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School of Performance
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Departmental planning

Three files containing correspondence and memos regarding proposals and schedules for various subjects taught by the Theatre department. Also included are appeals by the department chair for funding and staff.

Examination papers

Exam papers from the Theatre School and the Canadian College of Dance. Also included is a supplemental exam from 1971 and exams created by Jack McAlister for his History of Drama class - which pre-dates the Theatre School.

Acting program and productions

Correspondence, and lists of acting and production crews for various performances staged by the students of the Theatre School. These performances were a learning tool for first and second year acting program and technical production students.

Ryerson Theatre Company

In the 1970s and 1980s the Ryerson Theatre Company was made up of final year students from the acting, dancing and technical programs - representing their transition year from the student to a professional. They were responsible for all aspects of the show including promotion, production, and performance. It is unclear why there was a revival of the name periodically through the years.
The file contains correspondence, memos, advertising, posters. photographs, programs, budgets and documents relating to the operation and promotion of the company.

Ryerson and University of Toronto co-operative project - Opera Dept.

Correspondence and information relating to the use of second and third year Technical and production students from Ryerson by the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, to spend 50% of their production training time in building, running and lighting various operas and operatic excerpts. This relationship provided important professional education for Ryerson students.

Technical Production program

File containing correspondence and memos written by the Director of the Technical Production program Sandy Black. Included are class lists, staffing responsibilities, charts, and guidelines for productions.

Theatre School faculty files

Lists of faculty and their area of specialty, as well as related correspondence and memos concerning resignations, new staff hired, salaries and hiring procedures.

Theatre School buildings and renovations

Correspondence between the Theatre chair, the Dean of Applied Arts, and Physical Plan regarding renovations to Theatre School buildings. Included are drawings, cost estimates, and equipment lists.

Open House

Minutes of Open House meeting (Sept. 14, 1971) and a report on the Open House (Dec. 7, 1971) made to Information Services.

Charles Weidman Theatre Dance company

File containing a programme, correspondence and related documents concerning a cooperative effort by the University of Toronto, York University, Toronto Public Library System and Ryerson, to bring Charles Weidman and his Company, to Toronto, to give a performance at Ryerson Theatre and master classes in dance to various groups. Charles Weidman is an internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer.

Performing Arts Series Agents

Advertising and correspondence regarding various artistic groups who toured North American theatres. Some of these groups and individuals were engaged by the Ryerson Theatre Department.

Bring Canadians Home Theatre Company proposal

A non-profit organization which sought to produce four productions in 1976 using leading Canadian actors and directors.They were interested in using Ryerson Theatre for these performances and as a "home base". The Company would use Ryerson students, wherever possible in their productions and would give special classes as well. File contains budget proposal and position paper. It would appear that Ryerson Theatre was never used for this purpose.

Theatre School/School of Performance productions

File contains programs, invitations, notices, news releases, photographs, brochures and tickets for productions performed by the Theatre School/School of Performance 2nd, 3rd and 4th year students. In the 1970s-mid 1980s the 4th year students were referred to as the Ryerson Theatre Company. You can learn more about them and their productions by looking at RG 158.13.
Because of the Covid 19 pandemic the 2020-2021 season was held virtually https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/archive1/past-seasons/2020-21-season/. and the 2021-2022 season was hybrid https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/archive1/past-seasons/2021-22-season/

Ryerson Theatre School Special Events

File contains brochures, invitations, programs and a poster related to special events hosted by the Theatre School. In the file is a brochure for 35th Anniversary events held in November of 2006; brochures and a poster for the 40th anniversary alumni weekend held in February of 2012; and 2 tickets to the cocktail reception held in honour of Nadia Potts held in 2010.

Departmental Council minutes

This file contains notices and minutes of Departamental Council meetings, agenda and minutes of staff and faculty meetings and Acting Faculty meeting minutes.

External productions involving the School of Performance

Series contains materials related to productions and events held outside of the the Ryerson Theatre/School of Performance but had students, faculty, and staff from the school involved in events/productions in a variety of ways. Included in the series are:
RG 158.30.01 LOFT Community Services annual Christmas concerts
RG 158.30.02 Nightwood Theatre - 4x4 an off-road event of women directors
RG 158.30.03 Village Theatre "Under Milk Wood"

LOFT Community Services annual Christmas concerts

The School of Performance is partnered with LOFT and faculty, staff and students from the program participated in the production of the annual christmas concert. LOFT (Leap of Faith Toronto) is a community service provider in Ontario that supports people facing a combination of mental and physical health challenges, addiction issues, poverty, and/or homelessness.
Included in the file are:
Tickets (2) - The Eleventh Annual Christmas Concert - a Season of Hope, December 3, 2001
Program - The Twelfth Annual Christmas Concert - a Season of Hope, December 2, 2002
Program - The 14th Annual Christmas Concert - a Season of Hope, December 6, 2002
Program - The 15th Annual Christmas Concert - December 5, 2005
Program - The 16th Annual Christmas Concert - December 4, 2006
Program - The 17th Annual Christmas Concert - December 3, 2007 (business cards and donation card inside)
Program - 30th annual Home for the Holidays benefit concert - 2020

Nightwood Theatre - 4x4 an off-road event of women directors

Nightwood Theatre, Canada's national women's theatre, was founded in 1979. It creates, produces, and tours plays created by women. Each season they produce several productions in Toronto theatres and The Groundswell Festival - an annual festival of new works. Nightwood theatre also sponsors an Innovators program and "Write from the Hip" - an emerging playwrights program.

