TDArts - Technical Direction for the Arts

We have received a request that I am hoping the community can help with. Nicole Arends is a playwright/director based in Toronto. She is a member of Alumnae Theatre Company and has initiated a project there whereby she is engaging the members to write monologues of women in Canadian theatre who have passed away. She has a list based on her own research, but she would like to add more names of women on the production and design side of things.
Any names you can suggest is greatly appreciated. What a great way to remember those who have come before us.

PM/TDArts Conference 2022 Session Spotlight: "Onboarding New Employees"

The PM/TDArts Conference begins just one week from today! Register now to attend the amazing sessions run by our expert instructors. Join us for one course, a handful, or jump in on a conference pass, and a deep dive into all our topics.

The first topic of the conference is "Onboarding New Employees" taught by Jonathan Rondeau and is taking place on Friday, June 10th from 12:00PM - 3:00PM EST.

Check out the description below and head to https://pmarts.ca/conference/2022-june/
to register now!

"How does your organization welcome new hires? Theatres meet and greet new companies of artists and artisans from show to show, but are the best procedures in place for new staff, or for the support team members in FOH or the technical teams? This session will explore different onboarding approaches across different departments, organizations and communities to find common practices and to talk about where context may impact approach. The goal being to help find the right mix of support and discovery that will allow new teammates to flourish at your company.

This session will be offered in English and live interpreted to French."

PMArts - 2022 Conference 2022 Conference PM/TDArts Conference 2022 Friday, June 10 – Friday, June 17, 2022 Well, we are still in a pandemic, but we are also back to work…. We are excited to merge the PM and TD Arts conferences into one exciting production love fest this year. Based on the success of our previous online ...

University of Waterloo is hiring a Technical Coordinator for the Humanities Theatre. Permanent, full-time position. Salary range: $48,376 - $60,471. Deadline to apply is February 10.

https://careers-uwaterloo.icims.com/jobs/7704/technical-coordinator---humanities-theatre/job

Could you be the next Director of TDArts? - https://mailchi.mp/15ee84ba6f18/could-you-be-the-next-director-of-tdarts

Deadline to apply is December 13.

Could you be the next Director of TDArts? Apply by December 13.

Welcoming our colleagues MEANS of PRODUCTION. Congratulations.

We're really excited to announce a year-long partnership with MEANS OF PRODUCTION, focusing on the development and innovation of values-based live performance production practices.

MoP is a collective of live performance Production Managers and Technical Directors in Canada with the aim to empower leadership, develop sustainable practice, and prioritize equity for workers in live performance production.

Read the full announcement: generatorto.com/updates/means-of-production
Visit the MoP website: pmtd.ca/

Wishing our TDArts Director, Paul Fujimoto-Pihl a very happy birthday. Thank you for everything you do for TDArts and PMArts behind the scenes. Your tireless efforts and thoughtful ideas are greatly appreciated. We are glad to know that you are taking this day off to celebrate and not think about theatre.

While it is American-centric, I recommend attending this conversation.

For over 80 years, 10-out-of-12 technical rehearsals and six-day workweeks have been seen by theatre workers as mandatory in their schedules. In trying to uphold the spirit of “The show must go on,” theatre practitioners in both professional and academic settings have repeatedly pushed themselves far beyond their physical and mental limits, jeopardizing both their health and their future.

In 2021, a new working partnership has been created by a group of designers, stage managers, actors, production managers, health/safety professionals, and other theatre artists to finally address and demand change in theatre workers’ schedules. This initial session will lay out the reasons why these changes must be made as well as begin to chart a new path for how theatre can operate in the future.

Moderated by scenic designer Regina Garcia, this panel will include Lindsay Jones (co-chair, Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association), Rachel Spencer Hewitt (founder, Parent Artist Advocacy League), and stage manager Lisa Dawn Cave.

Pre-register ahead of time to be notified when the conversation goes live at usitt.org/education-training/usitt-webinars.

1 year temporary position for Technical Director at University of Waterloo Theatre and Performance program. Deadline to apply is Friday, December 4th.

Interviews will be held virtually between Dec 8 & 11. Start date is January 4, 2021. This is an in-person position.

Salary range is $62,681 - $75,000.

https://careers-uwaterloo.icims.com/jobs/5934/director-of-technical-theatre/job

PM/TDArts' "Return to Better" less than 1 week away -

PMArts & TDArts present "Return to Better" Panel discussion about 5 new initiatives being piloted as we return to work after our extended intermission.

If you have ideas on new best practices for technical drawings, check this out. No need to be a USITT member to participate.

