A Message from Craig Wrotniak, Executive Director of TAEA
National Drama Teachers’ Conference
Registration is open — and moving at a record pace — for our TAEA National Drama Teachers’ Conference. This year, we’re offering both in-person ($129) and live Zoom ($59) options, making it truly accessible across Canada. With over 300 drama teachers expected to gather together nationwide, this promises to be our largest and most dynamic event yet.
Every registration includes:
Automatic TAEA membership for 2025/26
Access to the Drama Teacher Support System (DTSS) — a year-round suite of resources and supports designed specifically for drama educators
Benefits of the Conference
Practical, artist and teacher-led workshops filled with strategies you can use in your classroom right away
National networking opportunities — connect with colleagues from coast to coast
Free STAR Troupe Charter (for new troupes inducting at least 4 students, $229 value)
$500 discount coupon on a licensed play title (regional prize draws)
Full access to recorded sessions and resource library for future use
Receipts provided for school/union/district PD reimbursement
TAEA Drama Teacher Support System (DTSS) Includes:
Mentorship Matching Program — connect with peers, retired educators, or professional artists across Canada
Vendor Discounts — savings on scripts, royalties, equipment, PD, and more
Teaching Resources & Zoom Workshop Library — ever-growing library of performance, stagecraft, playwriting, and new teacher supports
Leadership Development — pathways for teachers to lead STAR events and professional gatherings
National Teaching Artists Directory — find guest artists for workshops and residencies
Community & Forum — year-round idea sharing and professional support
Production Resources Program — free prop rentals ($300 value per school/year) through the Vancouver Playhouse collection; costume rentals in development. Hopefully expanding to other corners of the country as resources are acquired!
Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and celebrate with your peers!
Regional STAR Fest
Our Regional STAR Fests are gearing up, and we’re thrilled to share that more than 30 festivals will take place across Canada this year, all laddering up to five national festivals in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Niagara, Ottawa, and Corner Brook NL this May. Bring your students to take workshops and perform in events like – contrasting monologues, duo scene, ensemble scene, solo musical, duet musical, group musical and devised theatre. We even have presentation categories for design students and stage managers. It is the most accessible and educational theatre festival you will ever experience! We encourage you to bring students this year!!
In British Columbia, the STAR Fest West national festival is expanding to UBC Vancouver and shifting to May 21–23, 2026 — mark your calendars! You can find your local STAR Fest information HERE
I’m also excited to announce that Kyle Collins will be stepping into the role of STAR Fest National Director, bringing fresh vision and leadership to this important program.
STAR Troupes & STAR Guild
Schools are currently renewing their STAR Troupes and inducting students. This is a wonderful way to recognize and honour the achievements of your theatre programs.
While you do not need a STAR Troupe — or to induct students into the National STAR Guild — in order to participate in STAR Fest, doing so unlocks discounts and additional opportunities to celebrate your students through Canada’s only national honours society for educational theatre excellence.
Thank you for all you do to inspire students and grow theatre in your schools and communities. We can’t wait to see you at the conference, in your regional STAR Fests, and in celebration at our national festivals this spring.
Cheers – Craig Wrotniak (He/Him)
Executive Director – Theatrical Arts Education Association (TAEA)
Serving Teachers – Helping Students
To Find Out Who We Are
By Mariah Madill,
Graduate student, Applied Theatre, University of Victoria
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night at the University of Victoria, directed by Fran Gebhard, with sets by Thomas Moore, costumes by Molly Somers, and lighting by Lexy Kimler. L. to R.: Emma Moon, Chiara Power, real-life twins Makayla Madill as Viola and Mariah Madill as her twin Sebastian, Patrick Jaworek, Jonah Violini (partly hidden), and Avery Dragon. Photo: Dean Kalyan.
Augusto Boal speaks to the
magnitude of theatre when he said, “We must all do theatre to find out who we
are and to discover who we could become.” Creating, imagining, performing, and
reimagining of what can happen on a stage requires creativity, synthesis,
collaboration, and evaluation – some of the highest levels of thinking; the
return on the investment for theatre students is an abundance of connection,
pride, creativity, and personal and collective growth. Immersing myself in
post-secondary theatre allowed me to experience myself in an art form that
continued to encourage and challenge my perspective of and expression in the
world, which ultimately developed in me an immeasurable self-confidence as a
contributing member of society. I have evolved as an artist and as a person
too. I often find myself thinking that if the 17- year-old me could see who I
have become today, she would be so excited and proud. Through my theatre degree
at UVic, I have found my voice, learned the true power of stepping outside of my
comfort zone, grown my confidence on and off the stage, and found a community
that supports and believes in me. Here are some experiences I have especially
cherished and remembered.
* The lights lower into darkness, and I feel
my skin tingle with anticipation. I am extremely excited and nervous to watch
my very first lighting design brighten up the stage. As the dancers start their
first movements, and the gold light hits their birdlike gestures, my heart
explodes with joy as I watch the colors, shadows, and textures that I had
dreamed up in my head come to life on stage; I feel ecstatic, honored, and
proud.
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!
Ontario Staging Limited - Let Us Stage Your Event
Ontario Staging Limited sells and manufactures drapery, rigging hardware, and accessories. Distributor for Rosco, Lee, Alvin Clamps, and H&H Specialties. Rental stock includes drapes, track, platforms, and lighting.
Two Ways About It: The Inside and Outside of Playwriting
A playwriting master class with John Lazarus
You’re Invited to VFS’s Fall Events
From Open Houses to Program Previews and All Access Pass behind-the-scenes experiences, VFS invites you to a series of free online & on-campus events this fall.
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.
Students recite a poem to win $5000!
Register your students for our recitation contests and watch them build confidence that lasts a lifetime.
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
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 areas such as Costume Design, Set Design, Lighting, Stage Management and more.
An Epic Virtual Experience for Drama Students!
Explore this play by a Tanzanian-Canadian playwright! Students will see Zulu legend come to life in story, dance, and music while creatively exploring curriculum concepts.
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.
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.
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 (like Mariah Madill’s piece in this issue), 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).
