Theatre Erindale

Theatre Erindale marks 30th season with classics, contemporary Canadian productions

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:23:35 +0000

Theatre Erindale marks 30th season with classics, contemporary Canadian productions

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/14/2023 - 15:23

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Theatre Erindale recently wrapped "Five Faces of Evelyn Frost" by Guillaume Corbeil and has five more shows this season (supplied image)

Kate Martin

Topic

Our Community

Theatre Erindale

U of T Mississauga

On opening night of their most recent production – Five Faces of Evelyn Frost – Theatre Erindale projected a QR code on the side of nearby Deerfield Hall to point to more information about upcoming performances.

“It was fascinating to see people scan the code, then turn around in surprise and see the Erindale Studio Theatre,” says Mike Slater, operations manager at Theatre Erindale, the production company of the theatre and drama studies program offered by the ��Ƶ Mississauga in partnership with Sheridan College. “It’s amazing how many people ask ‘Is there a theatre on campus? Can I see a show? Is it open to everyone?’”

The answer to all three, says Slater, is yes – and that has been the case for three decades.

Now in its 30th season, Theatre Erindale features performances by TDS students, who earn an advanced two-year conservatory diploma in professional actor training from Sheridan concurrently with a four-year specialist degree in performance history, theory, dramatic literature and dramaturgy from U of T Mississauga.

“It’s six years of study in four years,” says Meredith Scott, program coordinator and herself a graduate of the program.

Each TDS student works on at least two shows per year, all without missing any classes.

“It is a challenge to fit in rehearsals, which are Monday to Thursday evenings and all day Saturday, because we can’t take them out of their daytime classes,” says Slater, noting that rehearsals have to be scheduled around the school calendar.

Theatre Erindale’s ongoing season includes works by William Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf, as well as two contemporary Canadian productions: Five Faces of Evelyn Frost by Quebecois playwright Guillaume Corbeil – which was wrapped up earlier this month – and Cockfight, a comedy by Toronto-based, Dora Award-winning playwright Kat Sandler, scheduled for February and March.

It’s a genre the TDS program likes to emphasize for both artistic and practical reasons.

“This is the industry the students are going to go out into,” says Scott. “Many of them may end up being part of these new works.”

Contemporary Canadian productions keep the local industry strong, says Holger Syme, TDS’s director of theatre, drama and performance studies.

“New Canadian work is the focus of government funding in Canada, which is why there is so much of it,” says Syme. “Because of that support, even places like Stratford and Shaw – that ostensibly focus on playwrights from the U.K. – now regularly feature contemporary Canadian plays.

“We’d be doing our students a disservice if we didn’t expose them to that work.”

Another bonus of contemporary Canadian productions is access to the creators, says Syme. That’s the case with Cockfight, which Theatre Erindale adapted with Sandler’s assistance to better align with the gender balance of the class.

“As written, it is a play with a lot of masculinity, and that’s not how we will be casting it,” says Syme. “But the author, probably the most successful local director of her generation, was very excited about the idea of restaging and worked with us to rethink the play.”

Slater says this graduating class is especially appreciative of being in front of live audiences after beginning their studies during COVID-19 lockdowns, when shows were created and performed online.

“You miss that reaction” with an online audience, he notes. “You know where the jokes are, but when the audience isn’t there, you don’t know if it lands the same. You just have to hope they are laughing at home,” says Slater. “The cast really feels it when they don’t have live audience feedback.”

Syme noted the lockdown created many other challenges for theatre students. “All the productions were happening from home,” he says. “The theatre staff also had to learn a lot of new skills – video-editing and trying to make live streams from 12 different homes, or on a three-camera setup – so they developed new instincts for that as well.”

Scott says they considered this hybrid path when choosing works for this cohort’s final year that would round out the students’ education.

“There was a lot of conversations about choosing shows that challenged their theatrical training and used the muscles for live performance, physical and vocal dexterity that maybe they didn’t get to practice as much in first and second year,” she says.

The TDS program’s third-year students are working on two productions: The Devised Project 2024, in which they create a show from scratch under a guest director; and this year’s classic project, Julius Caesar, which they must condense into a 90-minute stage show.

“It’s about embracing flexibility by changing classical text to create not a brand-new version, but one that takes advantage of what you can do with an old text – which is whatever you wish, because you don’t need the same permissions and co-operations that you need from a living playwright,” says Scott. “It allows students to explore a lot more possibilities in the script.”

The third-years have been split into two casts of 12 for the production, meaning two edits.

“What’s exciting is that audiences will see how different it can become in the hands of two different sets of artists,” says Syme. “Even classics can yield wildly distinct performances. It gives it an air of unpredictability, which makes such exciting theatre.”

