Archive by Author

We’re Casting! Be a Part of A CHRISTMAS CAROL!

24 Sep

The Three Ships Collective, with the support of Soup Can Theatre, is holding auditions for our upcoming remount of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL is an original and immersive adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, set in the historic Campbell House Museum located at the corner of Queen and University in downtown Toronto. This production invites audience members to step into the world of Victorian London and follow flinty miser Ebenezer Scrooge on his ghostly journey of redemption.

This site-specific adaptation was written by Justin Haigh (writer of ‘Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I & II’ and “The Session”, part of ‘Circle Jerk’; writer/director of Spoon Vs. Hammer’s ‘Behold, The Barfly!’), directed by Sarah Thorpe (writer of ‘Heretic’; director of ‘No Exit’ and ‘Marat/Sade’), and music directed by Pratik Gandhi (music director of ‘A Hand of Bridge’, ‘Marat/Sade’, ‘The Threepenny Opera: In Concert’), all of whom will be returning for this remount.

We are actively interested in seeing artists from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, and all body types. For adult roles, we will accept submissions from artists ages 20 and up. All actors will be playing multiple roles. Ability to do a British accent (RP, Cockney) is a must. Ability to sing is an asset. PLEASE NOTE: We are also looking for an actor who can play the violin.

ROLES TO BE CAST

Jacob Marley – the ghostly spectre of Scrooge’s deceased business partner; a supernatural guide and constant observer
Ghost of Christmas Past / Ensemble – a calm and gentle ethereal presence
Ghost of Christmas Present / Ensemble – jolly, boisterous, and larger than life
Bob Cratchit / Ensemble – a modest and good-humoured family man pained by his son’s illness

Mrs. Dilber / Mrs. Fezziwig – Scrooge’s housekeeper; a hard woman with steely resolve and a champion of the less fortunate / Mr. Fezziwig’s wife – just as jolly and amiable as her husband.
Fred – Scrooge’s nephew / Augustus – Scrooge’s Father / Ensemble – a cheerful young man impervious to his uncle’s curmudgeonly ways (Fred) / a loving and well-meaning father (Augustus)
Belle / Ghost of Christmases Yet to Come / Alice – Scrooge’s fiancé, a kind and forward woman with big dreams (Belle) / a silent deathly figure (Ghost) / nephew Fred’s wife (Alice).
Emily Cratchit / Ensemble – Bob’s wife, fiercely devoted to her family, doing her best to make do with what little they have
Martha Cratchit / Lydia Berryman / Ensemble – Bob and Emily’s daughter (Martha) / the bold daughter of a man indebted to Scrooge (Lydia)
Peter Cratchit / Mr. Bailiwick – Bob and Emily’s son (Peter) / an upper class gentleman collecting donations on behalf of the poor.

Ensemble Roles include party guests, business associates, etc.

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Please send your headshot and resume to ThreeShipsCollective@gmail.com with “A Christmas Carol – Auditions” in the subject line. We are accepting submissions from both Union and Non-Union artists. The deadline to submit is September 29th at 11:59pm.

Please note in your email your union status, and what role(s) you are interested in regardless of gender. Also please note if you are able to play the violin. While we greatly appreciate everyone’s interest in this production, due to time constraints, only those selected to audition will be notified.

Selected candidates will be sent sides and details on the audition time, date, and location, and asked to prepare a brief monologue. Auditions will be held between October 2nd and 6th.

 

CONTRACT & PAYMENT

This production will operate under a profit share. We are accepting both Union and Non-Union artists under a CAEA Artists Collective Policy. Artists will receive a minimum guaranteed fee of $400 before profit share. PLEASE NOTE: This minimum is based on a cautious estimate of box office revenue. We are actively pursuing other revenue streams, including two pending grant applications, sponsorships, and fundraising initiatives.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will begin the week of October 20th, held 3 times per week in Toronto. Those auditioning will be asked to fill out a form indicating their availability for rehearsals. The schedule will be created based on the availability of all actors, stage management, and the director.

SHOW DETAILS

Audiences will follow the characters throughout all three floors of Campbell House. Please note that the floors are connected with stairs only. There is a ramp leading to the back door that provides access to the main floor.

