Project aims to bolster Muskoka’s creative economy in collaboration with arts groups

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 16, 2009.)

By Karen Longwell

Students searching for a creative path in Muskoka may have found it.

Creative Paths, a $40,000 provincially funded project, was launched on Nov. 30 at Rene M. Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge.

The event included improv, musical performances and a panel discussion on the arts. It was open to the public and about 40 to 50 people attended.

Creative Paths is collaborating with the Arts Council of Muskoka, Muskoka Lakes Music Festival and Huntsville Festival of the Arts. It aims to educate students from Grades 9 to 12 about the arts as an economic growth sector, said Carolyne Wagland, Creative Paths project co-ordinator. The purpose is to expose Muskoka secondary school students to creative career opportunities, she said.

The one-year pilot project is being developed by a grassroots collection of artists, educators and arts organizations, Wagland said, adding that the project is divided into three main parts: a mentoring program with high school students and artists; creativity workshops; and special programming. Artists of all types are involved, including those in media, visual arts, drama and music.

The creativity workshops at high schools would involve approximately five artists in different mediums talking about their career paths “...just to open their eyes up to the fact that these are viable careers in Muskoka,” said Wagland. “They don’t have to leave Muskoka to be a writer, to be an artist, to be a sculptor, to be a performing artist. There are opportunities here.”

The special programming would involve bringing a business woman into a classroom to talk about social media marketing. The hope is to collaborate with classes to do a special class project involving social media. A media, business or marketing class could be involved with this project, said Wagland.

The programs are scheduled to run from January to June in 2010.

Wagland said Creative Paths is looking to partner with more local businesses and artists to get involved with the project. The not-for-profit organization is also looking for corporate sponsors. Volunteer mentors are needed, including web designers, graphic designers, interior designers, architects or any occupation in the knowledge-based field, she said. TV Cogeco, for example, is offering flip cameras for students to take out to film local events or do artist interviews.

Creative Paths hopes to bring arts volunteer opportunities to local businesses or organizations which, for example, may need help with writing press releases or documenting an event with video. “Basically, we are trying to provide more interesting volunteer opportunities for kids as well, that are going to benefit them,” said Wagland. Anything students do with the Creative Paths project could be counted toward their required 40 volunteer hours.

The program is heavily reliant on partnerships with the arts, corporate and educational communities, including the school boards, businesses, professional artists and others in the burgeoning creative economy.

“Things are changing in Muskoka; it is not so much an industrial-based economy anymore. These kids need to learn new skills and we are trying to engage them in interesting processes with the arts,” said Wagland.

Creative Paths will culminate in symposium in the fall of 2010, called Creative Intelligence for the Creative Economy — Interactive Educa­tional Symposium.

The grant for Creative Paths came from Ontario’s ministry of culture under its Cultural Strategic Investment Fund. Funding was announced in April.

Those interested in more information about Creative Paths should contact Carolyne Wagland at 705-788-7062.

Spring musical Peter Pan is no flight of fancy

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 25, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Famous U.S. company will train actors and bring in equipment to create illusion of stage flight

Jessie Bacon is flying high these days, having just landed the lead role in the spring musical Peter Pan.

As the protagonist, the HHS Grade 12 student will soon be aspiring to even greater heights — above the Algonquin Theatre stage.

“I’m really excited (about the prospect). This is the first time flying is coming to the Algonquin Theatre and, as I’ve never been scared of heights, I think it will be a lot of fun,” she said.

Bacon (17) is no newcomer to the stage. She played Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She is Wendy Jo in the upcoming HHS production of Footloose and has a part as one of the Silly Girls in next year’s Bracebridge Rotary production of Beauty and the Beast.

When first asked to audition for Peter Pan, Bacon had a hard decision to make. “I have to cut my hair for the part, and I will do so after the Bracebridge show,” she said.

Peter Pan is the much-loved tale of a young boy who wouldn’t grow up. A play, adapted from James M. Barrie’s book, debuted in 1904, but Peter Pan became a household name following the 1954 film starring Mary Martin as Peter.

“The role of Peter Pan has, in the last 100 years, almost always been played by a woman,” said the show’s director Gregg Evans. “It’s what the author wanted for the role, and the music was written for a female voice. Also, in the 1900s, you couldn’t use children in theatre, so they chose women to play young teenage boys.”

Peter Pan will be staged at the Algonquin between April 15 and 24. It will be the second musical production underwritten by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, in conjunction with the Huntsville Rotary Club and the North Muskoka Players. The first was the Wizard of Oz, which was presented last spring.