Here are the five remaining shows in Theatre Erindale’s 2023-2024 season:

Julius Caesar – Shakespeare’s Roman Tragedy, with two texts performed by two casts, guided by two different directors (on now until Nov. 18)
Orlando – Virginia Woolf’s tale of an Elizabethan nobleman who wakes one day as a woman and then traverses centuries without aging (Nov. 23-Dec. 2)
The Devised Project 2024 – an original work created by third-year TDS students under the guidance of an established director (Feb. 8-10, 2024)
Cockfight – Dora-Award-winning playwright Kat Sandler’s heartfelt comedy about three foster kids growing up into a complicated family of their own making (Feb. 15-March 2, 2024)
As You Like It – Shakespeare’s comedy about a duke who turns his woodland exile into a commune full of people in love with the wrong people (March 21-30, 2024)

'Tis the season to study, reflect and share a meal with family and friends: Check out these December events

tomyun — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:52:24 +0000

'Tis the season to study, reflect and share a meal with family and friends: Check out these December events

tomyun Mon, 12/02/2019 - 13:52

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The semester is almost done, but there's still plenty to do on campus this month (photo by Laura Pedersen)

Tom Yun

Topic

Our Community

Centre for Drama

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Hart House

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

December is here, which means the holidays are right around the corner. Get into the festive spirit with an array of holiday-themed events taking place on all three campuses.

December also means it's exam season at the ��Ƶ. Fortunately, there are plenty of events to help you de-stress and do your best.

Here are some events to check out this month:

Dec. 2

From Dec. 2 to 19, the U of T Students’ Union will be offering free snacks and stress-relief kits for your late-night study sessions. UTSU’s Got You service is taking place at various buildings across the downtown campus, starting with the Dentistry Building on Dec. 2.

Ahead of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, several memorial events are taking place at U of T Mississauga in honour of the 14 women who lost their lives three decades ago at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. A smudging ceremony is taking place at the Student Centre board room followed by a vigil outside and hot drinks and desserts at the Communication Culture & Technology Building’s atrium.

Dec. 3

Get into the holiday spirit at Robarts Library Holiday Market. You’ll find a wide array of U of T merchandise perfect for stocking stuffers, as well as free holiday treats.

Renowned Canadian film director Director X, who has directed music videos for artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Rihanna, will be joining several hip-hop artists and activists for Humanz of Hip Hop, a “human library” of hip hop knowledge taking place at Hart House.

If you haven’t already, bring your TCard and get your flu shot on campus. Vaccinations will be available from at Robarts Library and St Michael’s College on Dec. 3 and 4, respectively.

Dec. 4

Victoria College’s student newspaper, the Strand, is celebrating the launch of its magazine at the Goldring Student Centre. The theme of the magazine is “Space” and there will be free snacks courtesy of Caffiends.

A holiday buffet featuring herb-roasted turkey and stuffed acorn squash is taking place at U of T Scarborough’s Miller Lash House. Tickets are $42 for seniors and students and $45 for everyone else.

Dec. 5

Exam Jam is taking place all day at U of T Mississauga. Instructors will be hosting review sessions alongside therapy dogs, crafts, board games and more.

U of T Student Life is hosting a winter social at the Sussex Clubhouse. Decorate gingerbread cookies, meet new people and learn about the various clubs housed at 21 Sussex.

Santa Claus is coming to town! The U of T Mississauga’s Communication Culture & Technology Building atrium will be turned into Santa’s workshop in support of the United Way. U of T Mississauga principal Ulrich Krull and dean of student affairs Mark Overton will both be dressed as Santa. There will also be a re-gift shop where you can donate or purchase new or lightly used gifts.

See the critically acclaimed animated film Spirited Away with the Students of English Literature and Film (SELF) as part of their fall film screenings at U of T Scarborough. Free pizza will be served. On Dec. 6, SELF will also be screening Crazy Rich Asians.

Dec. 6

The U of T community will come together for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to mark the 30^th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre. The Office of Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre will be holding a memorial event at Hart House at noon. In addition, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering will join 13 other engineering schools across Canada and shine a light into the sky in solidarity. This will be part of a at 5 p.m. ceremony taking place on Front Campus in front of Convocation Hall. Later in the evening, an outdoor vigil will be held at Philosopher’s Walk. There will be speakers, musicians and a ceremonial laying of the roses.

A memorial event will also take place at U of T Scarborough, where members of the campus community will have an opportunity to have conversation on gender-based issues.

Seek some stress relief along with academic review sessions at U of T Exam Jam at Sidney Smith Hall. There will be snacks, massages, button making, a therapy dog and a photo booth.

Dec. 7

Celebrate Christmas in the Valley. Over 30 artisan vendors will be selling handmade crafts and transforming U of T Scarborough’s Miller Lash House into a holiday market.

Dec. 8

Students from the Centre for Drama, Theatre & Performance Studies will be performing Eurydice at the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse. This modern re-imagining of the ancient myth of Orpheus will be told from the perspective of Orpheus’s wife, Eurydice. Tickets are free and the show runs from Dec. 6 to 8.

Dec. 11

Hit the ice at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s Winter Wonderland and Community Skate at Varsity Stadium. Free helmet and skate rentals are available, although supplies are limited. There will also be off-ice activities, dancing and treats. Registration is required.

Dec. 12

If you need a break from studying for your exams, check out the Beck Festival at U of T Mississauga’s Theatre Erindale. The festival will feature a variety of one-act plays curated and produced by students. The show runs from Dec. 12 to 14 at the MiST Theatre.

Join U of T Mississauga’s Centre for Student Engagement for Giizhiitaa, an Indigenous Spirit Journey Celebration. The event is taking place at Maanjiwe Nendamowinan and will feature smudging, drumming, a multimedia showcase and a light lunch.

Dec. 16

Kick off the festive season with a feast at Hart House's Gallery Grill, which runs until Dec. 20. Choose from a menu including Arctic char, crispy kabocha squash rice cakes, cassoulet and more. Just remember to save room for dessert. You don't want to miss out on the warm chocolate olive oil cake with brandy butter ice cream. Reserve a spot soon before the dates sell out.