Tech – Fri Nov 29 11am-8:30pm

Dress – Sat Nov 30 4:30-10:30pm

Preview Performances – Sun Dec 1, Tues Dec 3 (dark Dec 2)

Opening Night – Wed Dec 4

Performances – Dec 5-8, 10-12, 14-15, 17-22 (dark Dec 9, 13, 16)

The running time is approx 85 mins, and there will be two performances per night. On weeknights and Saturdays, the performances will be at 7pm and 9pm. On Sundays, the performances will be at 5pm and 7pm.

There may be a possible daytime performance for schools on a weekday during the run. Details TBD and actors’ personal schedules will be taken into consideration before confirming.

2018 REVIEWS

NOW Magazine – NNNN “Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is so ubiquitous at this time of year that it’s hard to approach it with any sort of freshness. Thankfully the ingenious folks at the Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre have done just that. … Brilliant … Impeccable … A one-of-a-kind production which deserves to become an annual event.”

MGT Magazine – ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Delightful … Charming … Taut and propulsive … I had a tear in my eye … This production is extravagant in ways that a Scrooge would not approve of.”

Slotkin Letter “One of the best productions on offer … Uses the gift of setting the story in the Campbell House Museum to its full advantage … Exemplary and magical.”

My Entertainment World “Director Sarah Thorpe and her cast can be truly proud of what they’ve accomplished here … With any luck, this will be a fixture of the Christmas season at Campbell House and spread festive joy to even more audiences in Christmases Yet to Come.”

ABOUT US

THE THREE SHIPS COLLECTIVE is an artists’ collective formed in 2018 for the purpose of creating and staging this production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Past and present members include accomplished and critically-acclaimed artists and production team members; credits include (among many others) the Off-Broadway musical ‘Ride the Cyclone’, notable film and TV productions ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, ‘The Umbrella Academy’, ‘Reign’, and ‘The Strain’, and blockbuster video game franchise ‘Assassin’s Creed’.

SOUP CAN THEATRE is a Toronto-based company that explores and comments on contemporary issues and societal challenges, offering audiences a theatrical experience that is both entertaining and enriching. Founded in 2009, Soup Can Theatre has been producing truly independent theatre, garnering critical acclaim, multiple awards and accolades, and a dedicated following of theatre-goers. Shows have included ambitious and immersive musical productions (‘Love is a Poverty You Can Sell’ I & II), contemporary re-imaginings of iconic works (‘Marat/Sade’, ‘Antigone’, ‘A Hand of Bridge’, ‘No Exit’, ‘The Threepenny Opera’ in Concert), intimate original creations (‘Heretic’) and unique and daring collaborative concepts (‘Circle Jerk’). Soup Can Theatre is a member of the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts.

Both the Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre operate on a not-for-profit basis. The Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre do not tolerate harassment of any kind; including, but not limited to, harassment based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability.

#ChristmasCarolTO

Help Us Raise Funds for A CHRISTMAS CAROL!

12 Sep

Cast of “A Christmas Carol”. Screen shot by Laura Dittmann, 2018.

Work has begun on the Three Ships Collective’s remount of A Christmas Carol, supported by us, running Dec 1-22 at the Campbell House Museum (tickets will be on sale soon – stay tuned!). Last year’s inaugural production was an entirely self-funded labour of love, and although we are delighted to be heeding the many enthusiastic calls for its return, our goal is to build a more sustainable financial framework around this year’s production so that we are able to present the highest quality of work possible, while also ensuring that our production remains accessible to audience members of all socio-economic backgrounds. We are accepting donations from now until the end of the production’s run. Donate today on our GoFundMe page, and help us make our ambitious plans for this remount a reality! 

Work With Us!