SPRIGHTLY, PETER AND SMEE: Ryan Burda, Jessie Bacon and Ryan Robinson-Hatton (from left), are getting ready for the upcoming production of Footloose. By January, they will be in rehearsal for Peter Pan, as Sprightly (right), Peter and Smee (left).

Recently, auditions were held at the theatre, where a cast of 54 players was chosen. “There is only one cast this time. We are not even having understudies at this point. I’m pretty confident with our leads,” noted Evans, adding he will be keeping his fingers crossed that no one gets sick.

The story of Peter Pan revolves around the Darling family. Seasoned actors Aussa Penniall from Bracebridge, and Huntsville’s Scott Roodvoets are Mr. and Mrs. Darling. Emma Gibbs of Bracebridge secured the role of Wendy Darling, and her brother Cole Gibbs plays Jonathon Darling.

The youngest Darling child is Michael, who, like Peter Pan, will be played by a female, said Evans. “Michael is the main character, usually played by a boy of seven or eight. We didn’t know if we could get someone of that age who could do justice to the part, so we went with 12-year-old Ally Renwick. Ally was in Annie and the Wizard of Oz and is a terrific actress and has a lovely singing voice.”

Added Evans: “This is Ally’s first main lead role and that’s what’s nice about this show: all the leads are teenagers, with the exception of Captain Hook.”

The part of Hook has gone to the inimitable Bob Stone, whom many will remember as one of the scarecrows in Oz. “Bob can sing, dance and act and he’s flamboyant and Captain Hook is a flamboyant character,” said Evans.

Hook’s sidekick, Smee, will be played by HHS student Ryan Burda, who was a Cowardly Lion in Oz. Burda has been in amateur theatre for 10 years and will soon be seen as Willard in Footloose. He has also been cast as the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

The show also features myriad actors playing lost children, Indians, pirates and the five animals, including Nana, the Darling family dog (Caroline Heyblom).

“Another teen lead is Tiger Lily, who is the daughter of the Indian chief in Neverland. That role requires a ballet dancer and we have Karena Leffler, who has had ballet training,” said Evans.

Five actors – Peter Pan, the three Darling children and the Darling family maid Liza, (Joann Bennett, who played one of the witches in Oz), have flying parts. To create the illusion of flight requires training of both actors and stage crew, said Evans.

“Rob Saunders (Huntsville Festival of the Arts general manager) has contracted the Foy family from New York. Their grandfather, Peter Foy, was responsible for the stage flight of Mary Martin in the 1954 movie. The family is still involved in specialized stage flight three generations later,” Evans noted. "Experts with the company, Flying by Foy, will come to Huntsville a week before the production opens to set up the rigging and harnesses and to teach the backstage crew how to operate them."

Oz costumier Nicole Pantaleo returns to spearhead the costume department for Peter Pan. Also returning are Sherisse Stevens (musical director), Neil Barlow (orchestra director), and Helena Renwick (set design). Rehearsals for Peter Pan will begin in early January.

Arts-in-education program Creative Paths kicks off Nov. 30 in Bracebridge

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 18, 2009.)

Public forum to take place at Rene Caisse Theatre

The Arts Council of Muskoka, in partnership with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, and Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, is kicking off a brand new regional creative arts education initiative and discussion about Muskoka’s burgeoning creative economy at the Rene Caisse Theatre on Monday, Nov. 30, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Students, educators, artists, creative professionals and the business and economic development community, as well as community organizations, are invited to attend this forum to learn about the program, how you can get involved and how it can help you.

The event will include a guest speaker, an interactive discussion with a panel of students, educators, creative professionals, business and tourism representatives, as well as performances by local talent.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be an artist in Muskoka,” said Creative Paths coordinator Carolyne Wagland. “The regional arts designation has created momentum for building Muskoka’s creative economy and for positioning Muskoka as an arts and cultural tourist destination.

“We have a new arts and culture website, the Arts Directory of Muskoka, which is a vibrant online vehicle to promote Muskoka’s creative community,” said Wagland, adding that Creative Paths, a program made possible through a grant from the province of Ontario’s Cultural Strategic Investment Fund, promises to benefit the creative community, its high school students, and its corporate partners.

Creative Paths links secondary school students to creative career opportunities in Muskoka through mentoring programs, creativity workshops and other special programs beginning this January. The program will enable students to fulfill their community volunteer hour requirements, while also honing their skills and building their portfolios for their future careers.

