craig Lauzon, Ryan Cunningham,
Cliff Cardinal, Sara Sinclair, Falen Johnson,
and Tara Beagan, directed by Kennedy
MacKinnon and Yvette Nolan with
choreography by Tamara Podemski.
r
All of the generous
i
B
Native Earth
t
Native Earth
a
n
Native Earth Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the
financial support of:
COMMUNITY LIAISON
Baagwating Community Association
The McLean Foundation
Erika A. Iserhoff (second from left)
WEBMASTER & DESIGNER
o
D
y
Nina Lee Aquino (far left)
n
Financial Supporters
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
b
THEATRE ADMINISTRATOR
Donna-Michelle St. Bernard (second from right)
h
p
a
BEST FRIENDS OF THE EARTH:
Carol J. Andrews, Naomi Campbell, Gary Farmer, Thomas A. Fekete,
Chris Johnson, Jonathan Kaplan, David Copelin & Diane Marshall, Dr.
Mary Jane Miller, Roger D. Moore, Robert & Janet Nunn, James & Louisa
O’Reilly, Frances Sanderson, Drew Hayden Taylor and Marjorie Trudeau.
The Death of a Chief, Native Earth’s adaptation of
Julius Caesar continues in development in February.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH:
Ida Abrams, James Cullingham, Victoria Freeman, Fides Krucker, Sheila
Linklater, Kenneth Lund, Grace B. Olds, Naomi Powless, Derek Quin,
Carol Rowntree, Syana Performing Arts, Susan Sinclair, Sharon Shorty,
Rose Stella, Kelly Thornton, Rosamond Vanderburgh, Marion de Vries,
Marianne & Alan Weston, Roberta Wraith and Hersh Zeifman.
55 MILL STREET
THE CASE GOODS BUILDING (#74), SUITE 300
TORONTO, ON M5A 3C4
TEL: 416.531.1402
FAX: 416.531.6377
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: WWW.NATIVEEARTH.CA
CHARITABLE REGISTRATION #
119052116RR0001
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NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS IS TRULY
THE
GRATEFUL FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
GEORGE CEDRIC METCALF CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. LIKE
MANY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR
MARKETING AND TO DISCOVER NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE SO THAT WE MAY INCREASE
OUR SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE FOUNDATION'S THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
PROGRAM HAS ALLOWED US TO CREATE A FULL-TIME MARKETING
COORDINATOR POSITION, NOW FILLED BY NINA AQUINO.
AND
Weesageechak audiences got a peek at the project in
September, which incorporates movement, song, dance
and personal stories into Shakespeare’s classic tale of
ambition, community, power and betrayal. The
February workshop will be the fourth week of work on
the adaptation, and culminates with a showing at the
Festival Of Original Theatre (FOOT) on
February 18th at 7:30 pm at the Robert Gill
Theatre at the University of Toronto, featuring
DEVELOPMENT
Volume 17, No. 3 - Winter,
2006
Volume 17, No. 2 - Winter,
2006
o
SUPPORTERS OF THE EARTH:
Rex Buckle, dd Kugler, Karen de Groot and Averie Wells.
t
Death Of A Chief
Lorne Cardinal, Daniel David Moses, Harold Tarbell and Jesse Wente.
o
PATRONS OF THE EARTH:
g
r
E M B E R S
y
National
Aboriginal
Achievement
Foundation
Lance Sero Court
M
G
To our favourite and most functional couchboy, Leon Aureus: a big, big
thank you for making our staff pictures sexier and funkier every single time!
h
Yvette Nolan (far right)
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MANAGING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Yvette Nolan’s play about the Mi’kmaq activist
who worked with the American Indian Movement in
the ‘70’s and who was murdered in 1975 is ten years
old this year, so she and dramaturg Sarah Stanley
have gone back into the script to see what difference
a decade makes. Two men are charged with her
death, and her profile is larger than ever… how will
these facts change the story? Come and see in the
workshop production at Factory Studio, March
3-5th, which features Michelle St John and Ryan
Cunningham, with design by Christine Plunkett
(set), Michelle Ramsay (lights) and Richard Lee
(sound).