4 Sep

The Three Ships Collective, with the support of Soup Can Theatre, is hiring a Stage Manager and a Costume/Prop Designer for our upcoming production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL; a site-specific adaptation running in December at the Campbell House Museum. This is a remount of our 2018 production, which enjoyed a completely sold old run and glowing reviews from the press and public alike. The production also received 3 nominations in My Entertainment World’s 2018 Critics Pick Awards (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play, Outstanding Direction), with actor Thomas Gough winning the Lead Actor award for his performance as Scrooge. This adaptation was written by Justin Haigh, directed by Sarah Thorpe, and musical directed by Pratik Gandhi, all of whom are returning for this remount. Audiences will follow the characters throughout all three floors of Campbell House. Please note that the top floors and basement are accessible by stairs only. There is a ramp leading to the back door that provides access to the main floor.

Cast of “A Christmas Carol”, 2018. Screen shot by Laura Dittmann.

Here are the reviews of the 2018 production:

https://nowtoronto.com/stage/theatre/a-christmas-carol-campbell-house/

https://www.myentertainmentworld.ca/2018/12/carol-campbell-house/

http://sesaya.com/2018/12/a-christmas-carol/

https://www.mygaytoronto.com/mgtstage/20181216.php

http://slotkinletter.com/2018/12/reviews-a-christmas-carol-and-a-very-leila-christmas

https://lifewithmorecowbell.com/2018/12/14/a-christmas-carol-in-a-delightful-unique-immersive-production-at-campbell-house/

Schedule: Rehearsals will be held in Toronto, beginning the week of October 20 and held 3x per week. The schedule will be created based on the availability of the Actors, Stage Manager, and Director.

Tech – Fri Nov 29 11am-8:30pm, Dress – Sat Nov 30 4:30-10:30pm

Preview Performances – Sun Dec 1, Tues Dec 3 (dark Dec 2), Opening Night – Wed Dec 4

Performances – Dec 5-8, 10-12, 14-15, 17-22 (dark Dec 9, 13, 16)

The performance runs approximately 85-90 mins, with 2 performances per night, totaling 36 performances. On weeknights and Saturdays, the performances are at 7pm and 9pm. On Sundays, the performances are at 5pm and 7pm. Strike will be held following the final performance on Dec 22nd.

Costume/Prop Info: We are currently seeking out costume and prop sponsorships from local rental houses so that all of those materials can come from just one or two sources for the sake of efficiency. The time period of the production ranges from the 1790s-1850s. The cast size is 16, including 2 child actors who share the roles of Tiny Tim and Little Ebenezer and alternate performance nights. With the exception of the actors who play Scrooge and Marley, all actors play 2-3 different characters. The Costume/Prop Designer will also be responsible for costume fittings and alterations; basic to moderate sewing and alterations skills are a requirement.

Contract & Compensation: We will operate under the CAEA’s Artists Collective Policy, with a guaranteed minimum fee of $400 before profit share. Apart from ticket sales, the additional revenue sources we are exploring include government grants, a crowd-funding campaign, and reaching out to potential private financial sponsors.

Anti-Harassment Policy: The Three Ships Collective and Soup Can Theatre are committed to fostering a creative and collaborative environment free of harassment and discrimination where all artists and associates are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate harassment of any kind; including, but not limited to, harassment based on race, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or disability.

Submission Instructions: Please send a resume and references to ThreeShipsCollective@gmail.com by Monday September 9. We are actively interested in submissions from artists from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all gender identities and expressions, and all abilities. If you have any questions about the project that would affect your interest, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for an interview will be contacted after Sept 9.

Soup Can Theatre’s 10th Anniversary Bash!

18 Jun

We are turning 10, and Toronto is invited to celebrate with us! We are marking the occasion with a performance-laden bash at the Monarch Tavern featuring in-concert highlights from our smash-hit shows, Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I and II, performed by original cast and orchestra members, as well as dancing, raffle prizes, a silent auction, and more! 

Since 2009, Soup Can Theatre has been producing truly independent theatre, garnering critical acclaim, multiple awards and accolades, and a dedicated following of theatre-goers along the way. Our shows have included ambitious and immersive musical productions (Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I & II), contemporary re-imaginings of iconic works (Marat/SadeAntigoneA Hand of BridgeNo ExitThe Threepenny Opera in Concert), intimate original creations (HERETIC) and unique collaborative concepts (Circle Jerk). Soup Can has also been proud to support outside works by our core members, including the much-lauded sketch revue, Behold, the Barfly!, and an award-winning original site-specific adaptation of A Christmas Carol which will be returning to the historic Campbell House Museum in December.