Dec. 23

The university is closed for the winter break through Jan. 3. Happy holidays!

On giving thanks and casting ballots: Check out these October events at U of T

noreen.rasbach — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 04:00:00 +0000

On giving thanks and casting ballots: Check out these October events at U of T

noreen.rasbach Tue, 10/01/2019 - 00:00

Cutline

(photo by Ken Jones)

Tom Yun

Topic

City & Culture

Family Care Centre

Artificial Intelligence

Rotman School of Management

St. Michael's College

Fall has arrived and the ��Ƶ continues to be packed with interesting and exciting events, ranging from talks by insightful speakers to art installations.

The federal election takes place on Oct. 21 and there will be debates happening on all three campuses to help you make an informed decision.

Here’s a selection of some of the events that will be happening on campus this month:

Oct.1

The federal election campaign is in full swing, and the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union is hosting a debate featuring the local candidates for the riding of Scarborough-Rouge Park.

Can machines learn from our mistakes? U of T’s Marzyeh Ghassemi will lecture at the Centre for Ethics, addressing artificial intelligence and its applications in health care.

Oct. 2

Candidates for the riding of Mississauga-Erin Mills will gather for a debate at U of T Mississauga’s Maanjiwe Nendamowinan Building.

Nobel Laureate John Polanyi will be speaking at the George Ignatieff Theatre about what Canada can do to prevent nuclear war. His talk will also be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Join U of T Mississauga’s Equity and Diversity Office for Anti-“O” Convos that will explore topics in current events from an anti-oppressive lens. The first one will look into civic action and engagement.

Oct. 3

Candidates for University-Rosedale will be at the Medical Sciences Building for a debate hosted by the U of T Students’ Union.

CNN journalist Daniel Dale, known for his fact-checking of U.S. President Donald Trump, will delivering the 2019 Snider Lecture at U of T Mississauga. His talk will be livestreamed online.

ARTSIDEOUT is a multidisciplinary art festival at U of T Scarborough bringing art installations and live performances as well as an art market featuring local artists selling their work.

U of T's Mark V. Campbell will be moderating a discussion on how art can connect across geography and cultures as a part of the Nuit Talks series, featuring Nuit Blanche artists.

Oct. 4

Every Friday, the Cinema Studies Student Union screens free films at Innis Town Hall and the films in October have a distinctly scary feel, starting with Jennifer’s Body.

Need to tune up your bike? Regenesis at U of T Scarborough is holding a free bike repair clinic on Oct. 4 and 11 at the U of T Scarborough Student Centre.

Oct. 5

Nuit Blanche is back for its 14^thyear and hundreds of artists will transform the streets of downtown Toronto and Scarborough with art installations from sunset to sunrise. Reza Nik of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design is one of the many artists involved - his installation, Project GUNK will look at Toronto’s role in making Canada one of the world’s largest producers of garbage.

From Oct. 5 to 9, students can vote on campus. Elections Canada will have polling stations open at Hart House Reading Room from Oct. 5 to 8 and at the U of T Mississauga Student Centre until Oct. 9. Even if you live away from home, you’ll be able to send your vote to your home riding if you vote on campus.

The U of T Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the MacMillan Theatre. The performance will include works such as Colgrass’s As Quiet as and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.

Participants get ready for the 2017 CIBC Run for the Cure on the St. George campus

Oct. 6

Run or walk to take on cancer at the CIBC Run for the Cure. The run will start at King’s College Circle, with the route going through the St. George campus. A run in Mississauga will also take place around the U of T Mississauga campus.

U of T Scarborough students are organizing a group bike ride around campus. It’s taking place outside the Management Wing and is open to all riders.

Oct. 7

Acclaimed Indian novelist Amitav Ghosh will be speaking at U of T Scarborough. His talk will be taking place in the Ralph Campbell Lounge. Refreshments will be served.

Oct. 8

Every Tuesday at noon, U of T Mississauga staff and faculty host wellness walks. See the fall colours around campus and chat about biology with Nagham Abdalahad on Oct. 8.

Oct. 9

Photographer Jalani Morgan will be giving a talk at U of T Scarborough as a part of the department of arts, culture and media’s visiting artist lecture series. His exhibition, 9 Bats, will be on display at U of T Scarborough’s Doris McCarthy Gallery until Nov. 30.

Oct. 10

Celebrate Thanksgiving on campus. Hart House is teaming up with the Centre for International Experience and First Nations House at U of T to offer a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

U of T’s department of Spanish and Portuguese is teaming up with the Embassy of Spain in Ottawa for the 2019 Spanish Film Festival. Every Thursday from Oct. 10 to 31, a selection of recent films from Spain will be screened at Northrop Frye Hall.

Join Gary Geddes, who is considered one of Canada’s most distinguished poets, for a reading at U of T Scarborough, hosted by its department of English and the League of Canadian Poets.

Oct. 11

Advance polling stations for the federal elections are open from Oct. 11 to 14. Check your voter information card to find your advance polling station once it arrives in the mail after Oct. 2.

Oct. 16

U of T’s Family Care Office will be holding a workshop dispelling the myths of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Join authors Karen Connelly and Tanya Tagaq for a discussion on the value of literature and their creative process. They’ll be speaking at the Isabel Bader Theatre as part of Literature Matters, the Avie Bennett Chair in Canadian Literature annual lecture series.

