Orpheus Musical Theatre
17 Fairmont Avenue K1Y 1X4 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Today we are excited to share our first official Throwback Thursday post. We hope you'll come back every Thursday to see the latest posts. We start with the first-ever Orpheus concert in January 1907, conducted by the founder of Orpheus, James Alexander Smith, affectionately known as Jimmy. His picture graced the entrance of Orpheus for many years, showing him sitting proudly at his church organ. We chose one of the songs from this first concert , Scots Wha’ Ha’e, for t...he opening of the 100th anniversary show The Spirit of Orpheus to honour Jimmy Smith’s Scottish homeland. Gabe Leury played the part of Jimmy Smith. Late Orpheus member Frank Burke sent us these copies from the National Library when preparing the score for Spirit. Thanks to our Archivist, John McGovern for these. #ThrowbackThursday #Orpheus #ottawa #orpheusmusical #ottawalife

Today, we raise a glass to being 115 years young! (You notice how we only refer to people as "years young" when they're old? .... Well at least we're still fan kicking!) January 2021 marks Orpheus' 115th Birthday, and did you know that on this day in 2007, the Mayor proclaimed Orpheus Day in the City of Ottawa?... Of course, we can't celebrate with all of our family and friends this year, but we are so fortunate to be alive and well, and supported by all of you! We can't wait to see you again and share in the love of a great musical. Until then, please join us in a toast, safely in the comfort of your own home! Happy Orpheus Day! **Wanna know more about what's going on at Orpheus? You can sign up for our newsletter here --> https://www.orpheus-theatre.ca/about ***Wait, what? You thought about membership so you can get all the news, advanced audition bookings, discounts on/free workshops and special events, and more? Cool! You can sign up for membership here --> https://www.orpheus-theatre.ca/volunteer

While theatre remains closed, one thing is for sure: The fans have not forgotten about it! The public submitted their nominations for the best in local theatre of the past decade, and then voted for their favourites. We are thrilled and humbled to have been recognized in so many categories from performances to Theatre Company of the Decade! Orpheus takes home:... Best Theatre Staff; Community Theatre of the Decade; Dancer of the Decade - Cooper Dunn, Falsettos; Director of a Musical of the Decade - Michael Gareau, Sister Act; Fundraising Supporter of the Decade; Performer of the Decade - Cooper Dunn, Falsettos; Theatre Company of the Decade; and, Tops Arts Supporting Organization. Congratulations to Cooper, Michael, and all of our members, volunteers, and patrons who have earned this success! A sincere Thanks to all for considering Orpheus with your votes! We can't wait to welcome you back soon, and share in the joy of community musical theatre. Congratulations to all of our friends and colleagues celebrating their nominations and wins in this great theatre community! For a full list of winners, visit https://www.broadwayworld.com//Winners-Announced-For-The-2

Orpheus wishes you and your family a magical holiday season and a safe, healthy and wonderful 2021! Happy New Year!

Nominations are now open for the 2020 Broadway World Ottawa Awards: Best of the decade. Eligibility is for productions which opened between 2011 and September 30th, 2020. Our local editors have set the categories and now YOU get to nominate and vote for your favorites! Nominations are reader-submitted and will be open through October 31. Voting will begin in early November and run through December 31. Winners will be announced in January! NOTE: These are not industry awards. They are people’s choice awards by members of the BroadwayWorld mailing lists and through social media. Shows starting with INTO THE WOODS and ending with ROCK OF AGES are eligible. To see all the Orpheus productions that are eligible for nomination go to https://www.orpheus-theatre.ca//Recent-Seasons-(2010---202

Our friends at the Ottawa Pops Orchestra are organizing a series of Musical themed trivia nights during the month of August. They began last week, but there is still time to join for tonight's Golden Age Goodies theme, and next week's Wicked West-Side Wonders. There will be a prize for the team with greatest combined score over the 3 events. Show them those Orpheus skills and see if you can catch up in only 2 weeks. (Bribing the judges is encouraged ) These are free events ...to keep you engaged and occupied, but donations are accepted. Register to participate in tonight's free event surrounding the Broadway Golden Age! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/golden-age-goodies-online-trivi