The file contains one copy of the program for "4x4 - an off-road event of women directors". The event, held in October and November of 2009 consisted of workshops, master classes, events and 4 plays. One of the plays "Serious Money" ran November 20-22, 2009 at the Theatre Passe Muraille and starred the graduation class of the Ryerson Theatre School.

Theatre School/School of Performance production posters

File contains posters publicizing various Ryerson Theatre School productions. Please see also RG 158.13 Ryerson Theatre Company for more production posters from final year students in the 1970s-mid 1980s.
Because of the Covid 19 pandemic the 2020-2021 season was held virtually https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/archive1/past-seasons/2020-21-season/. and the 2021-2022 season was hybrid https://www.torontomu.ca/performance/archive1/past-seasons/2021-22-season/

Theatre School documentation files

This file contains records related to the theatre department in general including news releases, invitations, notices regarding visiting theatre troupe productions, memorandums, vacancy notices, agenda of Departmental Council meetings, programs and brochures.

Theatre Arts Course proposal

This file contains A Proposal for a Theatre Arts Course to be set up at The R.P.I. prepared for F.C. Jorgensen, Principal by J.R. McAllister, Instructor-Supervisor.

The Ryerson Company Of Players

The Ryerson Company of Players was organized in November 1970 by a group of senior students at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute. The purpose of this group was to bring live children's theatre during the summer to those areas of Ontario which seldom or never had the opportunity to experience this form of entertainment.This file contains brochures, minutes of meetings, a budget proposal, correspondence, newspaper clippings and a photograph pertaining to this theatre group/program.

Theatre production: scanned prints

A series of print-outs from scanned original photographs maintained by the Theatre School. These photos are from the numerous drama and dance productions performed by Theatre School students. They are arranged chronologically by year.

PRP: Theatre Technical Production

PREP: Assessment of Academic Quality March 1991
PREP: Assessment of Societal Need March 1991
PREP: Assessment of Academic Quality Oct. 1991
PRP: Financial Viability Element Jan. 26, 1993

PREP: Proposal For A BFA in Dance

This file contains Ryerson Program Review and Evaluation Process Proposal for A BFA Program in Dance:
-Academic Quality Element
-Societal Need Element
-Financial Viability Element and Summary of Societal Need and Academic Quality Elements
and correspondence, and Brief to The Ontario Council on University Affairs on the Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance at RPU.

Proposal For A BFA Degree In Performance

This file contains Ryerson Theate School Proposal for a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Performance (Acting/Dance) prepared by dr.Iris MacGregor Bannerman, Nadia Potts, Program Directors; and Sandy Black, Chair.

Jack McAllister correspondence

Correspondence written by Jack McAlister. Letters regarding his applications for funding from the Federal Government to finance trips to various theatrical institutions around the world through the Canadian Council Arts awards. His research led to the establishment of Ryerson's Theatre School - incorporating the best techniques of the schools he visited. File also includes letters written by him to his colleagues at Ryerson during his travels.

RTS News

This file contains Newsletter, first edition of the RTS News. Production ceased due to budget cuts and only 1 edition was ever created.

Conferences held by the Theatre School

Stage Managing the Arts Toronto Conference : Peter Fleming - Course Leader and Alex Gilbert - Course Leader
Production Managing the Arts Toronto Conference: Peter Fleming - Director and Course leader and Genevieve Farrell (TRSM) - Course leader.

Summer acting camps

File consists of brochures relating to the Theatre School's summer acting camps for children ranging in age from 5 to 18.

Canadian College of Dance

Letters written by Sonia Chamberlain, Director of the Canadian College of Dance. Includes memos, budget proposals and letters received from students interested in attending the program. Includes a short history of the Canadian College of Dance from its origins, in Montreal (1957), to its present affiliation with Ryerson Theatre School. Biography of Sonia Chamberlain. Posters for performances can be found with other poster from the Ryerson Theatre Company and The Ryerson Theatre School.

Chairperson's external correspondence - Jack McAlister

Correspondence to and from John ("Jack") R. McAllister. McAllister was the original the artistic director for Ryerson's Theatre School and was later named the chairperson. Collection includes letters from Canadian dignitaries, as well as interesting correspondence from friends and colleagues.