WHERE & WHEN:
July 18th at The Monarch Tavern – 12 Clinton Street (just south of College), ground floor. Doors open at 7:30pmfestivities kick off at 8pm.

TICKETS:
Tickets are available to buy in advance at a Pay-What-You-Want rates. On the night of, tickets will be available at the door (cash only) at a Pay-What-You-Can rate with a suggested donation of $10 or more.

ACCESSIBILITY:
The Monarch Tavern performance space is wheelchair accessible, however the washrooms are only accessible by stairs.

Check out our Facebook Event Page!

@SoupCanTheatre on Instagram & Twitter
#SoupCan10

Thomas Gough Wins for A CHRISTMAS CAROL!

18 Apr

On April 15th, the Toronto theatre community gathered for the My Entertainment World Critic’s Pick Awards. We are thrilled that Thomas Gough took home the award for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play (Independent) for his performance as Ebeneezer Scrooge in The Three Ships Collective’s A CHRISTMAS CAROL, supported by us. The full list of winners can be found here. Congrats Thomas, all the winners and nominees, and thank you My Entertainment World for a heck of a night!

Nominations for A CHRISTMAS CAROL

6 Jan

We are thrilled that A CHRISTMAS CAROL – produced by The Three Ships Collective with our support – has been nominated for 3 awards in My Entertainment World’s 2018 Toronto Theatre Awards: Thomas Gough (Scrooge) for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Play (Independent), Alex Dallas (Mrs. Dilber) for Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Play (Independent), and Sarah Thorpe for Outstanding Direction. The full list of nominees can be found here.

The editors and staff writers of My Entertainment World decide the winners, but they use votes from the public for tie breakers and to choose a Fan Favourite, so if you’d like to share your thoughts with My Entertainment World, tweet them at @MyEntWorld or email them at toronto@myentertainmentworld.ca.

‘A Christmas Carol’ is Sold Out!

14 Dec

We are sorry, but also delighted, to announce that the entire run of The Three Ships Collective’s Production of A Christmas Carol at the Campbell House Museum is sold out!

If any additional tickets become available, we will announce it via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our e-Newsletter. Please follow us / subscribe to stay in the loop about this, or any productions of A Christmas Carol yet to come…

Tickets for a Christmas Carol are on Sale Now!

7 Nov

The Three Ships Collective – with the support of Soup Can Theatre – is proud to present a new and immersive adaptation of Dickens’ timeless holiday classic set in the historic Campbell House Museum! Audiences are invited to step into the world of Victorian London and follow flinty miser Ebenezer Scrooge on his ghostly journey of redemption.

With an original text by Justin Haigh (Love is a Poverty You Can Sell, Behold the Barfly!) directed by Sarah Thorpe (No Exit, Marat/Sade, Heretic), and featuring a stellar cast with credits like The Stratford Festival, Murdoch Mysteries, and Off-Broadway’s Ride the Cyclone among them, this production of A Christmas Carol offers a fresh and meaningful take on the familiar tale, complemented by live musical elements courtesy of Musical Director Pratik Gandhi (Love is a Poverty You Can Sell, Marat/Sade).

A perfect medley of mirth, music, and the macabre, A Christmas Carol promises to be a highlight of the holiday season!

Praise for previous productions includes:

“Ambitious … ★★★★★ – Torontoist
Delectable …
NNNNN– Now Magazine
“A Decadent Treat … Delightful!” – Xtra

Tickets are on sale now! Click here to purchase!

Please Note: Due to the immersive and mobile nature of this production, audience members will be required to stand for a significant portion of the 75 minute performance. A very limited number of seats can be reserved for patrons unable to stand for extended periods of time. Please contact the Campbell House Museum at 416-597-0227 ext. 2, or antonia@campbellhousemuseum.ca, to confirm availability of these seats and to reserve in advance.

While this production is family friendly, it does touch on some mature themes and is recommended for children 10 and older.

‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Karaoke Singalong & Costume Party!

8 Oct

“Boys and girls of every age, wouldn’t you like to see something strange?”

Get in the Halloween spirit with The Three Ships Collective, with the support of Soup Can Theatre!

Fundraiser Poster

Join us on October 24 at The Boat for THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Karaoke Singalong! Sign up to sing your favourite tunes from Tim Burton’s classic Halloween/Christmas crossover, all in support of indie theatre. Proceeds will be benefiting our upcoming site-specific adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, running this December at the Campbell House Museum.

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

In addition to this karaoke spectacular, there will be more Halloween-themed karaoke afterwards, so dust off your best “Thriller” or “Pyscho Killer” and your sick “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” moves.

 

 

As well as…
– Dance Party
– Costume Contest
– Raffle
– Silent Auction
– PIZZA!

Doors at 8pm
The fun begins at 8:30pm
Tickets are $10 in advance (get ’em here!) and $15 at the door, cash only.

Stay tuned to our Facebook event and social media for updates and more info!

Auditions for A CHRISTMAS CAROL

17 Sep

The Three Ships Collective, with the support of Soup Can Theatre, is holding auditions for our upcoming production of Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

7

This will be a site-specific adaptation running at Toronto’s 19th century Campbell House Museum, adapted by Justin Haigh (writer of Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I and II and “The Session”, part of Circle Jerk; writer/director of Spoon Vs. Hammer’s Behold, the Barfly!) and directed by Sarah Thorpe (writer of Heretic; director of No Exit, Marat/Sade, and Love is a Poverty You Can Sell I and II). In this intimate Victorian setting, audiences will follow Scrooge throughout Campbell House on his ghostly journey of redemption on Christmas Eve.

We are actively interested in seeing artists from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, all gender identities and expressions, all abilities, and all body types.

We will accept submissions from artists ages 18 and up. Please note that the role of Ebenezer Scrooge has already been cast. All actors will be playing multiple roles.  Ability to do a British accent (RP, Cockney) is an asset. We are also looking for actors that can play the violin or fiddle – please note this in your submission.

ROLES TO BE CAST: (as the script is still being adapted, please note that these roles are subject to change)

Jacob Marley – the ghost of Scrooge’s business partner

Ghost of Christmas Past

Ghost of Christmas Present

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Bob Cratchit – Scrooge’s clerk

Fred – Scrooge’s nephew

Fezziwig – Scrooge’s old boss

Young Scrooge

Fan – Scrooge’s sister

Belle – Scrooge’s fiancé

Mrs. Cratchit – Bob’s wife

Martha Cratchit – Bob’s oldest child

Peter Cratchit – Bob’s middle child

Old Joe – a fence

Mrs. Dilber – Scrooge’s maid

Ensemble Roles (party guests, business associates, etc.)

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Please send your headshot and resume to ThreeShipsCollective@gmail.com with “A Christmas Carol – Auditions” in the subject line. We are accepting submissions from both Union and Non-Union artists. Please note in your email if you are interested in being considered for any particular role(s) regardless of gender, your union status, and if there is a specific audition time that works best for you. The deadline to submit is September 23rd at 11:59pm. While we greatly appreciate everyone’s interest in this production, due to time constraints, only those selected to audition will be notified.

AUDITION DETAILS: Auditions will be held on Monday October 1st from 11am-8pm at Campbell House.

CONTRACT & PAYMENT: This production will operate under a profit share. We are accepting both Union and Non-Union artists under a CAEA Artists Collective Policy.

REHEARSALS: Rehearsals will begin in early November, held 3 times per week. Those auditioning will be asked to fill out a form indicating their availability for rehearsals.

SHOW DETAILS: Audiences will follow the characters throughout all three floors of Campbell House. Please note that the floors are connected with stairs only. There is a ramp leading to the back door that provides access to the main floor. There will be 2 performances per night at 7pm and 9pm (5pm and 7pm only on Dec 16). Performances will run Dec 12-13, 15-16, and 18-22 (dark Dec 14 and 17).

Thank you and break legs!

Illustration by John Leech.