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Native Earth
WELCOME ERIKA!
Well, since we were already
chock full of artists in the
office, we thought one more
couldn’t hurt - and what an
artist!
You have already
been introduced to our new
Community Liaison, Erika A.
Iserhoff through her stunning
costume design in Turtle
Gals The Scrubbing Project, as well as her work with Centre for
Indigenous Theatre, designing on such shows as Stolen, Wiora,
From Darkeness the Light is Heard, All My Relations and Dead
White Writer on the Floor. Now that they’ve broken her in for
us (thanks guys) we’re ready to work her to the bone. With
two children at home (2 year old Isaac & 11 year old Austin)
the hectic pace is nothing new, and Erika has dived right in,
taking charge of the Tales Tour and the Young Voices Program.
Originally from Cochrane, Ontario, she studied at George
Brown College and OCAD, and has worked in film, television
and theatre. It looks like the cosmos has paved the way for
her to excel in a position which focuses on community, youth
and education. Erika hopes to raise the public profile of First
Nations theatre, bring enriching performances to remote
communities and contribute to the telling of important stories.
NEPA MEMBER PROFILE:
DEREK QUIN
Now retired, Derek Quin has always
been key to the well-being of his
community first as a teacher, and then as
a Scarborough Public Library librarian for
twenty-five years. A former member of
the Canadian Alliance in Solidarity with
the Native Peoples, he continues to make
a vital contribution to the city through his
volunteer work for the AIDS Committee of
Toronto and the Parkinsons Society of Canada. Derek’s
artistic muse is sated by performing with a community choir
called the Annex Singers of Toronto. A Friend of the Earth,
Derek Quin has had his eye on us for quite some time – going
on ten years, in fact. After attending Thompson Highway’s Dry
Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing under Larry Lewis’ direction
at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, that play remains his favourite
Native Earth production. Derek is currently a fan of Darrell
Dennis’ work as well. Derek continues to support Native Earth
through a membership because he wants “to keep supporting
Aboriginal culture and see good theatre about Aboriginal
issues produced.”
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Native Earth
n e w s l e t t e r
DREAMY & EASY
n e w s l e t t e r
LAST CALL!
NATIVE EARTH PERFORMING ARTS
AND THE OAC THEATRE
CREATORS RESERVE PROGRAM
The premiere of Tara
Beagan’s Dreary and Izzy
was a smash hit at the box
office, with members of such
diverse community groups as
FAS World, Aboriginal Legal
Services of Toronto, Anishnabe Health, Brock University and Artists
Mentoring Youth in attendance. Camellia Koo’s inviting, homey
set combined with Lyon Smith’s music and Rebecca Picherak’s
lighting to draw one and all effectively into the world of the
Monaghan household. For three weeks, the talented cast (Sharon
Bakker, Ryan Cunningham, Lesley Faulkner and Michaela
Washburn) walked a tightrope between the story’s tragic and
comic moments – and emerged triumphant, receiving a warm
response from reviewers and audience alike,
causing more than a few damp eyes in the
house. NOW Magazine’s Jon Kaplan had
kudos for the Dora Award winning playwright,
recommending that audiences check out the
show “if you want to see how a gifted playwright
stages strong emotions.” A generous donation
by NEPA member Lorne Cardinal enabled us to
spread awareness about Foetal Alcohol
Syndrome Disorders by awarding copies of
Bonnie Buxton’s book, Damaged Angels to lucky draw winners.
TALES TOUR 06:
ALMOST READY FOR TAKE OFF
We are very busy organizing and fine tuning
the logistics around the Ontario tour of Tales
of an Urban Indian, which will be on the
road during April and May 2006 and
making stops in Brantford, Peterborough,
Kenora and Six Nations just for starters. We
would like to send out a special thank you to
the Ontario Arts Council for their funding
that will help subsidize the tour.
Darrell Dennis is currently performing Tales of An Urban Indian in
Thunder Bay, which is being showcased at the Magnus Theatre. If
you happen to be in the area it is a good opportunity to check out
a great show. It opened on January 27 with the final performance
February 11, 2006.
