Village Players is working on a return to “normal” – live theatre on our stage. Until then, we offer you THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde on July 23rd or 24th at 7pm. A rehearsed Zoom offering directed by Anne Harper, this witty comedy continues to delight and amuse after more than a century. We put it together as a ‘thank you’ to our donors in early May and everyone had so much fun that we decided to offer it to a wider audience.
Each performance will be Pay What You Can (no minimum), with online options for credit cards and e-transfer, or a cheque by mail. (Please note that this is not a donation, so we will not issue tax receipts).
More detailed information will be sent closer to the performance date to those who express interest in attending.
PLEASE LET US KNOW WHICH PERFORMANCE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND BY REPLYING TO: villageplayersaudiences@gmail.com
We hope you can join us for a night of live theatre without the challenge of parking, but perhaps with a takeout meal from your favourite neighbourhood restaurant. You might find one at https://villageplayers.net/sponsor-page. Don’t forget to tell them you saw their ad on the Village web site.
Audition notice for Village Players’ September-October ** onstage** play, LOVE LETTERS, by AR Gurney.
Click HERE for full details:
HELP US GET FAIRNESS IN REOPENING THE PERFORMING ARTS IN ONTARIO
For performing arts lovers, the recent Ontario Government’s “Roadmap to Reopening” is a dead-end for the performing arts, outdoor venues, festivals and events. We crave the performing arts the way others miss restaurants, sports and religious services, but the current guidelines will leave arts and culture behind.
Demand #FairnessForArtsON:
1. Reopen rehearsals in Step 1 so artists can be ready to begin performances in Step 2.
2. Allow filming inside performance spaces in Step 1 so we can enjoy content from our favourite artists digitally.
3. Set capacity limits for outdoor and indoor theatres based on square footage so we can maximize our access to different sized venues.
These are the same accommodations that have already been granted to industries like sport, film & television and meetings & events. The performing arts are an essential part of our Ontario. We need fairness now.
You can go to https://canadianlivemusic.ca/fairnessforartson/ to send letters to the Premier, Ministers, MPPs, municipal leaders and representatives. Enter your name and postal code, and the site will automatically send your message to your local representatives.
March 14, 2021
A large number of Torontonians believe that the arts are important. Clearly, you are in good company. Through our fundraising campaign, you have supported us both financially and psychologically in these last many difficult months and have made possible our survival in the immediate future.
The response to our campaign has made us the envy of other community theatre groups, and we are so proud to have you as our community family, one that shows such caring. As we celebrate the end of this campaign, we are also proud to report that we have raised over $50,000!
As well as helping in our ongoing expenses such as rent, your donations (and hard work by our volunteers) help us ensure that the environment is a safe one for you when we once again have plays on our stage.
Unfortunately the immediate future is still very uncertain, but we have started rehearsals – on Zoom and soon in person, we hope – for a play which we hope to film and present to you in the future.
The world has been turned upside down during this last year. It has been a time to discover that you are our true friends and supporters, and that you value us and our contribution to the arts.
March 24, 2021.
Bloor West Village Players has prepared its COVID-19 Safety Plan for maintenance and rehearsal/filming requirements for volunteers and contractors.
A copy can be found here —-> 20210322 VP COVID Safety Plan v200
We look forward to the day when patrons will return to our Playhouse to enjoy a play in person. Be assured there will be another Safety Plan to fully address that situation.
For a map and links to our Sponsors, click HERE
(including where to get a bite or a drink before/after a show.)
February 24, 2021
We will open our doors again.
(Association of Community Theatres – Ontario)
December 15, 2020
This fall we gave away volunteer-made cloth face masks with a Village logo decal to our patrons and volunteers. Here’s a composite photo with some happy (and masked) recipients.
If anyone wants a mask, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope (SASE) with postage to cover the mailing – about $1.50 – to the theatre and we’ll mail you off two.
If you have some of these logo masks already and you would like more, please send a SASE and $5 for each mask.
See mailing address here.
In the meantime, have a look at some of our past seasons. Just click on one of the images below, and read more about that season and all the plays in it…
NEWS, April 5, 2020
Village Players’ Good People took part in the 2020 ACT-CO Festival, and earned 9 nominations. Congratulations to:
1. Male in a supporting role: Matthew Taylor
2. Female in a supporting role: Alyssa Quart
3. Female in a supporting role: Chantel McDonald
4. Props design: JD Joute
5. Costume design: Anne Harper
6. Sound design: Samantha DeVries
7. Female in a leading role: Renée Cullen
8. Stage manager: Bridget Jankowski
9. Production (drama): Good People
NEWS, May 20, 2019
Village Player’s Late Company played a single performance at the Theatre Ontario Festival, 2019, and was awarded the following:
Awards:
1. Outstanding Director: Valary Cook
2. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role: Lydia Kiselyk as Debra
3. Special Adjudicator Award for prop coordination – food: Susan Poole, ASM
Honourable Mentions:
1. Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role: Andrew Horbatuik as Bill
2. Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role: Dylan Mills-Capote as Curtis
3. Outstanding Visual Presentation
Congratulations to everyone who helped put this amazing play together.
NEWS, April 7, 2019:
Village Players’ production of LATE COMPANY won best drama at the ACT-CO gala last night and will remount the play at the Theatre Ontario Festival in Richmond Hill May 15. We’ll be posting how to buy tickets as soon as we find out.
Theresa Arneaud won for best drama set design and we had 5 other nominations:
Valary Cook (director), Lydia Kiselyk (acress in a leading role), Rob Candy (adjudicator’s award), Samantha De Vries (sound design), David Nicholson (lighting design)
FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERS
Click on photo to learn more…
