Manitoba Theatre For Young People
2 Forks Market Road R3C 4X1 Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Join instructor Chris MacDonald for a digital online showcase of Native Youth Theatre's film class projects from 2018-2021. Chris and NYT student Ashton will provide commentary before and after each piece is premiered and will be joined by NYT students and creators who were a part of the directing, acting, and production crews.

We're really excited for Native Youth Theatre's Film Class Film Festival premiering THIS FRIDAY @ 5PM! The fest will feature films NYT students have made over the past few years. We'll be streaming the festival live on both our Facebook & YouTube pages so stay tuned!

Here's a sneak peek of The Theory of Relativity which opens on Friday @ 8:00PM! Tickets are FREE and can be registered here: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/47776

Friday Flashback Last November, Winnipeg audiences were treated to the public performance of Tiny Treasures by Kevin Dyer. Great performances from cast Nathaniel Hanula-James and Gwendolyn Collins brought laughter, tears, and, most importantly, insight into the plight of young people forced too early into the role of caregiver and household mainstay. Directed by Stephen Colella. Set and Costume Designer: Anna Treusch... Lighting Designer: jaymez Photographer: Leif Norman See more

Happy National Philanthropy Day! Every year, November 15 marks a day when we recognize those who contribute to making our communities a better place to live. Donors, volunteers, foundations, charitable corporations and fundraisers all represent the community of philanthropy. So today, MTYP raises a glass (of milk) to all those incredible people who give of their time, talents and money to the arts so that we can connect more, understand better and find comfort during the difficult times. Thank you for all you have done in the past and the hope you provide for the future.

This morning on CTV Morning Live, reporter Katherine Dow turned the spotlight on Native Youth Theatre and its on-line theatre program. In this segment, she speaks with theatre school alumnus Dene Petti https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2080223. There are still spaces available in NYT Zoom classes. For details, visit the MTYP Theatre School website.

World Kindness Day is an international observance on 13th of November. It was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a coalition of nations' kindness NGOs. It is observed in many countries, including Canada, Australia, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates. Be kind every day!

Happy Love Theatre Day from your friends at Manitoba Theatre for Young People! We miss seeing you in these seats and hope to bring you the joy of live theatre again soon. #wpgtheatre #LoveTheatreDay

NYT's two teen classes still have space to join. These are free theatre and film classes for Indigenous youth. Go to mtyp.ca for details. Native Youth Theatre

Tomorrow, some of the teachers and students from Native Youth Theatre (NYT) will be appearing on CTV's morning show. Check it out. NYT will be featured live roughly every half hour from 6:30 to 8:40 am. NYT's classes are moving online this week and there is still space in the two teen (acting and film) classes. Classes are FREE. #CTV #nyt #wpgtheatre #mtyp

Winnipeg actor, playwright and director Cherissa Richards has an ongoing love affair with theatre for young audiences. I’ve always had a warm place in my heart for TYA [Theatre for Young Audiences]. Student audiences demand you to be honest and truthful in the telling, says Richards. There’s nowhere to hide. Richards knows this from experience. All of her firsts took place at MTYP while working with Theatre for Young Audiences, including her first professional performance... as an actor and a director (in separate productions of The Power of Harriet T) and as a playwright (she co-wrote Torn Through Time along with Carrie Costello and Frances Koncan). MTYP audiences may also recognize Richards from her most recent MTYP appearance in The House at Pooh Corner. MTYP’s audiences are not always polite, laughs the multi-talented Winnipeg artist. They tell you what they think. You have to work really hard as an artist to get them involved in your work. Kids can only tell the truth about what they are feeling. They aren’t afraid to respond, to cry, to be excited, to react, to shout out, to enjoy. Plus you see the change that you make in front of you. To continue reading Charissa's story please visit our website: https://mtyp.ca/colour-rich Cherissa Richards in The House at Pooh Corner. Set, Props and Costume Designer: William Chesney

Today is Orange Shirt Day, a day to raise awareness of the impacts of residential and day schools and show support for its survivors. Over 150,000 Métis, First ...Nation, and Inuit students experienced the Canadian Residential School System, which was church-run and funded by the Federal Government. Church-run schools for Indigenous children existed in the mid-1600s, but the federal system began funding these institutions in the 1880s, with the last residential school closing in 1996. Through this system, Indigenous children across Canada were removed from their families, were not allowed to practice their culture or language, and experienced malnutrition, starvation, and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Says Andrew Carrier, MMF Minister of Residential Schools: The Orange Shirt Day is reflective of what was taken/stolen from our Indigenous children, our families and our communities. In the early years of the Residential Schools, it was common to strip the child of their traditional clothing and cultural artifacts, often put in a pile and burned in front of the children. The boys’ and girls’ hair would be washed in kerosene and cut short. Several of the children were scared and crying. Later in years, a grandmother recalls when she was a young girl; prior to being removed from her community and taken to the Residential School, she had received an orange sweater from her grandmother. And upon arrival, her new orange sweater and clothing were removed and replaced with a school uniform; she cried as she tried to explain to the ladies that this was a gift from her grandmother. She never saw her orange sweater again! Orange Shirt Day is a symbol of strength, of unity and respect given back to the Indigenous children, their parents and their community. #MétisNation #OrangeShirtDay #EveryChildMatters

