Monthly Archives: May 2016

Profiles

Who is Robert Tsonos?

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Robert Tsonos, Artistic Director of the Watermark Theatre, has had a distinguished international directing career having worked in Japan, Hong Kong, England, and Venezuela; he was a member of the Watermark Theatre acting company for the past two seasons; and was the Director of the company’s national tour of Canada 300. Mr. Tsonos was the resident director at the Canadian Embassy Theatre in Tokyo from 2003 to 2006 and has been the Artistic Director of Sometimes Y Theatre for the past 17 years.

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Robert’s directing credits include Shakespeare’s Will and Old Times at the Hong Kong Arts Centre, Elisa’s Skin for TEATRELA in Caracas, The Goat at the Hong Kong Fringe Club, La Ronde for Temple University Japan,‘night, Mother at the Etcetera Theatre in London and the Dancehall Theatre in Manchester; Vigil, The Drawer Boy, and For The Pleasure Of Seeing Her Again at the Canadian Embassy Theatre; and A Doll’s House and Proof for Tokyo International Players.

Robert‘s theatre acting credits include An Ideal Husband, Romeo & Juliet, The Rainmaker and The Lion In Winter (Watermark Theatre); Macbeth (Shouson Theatre Hong Kong), The Domino Heart and Problem Child (Canadian Embassy Theatre, Tokyo), True West (Akasaka Playbox, Tokyo), The Qualities of Zero, Ines de Castro, Total Body Washout, and Romeo & Rosaline (Tarragon Theatre’s Extra Space), Othello (Persephone Theatre), The Grey Zone (Poor Alex Theatre) and Three Days of Rain (Sudbury Theatre Centre).

As a playwright, Robert‘s play It’s Time won the Uprising National Playwriting Competition, placed 2nd in the 84th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition, and was a finalist for the Herman Voaden Playwriting Competition. His play The Hum was produced in Hong Kong; was a finalist for The Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition; and was published by Level 4 Press in “Regional Best 2012”. His play William & James has been produced in Toronto (Theatre Passe Muraille), New York, Montreal and Ottawa. His other plays include In His Name, Sharnoozle!, which toured international schools in Tokyo, the CBC Radio play Ice Age, as well as I Am Not The One, and Running – 3 short plays.

On Stage

Anne & Gilbert Opens at the Guild

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Experience Canada’s greatest love story in the critically acclaimed and widely loved musical Anne & Gilbert. Featuring a 20-member cast and orchestra, Anne & Gilbert has become a Canadian theatre sensation with the Toronto Star calling it “a marvel”and proclaiming “the joy of the experience makes this one a winner”.

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Hailed in Variety as “delightful” and “utterly charming,” Anne & Gilbert is the story of Anne Shirley’s journey into young adulthood as she experiences her first job, university and a tumultuous romance with Gilbert Blythe.

Award-winning songs, memorable comedy and drama make Anne & Gilbert unforgettable family entertainment.

Based on the novels Anne of the Island and Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery.

Anne & Gilbert opens at the Guild on May 31. Children under 4 will not be permitted to this performance.

On Stage

Danspirations in the Aisles

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Danspirations is proud to present their 2016 annual recital “One Moment in Time”. We welcome all family, friends, fellow dancers and community members to attend.

After months of hard work and dedication through the year our dancers are keen to enjoy “one moment in time” to showcase their enthusiasm and passion for dance. ChjiQY6XIAAQF6Z

Tap, Modern, Broadway, Lyrical, Ballet and Pointe will be showcased at the Harbourfront Theatre June 4th at 3 PM and 7 PM in a professional and highly enjoyable performance!

State of the Art

Blast From the Past at the Guild

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Medieval Times features over 40 pieces of original art by Alison Storey, based on detailed historical research of her birth county, Cumberland, in the North of England. Her love of this period of English history, whether from books, visiting castles, museums, or genealogical research has become a fundamental part of her life, just as art is her passion.

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Despite its relative geographical and cultural isolation, Cumberland has provided a rich history for art expression in her chosen period of research; the turbulent ‘Middle Ages’, and, in particular, the period after the ‘Norman Conquest’ of 1066, AD, being able to draw inspiration from a wide variety of castles and ruined abbeys from this period, together with the portrayal of some of the often colorful people who occupied these castles, and their changing loyalties.

