Archive

Theatre Orangeville receives grant towards A Midsummer Night’s Dream

June 21, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Julia Lloyd

MPP of Dufferin-Caledon, Sylvia Jones announced last Friday that Orangeville Theatre is receiving $14, 977 for their show — A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

The show is scheduled for August 22 to 25 at the Island Lake Conservation Area Amphitheatre in Orangeville. The grant was given to the organization through Celebrate Ontario, a provincial program that supports local festivals and events. 

“This benefits Dufferin-Caledon residents in so many ways by reaching new audiences,” said MPP Jones. “This community-wide theatre experience spearheaded by Theatre Orangeville engages many groups, individuals, and organizations that otherwise not have an opportunity to perform.”

Theatre Orangeville’s Artistic Director David Nairn, as well as other members of the theatre, joined MPP Jones at the conservation area on Friday to announce the grant. 

Teena Avery, marketing and public relations for Theatre Orangeville, explained how the theatre normally has a young company perform a drama and musical every summer, however this summer instead of a drama — the theatre is organizing with their community partners, an all-inclusive event. 

“It’s all about creativity and inclusion and it is all about removing barriers so we can all enjoy,” said Avery. 

This grant in particular, according to MPP Jones, is about tourism capacity and interest in the area. 

“This to me this is a beautiful example of how we leverage many of the assets we have here in Dufferin-Caledon. And so we have this beautiful facility at the conservation area that has the amphitheatre for the creativity of Theatre Orangeville, ” said MPP Jones. 

And what better way to promote tourism in this community then by coming to the conversation area and watching a play, she continued. 

However, no one is more excited about putting on this show than artistic director David Nairn. 

“This grant is meant to support the dream of the dream,” said Nairn.  

This year is the Theatre’s 25th season and this summer Orangeville will whiteness the largest community event in all of the town’s history. 

“We have a dream. A dream of a community celebrating each other,” said Nairn. “In August 2019, Theatre Orangeville presents Shakespeare’s most enduring comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, like you have never seen it before.” 

To do a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a park, where the waterfront amphitheatre is located, is not “unusual,” said Nairn. “But to do it as a community adventure with professional actors, members of our youth program and numbers of our special needs program has never been done before.”

Theatre Orangeville has partnered with other community organizations in Caledon-Dufferin, such as Credit CBC and Sweet Adelines Chorus, to help put on the show and introduce a variety of people to theatre.   

A Midsummer Night’s Dream has 65 cast members, celebrating all forms of ability. 

MPP Jones revealed this grant is apart of the Ontario Government’s investment of $13 million in over 250 festivals and events across the province. 

Readers Comments (0)