Does your child burst into song and dance whenever company arrives? Our Musical Theatre Course for children ages 7 and 8 combines songs, stories, and creative movement. For your safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, special safety measures may be implemented in Musical Theatre classes. Please check out our Student Handbook for more information. Click here for info and to register online: https://bit.ly/2EHS056... #mtyp #wpgtheatre

Theatre School Director Kent Suss discusses why taking acting is great for kids. And it's not just because it builds empathy! Courses begin September 30. Please register on-line or call (204) 947-0394 ext 230. For course info and to view our new brochure, visit our website: https://mtyp.ca/theatre-school/.

Today is International Day of Sign Languages. Sign languages are full-fledged natural languages with their own grammar and lexicon. Within the Deaf community, these languages have developed as a handy means of communication and they form the core of local deaf cultures. MTYP is proud to present, as part of our upcoming season, the World Premiere of Plé, an exploration of the idea of how language makes us different and how it makes us the same. Performed in English, French and American Sign Language, this show is full of fun facts, comedy, music and spectacular visuals. You’ll also learn 100 salutations in 100 languages in 100 seconds as we bust some myths about Deaf people along the way. Plé is scheduled to run from March 12 to 22, 2021 and is a production of the Plé Collective.

Auditions are tomorrow and Friday! Cheyenne Schroeder returns to direct MTYP’s Musical Theatre Company! Class sizes are reduced this year, but if demand for this company is strong enough, Ari Weinberg will lead a second company. Ari and Cheyenne will both sit in on auditions September 24 and 25. To book your audition call 204-947-0394 extension 230.

MTYP is seeking an individual to join its team as its Theatre School Drama Outreach Coordinator. This full-time, term position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Drama Outreach Program that encompasses workshops, residencies and satellite programs, and other special activities. The Drama Outreach Coordinator is also required to teach theatre classes and workshops to children, youth and adults (educators) while also supporting the School’s programming and admini...strative functions. Reporting to the Theatre School Director, the Drama Outreach Coordinator fulfills various artistic and educational functions, as well as administrative, financial, human resource, communications and community relations responsibilities. To be successful in this role, candidates should be highly creative, organized, have strong written and verbal communication skills, work well with moderate to low levels of supervision, and appreciate opportunities for collaboration with fellow team members. Those who thrive in busy environments working towards the successful completion of multiple projects would do well in this position. For more specific info please visit our site at https://bit.ly/33SavfQ.

Tonight, Manitoba Theatre for Young People joins Light Up Live. Our building on Treaty 1 territory at the Forks is lit red in solidarity with the workers of the live event industry. The vast majority of live event workers have been out of work or on government support since March, with no end in sight. The effect of shutting down a $100 billion industry in Canada has had unimaginable impacts on both companies and individuals. On September 22nd, MTYP is proud to join the man...y venues, buildings and landmarks across Canada that will be lit up in red to bring attention to this important industry and the many Canadians who work within it. Our shared goal is to bring government and public awareness and recognition to the struggles the live event industry is facing. This industry was the first to shut down and will be the last to restart. We join in the calls for government to commit to continued financial support for live event workers until the industry is back to work. Continued assistance for companies throughout the supply chain who work to create, produce, manufacture and support the live industry is essential. See more

Tonight, Manitoba Theatre for Young People joins Light Up Live. Our building on Treaty 1 territory at the Forks is lit red in solidarity with the workers of the live event industry. The vast majority of live event workers have been out of work or on government support since March, with no end in sight. The effect of shutting down a $100 billion industry in Canada has had unimaginable impacts on both companies and individuals. On September 22nd, MTYP is proud to join the man...y venues, buildings and landmarks across Canada that will be lit up in red to bring attention to this important industry and the many Canadians who work within it. Our shared goal is to bring government and public awareness and recognition to the struggles the live event industry is facing. This industry was the first to shut down and will be the last to restart. We join in the calls for government to commit to continued financial support for live event workers until the industry is back to work. Continued assistance for companies throughout the supply chain who work to create, produce, manufacture and support the live industry is essential. #LiveUpLive #EclaironslesScenes #imisslivetheatre #WeMakeEvents

