Anglais
One year after the Albert Schultz scandal, can Soulpepper get its groove back?
[ad_1]
One year after allegations of sexual misconduct against its founder and artistic director Albert Schultz cast a shadow on Toronto’s critically hailed Soulpepper Theatre, the theatre has managed to survive, thanks to steady audience support and continuing on-stage excellence provided by the artists remaining in the company.
Now three months into its 2018/2019 season, Soulpepper is ushering in the new year with a bang — with its first original musical, Rose, a big-budget production based on a story by Gertrude Stein.
« We’re not holding back, we’re still striving for ambitious, creative work that’s innovative, » says Soulpepper’s newly minted artistic director Weyni Mengesha, as she takes in a rehearsal of Rose alongside executive director Emma Stenning, who was hired three months ago.
Mengesha’s and Stenning’s appointments are also a big part of Soulpepper’s very public reset — two women with international resumes in the top leadership positions once occupied by Schultz and his wife, then-executive director Leslie Lester. They face a Herculean task: To convince the public and the theatrical community that Soulpepper’s internal culture is now safe, while continuing to mount the daring, cutting-edge plays on which the company built its reputation.
Loyal audiences
Schultz resigned and Lester was let go from the company in the wake of the January 2018 lawsuit by four actresses who alleged Schultz was a « serial sexual predator » and that Soulpepper « failed to provide a safe work environment. » The suit was settled out of court this summer, with undisclosed terms.
Artistic director Weyni Mengesha has new ideas for Soulpepper Theatre, including more diversity and community involvement. (Turgut Yeter/CBC)
« I’m aware, of course, that people are going to have questions. They’re going to, you know, wonder as they come to Soulpepper, » says Stenning of the company’s public image.
« But actually, what we saw through the course of last year is audiences flocking to this theatre. »
The numbers back up her claim. Soulpepper did lose $375 500 of promised additional funding by Canada Council for the Arts, which was rescinded in the wake of the Schultz scandal, a sizeable income they are hoping to regain. But in terms of ticket sales and fundraising, the company reached its 2018 goal.
in 2018, the theatre saw a 15 per cent decrease in the number of subscription tickets sold, but sold more individual tickets than in the year before. Overall, its box office outperformed 2017 slightly. And while some donors withdrew their support, many of those who stayed « redoubled their contributions, » according to Stenning.
Theatre actor and director Ravi Jain says the audiences were able to make the distinction between Schultz’s alleged actions and the company’s on-stage product. Jain, who directed and acted in a number of Soulpepper productions and was its associate artistic director in 2016, left due to, in his own words, disagreements with Schultz about the best way to bring diversity to the company. Since leaving, he has been running his own Why Not Theatre.
« I think everyone wanted what was best for the company. In terms of audiences, they kept seeing the shows and they have a relationship with the company, » Jain said.
Soulpepper’s solid lineup of shows in 2018 probably helped that relationship. Toronto theatre critic Glenn Sumi says it was « more diverse and inclusive than any previous season » and singles out critical hits like The Royale, Escaped Alone and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.
Attracting the artists
To continue that track record of on-stage excellence, Soulpepper will have to continue to attract top level actors, playwrights and directors. That, too, is a relationship that will require mending.
Actors rehearse the new musical Rose. Some subscribers didn’t renew after the scandal, but individual ticket sales rose. (Daniel Malavasi/Soulpepper)
As the Schultz scandal broke, some artists who have been key collaborators of Soulpepper stepped away from the organization, including founding members Ted Dykstra and Stuart Hughes, and top actress Michelle Monteith. Other actors staged silent protests or said they would boycott working with Soulpepper as a show of solidarity with Schultz’s accusers. So how does the artistic community feel about Soulpepper now?
Aislinn Rose, the creative producer of Toronto’s Theatre Centre, says she is thrilled about the appointment of Mengesha, who she calls « a brilliant artist and a brilliant human being. » But she says that the stories of unhealthy work culture that emerged during the Schultz scandal lead her to believe further work might be needed.
« The other thing that a lot of other poeple talked about was just a toxic workplace, » says Rose. « It’s important that if the leadership is being changed, a systemic change needs to be made throughout the organization. »
Some theatre critics and insiders have criticized Soulpepper’s board for not launching a major, third-party investigation into the alleged abuses that took place there during the Schultz years, and not making the findings public, as London’s Old Vic has in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against its former artistic director, Kevin Spacey.
Emma Stenning says some of the findings of the investigation done by the board have already been made public, as they’re reflected in the company’s new Code of Conduct and Statement of Promises, with more documents to come.