We are saddened to learn of the sexual misconduct that took place in one of our fellow theatre companies, and with the subsequent allegations surfacing within our arts community. Orpheus has proudly worked with The Gladstone to produce its annual Studio Show. We understand that they are seeking guidance to effectively deal with the offences, have been called on to improve their policies, and we look forward to seeing those improvements. Moving forward, Orpheus will ensure tha...t its own policies are adhered to when operating out of The Gladstone, Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe, and any other venue. We unequivocally stand with the victim, and with all victims of sexual abuse, and will not tolerate such behaviour in our organization or the Ottawa theatre community as a whole. We are committed to providing an inclusive, safe space for all, and will continue to address our own issues, past and present. Being a long established theatre company with a large membership base, we have certainly not been immune to such issues, and we acknowledge that we have not always responded successfully. While we believe that we have always worked positively with the best information available at the time, we recognize that there is always room for improvement, and we are striving toward it. This year, we have diligently renewed our dedication to providing a safe and equitable space for all. We voluntarily opened our doors for a workplace review to highlight areas for improvement ensuring that all members are represented equally and justly. We are implementing the recommendations of the report. Additionally, Orpheus is currently reviewing its overall standards of practice, including amending our Policies & Procedures Manual and Code of Conduct, implementing workplace safety measures, and providing increased training and resources so that our Board and members may be more equipped to handle sensitive matters, or have the appropriate channels to report to. This remains a top priority, and we will enforce a zero-tolerance policy on abuse of any kind. In times like these, we must all work together to improve our spaces and communities. We have a lot of work ahead of us to ensure that the theatre world is the safe and equitable environment it stands for. Orpheus offers its support to all in their efforts for improvement. To the woman who came forward and shared her story, to the women who continue to subsequently come forward to share your own, you are brave and courageous. Thank you for being leaders in our community! May you find peace and happiness in your journey toward healing. Board of Directors Orpheus Musical Theatre

Our friends at the Ottawa Arts Council have a great job opportunity available that may be the perfect fit for a local artist! The Council is seeking an individual who is actively involved and connected to the Ottawa arts community, and who is comfortable engaging and interviewing artists, arts organizations and local businesses to secure statistical information relating to the pandemic’s actual impact in the community. The OAC are leaders and catalysts in building an engaged,... growing and inclusive arts sector. They support artists and arts organizations through leadership, guidance and providing opportunities to advance Ottawa's local creative potential. Orpheus is proud to be a member of the OAC and can attest to their decades of positive impact in our arts community. If you think you'd be a great fit for this role, why not consider becoming a part of this stellar organization? You can find more info here: https://www.ottawaartscouncil.ca//were-hiring-a-research-c

Our General Manager, J.T. Morris was on Tea with Dave recently. Check out his interview! Thanks so much to David Bard & the City of Ottawa for taking the time to highlight us and a lot of other fantastic organizations across Ottawa. This is a great series to follow!

Cancellation of Anything Goes November 2020 While the news remains encouraging and restrictions continue to decrease, activities reopen, and life slowly returns to normal, the prospect of theatres re-opening remains to be seen. As Orpheus begins preparations for its productions months ahead of their performances, we are not confident that we will be able to bring together our dedicated volunteers to audition, rehearse, and prepare for the high level of quality that our loy...al patrons deserve. For these reasons, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming production of Anything Goes slated for performance at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe in November 2020. We would like to thank the directing and production team of Anything Goes for the hard work and dedication that they've already put into this production. Our utmost concern will always be ensuring the safety of our members, volunteers, and patrons alike. We look forward to the day that we are able to return to the stage for you, together sharing in our mutual love of quality musical theatre in a safe environment. We appreciate your continued patience and support for us and for Ottawa’s vibrant arts community during these difficult times. While this does mean that Orpheus will not be back on the stage in 2020, we remain hopeful that 2021 will bring brighter days. We will continue to monitor all ministry and public health guidelines, making decisions on our announced shows on a case by case basis with the best information we have available at the time. We will also take this opportunity to reinvest in our organization. We will use this extended period of postponement to improve our outreach and accessibility programs, to renew commitment to our member, volunteer, donor, and patron experience, and to focus attention on much needed renovations of Orpheus House. When the spotlight turns on again, we will be back in it better than ever. We look forward to sharing these steps forward with you over the coming months. Until we see you again, please stay safe, positive, and respect the advice of our public health officials. Orpheus Board of Directors

