EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S UPDATE By Craig Wrotniak
Dear Drama Educators,
TAEA’s New Affiliation with Canada’s Post-Secondary Theatre Sector – and Your Connection To It
This month we open with big news: TAEA is expanding! We recently completed a Resource Map of the Canadian Post-Secondary Theatre Sector, creating a powerful new resource with three key components:
An interactive map highlighting every program and its current season of theatre productions
A directory of curricular programs (credentials, pathways, and training offered)
A listing of extra-curricular theatre clubs at post-secondary institutions
This is an ideal resource to share with students who are exploring their post-secondary options in theatre, musical theatre, and related fields. We are also developing a post-secondary version of STAR Fest, with initial pilot festivals expected to begin taking shape in 2026/27. Increasing visibility for Canadian post-secondary programs – combined with stronger connections to secondary-school theatre – will help build an even stronger foundation for the future of Canadian theatre.
Student Opportunities (Deadlines for all three: February 20)
Unified Post-Secondary Audition Portal (open until Feb. 20)
Encourage Grade 11-12 students who want to pursue theatre or film acting training to post a profile and submit a self-tape audition online. Details HERE
STAR Search Portal – Film Acting & Voice-Over Representation (due Feb. 20)
Students in Grades 6-12 can submit a profile and self-tape audition for consideration by acting/voice-over agents. Details HERE
STAR Short Play Writing Competition (closes Feb. 20)
Our second annual competition is underway! Winners will be published and will have the opportunity to perform their play at National STAR Fest this spring. Details HERE
STAR Fest Update
Our STAR Fest Regionals are nearly complete, with our final regional festivals wrapping up soon – including online regionals, which are happening this month). We’re thrilled to share that participation is at a record high, with more schools involved than ever, and many students qualifying, with performance and tech/design presentations, for the Nationals!
If your school missed STAR Fest this year, please reach out directly to craig@educationaltheatre.ca, and we’ll help you get plugged into our national community.
Cheers – Craig Wrotniak
Executive Director – Theatrical Arts Education Association (TAEA)
Serving Teachers – Helping Students
TAEA FUNDRAISING CORNER
In response to rising costs and ongoing needs in educational theatre programs, we’re launching a newsletter section featuring fundraising strategies that work. If you have a successful fundraising program to share, please write it up and send it to theatricscanada@educationaltheatre.ca.
Here is our first example of a fundraising strategy that could work for your educational theatre program – and just in time for Valentine’s Week:
Fundraiser Spotlight: Singing Telegrams / DramaGrams (Valentine’s Week)
A high-energy, high-profit fundraiser where drama students deliver short, fun “performance messages” to recipients at school (or after school), paid for by friends and family.
How It Works
- Students and families purchase a DramaGram for a friend, teacher, coach—or anonymously (with staff approval).
- On delivery day, a student team performs a 30–90 second mini-telegram: a song chorus, a short scene, a poem, or a comedic “royal proclamation of awesomeness.”
- Optional add-ons can include a card, candy, and a quick photo/video clip.
Why It Works
- Valentine’s Week has built-in demand.
- It’s low-cost, it is quick to deliver, and students love it.
- It scales easily: more teams means more deliveries, which means more revenue.
Quick Planning Guide
- Choose your delivery windows
- Lunch deliveries (fast and high visibility)
- Final minutes of select classes (teacher-approved list)
- After-school pickup (less disruption) Pro tip: Lunch and after-school is the easiest combo.
- Create delivery teams (3 to 5 students)
- 1 or 2 performers
- 1 runner (to organize the schedule and navigation)
- 1 videographer/photographer (optional)
- 1 adult “base camp” staff member to manage the master schedule
- Offer a simple performance menu (6–10 options)
Examples: short song chorus, poem, compliment rap, Shakespeare-style declaration, “Love Court” comedy bit, or “awards,” if the recipient is a teacher or staff member. - Price it for profit(sample structure):
- $5 for a Basic DramaGram (card and performance)
- $8 for a DramaGram and candy
- $10 for a DramaGram, candy, and photo/video clip to buyer
- $15 for the VIP Treatment (a bigger group singing the number)
- Add-ons: custom message line, paper hearts (glitter-free), extra performers, staff room delivery.