Volume 17, No. 3 - Winter,
2006
NAME DROPPING
This February Turtle Gals Performance Ensemble will
be in Brantford with The Scrubbing Project presented by the
Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, then at the University
of Guelph, the University of Waterloo and on the Six Nations
Reserve. Visit www.turtlegals.com
•
OAC’ s Theatre Creators’ Reserve program is a recommender
program that assists theatre creators in the development of new work.
Recommenders receive applications directly from theatre artists and
forward grant recommendations to officers for authorization and
payment by the OAC.
Native Earth is committed to the development of new work and
fostering meaningful relationships with creators within the theatre
community.
RR
. CA
Choreographer’s Workshop were rehearsing down the hall from
us at Dancemakers Studio and dropped by with dancer,
Sarain Carson. The performance at Toronto Dance Theatre
was a sold out show and word on the street is people were
being turned away at the door. So a big congratulations goes
out to Earth In Motion World Indigenous Dance Company and
to all of the choreographers, dancers and composers.
APPLICATION:
FEBRUARY 15TH 2005
YOUNG VOICES UPDATE
Volume 17, No. 3 - Winter,
2006
Santee Smith, who was also one of the choreographers for
•
the workshop stopped in to post audition notices for Kaha:wi
Dance Theatre. She is seeking female and male dancers for the
up-coming season of performances 2006/2007. Details at
www.santeesmithdance.com
•
In partnership with PEN Canada and the Toronto Public Library,
Diaspora Dialogues is excited to present the next installment of
their monthly reading and performance events February 8th,
15th and 22nd, as part of the Keep Toronto Reading festival.
Native Earth’s very own Yvette Nolan will be reading her
newest piece with Royal Canadian Air Farce’s Craig
More info at www.diasporadialogues.com.
We would also like to welcome Candace
Brunette to the Young Voices Program.
Candace is Cree-French Canadian originally
from Cochrane, Ontario.
She currently
works at First Nations House at University of
Toronto, where she is also a student.
We are always accepting applications for the
Young Voices Program, so… if you know a
young talented Native somebody who is, or
could be a writer, send them our way.
Penny Couchie, Julie Jamieson, Christine Friday
and Tamara Podemski from the 3rd annual Aboriginal
•
HUDEADLINE FOR
Amy White realizes that it is not the quantity
but the quality that really matters when it
comes to writing a good script. "Young
Voices is a necessary program. It will help
to unveil the next generation of writers for
Indigenous Theatre.
The support and
professional
resources
available
through YV’s has helped me to reach a level
I didn't even know was within me. Thankyou to Native Earth for your support."
has been in and about rehearsing down the
hall from us. She will have a piece in the Rhubarb Festival
called, Here, Boy! with direction by Patrick Beagan. The
play is featuring Herbie Barnes, David Yee, and Chris
Reynolds. It will be running between Feb15- Fe19 at 9:45pm,
Tallulah’s Cabaret. Madame Beagan is also working on a new
piece which will be presented in Nightwood Theatre’s
Groundswell Festival of New Works by Women.
So pull out those scripts from your bottom drawer, dust them off and
turn them in! For more information on the Native Earth’s criteria and
theatre creators’ reserve application procedures, go to:
W W W! . N A T I V E E A R T H
Y
Tara Beagan
•
•
Lauzon.
Muriel Miguel was in town working with the Centre For
Indigenous Theatre on a Story Weaving Workshop with CIT’s
2nd and 3rd year students, Melanie Blawin, Amy White,
and Jeff Legacy. Their production Miikaanang – On the
Road was showcased at St. Vladimir Institute January 27 & 28.
It was an entertaining performance…good show guys!
•
Michaela Washburn
is one busy talented actress. She has
been chosen as one of the hosts on the new CBC television
series, Hockeyville. For all of the hockey fanatic communities, if
you think that your town could qualify to be in this series, then
check out this website to enter: www.cbchockeyville.ca. If your
town wins, expect to take home the title of KraftHockeyville!
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