It takes a devoted team to build a theatrical production from the ground up and this will be no more apparent when the Okanagan Zone (Ozone) Drama Festival returns to Armstrong May 5 to 12.
Hosted this year by Asparagus Community Theatre, community theatres from across the region are arriving at Armstrong’s Centennial Hall, with the first production taking the stage Saturday.
With its theme, behind the curtain, sets will be built and torn down daily as each community theatre group presents its respective play to an audience and adjudicator, said Susan Gagnon, Asparagus board member and Ozone publicist.
Winding up the festival, May 12, is the awards banquet (the community theatre equivalent to the Oscars), which acknowledges various categories.
The play that wins best production then continues to the Theatre BC Mainstage Festival, to be held in Kamloops in July, to compete with winning plays from around the province.
“This is all done completely with volunteers,” said Gagnon. “Clubs enter the festival, where each show is adjudicated by a professional. Workshops are done, and participants learn from their experience whether it is backstage, onstage, and everywhere in between. This is where everyone comes together to celebrate their efforts for their show and ideas emerge for the following year.”
Participating theatres in the Ozone include those from Kamloops, Salmon Arm and throughout the Okanagan, and the festival is hosted by a different community every year.
“Asparagus Community Theatre first hosted Ozone in 1989. This will be our sixth time to host,” said Gagnon, adding Asparagus entered its first Ozone in 1985 with the play Vanities, and this year opens the festival with Tamarack, its 22nd entry.
“Four of our plays have gone on to Mainstage and four have been chosen as runner up or sent as a workshop play to Mainstage.”
Adjudicating this year’s Ozone entries is Ted Price, a director, actor, designer and theatre administrator, who is the founding artistic director of Prince George’s professional theatre Theatre North West.
Over the past 18 years, Price has created a large body of work for northern B.C., resulting in directing and/or design credits for 68 Theatre North West productions.
His work up north has earned him the Community and Leadership award, presented to a non-member by B.C. Toastmasters, and the Arts Gallery of Honour award.
A graduate of Studio 58 and Simon Fraser University, with further theatre studies at The Banff Centre and Western Washington University, Price has also worked as an actor for such theatres as the Shaw Festival, Persephone Theatre, The New Play Centre, Arena Theatre, and Alberta Theatre Projects.
Now working freelance, Price will next travel to P.E.I this summer to direct On Golden Pond for Victoria Playhouse and then will direct Privilege for Theatre North West.
This year marks Price’s 11th stint as a zone adjudicator for Theatre BC. He last adjudicated the Ozone in 1993, and coincidently it was also held in Armstrong.
“The festival was chalk-a-block with strong work,” remembered Price. “The variety was exceptional, from a musical to an original First Nations creation to Sam Shepard, and with an impressive domination of Canadian works. This was all with such terrific theatre people who were endlessly friendly and enthusiastic. It was a remarkable festival.”
Besides the theatrical productions being held in Centennial Hall’s theatre, a coffee critique will be conducted by Price from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every day following that night’s production in the Green Room, which is open to the cast, crew and anyone who had a ticket to the show, said Gagnon.
“There is no extra cost, and light refreshments will be available,” she said, adding the Green Room lounge and social area will also be open to all before and after the show as well as during intermission.
“It is located in the hall adjacent to the theatre. Your ticket stub allows you to access the green room, featuring Larch Hills wines and Crannog Ales on tap. Light snacks are also available.”
Schedule of plays: All start at 8 p.m.
–– Saturday, May 5: Asparagus Community Theatre (Armstrong), Tamarack, a tragic-comedy by Ed Kuhn
–– Sunday, May 6: Powerhouse Theatrical Society (Vernon), The Woman in Black, a ghost story from a book by Susan Hill adapted by Stephen Mallatratt
–– Monday, May 7: Shuswap Theatre (Salmon Arm), British comedy If I Were You by Alan Ayckbourn
–– Tuesday May 8: Theatre Kelowna Society (Kelowna), farce Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon
–– Wednesday, May 9: Playhouse 25 (Kelowna), drama Waiting for the Parade by John Murrell
–– Thursday, May 10: Bumbershoot Children’s Theatre (Kelowna), drama The Hundred Dresses by Mary Hall Surface.
–– Friday, May 11: Kamloops Players (Kamloops), comedy Dearly Departed by David Bottrell and Jesse Jones
Tickets to attend the plays are $22 each ($20 for Theatre BC members with proper identification), while limited banquet tickets are $40 each.
Tickets are available at The Guy Next Door, 3450B Okanagan St., Armstrong. Call 250-546-0950, email actokbc@gmail.com or get them at the door to Centennial Theatre during the festival, depending on availability. More information on the festival is available at www.asparagus.theatrebc.org.
