NewZ June 2021 – What Happened in ShowbiZ This Month

ShowbiZ Shares NewZ, Articles, Blog Posts and Videos for Canadian Performers

(aka NewZ for Actors, Singers and Dancers on Stage and Screen)

Keep reading for the full roundup of what happened this month in the NewZ!

Centre for Indigenous Theatre

This is both a recommended watch AND a recommended follow.

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre is an incredibly unique post-secondary training program in Toronto, and they streamed their June Showcase from June 2-4. Since you are reading this AFTER June 2-4, don’t worry – they will have other showcases as well!

The program blends performance training with Indigenous teachings and culture, and offers a much-needed venue for these up-and-coming performers to develop their artistry.

They are also a registered non-profit and accept donations to help keep this training accessible to students no matter their financial situation.

Follow them @indigenoustheatre

Check out their website: Centre for Indigenous Theatre

kinSHIFT was designed out of a need to help bridge the communication/awareness gap between settlers and Indigenous peoples. It gives non-Indigenous settlers a space to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn how to communicate and co-exist respectfully.

In short, these workshops were created to help settlers become better allies.

Check out the following:

NewZ Article: Syilx facilitator launches workshop series for non-Indigenous allies

Website:

Pride Timeline: 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Plays and Musicals

Wish you had a quick little timeline of some of the most influential LGBTQ+ Plays/Musicals alongside the historic events surrounding those shows? Look no further.

Check it out here: Pride Timeline: 50 Years of LGBTQ+ Plays and Musicals

The “Tiny Tim Effect”: Stereotypes of Disability in Popular Stories

Theatre often plays into stereotypes, but it doesn’t HAVE to be that way. There are many, many, many classic stories that could be portrayed by many, many many types of people.

This article’s a fabulous read about the more problematic ways we tend to portray disabilities onstage. We need to start thinking more about inclusion rather than just including.

Check out: The “Tiny Tim Effect”: Stereotypes of Disability in Popular Stories

A Fat Girl’s Diatribe Against the Theatre Community

This article is short and sweet and to the point…but that doesn’t diminish the magnitude of the situation, nor how reflective it is of standard practices within the industry.

Check out the article: A Fat Girl’s Diatribe Against the Theatre Community

Voice actor Bev Standing Sues TikTok For Unauthorized Use of Her Text-To-Speech Voice

Did you notice TikTok has a new text-to-speech voice?

There are now a few more developments since this article was released, but here’s the start of the story for those who missed it.

Check out the newZ article: Voice actor Bev Standing Sues TikTok For Unauthorized Use of Her Text-To-Speech Voice

ASL and Theatre: Here’s What Not To Do

There will most definitely be a few opinions on this one, but it certainly has a few points to think about. Take a look at the comments as well as there are some rebuttals in there, too.

As with many things, a one-size-fits-all solution won’t be easy to find. What’s important are these conversations so that decisions can be made with a heightened understanding of those voices which have often been ignored.

Check out: ASL and Theatre: Here’s What Not To Do

Breaking gender norms in the dance world

It’s hard to ignore the gender binary in the ballet world…there are almost two completely different techniques and styles of dancing between the two genders.

Unfortunately, it has become revolutionary to cross this line (especially when it’s not paired with parody), but perhaps that line is now starting to be questioned…especially since these “two genders” are fictitious in the first place.

Check out this newZ video following artist @bebebrunjes as they discuss their time at George Brown successfully requesting to be a part of a women’s only pointe class.

Broadway Loves the White ‘Diva’ but Shuns the ‘Difficult’ Black Performer

There is no question that there is a correlation between one’s skin tone, and the amount of things they are “able to get away with.”

Not only is being able to get away with certain things wrong, but it is doubly unfair that there are clearly different overlooking/forgiveness standards placed on different kinds of people.

Check out: Broadway Loves the White ‘Diva’ but Shuns the ‘Difficult’ Black Performer

Kaitlyn Weaver hopes her coming out story finally breaks figure skating’s female archetype

In an industry where specific sexualities are clearly showcased as the norm, what does it feel like to be an artist who doesn’t fit into this box?

Check out this newZ here: Kaitlyn Weaver hopes her coming out story finally breaks figure skating’s female archetype

‘I have to be thin to do this job’: Inside the theater’s long-standing fatphobia

This article has been circulating for a while, but the initial one was behind a pay wall for some folks.

So if you haven’t had a chance to read this one yet, do give it a read!

Check out: ’I have to be thin to do this job’: Inside the theater’s long-standing fat phobia

Indigenous Languages on Stage: A Roundtable Conversation with Five Indigenous Theatre Artists

It was the 25th National Indigenous Peoples Day, so this seemed like the perfect time for this article:

Read it here: Indigenous Languages on Stage: A Roundtable Conversation with Five Indigenous Theatre Artists

Queer Theatre is Visionary Theatre

Check out this fabulous essay by Rhiannon Collett about their experience in the Toronto queer theatre scene.

Read it here: Queer Theatre is Visionary Theatre

Facebook and NAC Indigenous Theatre to put mics, tripods into hands of Indigenous content creators

Not only is it imperative for these stories to be told, but they need to be told from the source and not always filtered through a third party.

Hopefully this is just the beginning.

Check out the newZ article: Facebook and NAC Indigenous Theatre to put mics, tripods into hands of Indigenous content creators

48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools

Saturday’s a fabulous day to start a new book.

(after you’ve read the newZ, of course)

So, here’s a list to get you started.

Check out the newZ article: 48 books by Indigenous writers to read to understand residential schools

Böys Who Dance – Abolishing Stereotypes

Ballet Jörgen has a really cool outreach program with their male company members to help provide inspiration and mentorship for future male dancers.

Whether you know someone interested in signing up or not, the dancers’ stories showcase some of the many challenges men often encounter in this industry. Each dancer has a bio posted that is certainly worth the read.

Check out the following to read more about the program and the dancers’ stories: Boys Who Dance – Abolishing Stereotypes.

And don’t forget to follow @canadasballetjorgen as well!

HERE AND QUEER: A BRIEF HISTORY LESSON IN QUEER THEATRE

Anyone interested in a little queer British theatre history? This one’s a fabulous article that sums up some of the major works and notable historical moments that happened on the other side of the pond.