April 2015 Newsletter!

Morpheus Theatre’s April 2015 Newsletter is now available online: Spotlight April 2015

Now Recruiting Ushers for Ruddigore, April 17 – May 2!

Hello Community Theatre Supporters!

You have been invited by Morpheus Theatre to sign up for “Ushers – Ruddigore.” Please click on the link below to view the online sign up sheet.

To sign up, go to: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0948acac2ea0f58-ushers5

 

Written just after The Mikado, this comic operetta from Gilbert and Sullivan brings more spectres and spooky, musical fun to wrap up our 20th season. As only they can, Gilbert and Sullivan parody melodrama while at the same time employing some of its classic elements – a poor and virtuous heroine, a villain who steals her away, heros and faithful friends. And we mustn’t forget the ghosts who live in the family portraits. Hidden identities, courtship gone awry and a good old fashioned family curse showcase such songs as “In sailing o’er life’s ocean wide”, “When I’m a bad Bart, I will tell taradiddles” and “When a man has been a naughty baronet”. So don’t risk being moody and sad, make sure you have your tickets to Morpheus Theatre’s 20th season Gilbert and Sullivan operetta.

 

Volunteering to help at the theatre is a great way to see this production. So, please consider volunteering for one or more performances, or volunteer with a friend or family member!

 

We need 2 ushers, 2 ticket takers and 1 will call volunteer for each performance- The ushers welcome patrons, hand out programs, take tickets and ensure everyone is properly seated, including late-comers. At the intermissions, all volunteers sell 50/50 tickets, then ensure patrons return to their seats in a timely manner. Immediately following the show, ushers clear the theatre of programs and any debris.

 

Matinee performances begin at 2:00pm and evening performances begin at 7:30pm. Volunteers need to be on duty at least 45 minutes before the performance time.

 

Tickets are now on sale! Encourage your friends and relatives to book their tickets now to avoid disappointment. Visit www.morpheustheatre.ca and follow the links, or call 403-246-2999.

 

If you are interested in volunteering, please click on this link www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948ACAC2EA0F58-ushers5  If you are having difficulty, please email tickets@morpheustheatre.ca or call 403-246-2999Your help is always appreciated!        

Thanks very much – and we look forward to hearing from you about volunteering!

Stage Management Workshop: Basics & Beyond with Donna Sharpe, Mar 22!

Stage Management Workshop: Basics and Beyond

with Donna Sharpe

Sunday Mar 22, 10:00 – 5:00

Wanna Be a Stage Manager? Wanna Be a BETTER Stage Manager? 

SYNOPSIS:

Whether you are just getting started, or have a few shows under your belt, Donna Sharpe will have valuable information and insight for you!  She will be leading participants through the role of the Stage Manager and how to be the most efficient and effective member of the production, as well as common troubleshooting tips and tricks.

 

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Donna Sharpe is a Calgary-based stage manager with over 20 years of experience. She is currently in her 13th season stage managing with Calgary Opera. Her career has included everything from large scale opera and theatre productions to new play creation. She has toured locally and abroad and has worked with emerging artist programs in Calgary, Vermont, and Newfoundland.

 

COST: $40 (registration online or by phone)

Register a group of 5 or more, and attend for less! Or, register for 3 workshops and get the 3rd one for 50% off (Call Morpheus Theatre to redeem).

 

WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre (3512 5 Avenue NW, Lower Level)

Refreshments served from 9:30 – 10:00am

 

For more information, or to register, please click HERE or call (403) 246-2999.

MORE WORKSHOPS COMING! Click our WORKSHOP TAB for details.

 Theatre Alberta & AFA 

*This workshops is sponsored by Theatre Alberta with funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

This valuable workshop is presented at this low price in the spirit of Community Theatre.

 

Improve Stage Performance and Alleviate Stage Anxiety: The HeartMath® Way with Shamir Ladhani

Workshop: Improve Stage Performance and Alleviate Stage Anxiety: The HeartMath® Way 

with Shamir S. Ladhani

Saturday Mar 7, 12:00 – 5:00pm

At this workshop you will learn scientifically validated HeartMath® techniques that have been proven to enhance stage performance, overcome stage anxiety and enable you to reset and rejuvenate after an intense performance so you can get a good night’s rest.