« I feel like there are some people in the community who still may feel that the board hasn’t necessarily accounted for what happened, » says Jain. « But I think there’s a big, huge part of the community who feels differently, that feels, you know, by choosing Emma, by choosing Weyni, they are really taking steps to make the changes necessary to account for what happened. »
More diversity, more tours abroad
Mengesha’s and Stenning’s backgrounds certainly seem to hold clout with a lot of people in the theatre community. Mengesha is an alum of Soulpepper Academy, who attracted international reputation for directing diverse stories that would become mainstream hits, including Da Kink in my Hair, and Soulpepper’s own Kim’s Convenience.
While Mengesha leaves behind Los Angeles, where she’s been working and raising her young family, Stenning also travelled a long way for her job. A seasoned British theatre administrator, Stenning led Bristol Old Vic theatre from the brink of financial ruin to a creative and commercial renaissance.
Soulpepper executive director Emma Stenning helped the Old Vic in London to a renaissance. (Turgut Yeter/CBC)
One of the other things the two women share is the desire to shift the conversation back to Soulpepper’s on-stage work. The current season was programmed by the interim artistic director Alan Dillworth, who took over when Schultz resigned in 2018, and the musical Rose had the beginnings of its development during Schultz’s leadership.
Both Mengesha and Stenning think the company can not only match, but exceed, some of its artistic high points of the past.
Stenning, who first heard of Soulpepper while visiting a friend in Toronto a few years ago, hopes to boost the company’s international reputation.
« I feel really confident, within the next few years, as the program that we’re delivering starts to progress and succeed, that we will see Soulpepper work out on the road, so that by the time I’m back visiting the U.K., everyone will know Soulpepper. »
For Mengesha, that means including more diverse stories you typically don’t see in Soulpepper’s « Chekhov-and-Pinter » repertoire. Words like « community » and « collaboration » frequently come up in when she describes her vision for Soulpepper — a less hierarchical organization where the artists and even fans have their say in the programming.
« If you create the meeting point, if you create the freedom, if you create the excitement, people will come and people will be inspired, » says Mengesha. « I mean, that is how the renaissances happen. »
[ad_2]
Source link
In downtown Montreal, it’s festival season.
In the city’s entertainment district, a musical act was conducting a sound check on stage Friday evening — the second day of the French-language version of the renowned Just For Laughs comedy festival. Tickets for many of the festival’s free outdoor shows — limited by COVID-19 regulations — were sold out.
Two blocks away, more than 100 people were watching an acoustic performance by the Isaac Neto Trio — part of the last weekend of the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, a celebration of music from the African continent and the African diaspora.
With COVID-19 restrictions continuing to limit capacity, festival organizers say they’re glad to be back but looking forward to next year when they hope border restrictions and capacity limits won’t affect their plans.
Charles Décarie, Just For Laughs’ CEO and president, said this is a “transition year.”
“Even though we have major constraints from the public health group in Montreal, we’ve managed to design a festival that can navigate through those constraints,” Décarie said.
The French-language Juste pour rire festival began on July 15 and is followed by the English-language festival until July 31.
When planning began in February and March, Décarie said, organizers came up with a variety of scenarios for different crowd sizes, ranging from no spectators to 50 per cent of usual capacity.
“You’ve got to build scenarios,” he said. “You do have to plan a little bit more than usual because you have to have alternatives.”
MONTREAL — MELS Studios will build a new film studio in Montreal, filling some of the gap in supply to meet the demand of Hollywood productions.
MELS president Martin Carrier said on Friday that MELS 4 studio construction will begin « as soon as possible », either in the fall or winter of next year. The studio could host productions as early as spring 2023.
The total investment for the project is $76 million, with the Quebec government contributing a $25 million loan. The project will create 110 jobs, according to the company.
The TVA Group subsidiary’s project will enable it to stand out « even more » internationally, according to Quebecor president and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau. In the past, MELS Studios has hosted several major productions, including chapters of the X-Men franchise. The next Transformers movie is shooting this summer in Montreal.
Péladeau insisted that local cultural productions would also benefit from the new facility, adding that the studio ensures foreign revenues and to showcase talent and maintain an industry of Quebec producers.
STUDIO SHORTAGE
The film industry is cramped in Montreal.
According to a report published last May by the Bureau du cinéma et de la télévision du Québec (BCTQ), there is a shortage of nearly 400,000 square feet of studio space.
With the addition of MELS 4, which will be 160,000 square feet, the company is filling part of the gap.
Carrier admitted that he has had to turn down contracts because of the lack of space, representing missed opportunities of « tens of millions of dollars, not only for MELS, but also for the Quebec economy. »
« Montreal’s expertise is in high demand, » said Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, who was present at the announcement.