Her exhibition presents her interpretation of actual places and people, together with her personal ‘flights of fancy’ fueled by her research. The exhibition features a variety of mediums; collages, acrylics, woodcuts and collagraphs, together with an unusual printmaking process called ‘trace printing’.

Since arriving in Canada in 1971, Alison has been an artist for more than 40 years and has received numerous awards for her work. She has had many solo and juried exhibitions in both Canada and the USA, and since moving to PEI in 2011, she has been providing instruction in acrylic painting and drawing at the Seniors College, and also gives workshops in Printmaking to both children and adults.

Everything Was Once New

21st Century Tintypes Capture Time and Place

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Many visitors to last year’s Art in the Open festival will remember Karen Stentaford‘s travelling photo studio, which was located at Government Pond. The Sackville-based photographer, an instructor at Mount Allison University, spent eight hours demonstrating the 19th century tintype technique and took pictures of dozens of visitors using a now-rare photographic process. The results of this work will feature as part of a survey of Stentaford’s photography at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery entitled Island Types, now open in the Entrance Gallery as part of the RBC Emerging Artist Series.

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“The response to Karen Stentaford’s work was incredibly positive in Charlottetown,” says Gallery Curator Pan Wendt, “and we decided to give her a show that demonstrates the range of her practice. It will not only give insight into the various experiments that the artist is making with photographic techniques, but it will be exciting to now see on the gallery walls what she produced here on P.E.I. last summer.”

Stentaford, originally from Newfoundland but now teaching photography at her alma mater in Sackville, N.B., is interested in using archaic and experimental techniques to capture a sense of place. The work on display in Island Types is culled from her travels to various islands – Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Iceland – and combines portraiture and landscape. Stentaford’s work uses a variety of techniques and materials ranging from archaic tintypes to digital photography to glass-based negatives. She will even be displaying a series of photographs developed in salt water.

The Art Gallery is open Monday-Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Stage

Mamma Mia! It’s the Official Opening Night!

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Mamma Mia! is terrific fun.

Review by Ben Brantley from The New York Times

Perhaps the single most ecstatic musical to open on Broadway since A Chorus Line. Mamma Mia! leaves you uplifted, enraptured and feeling like a number one!

Review by Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly

Mamma Mia! is a mega-hit that has audiences dancing in the aisles.

Review by Michael Kuchwara from Associated Press

This feel-good musical is a phenomenon! Audiences seeking escapist fun are returning night after night to relive the thrill!

Review by Roma Torre from NY1

The most fun on Broadway! Audiences are going wild!

Review by Liz Smith from Syndicated Columnist

News Flash

Jessie Inmam of Confederation Centre Named a Top CEO

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For a third consecutive year, Jessie Inman, CEO Confederation Centre of the Arts, has been named one the region’s top corporate managers. At a gala dinner in Moncton last week, Atlantic Business Magazine announced Inman as one of the ‘Top 50 Atlantic Canadian CEOs’ and will feature her in the May/June issue.

Inman was one of only two Island business leaders named this year, the other being John Griffin, president and general manager of W.P. Griffin Inc. who was also named CEO Innovator of the Year by Atlantic Business. W.P. Griffin Inc. is a recognized leader in producing, packaging and marketing P.E.I. potatoes locally and internationally.

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Wayne Hambly, Chairman of the Board of Confederation Centre – or the Fathers of Confederation Buildings Trust – acknowledged the notable achievements of both Ms. Inman and Mr. Griffin.

“On behalf of the board, I’d like to congratulate both of our Island recipients on being selected for this distinguished Canadian honour,” he remarked. “Our board and staff at the Centre greatly appreciate the hard work, perseverance, and sound leadership Jessie demonstrates for all projects and departments. To receive this accolade once is a major achievement, let alone three years running.”

Inman became CEO of Canada’s national living memorial to the Fathers of Confederation in November 2011. Originally from St. Catherine’s, P.E.I., she has worked all over the world but was thrilled to have been able to return to her roots and contribute to her province and country. She now lives in Charlottetown with her husband Allan.