Accolades

For Over 50 Years the Guild Has Earned Awards in Play Festivals

Here are a few highlights.

2019

Awards

Little One

Wins best production at the EODL

The company’s production of Little One won Best Production along with three other awards at EODL’s awards.

Left to right: Lee Bolton (director) with Best Director Award; Chris Whidden (Aaron) with Acting Award; Peyton LeBarr (Claire) with Acting Award; and Quin White (Stage Manager) with Best Production Award.

2015

Awards

Born Yesterday

Wins best production at the EODL

For the second year in a row, the Peterborough Theatre Guild has won the top prize at the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) annual spring festival.

The company’s production of Born Yesterday won Best Production along with three other awards at EODL’s awards brunch in Cobourg on Sunday, April 12th, 2015.

Members of the PTG with their awards which included “Acting Excellence”. “Best Visual Presentation”, “Best Actress in a Leading Role” and the top prize of “Best Production” (top image)

Kellie McKenty, pictured here with Mart Paton, won “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance as Billie Dawn (middle image)

Wyatt Lamoureux (right), pictured here with David Adams, won the “Acting Excellence” award for his role as Ed Devery (bottom image)

2014

Awards

Peterborough Theatre Guild 

Wins best production at the Ontario Drama Festival

The Peterborough Theatre Guild took home three awards for their production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Alex Saul won the Theatre Sarnia award for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Major Role; PTG won the Quonta Drama League Adjudicator’s Award for Risk Taking; and the coveted overall award “The Elsie” for best Production” was won by The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

The Theatre Ontario Drama Festival 2014, hosted by Theatre Sarnia, was held May 14th to 17th at the Imperial Theatre in downtown Sarnia. The Festival showcased the best of the best of community theatre in Ontario. The four districts each chose a production to represent them at the Festival.

Peterborough Theatre Guild (PTG) represented the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL). PTG had presented The Beauty Queen of Leenane in Peterborough February 21st to March 8th after months of hard work from cast and crew. Jerry Allen directed the wonderful cast of Patricia Young, Alex Saul, Luke Foster and Scott Drummond, well supported by a large backstage crew. The production was entered in the EODL Festival to represent the Peterborough Theatre Guild and was adjudicated in the home theatre by Chris Worsnop on March 6th. It won the award for Best Production at an awards banquet in Picton on April 6th.

This led to many more hours of rehearsals and some changes. On May 15th a very skilled crew of veteran festival participants tore down the set and packed it along with props, costumes, makeup, wigs, lighting and sound equipment into a truck and headed out for Sarnia. At 7:00 am on Saturday morning they unloaded the set at the Imperial Theatre and reconstructed it on the stage. A set that took weeks to build in the PTG basement was built in 2 hours and ready for lighting and sound by Technical Designer Andy Duncan and overseen by Stage Manager Beth Needham. Meanwhile, the costumes, makeup and props were organized and the actors prepared for a rehearsal. At 8:00 pm the lights came up and the show went off without a hitch.

The other shows in the Festival were Doubt by John Patrick presented by Theatre Kent (Western Ontario Drama League), Lenin’s Embalmers by Vern Thiessen presented by the Curtain Club Theatre (ACT-CO), and Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet presented by Gateway Theatre (QUONTA). Each had one day of the festival that was completely dedicated to them. They experienced the adrenaline rush and tension of pulling it all together in an unfamiliar building, finding out that you left something back home, and wondering what the adjudicator would think of your show.

The plays were adjudicated by Peterborough’s Bea Quarrie. She had a very difficult job with four expertly produced plays. Every one of these productions gave the audience something to think about and inspired them to examine various flaws in society. Each evoked intense emotions and initiated discussions and that is what live theatre is all about.