SYNOPSIS:

As an actor or a performer, you know that your character is brought to life by emotions you induce on stage.   Did you know that when you create these emotions, the impact on your body is exactly the same as if you were experiencing these off-stage?  When your character requires you to create anger, your body begins to trigger a chain of 1400 chemical responses.  These responses could potentially result in release of stress hormones, suppression of immune functioning, cortical inhibition (forgetting lines) and so on.  Your body is not able to distinguish between stage anger and off-stage anger and therefore you pay the price off-stage.

At this workshop, you will learn how your body responds to emotions so you can better prepare yourself for auditions, performances and for resetting your body’s biology after your emotional-charged performance.   All you need to know are two things: a) how to breathe and b) how to create emotions on demand.  Well Thespian, isn’t this something you do already?

 

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Shamir Ladhani is a former Vice-President of a fast-paced and dynamic energy corporation.  He left this position to pursue his dream of developing health and wellness programs for individuals and groups who are interested in alternative approaches to optimal health and wellness.  Shamir is a Certified HeartMath® Coach and Trainer and has helped his clients reduce anxiety, overcome grief and enhance decision-making capabilities.  He is also a community theatre actor and has performed in various productions in the Calgary area including the title role in Morpheus Theatre’s Ali Baba.  In 2010  Shamir was honored with Workshop Theatre’s award  ‘Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role’ for his work in  Inherit the Wind.

 

COST: $40 (registration online or by phone)

Register a group of 5 or more, and attend for less! Or, register for 3 workshops and get the 3rd one for 50% off (Call Morpheus Theatre to redeem).

WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre (3512 5 Avenue NW, Lower Level)

Refreshments served from 11:30 – 12:00pm

 

For more information, or to register, please visit our website HERE or call (403) 246-2999.

MORE WORKSHOPS COMING! Watch our WORKSHOP TAB for details

This valuable workshop is presented at this low price in the spirit of Community Theatre.

Stage Combat Workshop with Aaron Conrad & John Knight Feb 27 & 28!

Stage Combat Workshop

with Aaron Conrad & John Knight

Friday Feb 27, 6pm – 10pm & Saturday Feb 28, 12:30 – 4:30

Learn stage combat from the fight choreographers of Scorpio Theatre’s Cry Havoc 3!

SYNOPSIS:

From the Award winning choreographers of Shake the Crowd Productions (Cry Havoc, 3 Musketeers, Reservoir Dogs), we present our 2015 stage combat workshop with Aaron Conrad and John Knight.  Hot off their latest project – Scorpio Theatre’s Cry Havoc 3, Aaron and John will be leading participants through the basics of hand to hand stage combat and broadsword work.  The first day will cover theory and basics, with a chance on the second day to practice and finesse what has been learned.

 

INSTRUCTOR BIOS:

Aaron Conrad is a Calgary based professional actor, director and choreographer and is also the Artistic Director of Scorpio Theatre. With over 10 years of choreography experience he brings a unique blend of traditional and modern stage combat techniques with a consideration for character based narrative in combat ensuring that characters fight the way they ought to fight.

John Knight has been a Calgary-based theatre artist for the past 11 years. He has worked as an actor, director, fight choreographer, and stunt performer. Over the years John has worked with some of the best fight folk this country has to offer and this has helped him develop a collaborative approach to stage violence. This ensures the director’s vision, the actor’s skill and the story told all have equal voice in the fight.

 

COST: $50 (registration online or by phone)

Register a group of 5 or more, and attend for less! Or, register for 3 workshops and get the 3rd one for 50% off (Call Morpheus Theatre to redeem).

 

WHERE: Morpheus Rehearsal Centre (3512 5 Avenue NW, Lower Level)

Refreshments served half an hour before the start of each day.

For more information, or to register, please visit our website HERE or call (403) 246-2999.

 MORE WORKSHOPS COMING! Watch our WORKSHOP TAB for details

This valuable workshop is presented at this low price in the spirit of Community Theatre.

Intro to Improv Workshop with Karen Johnson Diamond Feb 15!

Intro to Improv Workshop

With Karen Johnson Diamond

Sunday, February 15, 2:00pm – 9:00pm

Lost without lines? Stuck to a script? Learn liberation with Improv!