While Orpheus may not have camps this summer, there are a lot of other great opportunities for the kids. Why not check out our friends over at Odyssey Theatre? They are offering their annual Youth Apprenticeship Program online and for FREE! Odyssey Theatre is a pillar of Ottawa Theatre. Since 1986, their annual productions in Strathcona Park have offered Ottawa some of the best in mask, clown, and Commedia dell'Arte theatre, and their Apprenticeship Programs are always a grea...t success! These are essential skills for any budding actor, especially for those interested in musical theatre. Visit http://www.odysseytheatre.ca/ to learn more about this great company & offer. Registration for the program is open until Friday, June 19.

Looking for your back stage or workshop photos! Hello Orpheans! I am in the process of creating a "Volunteer Recruitment" poster that will hang outside Orpheus house during the summer months or which will replace a show poster once that show is over. I am specifically looking for photos of behind the scenes activity - set construction, making of costumes, sewing costumes, teaching choreo or music, working on lighting, props, set design or back stage photos as well as anythin...g else that demonstrates a "behind the scenes" activity. Action shots are best. Please include the name of the photographer as well so I can give credit and make sure all the people in the photo are OK with their photo being used. Thanks in advance! Andrea Kinsley Director of Marketing

And though the newspapers called the shooting the Crime of the Century, Goldman knew it was only 1906 and there were ninety-four years to go. - E L Doctorow, Ragtime 1906 marked the founding of Orpheus Musical Theatre and in the following 114 years we have witnessed continued acts of aggression, racism, discrimination, and injustice. We are called to collectively face and act on these realities. Orpheus acknowledges that it can no longer stand idly by while our Black commun...ity, Indigenous community, LGBTQ2+ community, and other communities continue to face discrimination. We must put entertainment aside and remember that as a theatre company, we are storytellers. As such, we have a duty and responsibility to speak out, to provoke thought and discussion, to educate, and to promote social justice. We stand in solidarity with our communities of colour in the pursuit of justice and equality. We support your right to peaceful protest and share in the quest for freedom and safety. We will always be by your side and, recognize that we must do better. As a theatre organization that is member-driven and community-based, we renew dedication to accessibility and inclusion. We are committed to increased outreach to encourage a more culturally diverse membership, audience, and community. We are committed to providing a safe space for all. We are committed to providing space for marginalized stories and voices on our stages. We acknowledge that we profit from the art forms created by the Black community. We will address our own systemic issues and inequities. We will continually listen to our communities, engaging and acting on social issues. We acknowledge our own faults and complicity. We are dedicated to improving and to change. Change is necessary and overdue. We will do better, be better, and help pave the path forward. Say a prayer that change is a comin', Say a prayer that hope is 'round the bend. And if you pray that change is a comin', Then may what you pray come true. - Memphis: A New Musical #BlackLivesMatter

Hello all, This week would have been the run of our production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. In another world, this hilarious show would have opened last Friday, May 29, to an audience that would have been able to laugh at the antics of Lord Montague "Monty" D'Ysquith Navarro as he recounts his memoirs. We do not live in that world, and our unusual circumstances means that we had to ask you, our patrons, our volunteers, and our talented production team to save th...eir patronage and creative potential for a time yet. Orpheus would like to thank the many months of planning and effort that Andrew Portolesi, Lisa Concessi Maclean, and Dee Gee, along with their many production heads had put into this show. Planning for our shows will often start a year or more before the curtain opens. In these uncertain times, Orpheus will continue to prioritize the health of everyone on both sides of the fourth wall. We very much look forward to bringing you more musical theatre, and we will continue to keep you updated as health recommendations and city services influence our ability to return to our normal operations.