Students will also participate by creating an awareness campaign for the project, using exciting social media marketing techniques. The project will culminate in the fall of 2010 with an interactive educational symposium focusing on creativity and innovation, while featuring high profile keynote speakers, workshops and student presentations of exemplary projects.

“We encourage you to engage in Muskoka’s creative revolution,” Wagland added. “Learn from experienced creative professionals. Share your knowledge. Create Muskoka’s future. Connect with your community. Change your world.”

Creative Paths is a not-for-profit project, and relies heavily on volunteers for its successful operation of programs. To see how Creative Paths programming can benefit your organization and to learn more about corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Carolyne Wagland at 788-7062, at info@artscouncil.com or cwagland@cogeco.ca.

Arts Council of Muskoka is a non-profit organization whose vision is to enrich Muskoka through the arts, and whose mission is to identify, unite, support, promote and facilitate artists and artistic activity in Muskoka.

To learn more about the Creative Paths project and the project partners visit: www.artsdirectoryofmuskoka.com.

Those unable to attend the forum will be able to download video highlights of the event at www.artsdirectoryofmuskoka.com.

Group of Seven Nutcracker here Nov. 21-22

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 18, 2009.)

Don’t miss The Group of Seven Nutcracker ballet at the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.

Canada’s newest full-length ballet, created by acclaimed choreographer Bengt Jörgen to Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, reworks this timeless classic and is destined to become a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike.

With over 100 costumes in rich fabrics, The Group of Seven Nutcracker features backdrops from Canada’s 20th Century landscape artists. The ballet’s second act is remembered for its celebration of dances and The Group of Seven Nutcracker follows this tradition with woodland creatures dancing in Ontario’s Algonquin Park.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will have a cast of over 30, including Ballet Jörgen Canada members and two Mentorship Program dancers. For the past two months, members of the Huntsville School of Ballet, under the direction of owner Brenda Cunningham with guidance from Ballet Jörgen dance masters, have been rehearsing weekly and will join the professional dancers to help interpret the score. Funding for this outreach part of the program is provided by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, which is also presenting the concert.

Ballet Jörgen was last in Huntsville in 2006 and, while there has been another dance company presenting a Nutcracker ballet the past two years, they are excited about being able to return with their new work.

The performance is being jointly sponsored by Huntsville Hometown Drugs and Rexall Drugs. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under. There is also a family pass available for $70.

Tickets are available at the Main Street box office by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

To learn more about the Ballet Jörgen company, visit www.balletjorgen.ca.

Group of Seven Nutcracker ballet premieres in Huntsville for special Christmas show

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 11, 2009.)

One of Canada’s finest classical dance companies is returning to Huntsville to present a traditional Christmas classic in a new setting.

BALLET AT ITS BEST: Don’t miss The Group of Seven Nutcracker coming to the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 21 and 22.

Ballet Jörgen Canada premiered The Group of Seven Nutcracker last season to enthusiastic reviews. This delightful re-working of the timeless classic is born from collaboration with Kleinburg’s world-renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Choreographed by Bengt Jörgen to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, The Group of Seven Nutcracker features as a backdrop Canada’s 20th century landscape artists Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thomson’s Snow in the Woods (1916) and L.L. FitzGerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922). These large interpretations on canvas will act as backdrops during the various scenes.

The ballet’s second act will be placed in a Canadian summer setting with trillium flowers, loons and other distinct representations replacing the traditional Nutcracker dances. The Group of Seven Nutcracker will be a quintessential northern Canadian work with an early 20th century rural Ontario setting. The award-winning set and costume designer Sue LePage will take audiences on a grand journey through northern landscapes filled with snowflakes, dragonflies, beavers, birches, squirrels and other creatures of the woods.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will have a cast of over 30 including Ballet Jörgen Canada members and two Mentorship Program dancers. For the past two months members of the Huntsville School of Ballet, under the direction of owner Brenda Cunningham with guidance from Ballet Jörgen dance masters, have been rehearsing weekly and will join the professional dancers to help interpret the score.

Funding for this outreach part of the program is provided by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, which is also presenting the concert.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will become a national treasure destined to warm the hearts of young and old alike. Ballet Jörgen was last in Huntsville in 2006, and while there has been another dance company presenting a Nutcracker ballet the past two years, they are excited about being able to return with their new work.

The concert is being jointly sponsored by Huntsville Hometown Drugs and Rexall Drugs. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under. There is also a family pass available for $70. Tickets are available at the Main Street box office by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. To learn more about the Ballet Jörgen company, visit www.balletjorgen.ca.