Oct. 17

The fall book sale at University College

The University College fall book sale is back and will run from Oct. 17 to 20. Admission will be $5 on Oct. 17 and free on the other day. Students who show their T-Card can also enjoy free admission on the first day.

Oct. 21

It’s Election Day! Polls will be open for 12 hours across the country as Canadians determine who will lead the next federal government.

Oct. 22

Brampton-based rapper Noyz will be facilitating a workshop at U of T Mississauga as part of Hart House’s Hip Hop 101 Café series.

Oct. 23

The John M. Kelly Library at St. Michael’s College is celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Join author and St. Mike’s alumnus Anthony De Sa, who will discuss his new book, The Need to Look Back. A reception and the opening of an exhibit highlighting the library’s history will follow.

Oct. 24

Thousands of donated books will be on sale at the 44^th annual Trinity College Book Sale, which will take place at Seeley Hall to Oct. 28. Admission is $5 on Oct. 25 and free the following three days.

Theatre Erindale will be having its opening night for The Glove Thief at U of T Mississauga’s Erindale Studio Theatre. The performance runs from Oct. 24 to 27 and Nov. 1 to 3.

Oct. 25

Join U of T Veg Club and the U of T Students’ Union for a free vegan breakfast at the Multi-Faith Centre.

Oct. 29

Dr. Jen Gunter, a bestselling author known for busting myths and falsehoods about women’s health, will be speaking at the Rotman School of Management about how to combat pseudo-scientific claims made by wellness companies. She will be joined by Sarah Kaplan, director of the Institute for Gender and the Economy at Rotman.

Oct. 30

Hart House and the U of T Mississauga Indigenous Centre are bringing the Hip Hop 101 Café series to Mississauga. Saskatchewan-based Indigenous rapper Drezus will be leading a conversation at the Davis Building on how hip hop is being used by Indigenous artists to challenge settler colonialism. Drezus will also be leading a Hip Hop 101 Café at Hart House on Oct. 31

As part of the Toronto International Festival of Authors, authors Maureen Jennings and Helena Janeczek will be reading from, and talking about, their new books, Heat Wave and The Girl with the Leica, respectively, at U of T Scarborough’s Ralph Campbell Lounge. The talk will be moderated by poet Daniel Scott Tysdal, an associate professor in the department of English.

Oct. 31

There will be free hot chocolate and free skate rentals at the Varsity Centre for MoveU’s Scary Skate. The event is free for U of T students and $5 for everyone else. Bring your costumes.

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate

noreen.rasbach — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 04:00:00 +0000

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate noreen.rasbach Mon, 09/09/2019 - 00:00

Isabel Armiento

Topic

City & Culture

Back To School 2019

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Graduate Students

Hart House

Hart House Theatre

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Theatre Erindale

Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre

U of T Libraries

U of T Mississauga

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

University College

Varsity Blues

Victoria College

The ��Ƶ is a large community, so it can be easy to let exciting opportunities pass you by while here. Whether you’re new to U of T or getting ready to graduate, try these 23 tips for a fun-filled university experience – or use them as inspiration to create a bucket list of your own.

(photo by Ken Jones)

1. Join the ranks of students who #BleedBlue and cheer on the Varsity Blues at a sports game. With 44 Varsity teams competing in 26 sports, there’s something for every sports fan.

2. Audition for a campus play. While it may sound intimidating, theatre troupes such as the Victoria College Drama Society, UTM Drama Club, UTSC Drama Society and many others welcome total beginners. For all you wannabe thespians, this may be your chance to score a callback – and maybe even land a role.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Scarborough)

3. Check out the daily specials at Nasir’s Gourmet Hot Dog stand. Boasting low prices and rave reviews, this U of T Scarborough establishment is a student staple.

4. Treat yourself by taking an elective that’s purely for fun. Choose a course that’ll actually get you excited about homework. Some examples: If you’re obsessed with fantasy then pore over The Lord of the Rings in Tolkien's Middle Ages (U of T Scarborough), or if you’d prefer to spend an evening watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, then Queer Popular Culture (St. George campus) might be for you.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Scarborough)

5. Visit the Farmers' Market at U of T Scarborough to buy fresh, locally sourced jams, honey, veggies, meats and more and debunk the myth that U of T students subsist entirely on food truck fries.

6. Take academics to new heights by studying for finals in a suspended pod at the Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building – or to new depths by taking your books to the Library Mindfulness Space at U of T Scarborough.

(photo by David Lee)

7. Get an authentic tri-campus experience by riding the UTM Shuttle (which is free for all U of T Mississauga students).

8. Attend a campus formal. Even if dances aren’t your thing, think of it as a rare opportunity to shed your sweatpants-and-a-T-shirt student aesthetic in favour of something chic.

Theatre Erindale is the production company of the theatre and drama studies program at U of T Mississauga (photo by Paul Orenstein)

9. Watch a show at a campus theatre, such as Hart House Theatre at the St. George campus or Theatre Erindale at U of T Mississauga. Tickets are often discounted for students – bonus points if you score free tickets by writing a review for a campus newspaper. Plays range from Shakespearean tragedies like Portia’s Julius Caesar to cult classics like The Rocky Horror Show, both featured in Hart House’s upcoming 2019/2020 season.