Nominations requested for J.Barry Ryan Award The J. Barry Ryan Award was created in recognition of the inspirational contribution made to the Orpheus Musical Theatre (formerly Operatic) Society by J. Barry Ryan (an on-stage performer, a costume and set designer who was a member of Orpheus from 1976 to 1986). This award was established after his death in 1986 by Casey Krzyzanowski (deceased in 2010) and Susie Bregg. The award is designed to be presented as a "Hall Of Fame" r...ecognition to Orpheus members or past members who have made an outstanding contribution ABOVE AND BEYOND any normal involvement in the Orpheus Community. It is through such individuals' special commitment that the Society continues and grows. Nominations requested: Any Orpheus Musical Theatre members can nominate an individual whom they believe warrants this recognition. Please send nominations to the Recruitment Director, John Litster [email protected] by June 1, 2020. The nominations should include the rationale for nominating this individual. Candidate Criteria To facilitate discussion of possible candidates, a short list of important elements that might be considered by the committee is listed below: Proven commitment to Orpheus: Continuity in commitment over a reasonable time period, Consistency in that commitment, and Their contribution exceeds anything normally expected from the positions they have had in Orpheus Type of commitment. This could be any or all of the following: commitment to artistic excellence in Orpheus productions, fulfilling a maintenance role in the organization, and/or fulfilling a developmental role, foreseeing future needs of the organization; A positive attitude in promoting Orpheus; Working as a community ambassador on behalf of Orpheus; A good team member; A person who has been able to recognize and develop the talents of others; Encouragement of new members; A person who puts the needs of Orpheus ahead of their own recognition. Judging Nominations. Any Orpheus members who are interested in helping to judge the nominations for the J. Barry Ryan award (one virtual meeting commitment) are asked to contact the Recruitment Director, John Litster. [email protected].

Cancellation of Marvelous Wonderettes - September 2020 Despite the encouraging news that a variety of activities are slowly being opened up across Ontario, Orpheus is still not able to safely bring together our passionate volunteers to audition, rehearse and prepare for our next production. For this reason, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming production of The Marvelous Wonderettes planned for the Gladstone Theatre in September 2020. This decision, whic...h was done in consultation with the directing team, was not taken lightly. Orpheus is extremely fortunate to be part of such a vibrant arts community in Ottawa with dedicated patrons who consistently support live musical theatre! We look forward to safer times when we can once again bring you the high quality musical theatre experience you have come to expect from Orpheus Musical Theatre. To our wonderfully dedicated volunteers, our thoughts are with you, your family and friends as you navigate these challenging times. Before too long, we hope to join together to do what we do best - entertain our loyal and appreciative musical theatre audiences! Thank you to our incredibly dedicated directing and production team who have already invested so much personal time and effort into preparing for this production. We recognize and appreciate the passion you have for this show and hope that we can put on this uplifting musical in the not-too-distant future. Until then, please stay safe and respect the advice of our public health officials! Orpheus Board of Directors

Call for Candidates - Orpheus Board elections 2020. From the Committee Chair, Eugene Oscapella. First, I would like to thank those who have volunteered to sit on the Orpheus nominating committee with me: Don Palmer (all the way from Florida), Graham Galway, Beverly Soifer and Jerusha Lewis. ...Continue reading

Our friends at Réseau Ontario ( http://www.reseauontario.ca/fr/ ) are currently seeking six artists to participate in an artistic residency to create the Opening Show for the 2021 edition of Contact ontarois (currently scheduled for January 2021 at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa). The six (6) artists selected will create a completely new interpretation of 14 songs, according to their musical style, that best represent Canadian diversity. The songs will be suggested by the C...anadian population in an online contest, and then selected by a committee. Applications are due May 31. Read the full call here (EN and FR): http://www.reseauontario.ca//Appel-aux-artistes-en-chanson