- Keep ordering simple
Use a Google Form and cash/e-transfer or your usual school ticketing system. Collect: recipient name, location, time, telegram choice, message, and photo/video permission. - Stay organized on delivery day
Cap the number of deliveries per team, group them by hallway or wing, print team packets, and use a “can’t find recipient” rule (e.g., try again later!). - Important note: Keep the content school-appropriate and kindness-focused by default. Anonymous deliveries should be staff-approved and should never include negative messaging.
So there’s one example of a fundraiser for your theatre program! If you have others, send them on in!!!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Regional STAR Fest
Final regionals are taking place in Mississauga ON, Newfoundland and Online this month! Check them out and start recognizing your students theatrical excellence today!!
National STAR Search Find an Agent
Get looked at by some of Canada’s strongest talent agents – Submissions due by Feb 20th 2026 – https://taeacanada.ca/star-
National Unified Post Secondary Audition Portal
Get looked at by some of Canada’s strongest post-secondary theatre programs and international ones too – Submissions due by Feb 20th 2026 – https://taeacanada.ca/unified-
STAR Short Play Program
Youth write a play Max 20 minutes and if it advances it goes on to perform at Nationals and get published – Submissions due by Feb 20th 2026 – https://taeacanada.ca/star-
National STAR Fest
Join us for one of these amazing 3 day festival events in Vancouver BC, Winnipeg MB, Niagara ON, Ottawa ON or Corner Brook NL this May. details at www.taeacanada.ca
TAEA National Teaching Artists Directory
Bring a national clinician into your school! In-person and live Zoom options are available! https://taeacanada.ca/taea-national-teaching-artist-directory/
A WORD FROM OUR FABULOUS SPONSORS
PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE
Plays and musicals for all ages! Get INSTANT delivery using our Get It Now! e-delivery option!
Every Great Performance Starts with a Great Experience
Theatre festivals, workshops, and performance tours—planned around your curriculum and budget since 1980. Canadian-owned, teacher-trusted, stress-free. Contact us at ellisontours.com.
Buy your professional theatre tickets here and support Canadian educational theatre
Click the link and when you buy tickets to these discounted Broadway Across Canada touring productions a portion of your sale goes to support TAEA and our mission of serving teachers, helping students wishing to pursue a lifelong journey in the performing arts.
Two Ways About It: The Inside and Outside of Playwriting
A playwriting master class with John Lazarus
Arts Umbrella Pro-D Day Workshops
One-day workshops, taught by industry professionals, and designed for aspiring theatre and film technicians ages 13-19. Explore how stage and screen productions come to life and dive into a variety of disciplines. Upcoming workshops in Sound Design and Set Design in February and April!
BookTix
Elevate your productions and increase ticket sales with the best online ticket platform for Canadian schools.
Apply today for Fall 2026!
BFA Acting at the U of A is an intensive conservatory actor training program combined with a university degree. Apply to audition by Feb. 4, 2026. Learn more at uab.ca/bfa-acting
See where curiosity takes you.
On stage or behind the scenes, we have a place for you in the University of Lethbridge Faculty of Fine Arts.
Apply Now for Fall 2025
Rosebud School of the Arts is a guild school that provides post-secondary theatre training within a community of professional working artists. Students receive personalized guidance, mentoring, and practical training to prepare them for a career in the performing arts. Students participate in annual study trips to the West Coast, Toronto, New York City, and London, where they attend theatre performances and engage in workshops. The complete Professional Theatre Training Programme at RSA is comprised of a 1-year Certificate in Theatre Foundations Programme and a 3-year Mentorship Programme.
Create Something Amazing Over Spring Break!
Vancouver Film School is offering 2-day creative workshops this March in Film, Animation,
Acting, Makeup Design & more. Build your portfolio and get a taste of VFS’s programs.
Theatre @ BrockU
With a wide assortment of theatre degree programs and specialty areas of theatrical arts study, BrockU is a great place to continue your journey in theatrical arts education.
JOIN, SUBSCRIBE, AND CONTRIBUTE!
Want to see your thoughts printed in “Theatrics Canada”? So do we! We need your expertise, so send us stuff! We welcome news of your school’s theatre work, advice on teaching and theatre, reviews and criticism of current work that might be of interest, essays, photos – we love photos – short plays, cartoons, Letters to the Editor – anything related to theatre and teaching. Send it to John Lazarus at theatricscanada@educationaltheatre.ca. Please make it up to 1,250 words long, and include name and position of author(s), the section of “Theatrics” you’re submitting to, and the name and location of your school. The copyright to all material remains with the author(s).