10. Visit Diabolos’ Coffee Bar at the University College Junior Common Room to grab a coffee – or, for that matter, lunch. With selections ranging from Nutella lattes to butter chicken, this café will satisfy any midday craving you might have.

U of T Service of Remembrance at the foot of the Soldiers’ Tower (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

11. Attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Soldiers' Tower for a moving recitation of U of T alumnus John McCrae’s iconic poem In Flanders Fields. Remembrance Day services are held on all three campuses.

U of T Scarborough students play a game of quidditch (photo by Ken Jones)

12. Compete in the Canadian Quidditch League (yes, they use actual brooms) by joining one of U of T’s quidditch teams.

13. Listen to a carillon concert in Hart House Circle. There are 51 bells making up the carillon, and they range in weight from 23 pounds to four tons.

The Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre at U of T Scarborough (photo by Ken Jones)

14. Take a gorgeous dip in Hart House’s pool. With its columns, vaulted ceilings and skylight, you’ll feel like you’re in Rome. Alternatively, pretend you’re a world-class athlete and go for a swim in one of the Olympic-size pools at U of T Scarborough’s Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.

15. Attend a campus trivia night – after all, university students like nothing better than proving how smart they are. Impress your professors at a faculty trivia night or join a trivia club like the one at U of T Scarborough for a longer-term commitment.

(Photo courtesy of U of T Student Life)

16. Train with a niche intramural sports team (or start your own) – there are a variety of options to choose from, ranging from ultimate Frisbee to cricket.

17. Experience outer space without leaving campus with AstroTours. Offered by the department of astronomy and astrophysics, each tour includes star-gazing through the McLennan Physical Laboratories’ telescopes, as well as a trip to U of T’s planetarium.

18. Venture beyond Robarts and study at least once in each of U of T’s more than 40 libraries. Hot tip: It is often easier to get the latest bestseller at U of T Libraries than it is to wait months on hold at the Toronto Public Library.

(photo by Paul Orenstein)

19. Experience U of T’s natural beauty. Plan a picnic at one of U of T’s scenic quads or a hike through a U of T Mississauga or U of T Scarborough trail. You might even encounter the local wildlife – it’s seemingly impossible to avoid spotting a deer on a walk through U of T Mississauga.

20. Hang out with a prof during an Engaging Faculty Event at U of T Mississauga. These events offer students the perfect opportunity to get to know campus faculty and staff, whether it’s through a scenic nature walk across campus trails or a quirky The Office-themed murder mystery.

(photo by Laura Pedersen)

21. Wander through Philosopher’s Walk and have a deep philosophical debate. Or an existential crisis. Or an ethical dilemma. Or an afternoon nap.

22. There's a lot to do at Hart House, but here's a practical suggestion: Think about getting a haircut there.

23. Write for a campus newspaper or magazine. Join the ranks of U of T’s journalistic goliaths like The Varsity (tri-campus) or The Medium (U of T Mississauga) – or if you’re feeling creative, try a literary journal such as The Spectatorial or a satire paper like The Boundary.

As seen on TV: U of T grad is changing the channel on representation in film and television

Romi Levine — Wed, 29 May 2019 16:27:51 +0000

As seen on TV: U of T grad is changing the channel on representation in film and television

Romi Levine Wed, 05/29/2019 - 12:27

Cutline

George Alevizos has already appeared in Star Trek and TV commercials, and hopes to one day star in an action film like James Bond (photo by Nick Iwanyshyn)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

A year ago, George Alevizos received his first fan letter.

“I never thought it would happen at the age of 21,” said Alevizos, who will graduate from the ��Ƶ in June with a degree in theatre and drama studies – a joint program between U of T Mississauga and Sheridan College.

The fan who wrote the letter had seen Alevizos on Star Trek: Discovery, the latest iteration of the long-running sci-fi television series. Though he doesn’t have any speaking parts, Alevizos’s appearances as a uniformed Starfleet engineer stood out to him – and to many other viewers.

On the show – and in real life – Alevizos uses a wheelchair.

For those who caught him on camera, Alevizos’s Star Trek role was proof that the worlds of television and film are changing. One woman – who identified herself as quadriplegic – tweeted that she hoped Alevizos’s role would be expanded, adding: “Representation matters so much to people like me.”

“I think it's really important to see yourself being represented properly on screen or in theatre,” says Alevizos.

And that’s what he is setting out to do, armed with some serious acting chops, a passion for his craft and determination to break down barriers in the entertainment industry.

Alevizos’s love of acting began in elementary school. In the sixth grade, he played Oliver Warbucks in the musical Annie – his first-ever theatre performance.

By the time he reached Grade 12, Alevizos had decided to make his pastime a career.

“If I want to do something that makes me happy, I'm going to go for it,” he says.

Alevizos auditioned for post-secondary theatre programs, including U of T’s and Sheridan’s theatre and drama studies. He was drawn to the joint aspect of the program because it combines intellectual study with hands-on training.

“I thought this would be the perfect program for me. The best arts school in the country and best university in the country – it's a really high-powered program,” he says.

Alevizos made an impression at his audition and got accepted along with 19 other students.

Spending four years in a class of 20 is both intense and rewarding, according Alevizos. The key to maintaining those relationships, on and off stage, is trust, he says.