The Peterborough Theatre Guild was nominated for an Adjudicator Award for Ensemble Production, Patricia Young and Alex Saul for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Major Role, Luke Foster for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Supporting Role, Scott Drummond for Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Major Role, the entire Production for the Best Visual and Jerry Allen for Outstanding Director. In the end the Peterborough Theatre Guild took home three awards. Alex Saul won the Theatre Sarnia award for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Major Role. PTG won the Quonta Drama League Adjudicator’s Award for Risk Taking. The coveted overall award “The Elsie” for best Production” was also won by The Beauty Queen of Leenane.

Needless to say, the group represented the Peterborough Theatre Guild, the City of Peterborough and the Eastern Ontario Drama League well and made us all proud. None of it would have been possible without the dedicated hours of work by the Production Manager, Jill Adams who ensured that everything ran smoothly at each phase. Congratulations and Thank You to the entire team!

Alex Saul, Jerry Allen, Jill Adams (producer) and Scott Drummond

2013

Awards

EODL Full Length Festival Results

The 2013 Eastern Ontario Drama League Full Length Festival was a travelling festival with Dennis Johnson as the adjudicator. Nine productions were entered. The Peterborough Theatre Guild’s entry was The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singerand Jess Whinfield and directed by Ray Henderson.

The PTG production was awarded the Deep River Players Award for Best Visual Presentation. The award was presented by Barbara Kobolak from the EODL executive and was accepted by Jennifer Sek.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) also received three honourable mentions for:

Peterborough Theatre Guild Award: Set Design: Ian Burns,

John L. Walley Award: Best Costuming: Jennifer Sek

Bancroft Theatre Guild Award for Acting Excellence: Luke Foster for performing many be-wigged, vomiting leading ladies.

The Theatre Night in Merrickville production of Having Hope at Home was awarded the Leslie M. Frost Award for the best production and will represent the EODL at the Theatre Ontario Festival in Kingston May 15 – 19, 2013.

For a complete list of entries and awards visit www.eodl.org/full-length_2013.htm

2012

Awards

The Mouse House sweeps EODL awards

Sun 15 April, 2012

The Peterborough Theatre Guild swept the awards handed out today (Sunday) at the Eastern Ontario Drama League’s full length play festival held in Ottawa.

The premiere production of The Mouse House, written by Peterborough’s Robert Ainsworth, captured 10 of 16 awards, including Best Production, Best Director (Ainsworth), Best Actor (Shared by Jack Roe and Matthew Finlan), Acting Excellence (Terry Novak), and Best Cameo (Cheryl Lyon).

The festival, which ran from Tuesday to Saturday last week, featured plays from five communities in Eastern Ontario. The other entries were:

• Self-Help – Ottawa Little Theatre
• A Streetcar Named Desire – Domino Theatre, Kingston
• Educating Rita – Prince Edward Community Theatre, Picton
• Pathways – The Bay of Quinte Community Players

The Mouse House will represent the Eastern Ontario Drama League in the Theatre Ontario Festival next month (May 16-20) in Sault Ste. Marie, competing against three other productions from across the province.

PTG AWARDS

• Best Production — The Mouse House
• Best Director — Robert Ainsworth
• Best Production of a Canadian play — The Mouse House
• Best Actor — Jack Roe & Matthew Finlan (shared)
• Acting Excellence — Terry Novak
• Best Cameo — Cheryl Lyon
• Outstanding Student Contribution — Matthew Finlan
• Best Set Design — Peterborough Theatre Guild
• Best Use of Speech — Cast, Mouse House
• Best Visual Presentation — Mouse House
  

2011

Awards

House wins two awards at the 2011 EODL one act play festival

Peterborough Theatre Guild’s production of the one-act play, House written by Daniel MacIvor and directed by Bea Quarrie, won 2 Awards at the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) One Act Play Festival. The PTG awards were:

• Belleville Theatre Guild Award – for Acting – Christopher Spears – for his one man show in House
• Ottawa Little Theatre Award – for Best Production – awarded to the cast and crew of “House”

Director, Bea Quarrie was nominated for the Academy of Theatre Foundation Award for Best Director.