She said she received great testimonials from « Netflix, Disney, HBO and company » during an economic mission to Los Angeles in 2019.
« What stands out is that they love Montreal because of its expertise, knowledge and beauty. We need more space, like MELS 4, » she said.
There is still not enough capacity in Quebec, acknowledged Minister of Finance, the Economy and Innovation Eric Girard.
« It is certain that the government is concerned about fairness and balance, so if other requests come in, we will study them with the same seriousness as we have studied this one, » he said.
Grandé Studios is the second-largest player in the industry. Last May, the company said it had expansion plans that should begin in 2022. Investissement Québec and Bell are minority shareholders in the company.
For its part, MELS will have 400,000 square feet of production space once MELS 4 is completed. The company employs 450 people in Quebec and offers a range of services including studio and equipment rentals, image and sound postproduction, visual effects and a virtual production platform.
MAPEI Canada inaugure l’agrandissement de son usine à Laval, au Québec
Le Gala Elles reconnaissent célèbre les femmes remarquables de l’industrie de la construction
Préparez votre maison pour l’hiver afin d’éviter les réclamations d’assurance
Quatre façons de commencer à travailler dans le domaine des ventes
La Commission indépendante soutient le recours de la Cour suprême contre le déni des droits des non-francophones par le Québec
Justin Trudeau est un raciste contre les Noirs et les Premières Nations – 14 signes
Enfants aux études loin de la maison : Trois conseils pour veiller à la santé de leurs finances
Règles et règlements que toutes les entreprises canadiennes doivent connaître
Épargnez pour l’avenir grâce à nos trucs financiers pour la rentrée
Efficacité énergétique: 10 façons économiques de l’améliorer
Ces légendes du baccara vous dévoilent leurs secrets
Retard de vol : le devoir de la compagnie envers ses passagers
Nostalgia and much more with Starburst XXXtreme
Même les jeunes RÉPUBLIQUES se lassent du capitalisme, selon les sondeurs américains — RT USA News
« Aucune crise climatique ne causera la fin du capitalisme ! »
Innovation : le capitalisme « responsable », faux problème et vraie diversion
Vers la fin du Capitalocène ?
Le “capitalisme viral” peut-il sauver la planète ?
Livre : comment le capitalisme a colonisé les esprits
Patrick Artus : « Le capitalisme d’aujourd’hui est économiquement inefficace »
Body found after downtown Lethbridge apartment building fire, police investigating – Lethbridge
Comment aider un bébé à développer son goût
Head of Toronto Community Housing placed on paid leave
Salon du chocolat 2018: les 5 temps forts
This B.C. woman’s recipe is one of the most popular of all time — and the story behind it is bananas
Gluten-Free Muffins
We Try Kin Euphorics and How to REALLY Get the Glow | Healthyish
Man facing eviction from family home on Toronto Islands gets reprieve — for now
Condo developer Thomas Liu — who collected millions but hasn’t built anything — loses court fight with Town of Ajax
27 CP Rail cars derail near Lake Louise, Alta.
Ontario’s Tories hope Ryan Gosling video will keep supporters from breaking up with the party
Renaud Capuçon, rédacteur en chef du Figaroscope
Paris : chez Cécile Roederer co-fondatrice de Smallable
Ontario Tories argue Trudeau’s carbon plan is ‘unconstitutional’
100 years later, Montreal’s Black Watch regiment returns to Wallers, France
Trudeau government would reject Jason Kenney, taxpayers group in carbon tax court fight
Ford Ranger Raptor, le pick-up roule des mécaniques
Los Angeles poursuit The Weather Channel pour atteinte à la vie privée
Le Forex devient de plus en plus accessible aux débutants
The Bill Gates globalist vaccine depopulation agenda… as revealed by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
-
Anglais5 années agoBody found after downtown Lethbridge apartment building fire, police investigating – Lethbridge
-
Santé Et Nutrition4 années agoComment aider un bébé à développer son goût
-
Anglais5 années agoHead of Toronto Community Housing placed on paid leave
-
Styles De Vie5 années agoSalon du chocolat 2018: les 5 temps forts
-
Anglais5 années agoThis B.C. woman’s recipe is one of the most popular of all time — and the story behind it is bananas
-
Santé Et Nutrition6 années agoGluten-Free Muffins
-
Santé Et Nutrition5 années agoWe Try Kin Euphorics and How to REALLY Get the Glow | Healthyish
-
Anglais5 années agoMan facing eviction from family home on Toronto Islands gets reprieve — for now