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The Oshawa Little Theatre (OLT) is a theatre in Oshawa, Ontario. It is a registered non-profit organization[1] and part of the Association of Community Theatres- Central Ontario (ACT-CO). The venue, located at 62 Russet Avenue, has a seating capacity of 354.[2]
History
[edit]The OLT began in 1928 as a small community theatre group formed by Verna Conant, the wife of eventual Premier of Ontario Gordon Conant. She hired John Craig, a director from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to lead the group and organize productions. During the Great Depression, Craig left his position because the group could not afford to pay his wages. Production slowed shortly after his departure, and the group eventually disbanded in 1932.[3]
Reformation - 1970s
[edit]Conant reformed the Oshawa Little Theatre in 1950, but the group still struggled. As the members had no facility of their own, most of their rehearsal and pre-production work took place in either rented spaces or the actors' homes. Lack of storage for props and costumes was a common problem, as was the cold, since most available work spaces were either outdoors or unheated. However, the OLT continued to work on productions, performing in rented halls or local school auditoriums.[3]
1970s - 1983
[edit]The OLT's current storage and rehearsal location at Russet Avenue was originally a factory owned by Tripp Construction. The group raised a total of $171,000 to purchase and renovate the vacant building, which opened to the public in 1976. The facility did not contain its own theatre, however, until 1983. The performance space was built by Peter Smith, an architect who also designed the Shaw Festival theatre.[3]
Recent history
[edit]In 2014, the theatre's lightboard system failed due the age of the equipment. $40,000 was required to replace and upgrade the lighting.[4] The OLT hosted a benefit concert in January of that year and raised $17,000 towards their funding goal.[5] The theatre's production season continued uninterrupted and the lighting equipment has since been replaced.
The OLT hosted the 43rd Theatre Ontario Festival in May 2015. The Festival is a showcase for community theatre groups across the province, and is considered to be "a valuable education tool" for performers.[6] The OLT was a competitor as well as the host, and won an award for Best Comedic Production for a performance of The Odd Couple.[7]
The OLT's 2015-2016 season began on October 1.
2015-2016 season
[edit]Current board of directors
[edit]- Michael Schneider- President
- Cathy Partridge- Vice-President
- Tristan Smith- Treasurer
- Cindy Barr- Secretary
- David E. Cardinal- Executive Producer
- Colleen Delaney- Productions and Technical Director
- Justin Milner- Volunteer/Membership Director
- Jason William Gordon Butler-Burns- Marketing and Communications Director
- Dante Labriola- Education Director
- Ted Sellers- Past President[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Oshawa Little Theatre". The Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "Venue Information". Oshawa Little Theatre. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ a b c "About the Theatre". Oshawa Little Theatre. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ Ruta, Mike (January 9, 2014). "'The show must go on' at Oshawa Little Theatre". Oshawa This Week. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ Soln, Johnny. "Benefit Concert - Redux". Oshawa Little Theatre. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ Nicholls, Emma (May 9, 2015). "Oshawa Little Theatre hosting and competing at Theatre Ontario Festival". Oshawa This Week. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
- ^ "ACT-CO Festival Best Productions". Association of Community Theatres - Central Ontario. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Oshawa Little Theatre. Retrieved 21 October 2015.