SYNOPSIS:

Scared of Improvising?  This class aims to change your mind. Through games, exercises, and discussion, you’ll learn some of the tricks, the tactics, and the dos and don’ts of improvisation. Come prepared to step up, step out, and act out in this dynamic, hands-on workshop.  Participation is not only mandatory, it’s inevitable. Note: it is not necessary to make the instructor or anyone else in the class laugh….less scared? Sign up!

INSTRUCTOR BIO: Coming soon!

Where: Lower Level, Parkdale Community Centre (3512 5 Avenue NW)

Cost: $40    (discounts available for groups of 5 or more, Or, register for 3 workshops and get the 3rd one for 50% off! contact Morpheus Theatre for details)

Refreshments served from 1:30 – 2:00pm

Dinner break from 5:00 to 6:00pm (please bring your own food and drink)

For more information, or to register, please visit our website at https://tickets.morpheustheatre.ca  or call (403) 246-2999.

MORE WORKSHOPS COMING! Watch our WORKSHOP TAB for detailsTheatre Alberta & AFA

*These workshops are sponsored by Theatre Alberta with funding from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

This valuable workshop is presented at this low price in the spirit of Community Theatre.

January 2015 Newsletter

Morpheus Theatre’s January 2015 Newsletter is now available online: Spotlight Jan 2015

Cast of Ruddigore Announced

Morpheus Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of our 20th season Gilbert & Sullivan operetta – Ruddigore, or The Witch’s Curse.

SIR RUTHVEN MURGATROYD / ROBIN OAKAPPLE – Ian Fundytus
RICHARD DAUNTLESS – Carey Unger
SIR DESPARD MURGATROYD – Fadi Saghir
SIR RODERIC MURGATROYD – Mike Johnson
OLD ADAM GOODHEART – Gary Silberg
ROSE MAYBUD – Jennifer Michaud
MAD MARGARET – Winnifred Hume
DAME HANNAH – Laura Jones
ZORAH – Paige Fossheim
RUTH – Elena Zgheir

Ensemble of professional Bridesmaids, the Ancestors of Ruddigore, Townspeople…and more.

Kurt Archer
Angie Arhinful
Josh Bailey
Heather Berg
Suzanne Berg
Meagan Cuthbertson
Kate Fraser
Gad Ittay Gijon
Kyle Gould
Sean Haid
Michelle LeBlanc
Kurt Markuson
Sara McMurray
Jane Phillips
Cameron Ross
Derek Ross
Chelsea Shortall

Thank you to everyone who came out for the auditions.

Read more about the show here: http://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?portfolio=ruddigore

November 2014 Newsletter

Morpheus Theatre’s November 2014 Newsletter is available online: Spotlight November 2014

Suggest a Show / Direct a Show

Morpheus Theatre invites the community to make proposals for shows to be produced during our 2015/2016 season.

Morpheus presents 4 quality shows each year (a farce or comedy, a Christmas family production, a contemporary drama, and a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta) at the Pumphouse Theatre, in both the Victor Mitchell & Joyce Doolittle Theatres. We are looking for WELL-KNOWN SHOWS with HIGH AUDIENCE POTENTIAL that fall within our four show categories.

Ideally, the shows will appeal to a wide family audience (primarily 12 and up, although under 18 is not the target audience).

SUGGEST A SHOW
* Title & Playwright of show
* Cast size of show, with male/female breakdown
* Why you think Morpheus should produce it
* Which theatre it would work best in
* Potential challenges


We are also seeking experienced and passionate directors to submit a letter of interest along with a resume with related theatre experience and background. Applicants do not need to submit for a specific show.

APPLY TO DIRECT
* Name of director
* Directing and theatre related experience
* Types of shows applicant is interested in directing
* Director’s Vision for the show (including overall thoughts about how it would be staged & any special effects, set ideas, costume ideas, technical considerations) (if applicable)

Morpheus Theatre thanks everyone for their submissions, however, only candidates being considered for this season will be contacted.  If you suggest a play that we accept, you will receive two free tickets to see that production.

Please email or deliver letters of interest by mid-January, 2015 to:
               Sean Anderson, Artistic Director, Morpheus Theatre
               3512 – 5th Avenue NW Calgary, AB T2N 0V7
               info@morpheustheatre.ca