Hello and welcome to the Ottawa School of Theatre!
Message from our Artistic Director:
Drama skills are life skills. Theatre classes not only shape artists, they shape citizens – people, young and old, learning to give and take in a group setting, being creative and fun and honest and generous with each other. Whether you have been with us for years or are considering signing up for the first time, I’m glad you are considering theatre for the 2024-25 school year.
Our 2024-25 theme is playwrights and playwriting. The art of writing a play has become somewhat lost in our programming of late. Perhaps because the work of a playwright generally starts months or years before the director and actors join in, or perhaps because there tend to be fewer playwrights than other theatrical disciplines in the community. Regardless as to the reason, it’s important for our students to understand that writing a play and interpreting text are pillars of theatre work. Teachers will work with students to explore what makes good dialogue, what makes a good dramatic arc, and what playwrights of the past and present have given to our art form. Even for students who have no interest in taking up writing themselves, this education gives them the tools they need to be successful actors, directors, and designers – and great readers and audience members.
Rounding out the playwriting theme, our 2024-25 year includes a brand new play co-written by local reporter and OST favourite Bruce Deachman, and an adaptation of a Canadian classic by past Artistic Director Kathi Langston. Be sure to check out the All Ages Play listings for the exciting details! We also plan to bring back our playwriting contest for youth, and support these young voices in our community. Stay tuned.
Oh, and if you’re looking for drama classes in French, we have those too — see the French side of our programming here.
Thank you for being here – I look forward to witnessing your creative journey at OST!
Megan Piercey Monafu
Announcing our 2024-25 Classes:
2024-25 Class Schedule:
SAVE THE DATE: OST HOMECOMING & OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, September 14, 10am to 2pm
During our first Saturday of classes, drop by to meet our team and check out our studios!
Coffee, juice, and snacks provided.
Important Dates:
Classes in our Full Year Program run from September/October to early June. We believe in teaching theatre by creating theatre, and so these classes will work towards a performance on stage in the Richcraft Theatre in May during our Student Showcase.
We also offer shorter workshop which vary in length from one day to 12 weeks. These intensives may result in a presentation in one of our black box studios at the end of the workshop.
Our Class Terms are as follows:
Fall Term: September 14 – December 9, 2024
*Teen and Adult classes start Oct 1
Winter Term: January 6 – March 7, 2025
*March Break Camp: March 10-14, 2025 – no regular classes
Spring Term: March 17 – May 31, 2025
There will be no classes on the following dates:
Sept 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Oct 12 – 14 – Thanksgiving Weekend
Oct 31 – Halloween
Nov 11 – Remembrance Day
Dec 10 – Jan 5 – Holiday Term Break
Feb 17 – Family Day
Apr 18 – 21 – Easter Weekend
May 19 – Victoria Day
Location:
The majority of our classes are held in the Ottawa School of Theatre studios in the Shenkman Arts Centre:
245 Centrum Boulevard, Orleans, ON K1E 0A1
We are delighted to expand our Saturday classes at the Rideau Community Hub, in partnership with the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre:
815 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON K1K 3A7
Our Comedy Workshop for Adults in partnership with the Ottawa Fringe will take place at Arts Court, in Downtown Ottawa:
2 Daly Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6E2