The annual EODL One Act Play Festival was held this past weekend, November 11-13, 2011 in Perth, Ontario. Nine (9) One-Act Plays were presented by Community Theatre groups from across Eastern Ontario. Groups came from Ottawa, Almonte, Perth, Kemptville, Merrickville, Haliburton and Peterborough. Through this Festival, participating theatres have an opportunity to meet other people who are passionate about theatre and to share ideas and learn new skills.

The cast and crew presented House at the Peterborough Theatre Guild earlier in November and then packed up props, set, costumes, cast and crew to travel to Perth on Saturday.

Each group puts their set on stage and rehearses for one hour in the afternoon. When it is their turn to perform, they have 10 minutes to put their set on the stage and 5 minutes to tear it down after their performance. All nine (9) plays did an amazing job.

The Adjudicator this year was Chris Worsnop who has directed plays, written scripts, worked as a play polisher, presented workshops and organized and hosted festivals. As an adjudicator he has worked at various levels in the Sears Festival, the Meadowvale Music Theatre Festival, a previous One-act Eastern Ontario Festival in 2008 and Theatre Ontario Festival in 2009.

2010

Awards

EODL one act play festival

This past weekend (November 12 – 14) , in Ottawa Ontario, 9 One Act Plays were presented by Community Theatre groups from across Eastern Ontario. Groups came from Ottawa, Almonte, Perth, Kemptville, Cornwall, Trenton and Peterborough. This was the annual Eastern Ontario Drama League One Act Play Festival. Through this Festival, the participating groups have an opportunity to meet other people who are passionate about theatre and to share ideas and learn new skills. The Peterborough Theatre Guild was well represented by This Is A Play. This play was written by Daniel MacIvor and was directed by Amy Cummings. The cast and crew presented the play at the Peterborough Theatre Guild the last week of October and then packed up props, set, costumes and cast and crew to head to Ottawa on Saturday. The groups put their set on stage and rehearse for one hour in the afternoon. When it is their turn to perform, they have 10 minutes to put their set on the stage and 5 minutes to tear it down after their performance. All 9 plays should be congratulated on a job well done.

On Sunday there was an Awards Brunch. The Adjudicator this year was Laurel Smith who is a producer, director, playwright, adjudicator, teacher and performer with a BA (Music), an MBA (Arts and Media Administration), an MA (Theatre) as well as theatre training at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the Drama Studio in London, England. She had a tough job at this festival.

This is a Play won 2 Awards at the EODL One Act Play Festival. The PTG awards were:

• Colin Mawson Award – Outstanding Contribution by a Student
  Avery Bowser – “This Is A Play” by Daniel MacIvor presented by Peterborough Theatre Guild
• Penny Avril Award – Adjudicator’s Award (Best Technical Aspect)
  Rowan Lamoureux – This Is A Play by Daniel MacIvor presented by Peterborough Theatre Guild

The Peterborough Theatre Guild is very proud of its two winners. They are both young people who show great promise in the Theatre arts. Avery is a grade 7 student at Kenner Intermediate school who shows a flare for props, set crew and lighting. Rowan demonstrated a technical talent with his design of a digital projection on stage of his father as composer. Amy Cummings creative vision as a new director skillfully pulled everything together gaining her a nomination for the Helen R. McGregor award for Most Promising New Director. Pat Maitland, now a veteran at the PTG also received a nomination for the Mae Carmichael Award for Acting. The Peterborough Theatre Guild thanks the entire cast and crew for representing the Guild so well.

2009

Awards

EODL one-act festival results

PTG’S Josh Lueck won the Colin Mawson award for outstanding contribution by a student

During the weekend of November 13th to 15th in Perth Ontario, nine One-Act Plays were presented by Community Theatre groups from across Eastern Ontario. Groups came from Perth, Ottawa, Manotick, Kemptville, Cornwall and Peterborough. This was the annual Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Play Festival. Through this Festival, the participating groups have an opportunity to meet other people who are passionate about theatre and to share ideas and learn new skills. The Peterborough Theatre Guild was well represented by Mrs. C. You’ve Got A Lovely Scar? This play was written and directed by area resident and PTG member, Keith Smith. The cast and crew presented the play at the Peterborough Theatre Guild the last week of October and then packed up props, set, costumes and cast and crew to head to Perth on Saturday. The groups put their set on stage and rehearse for one hour in the afternoon. When it is their turn to perform, they have 10 minutes to put their set on the stage and 5 minutes to tear it down after their performance. All nine plays should be congratulated on a job well done.

