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Latest NewsNEWS RELEASE Release Date: July 25, 2009 INTERPLAY 19: ready to Press PLAY All systems are GO as Events Wood Buffalo prepares to launch interPLAY 19 on Franklin Avenue. The TransAlta interPLAY Festival has been thrilling Wood Buffalo citizens and guests for nearly two decades and has grown to become one of the most respected arts festivals in Western Canada. “Our team is excited to get the fun started,” said Claude Giroux, Executive Director of Events Wood Buffalo. “We have the strongest mainstage line-up in our history, world-class street performers and a tremendous variety of attractions for young and old.” With less than two weeks before the start of interPLAY 19, Events Wood Buffalo is encouraging citizens to join the Shell Volunteer Team. “Volunteering at interPLAY is a blast,” said Jennie Spinney, Volunteer Director. “Our Shell Volunteer Team gets several perks including an official festival t-shirt and the opportunity to earn Volunteer Bucks so they can see shows for free.” People interested in becoming an interPLAY volunteer can call the interPLAY hotline at 780-791-1600. The 2009 interPLAY Festival program is being printed with great support from Printing Unlimited and will be available in the July 31st and/or August 4th editions of the Fort McMurray Today. Additional FREE copies will be available for pick-up when you arrive at interPLAY 19. “Thanks to support from Travel Alberta we are inviting our neighbors in Cold Lake, Lac la Biche and Athabasca to join us for interPLAY,” said Amanda Laxton, Public Relations Director. “Residents in those communities will be receiving the interPLAY program in the mail encouraging them to travel north and discover interPLAY and the beauty of Wood Buffalo.” Registrations are still being accepted for the Amazing Art Race taking place at the Peter Pond Shopping Centre during interPLAY. There are three categories including the Junior (12 and under), Senior (13 to 18) and Open (all ages) classes. Each participant gets one canvas, one theme (Happiness is…) and three hours to create their masterpiece. For more information contact: Claude Giroux January 29, 2008 News Release interPLAY kicks off an exciting 2008
August 14, 2007 News Release BEST OF INTERPLAY It was a record year at the interPLAY Festival Box Office as paid attendance jumped by over 10%. The Total, Canadian Natural and Home Hardware stages played host to a variety of productions including children’s theatre, comedy, improv and one act plays. The Fort McMurray Centre for Performance and Art sponsor THE BEST OF INTERPLAY AWARDS and are pleased to announce that their panel of 9 judges has selected the following winners. Best Overall Performance Piece: Touch, Odd-Lot Puppetry Co. Best or Most Innovative Use of Space: Touch, Odd-Lot Puppetry Co. Best Performance - Male: Ryan Johnston - Now I Lay Me, Down to Sleep, Hoffmaniac Productions Best Performance - Female: Corina Dransutavicius – Drag Queens on Trial, Becca Barrington and Company The 20,000+ visitors to interPLAY had the opportunity to vote for their favorite show. The 2007 Peoples’ Choice winner was the production of Now I Lay Me, Down to Sleep by Hoffmaniac Productions. The winner of the 2007 Petro-Canada Homegrown Talent Search was local dancer Ayah Sutton with second and third place going to singers Megan Byblow and Leanne Poole, respectively. The winners of The Amazing Art Race at the Peter Pond Shopping Centre were Siddhartho Bhattacharjo (Junior Race), Venkata Lakshmi (Senior Race) and Alicia Kennedy (Open Race). Community actors will have a chance to shine again in the 1st Annual WinterPLAY Festival, February 29 to March 2. Details will be available soon at www.interplay.ca. June 20, 2007 News Release In 1980, a group of Fort McKay youth wrote a collection of traditional stories that had been told by their mothers and grandmothers, often in their Cree language. Stories My Granny Told Me will form the creative foundation of the Suncor Energy Fort McKay Theatre Camp and will include the creation of a play that will travel to Fort McMurray for the interPLAY Festival. Stories My Granny Told Me was written by a collection of Fort McKay students, many of whom are the community leaders of today. According to former Fort McKay School Principal Rod Hyde, the project was part of our province’s birthday celebrations. “The 75th Anniversary of Alberta was a big deal, perhaps even more so than the recent centennial celebrations,” said Hyde. “We received significant funding to produce Stories My Granny Told Me. It brought the kids together to produce a collection of stories and poems that are a part of their history. It’s so exciting that these stories will come alive for a whole new generation of Fort McKay kids.” In this camp, Fort McKay youth of today will have a chance to rediscover these wonderful tales, preserving them for future generations and sharing them with the entire region. Stories My Granny Told Me will be performed on the Canadian Natural Stage at the Stonebridge Hotel on August 10, 11 and 12. A final performance will take place in Fort McKay in the days following interPLAY. “We are so excited to be growing the Fort McKay Theatre Camp with the support of Suncor Energy and the Fort McKay Wellness Centre,” said Russell Thomas, interPLAY President. “Giving these aspiring actors a chance to create and perform the folk tales of Wesakychak has obviously struck a positive chord. There is a high level of excitement about this camp in the community.” The camp will be directed by Michael Beamish and Rebecca John, 2003 graduates of the Keyano College Visual & Performing Arts Drama Program. Currently residing in Edmonton, Michael and Rebecca appeared on the Keyano Theatre stage in a number of productions including Romeo and Juliet, The Rocky Horror Show and Balconvillle. They write, direct and produce plays and have significant experience working with youth. “As an artist I love working with children and young adults because I find their energy, enthusiasm, and uninhibited imaginations inspiring,” said Beamish. “I am very excited about the idea of telling Aboriginal stories. Though I am not Aboriginal myself, Native culture has had a strong influence in my life. Having grown up in Northern Alberta I have always been inspired by Aboriginal culture, traditions, ceremonies and most of all stories.” The camp runs from July 30 to August 13 for kids ages 6 to 13. info@interplay.ca February 1, 2007 interPLAY Children’s Theatre
Camp Assistant Director/Stage Manager Reporting to the Director of the three-week
Suncor Energy interPLAY Children’s Theatre Camp you will assist
in providing students ages 8 to 14 with exposure to all aspects
of performing in a theatre production. The successful applicant will have a proven track record of success working with groups of children and have a strong understanding of, and experience in, theatre. Project Start Date: July 16 info@interplay.ca April 24, 2007 The Petro Canada Homegrown Talent Search is back again for interPLAY 2007. This will be the third year of the enormously popular contest. Singer Lucas Meeuse was last year's winner. Karissa Sovdi, with her strong voice and songwriting skill, was our first winner in 2005. Do you love to perform? Do you have the talent to win the $2,500 first prize? Then download the registration form, fill it out and send it in! The 2007 Petro Canada Homegrown Talent Search is produced by the Fort McMurray interPLAY Society, organizers and operators of the interPLAY Festival running August 10 to 12, 2007.
Friday, August 10, noon - 4 pm
Saturday, August 11, noon - 3 pm
Sunday, August 12, 4 pm - 6 pm
More About the Homegrown Talent Search February 1, 2007
January 1, 2007 The 17th Annual interPLAY Festival is coming
up August 10-12 on Franklin Avenue in the city centre of Fort McMurray.
According to Russell Thomas, President of interPLAY, the talent
line-up is already taking shape. |
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