The USITT Technical Production Commission is asking for comments on a proposed “best practices” document. The Graphic Recommended Best Practices is intended for use on all productions and projects involving live entertainment. Based on the original, known as USITT Scenic Design and Technical Production Graphic Standards, released in 1982 and revised a decade later, that was developed exclusively for hand drafters, this new document put out for comment brings those documents together with a proposed “in progress” set of Recommended Best Practices.

To view the document and to provide comments, please visit www.usitt.org/graphicrbp. You may view the draft document or download it. Comments will be exclusively accepted through the form on this webpage through Oct. 30, 2020, after which the commenting mechanism will be removed.

The TPR Commission encourages members to share this webpage with others who may have an interest in this area. USITT membership is not required to provide comments on the document.

The Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology (CITT/ICTS) holds an annual RENDEZ-VOUS every August. The conference offers three days of sessions, workshops, backstage tours, trade shows, social events, and networking opportunities. This year, the conference will be held online from August 17 to 20. PM/TDArts will be presenting a session all about training emerging PMs and TDs on Tuesday, August 18th at 12:00 PM EST.

Universities, Colleges, and Conservatory programs ready students to begin their professional careers. The industry is looking to hire people who have the level of competency and experience they require to do the job. There is often a gap between leaving post-secondary institutions and working professionally, particularly as a Production Manager or Technical Director. How are we continuing to train our fledgling PMs and TDs? What opportunities are there for emerging workers who have studied management, and now need industry experience and mentorship to be ready to assume these roles themselves? How can mentorship, internships and apprenticeships help create a better path from learning to working? Join our panellists to discuss what some companies are doing to bridge the gap.

Presenter: Janelle Rainville - PMArts + TDArts

Panellists: Andrea Surich, Kevin Tanner, Paul Fujimoto-Pihl, Phil Akin

Bio:

Janelle Rainville - She is currently the Director of Production and theatre Operations for the University of Waterloo Theatre and Performance program, where she also teaches courses in stage management and arts management. In her “spare” time, Janelle has taught dance stage management at Ryerson School of Performance and York University as well as stage management workshops for community theatres. Janelle joined SMArts in 2006 as Co-Director to Founder, Winston Morgan. In 2008 they started a sister organization called PMArts, which Janelle administrated with Peter Fleming. In 2010 she took over the role of Director of SMArts when Winston stepped down. The organization has continued to grow and is now a not-for-profit organization with 4 – 5 projects occurring each year.

Andrea Surich – After graduating from the National Theatre School, Andrea has been both a production manager and technical director for companies such as Young People’s Theatre (Toronto), Atlantic Theatre Festival (Nova Scotia), the Stratford Festival and Grand theatre (London). In 2015, Andrea moved into the position of General Manager of Watermark Theatre, in North Rustico, PEI. With 28 years of experience in the industry Andrea has shared that knowledge with students at Sheridan College, Fanshawe College, Holland College and NTS.

Kevin Tanner is the Managing Director of Production at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Banff Centre welcomed approximately 110 participants across the year to their practicum learning program. The program invited participants to develop hands-on skills supporting artists in specialized trades across three core disciplines: performing arts, visual arts, and media production. Prior to joining Banff Centre, Kevin was the Technical Director at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston, Ontario. He is currently a member of the Advisory Council for the Event Safety Alliance Canada, and holds a Masters in Arts Leadership from Queen’s University.

Paul Fujimoto-Pihl began his technical theatre career when he was selected as the slide projector operator for the police officer’s Stranger Danger presentation to his grade one class. After attending the Theatre Technical Production program at Humber College, Paul freelanced as a technician in Toronto before heading off to cut his teeth as Head Technician at Theatre North West in Prince George, BC. He has served as Technical Director at the Blyth Festival, Tarragon Theatre, and the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, where he is now. Paul sits on the Program Advisory Committee for the Technical Production Program at Fanshawe College, is Chair of the Ontario Section of CITT/ICTS, and is Director of TDArts.

Philip Akin – A graduate of Ryerson Theatre School, Philip has been working in theatre for the past 45 years. He is a Dora award-winning directed of over 50 plays for companies such as Young People’s Theatre (Toronto), the Shaw Festival (Niagara on the Lake), Factory Theatre (Toronto), Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Neptune Theatre (Halifax), and Obsidian Theatre (Toronto). Philip is one of the founding members of Obsidian Theatre and held the position of Artistic Director from 2006 - 2020. He has Philip is a member of both ACTRA and Equity.

Language: English

Discipline: Education; Human Resources; Management

Date, Time & Duration: Tuesday August 18, 2020 - 12 p.m. - 90 min

HOW TO REGISTER:

Check out the CITT/ICTS Registration Instructions to find out how to register for this or other sessions at the conference: https://www.citt.org/cgi/page.cgi/_event.html?evt=918

We look forward to seeing you digitally!