“Especially with acting, you have to be able to trust people because we're doing a lot of very intimate and very vulnerable work.”

Alevizos and his classmates learned about every aspect of theatre and drama – from being a part of the production crew to how to file taxes as an actor.

And, of course, central to the program is performance.

In his final year, Alevizos performed in two Theatre Erindale productions: Mary Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses, in which he played Apollo’s son Phaeton and Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters, in which he played Chebutykin.

For Metamorphoses, actors performed in a makeshift heated swimming pool on stage.

“The physicality of the work was tiring for a lot of people, including me because I was pulling myself everywhere. I didn't have a wheelchair or anything,” says Alevizos.

Despite the challenges, he says, it was “the coolest production I've ever done.”

Alevizos performing in Three Sisters at Theatre Erindale (photo by Emma Ratcliffe)

For Alevizos, acting is an exercise in empathy.

“Putting yourself into another person's world – that's probably the most exciting thing about acting,” he says. “In a world where people, especially men, are scared of being vulnerable, I think it's really interesting when you're not scared of that and you can dive right into it.”

At U of T, Alevizos’s ability to connect with the characters he plays didn’t go unnoticed.

“George is a wonderful example of the kinds of actors we want to graduate,” says Jacob Gallagher-Ross, an assistant professor of English and drama at U of T Mississauga “He's tremendously talented and he has great range. But he's also a very curious and intelligent student of theatre and is as interested in the academic side as he is in the artistic side.”

Even before his recurring role on Star Trek, Alevizos found success on the small screen, starring in an ad for Hallmark’s Care Enough campaign, in which he plays a concert-goer who, with the help of strangers, crowd-surfs in his wheelchair at a show.

The role was the first Alevizos had ever auditioned for.

“That really helped me get more confident in my ability to act on camera.”

Now that he’s completed his studies, Alevizos is getting used to a change of pace. But with a new commercial airing soon, and other projects on the go, he’s keeping up the momentum.

Alevizos is currently partnering with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) to improve accessibility in the entertainment industry. He’ll soon be participating in an accessibility audit alongside Theresa Tova, ACTRA’s Toronto President, and David Sparrow, the union’s national president.

“I want to be involved in the initiatives they have with the casting houses in Toronto and on the lack of accessibility there is in Toronto in general for actors,” says Alevizos. “It's really important to work together as a team to make sure we can build a more accessible and welcoming environment.”

Tova says she is impressed by Alevizos’s talent and enthusiasm.

“What an amazing spirit this young man has,” she says. “He’s intelligent, he’s inspiring.”

While the entertainment industry has made great strides, “there is always more to do,” she says. “I don’t want to do this work without his point of view.”

Changing casting practices is at the root of making a more equitable and inclusive industry, says Gallagher-Ross.

“The first bad argument that a casting agent will make is to say they can't make a more interesting and more inclusive acting choice because performers aren't available. They'll say, ‘We would love to do this, but there's a pipeline problem.’”

Gallagher-Ross says the U of T-Sheridan program can play an important role in addressing the issue.

“The best thing we can do running a training program is to make sure we are ready to receive talented actors like George, and that we can give them the best experience possible,” he says. “He's been a path-breaking member of our program in that way.”

For Alevizos, representation isn’t just casting actors in roles centred on their disability.

“It should be more like, 'Yeah I'm in a wheelchair, but I fall in love or I'm an assassin. I can be anything that I want.’ That should be the magic of movies,” he says.

“What a lot of people are still having trouble with is understanding that, the more out of the canon you go – building a new canon – the more people are willing to watch it because they're seeing themselves represented.”

Alevizos says he would love to be in an action film one day.

“I've done a lot of stage combat and I'm very strong and can move around quickly,” he says.

His dream role?

Bond. James Bond.

“I think it would be pretty cool,” he says. “You can make gadgets on the chair. You just have to be creative about it.”

As Alevizos prepares for convocation, he shares some advice for young people pursuing an acting career.

“Go out there and make your own opportunities. Be proud and confident in your ability, knock down those doors and go in there and show who you are.”

From smart cities to Indigenous culture and classical music: Check out these January events

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 17:41:17 +0000

From smart cities to Indigenous culture and classical music: Check out these January events

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 01/07/2019 - 12:41

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(photo by Laura Pedersen)

Angela Gu

Topic

City & Culture

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Alumni

Artificial Intelligence

Centre for Ethics

Centre for Indigenous Studies

John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture

Rotman School of Management

Welcome back! The start of a new year naturally invites discussions about the future – and, at the ��Ƶ, the subjects range from technology to medicine to the city.

Here are some of the events happening in and around U of T in January:

Jan. 8

“Why Smart Cities are maybe so 2017” is the name of a discussion at U of T’s Transportation Research Institute. As Sidewalk Labs' Quayside development in Toronto gains international attention, key urban theorists discuss what the project involving the Google sister company means for innovation in urban mobility and for social relations in the city.

The integration of artificial intelligence into medical practice and diagnostics is on the agenda at this talk at the Centre for Ethics, with Sunit Das, Vinyas Harish and Felipe Morgado of U of T's Faculty of Medicine.

Jan. 9

Indigenous Elder Wendy Phillips welcomes those who want to explore Indigenous knowledge systems, culture, healing and teachings at the January Indigenous Learning Circle. This evening of community building, food and song takes place at U of T Scarborough.