Theatre courses provide a creative, nurturing and exhilarating environment for your children. Make-believe and dramatic play build confidence and support the cognitive development of your child. The adventure includes theatre classes like DramaVentures, Creative Drama, and Puppet Magic. The safety of our students, families, instructors and staff is always of paramount importance to us, and that will continue to be the case as we solve for new challenges from COVID-19. Please ...consult our Student Handbook for more information about our health protocols. Please register on-line or call (204) 947-0394 ext 230. For course info, to view our new brochure, or to register, visit our website at https://bit.ly/321SlIV. #wpgtheatre #mtyp

MTYP has announced our new season! Our revised season will feature three plays: Frozen River (February 5 -14), Plé (March 12 - 21) and The Snail and the Whale (April 23 - May 2). As we continue forward with these plans for our 2020/21 season, please note that we have limited the capacity in our theatre and will be assigning seating in a manner that complies with current provincial guidelines with respect to indoor gathering and physical distancing. Current subscribers. Thank ...you so much for your continued support. We have emailed you instructions on how to proceed. We want to make this transition into your new subscription as smoothly as possible. New subscribers. If you are interested in seeing more than one of these plays, join us and save! For more information visit our site: https://bit.ly/3hMFeQg. #mtyp #wpgtheatre #youththeatre

Courses begin September 30. Please register on-line or call (204) 947-0394 ext 230. For course info and to view our new brochure, visit our website: https://mtyp.ca/theatre-school/.

Do you have a little one in your life who simply loves to perform? MTYP has the perfect class for those 4 & 5 year-old drama dynamos. Creative Drama offers them an adventure in imagination and pure fun, with stories to captivate and stimulate, costumes to try on, and lots of moving, acting and dramatic play. Kids encounter the world of theatre while growing in confidence and cooperation skills. Please visit our 2020-21 Theatre School Calendar on-line and explore all the optio...ns for keeping your budding star doing what they love best. Your registration will only be confirmed once it has been processed and payment has been received. Financial Assistance: For students who require financial assistance to participate in our classes, we offer a limited number of needs-based bursaries. The Financial Assistance Application Form must be submitted at the time of registration. Of course, the safety of our students, families, instructors and staff is always of paramount importance to us, and that will continue to be the case as we solve for new challenges from COVID-19. Please register on-line or call (204) 947-0394 ext 230. For course info, to view our new brochure, or to register, visit our website at https://bit.ly/321SlIV.

MTYP is very sad to learn of Nancy Drake’s passing. Nancy Drake was a maverick and a straight shooter. She taught drama, auditions and diction to a generation of Winnipeg performers and when she took to the stage, she commanded it. She worked as an actor and a director for MTYP. Here she is seen (centre) in our 2006 production of Silverwing. Nancy also directed Dennis Foon’s seminal play, Feeling Yes, Feeling No twice for MTYP. Nancy was an incredibly generous person and her ...gifts were widely celebrated by Winnipeg’s theatre community. Her loss will be deeply felt. Nancy, thank you for the magic you created and for your leadership. Rest in peace. Silverwing Artistic Credits Based on the book by Kenneth Oppel Adapted by Kim Selody CREATIVE TEAM: Kim Selody: Director Linda Leon: Set Designer Deco Dawson: Video Director/Designer Leanne Foley: Costume Designer Scott Henderson: Lighting Designer Denis Gougeon: Composer Leslee Silverman: Artistic Collaborator Derek Aasland: Assistant to the Director Andrea von Wichert: Scenic Painter COMPANY: Sharon Bajer: Bathseheba Nancy Drake: Frieda Jesse Aaron Dwyre: Shade Amber Godfrey: Marina Tracey McCorrister: Ariel Christopher Sawchyn: Goth Allan Zinyk: Throbb Carolyn Kutchyera: Stage Manager Evan Klassen: Assistant Stage Manager Julia Wiebe: Apprentice Stage Manager

MTYP will always be a welcoming place.

Courses begin September 30. Please call (204) 947-0394 ext 230 or email [email protected] to complete your registration. For course info and to view our new brochure, visit our website: https://mtyp.ca/theatre-school/

Do you have a young person in your life who simply loves to perform? Please visit our 2020-21 Theatre School Calendar on-line and explore all the options for keeping your budding star doing what they love best. Applications received by fax and mail are processed as quickly as possible in the order that they are received. Your registration will only be confirmed once it has been processed and payment has been received. You can register by email at: [email protected] or cal...l us at (204) 947-0394 ext 230 to arrange an in person appointment. Financial Assistance: For students who require financial assistance to participate in our classes, we offer a limited number of needs-based bursaries. The Financial Assistance Application Form must be submitted at the time of registration. Please call (204) 947-0394 ext 230 or email [email protected] to complete your registration. For course info and to view our new brochure, visit our website at https://bit.ly/321SlIV.