Announcing our new General Manager The Orpheus Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of our new General Manager, J.T. Morris! J.T. brings to Orpheus an excellent blend of performing arts, theatre education, and arts administration experience. In addition to his managerial and Board experience with Not-For-Profit organizations, his valuable private sector entertainment experience will contribute greatly to moving our organization forward.... J.T. is well known to the Ottawa arts community having contributed to many theatrical arts organizations in Ottawa in a variety of roles. His experience in box office management, donor relations, community and volunteer liaison, membership management and Board relations will serve him well as he transitions to this newly created role at Orpheus. With the establishment of this new role, Orpheus is committed to providing even greater levels of support to our members, volunteers, Angels, Board of Directors and patrons. We look forward to J.T. starting this exciting role in the coming weeks. Please join us in congratulating him on this new assignment! Orpheus thanks all applicants from across Canada and the U.S. for their interest in this position. We wish them well in future artistic endeavours. Orpheus Board of Directors

2020 Nominating Committee The Orpheus Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Eugene Oscapella has been appointed as the Chair of the 2020 Nominating Committee. Thank you Eugene for taking on this leadership role! We are currently recruiting 4-5 members to serve on this committee to identify candidates for the upcoming annual elections. This is a fairly short term commitment as the deliberations and final report are expected to be completed by mid June. As you can imag...ine, the work of this committee is expected to be done remotely. This is an incredibly important process that allows us to choose our fellow members to become the Directors of our terrific society. If you would like to participate on this committee, please contact Eugene directly at [email protected] no later than Friday Apr 24, 2020.

Orpheus Election Cycle 2020 In the coming weeks, Orpheus will begin the planning cycle for selecting members to serve on the Board of Directors. This cycle begins with the appointment of a committee chair, and then follows with selection of committee members, identification of potential candidates for each position, presentation of candidates to the membership and finishes with elections at the Annual General Meeting. This is an incredibly important process that allows us to...Continue reading

The Secret Garden June 4 to 13, 2021 Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe (Main Stage) Joining directors Michael Gareau (Stage Director), Murray Doggett (Music Director) and Lynne Fleury (Choreographer) are the following members of the production team for The Secret Garden. Congratulations!... Producer: Lisa Hopkins Production Assistant: Lisa Dunn Stage Manager: Heather Forsyth Set Designer: Margaret Coderre-Williams Co-Costume Designers: Susan Cole and Pauline Doggett Lighting Designer: Bill McLaughlin Sound Designer: John Cybanski Make up Designer: Dalene Gallo Hair Designer: Stefan Kaleb Audition and Rehearsal Accompanist: John McGovern Orchestra Contractor: Murray Doggett

Something Rotten March 5 to 14, 2021 Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe (Main Stage) Joining Dee Gee (Stage Director and Choreographer) and Paul Legault (Music Director) are the following members of the production team. Congratulations!... Producer: Jim Robertson Production Assistant: Gabriel Leury Stage Manager: Paul Matthew Set Designer and Scenic Artist: Laura Duncan Lighting Designer: David Magladry Sound Designer: John Cybanski Make Up Designer: Dalene Gallo Hair Designer: Stefan Kaleb Rehearsal Accompanist and Orchestra Contractor: Paul Legault Audition Accompanist: Stephen Pankiewicz

Stay tuned tomorrow when I announce the production personnel for Something Rotten and The Secret Garden. Curious? Check back tomorrow

Anything Goes November 20 to 29, 2020 Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe - Main Stage The following production personnel will be joining J.T. Morris (Stage Director) Kenny Hayes (Music Director) and D.J. Eyamie (Choreographer) for Anything Goes!... Congratulations! Producer: John Litster Production Assistant: Ron Cross Stage Manager: Graham Galway Set and Lighting Designer: David Magladry Sound Designer: John Cybanski Make Up and Hair Designer: KD Shields