Jan. 16

Watch teams of emerging classical music composers and performers compete at songSLAM, which premieres new music and has composers compete for cash prizes. Teams present a new song for voice and piano in any language while the audience votes for the winners. Presented by Women on the Verge in partnership with U of T Voice Studies and the U of T New Music Festival.

Data security and public policy are the topics of this talk by John Chen, BlackBerry's CEO and executive chairman, in conversation with McKinsey & Co.'s John Kelleher, who is also a senior fellow at U of T's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at U of T. This event is co-hosted by the Munk School and Rotman School of Management.

Jan. 18

Hear about the contemporary rhetorics, pre-histories and politics of the smart city phenomenon at the Urban IQ Test Symposium. The keynote panel is Jan. 18, followed by symposium panels the next day – all part of the Home and Away lecture series at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design.

Jan. 20

Enjoy a break from the city with a day of food and fun up at Hart House Farm. Learn the art of pie-making and enjoy the property’s facilities, including trails, ponds and a wood-fired sauna.

Jan. 23

Dress in your most colourful outfit and come to the annual Rainbow Tie Gala, where U of T Scarborough celebrates its vibrant community of LGBTQIA2S+ and supporters. The night of performances, guest speakers, activities, food, drinks, and dancing is open to all, no RSVP required.

Hear about the ethics of regulating fake news and freedom of expression at this talk by Étienne Brown, a visiting postdoctoral fellow at U of T’s Centre for Ethics.

Jan. 24

Mindfest is a free mental health and wellness fair on U of T's downtown campus that is open to the public. Aiming to increase awareness of mental health and mental illness, as well as providing resources and services, the fair includes fun workshops, informative exhibits and inspiring speakers like Tony George, a U of T professor of psychiatry who will be talking about cannabis legalization and psychiatric disorders.

See some ghostly hijinks on stage at the revenge-filled comedy, Blithe Spirit, opening today and running until Feb. 3 at U of T Mississauga’s Theatre Erindale.

Jan. 25

Taste what Toronto has to offer at Winterlicious, running from Jan. 25 to Feb. 7. Gallery Grill at Hart House is among the participating restaurants, offering their three-course prix fixe menu that serves up dishes with local ingredients.

Jan. 26

Students and recent graduates are invited to attend the annual Next Steps conference, a day of career exploration panels and networking opportunities on the downtown campus. With industry panels and discussions on internships, PhD pathways and more, kick-start the rest of your life.

Jan. 30

“We All Belong: Creating Spaces for Dialogue & Change in Health Care” is the name of a conference at U of T’s Faculty of Medicine. The focus is on the roles of diversity and inclusion in health care, with a keynote presentation by U of T alumna Nanky Rai. ASL interpretation is provided.

Theatre Erindale

sgupta — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:13 +0000

Theatre Erindale sgupta Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47

URL

https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/english-drama/theatre-and-drama-utm/theatre-erindale

Silver Season: theatre and drama program celebrates 25th anniversary

sgupta — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 11:02:25 +0000

Silver Season: theatre and drama program celebrates 25th anniversary sgupta Mon, 11/09/2015 - 06:02

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(all photos courtesy Theatre Erindale)

Blake Eligh

Author legacy

Blake Eligh

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Time for U of T Mississauga and Sheridan College to take a bow

It's a program unique in Canada – combining the intensive professional training of an acting school with the academic preparation of an honours-level drama degree.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the theatre and drama studies program that's operated jointly by the ��Ƶ Mississauga and Sheridan College. And celebrations include a Silver Season that mixes revivals and new productions.

“Our students are extremely academically adept, and they are also good actors,” says Professor Holger Syme,chair of the English and drama department at UTM. “That unique combination means that people coming out of this program often end up with more creative control, writing plays or directing, in addition to acting.”

The program was founded by then-principal Desmond Morton, with support from Roger and Janet Beck, who have endowed the Beck Awards to recognize student achievement.

As the program has evolved, so have the company and space it supports. Theatre Erindale, launched in 1993, gives third-year and fourth-year students the opportunity to put their studies into practice to produce an annual season of live theatre.

Patrick Young, program coordinator and artistic director of Theatre Erindale, who has been with the company since the beginning, remembers when rehearsals took place in a concrete room, formerly used for locksmithing, in the basement of the North Building. “My office was an actual broom closet that I shared with the stage managers,” he recalls with a laugh.

What was previously a garage has become the Erindale Studio Theatre, a well-equipped facility that seats about 90. “It’s small, which makes it ideal to create a sense of intimacy,” says theatre and drama studies director and Theatre Erindale executive producer Nancy Copeland.

The opening last year of Deerfield Hall added four rehearsal spaces with dance floors, improved acoustics and enough space for large-cast productions.

“These new spaces have fostered and strengthened the opportunities for students to experiment and take risks,” Syme says.

The Silver Season playbill includes The Farm Show and the Shakespearean romance Pericles, Prince of Tyre, both revivals from the first season. How to Make Love In A Canoe, a contemporary Canadian work, is a premiere. Other productions are Uncommon Women and Others, The Comedy of Errors and The Seagull.

“The collaboration between U of T Mississauga and Sheridan makes it work,” Syme says. “Sheridan’s forte is training, while we focus on the historical and theoretical side. From rehearsals to studying texts to learning technical elements, a production here unfolds as it would at any major theatre in Canada.”