Manitoba Theatre for Young People is pleased to announce that we are offering theatre programs for young people ages 3-19 in Fall 2020, Winter 2021, and Spring 2021. We continue to comply with all health regulations in our efforts to keep you safe. Courses begin September 30. All programs are designed to take place in person at 2 Forks Market Road, but if necessary, every course can be offered online. If we are unable to continue to offer in-person classes due to the COVID-19... pandemic, we will continue courses uninterrupted through video conferencing so that you can keep on learning. Applications received by fax and mail are processed as quickly as possible in the order that they are received. Your registration will only be confirmed once it has been processed and payment has been received. You can register by email at: [email protected] or call us at (204) 947-0394 ext 230 to arrange an in person appointment. Financial Assistance: For students who require financial assistance to participate in our classes, we offer a limited number of needs-based bursaries. The Financial Assistance Application Form must be submitted at the time of registration. Please call (204) 947-0394 ext 230 or email [email protected] to complete your registration. For course info and to view our new brochure, visit our website (link in bio).

Twelve-year-old Madilyne Bernat (everyone calls her Madi) had just registered for spring classes at MTYP when the public health crisis put those plans on hold. The grade eight student, who attends Springfield Middle School in the town of Oakbank (a short drive from Winnipeg), would have been attending MTYP for the first time. When Madi found out that MTYP was shifting some of its summer camps online, she didn’t hesitate to sign up. I love performing on stage whether I am ac...ting, singing or dancing, says Madi, who dances competitively and also enjoys practicing her guitar, singing and reading books. Singing is something I enjoy doing all of the time especially when my little sister plays her ukulele for background music. Singing is a great way to express myself. To read the complete story of Madi and on-line performance classes at MTYP, visit our website at: https://mtyp.ca/online-courses #mtyp #wpgtheatre #youththeatre

Bluenose Ability Arts and Film Festival (BAAFF) is a Halifax, NS based organization that supports artists with disabilities. We would like to formally invite you to participate in a national survey helping artists with disabilities have their voices heard. Our Digital Matters program is a new research initiative to identify and eliminate the barriers experienced by the disability arts community when using digital tools and platforms, particularly when monetizing art. Wit...hin this program, we are currently working with seven young artists (18-30) to assist them in utilizing online platforms as a means of promoting and creating revenue from their art. As we work with these artists, we learn about the various challenges they encounter and help them problem-solve solutions to these challenges! Armed with this experience, and working closely with artists, we are generating two surveys: 1. identifying and understanding the barriers to accessing and using digital technology 2. focusing on solutions to these barriers Our goal is to create an online toolkit of resources for artists that is free to everyone! If you are interested in helping to provide a voice to artists with disabilities please visit (www.baaff.ca/artistsurvey).

Alissa Watson is a talented physical comedian but for her next assignment she’s going to have to channel that energy in a different direction. The East Kildonan resident is one of the instructors at Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s online summer camps. During the week of Aug. 24 to 28, Watson will teach two classes of musical theatre online a daily 60-minute session for children aged seven and eight and a 90-minute session for kids nine to 12. Watson is a performing clo...wn, an actor and a percussionist, so she is used to releasing plenty of energy when performing. She admitted it will be a different experience teaching online but she says she’s prepared. "We’ve been planning and strategizing all summer," Watson said. "We have to figure out what is the best way to connect online. So much about theatre is that connection piece." She concedes that those connections will be harder to generate online. "The camera just eats your energy," she said. "With kids you require over-the-top animation to keep them engaged." Watson believes she has the right formula to keep kids’ attention. Through plenty of trial and error, along with her personal experience with online dance parties she’s learned a few tricks. "At first it sounded kind of silly," Watson said of the online dance parties. "But it was a lot of fun and freeing to have the camera on and be in your space." That realization helped Watson see that an online class might be a way to draw different personalities to theatre, especially those who may be reluctant to stretch themselves in an in-person group scenario. The opportunity to remain in your space and shorter class durations could encourage some kids to try theatre for the first time. Musical theatre students will learn how to move with the music and why that is such an important part of performance, Watson explained. There will also be opportunities to break into smaller groups with Watson or her assistant. With a maximum of 12 students in each class, everyone will get plenty of attention from instructors.Watson will also keep a key lesson in mind. "It’s not just acting with faces, it is important to use your whole body when telling stories," she said. Story by Tony Zerucha