On Sunday there is an Awards Brunch. The adjudicator this year was John Lazarus who is a playwright, screenwriter and a teacher at Queen’s University. He had a tough job at this festival. He congratulated the groups for the fact that six of the nine plays were Canadian and three of the six were written by members of the presenting Company.

Twelfth Night wins 7 Ontario theatre awards

The PTG production of Twelfth Night won 7 of the 15 awards presented at Theatre Ontario Festival 2009 which took place in Kanata from May 13th to May 17th, 2009.

Twelfth Night wins 7 Ontario theatre awards

PTG awards:

• Adjudicator Award, the gift of EODL: awarded for Scene Changing, to the Peterborough Theatre Guild for Twelfth Night
• Adjudicator Award, the gift of The Curtain Club: awarded to a juvenile, Megn Walker, for the role of Viola in Twelfth Night.
• Adjudicator Award, the gift of QUONTA: awarded for Costumes to the Peterborough Theatre Guild for Twelfth Night
• Outstanding Performance by a male, the gift of Kanata Theatre: Brian McDonald in the role of Feste in Twelfth Night
• Outstanding Visual Presentation, the gift of Espanola Little Theatre: Peterborough Theatre Guild for Twelfth Night
• Outstanding Coordinated Production as chosen by the Festival Stage Manager. the gift of the Jourard family: Peterborough Theatre Guild for the transfer of Twelfth Night from Peterborough to Kanata
• Perry Short Award for best set design, the gift of Janet Short: Eric Jackson for Twelfth Night

Other PTG nominations:

• Outstanding Performance by a male in a Supporting Role: Sebastian–Justin Boyd
• Outstanding Technical Achievement- Voice: Chris Jackson

Twelfth Night Awarded Best Production in Eastern Ontario Community Theatre

The Peterborough Theatre Guild Production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has collected five awards at the Eastern Ontario Drama League (EODL) Festival in Kemptville on March 29, 2009. Twelfth Night was nominated for 12 of the 15 awards available at the Festival.

The EODL Festival brings together the best of community theatre in Eastern Ontario. The festival is designed to allow community theatre volunteers to learn and improve their skills through professional adjudications. This year the festival, which was held in Kemptville, drew from five community theatres in Ottawa, Kingston and Peterborough. The festival featured a touring adjudicator, who reviewed each play at the home theatre of each company during the play normal run.

As winner of the best production? twelfth Night?will be the EODL entry in to the Theatre Ontario Festival next month in Kanata. The Theatre Ontario festival will feature the best plays from four regional drama groups representing Eastern, Western, Central and Northern Ontario.

The award has received coverage in the Peterborough Examiner

Congratulations to the entire production team and cast of the show.

EODL AWARDS FOR TWELFTH NIGHT:

• Best Production – Twelfth Night
• Best Director – Eric Jackson
• Best Costumes – Howard Berry
• Outstanding Student Achievement – Megn Walker
• Best Use of Language – the entire cast of Twelfth Night

NOMINATIONS:

• Best Lead Actress – Megn Walker
• Acting Excellence – Brian McDonald as Feste
• Best Cameo Performance – Justine Boyd as Sebastian
• Best Set Design – Eric Jackson
• Best Visual Presentation – Twelfth Night
• Adjudicator’s award for “grace under pressure” – Sharon McLeod, Katie Braun, Lyn Braun (for handling a large cast smoothly) Ensemble Performance – Tim Rowat, Roy Braun, Pat Maitland, Brian McDonald – the “Comedic Quartet”