James W. Smagata was recognized at a recent reception for his work as Theatre Erindale’s founding technical director. Sheridan professor David Matheson has been named artistic director for the 2016/17 season. Young will stay for a year to ease the transition. “I feel tremendous pride,” he says, looking back over 25 years.

Program alumni go on to work in theatre, film and television across Canada and around the world. They include Zaib Shaikh, Mark Crawford, David Yee, Kelly Strong, Hailey Gillis, Paulo Santalucia, Eric Rose, Andrea Scott, Nicole Stamp, Cory Doran, Kathryn Alexandre, Rahnuma Panthaky, James Cunningham, Neil Silcox, Sophia Fabiili, Chiamaka G. Ugwu, Qasim Khan, Kate Conway, Lindsey Middleton, Elizabeth Stuart-Morris, Hallie Selin, Cameron Laurie, Ben Hayward, Ali Richardson, Matt White, Nick Potter and Madeleine Brown.

Theatre Erindale has touched other people in public view. Last year Melissa Jane Shaw directed She Shoots! She Scores!, a musical theatre tribute to retiring Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion.

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Dickens leads off Theatre Erindale’s anniversary season

sgupta — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:56:34 +0000

Dickens leads off Theatre Erindale’s anniversary season sgupta Tue, 10/11/2011 - 06:56

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U of T Mississauga's Theatre Erindale kicks off its 20th anniversary season with a production of Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, Part I. (photo by Jim Smegata)

Patrick Young

Author legacy

Patrick Young

More News

UTM

Theatre Erindale

Subheadline

U of T Mississauga Theatre has entertained audiences for 20 years

On Oct. 20, Theatre Erindale at U of T Mississauga opens its 20th anniversary season with arguably the largest production the company has ever mounted.

Charles Dickens’ The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 1 boasts 25 actors, playing almost 100 roles in as many costumes, on what is perhaps the most spacious and the most property-laden set the Erindale Studio Theatre has ever seen. Expect loads of early Victorian comedy, magic, and melodrama. As the Toronto Star said “[The year] will not bring us a more entertaining, deeply moving, and truly theatrical experience.”

Charles Dickens is one of the most beloved novelists in the English language. Nicholas Nickleby, his third book, was published in serial form during 1838-39. Like other great tales including Hard Times, it owes a great deal to his love for the theatre in which he had briefly acted as a young man. He pursued this passion by building a private stage for amateur theatricals in his London home, and touring the world for a famous series of platform readings in later life.

Part 1 features a complete story arc in itself. The death of their father throws Nicholas and his lovely sister Kate on the mercy of evil uncle Ralph. Nicholas is exiled to teach at a sadistic school in Yorkshire from which he rescues the abused orphan Smike, and together they set out – on foot and penniless – across the country. Meanwhile Kate survives the exquisite neurotics in a millinery establishment only to find herself exposed to her uncle’s lecherous business connections. Yet somehow it all ends triumphantly in – you guessed it – the theatre.

Of the story’s many film and stage adaptations, the most famous is David Edgar’s 8-hour, 40-actor West End and Broadway 1980 version for the Royal Shakespeare Company, which became one of the landmarks of twentieth-century performance. In 2006, Edgar condensed the play to 6 hours and 24 cast-members for the Chichester Festival, and it once again became an international hit. It is the first half of this abridged version which Theatre Erindale presents, directed by Peter Van Wart with Kevin Bowers (the team from the company’s hit 2010 production of The Clandestine Marriage).

“Dickens was the conscience of his time,” said Van Wart. “Yorkshire private school practices, for example, were challenged and amended as a direct result of his narrative installments.” He quoted Dickens, writing of the reactions he hoped to achieve from his reading audience: “In behalf of Nicholas Nickleby, we confidently hope to enlist both their heartiest merriment and their kindest sympathies.”

From Theatre Erindale audiences, the directors hope to enlist the same.

The Dickens classic will be the first of the company’s shows to feature its new matinees, as well as double-padded re-upholstered seating in the Erindale Studio Theatre on the campus of U of T Mississauga.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Part 1 previews Oct. 20, opens Oct. 21 and runs to Oct. 30. For information about tickets and show times, visit www.theatreerindale.com.

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Theatre Erindale

Theatre Erindale marks 30th season with classics, contemporary Canadian productions

Read more about Theatre Erindale's 2023-2024 season

'Tis the season to study, reflect and share a meal with family and friends: Check out these December events

Dec. 2

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Dec. 4

Dec. 5

Dec. 6

Dec. 7

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Dec. 11

Dec. 12

Dec. 16

Dec. 23

On giving thanks and casting ballots: Check out these October events at U of T

Oct.1

Oct. 2

Oct. 3

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Oct. 6

Oct. 7

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Oct. 10

Oct. 11

Oct. 16

Oct. 17

Oct. 21

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Oct. 25

Oct. 29

Oct. 30

Oct. 31

For the Class of ’23, 23 suggestions for things to do before you graduate

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From smart cities to Indigenous culture and classical music: Check out these January events

Jan. 8

Jan. 9

Jan. 16

Jan. 18

Jan. 20

Jan. 23

Jan. 24

Jan. 25

Jan. 26

Jan. 30

Theatre Erindale

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Silver Season: theatre and drama program celebrates 25th anniversary

Dickens leads off Theatre Erindale’s anniversary season