Embedded Files
Trips, live theatre, and experiential learning
Trips, live theatre, and experiential learning
Stratford Festival
Billy Elliot + Musical Theatre Workshop
Mary Ward has a long tradition of attending the Stratford Festival. In 2019 - 2020, Drama students saw the musical Billy Elliot and also got a musical theatre workshop from the actors themselves. Students got to perform the closing number of the show in the same practice studio the Stratford actors use.
Second City Toronto
We WOKE Up Like This + Improv Workshop
Gr. 9 and Gr. 10 Drama students attended a live improv comedy show at Second City, Canada's premier improv theatre and training centre. After a Q&A session with the actors, students had a hilarious 2-hour workshop where they learned about acceptance, honesty, building on the ideas of others, and respecting different viewpoints.
National Theatre School Festival (2019)
Toronto District Competition - 2019 Winners!
The National Theatre School is Canada's top post-secondary destination for aspiring actors, writers, and directors. Gr. 11/12 Drama and Tech Crew students competed against dozens of schools across Toronto and won 2 awards for their production of Look Me In The Eye: "Best Ensemble" and "Best Use of Sound & Light".
National Theatre School Festival (2020)
DramaFest 2020
Our Gr. 11 class created E-SCAPE!, a video anthology of how absurd life during the pandemic can be. The NTS adjudicator, Rachel Mutombo, praised the special effects, and said the show was "Very joyful, funny, and expressive...a lot of important subjects broached using humor. Very brave work!"
National Theatre School Festival /
St. Patrick Drama Festival (2022)
Toronto District Competition - Winners!
The Gr. 11/12 class created The Lost Cat, an original children's theatre piece. They continued our tradition of NTS success by winning 4 awards:
Outstanding Original Direction
Best Performance - Kaceyane Dimalanta
Best Lighting Design
Most Inspiring Performer - Simone Randmaa
At the St. Patrick Drama Festival, The Lost Cat also won the following 2 awards:
Best Costume Design - Anora Cosbert
Best Comedic Performance - Bea Lloret
Young People's Theatre (YPT)
Early Stages Program - Gospel Truth
YPT is Canada's premier theatre for young audiences. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our Gr. 9 Drama class participated in a live workshop session for their new play, Gospel Truth. Students gave feedback to the actors, writer, and director about how to make the show resonate with youth audiences.
Roseneath Theatre
Meet Cute
Roseneath Theatre produces plays that engage young audiences in issues they care about. During the Covid-19 pandemic, our Gr. 9 Drama class watched and analyzed Meet Cute, a play about consent shown three different ways.
Theatre Passe Muraille
Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land)
Theatre PasseMuraille is Canada's original alternative theatre company, producing new Canadian plays that reflect the complexity of our intercultural society. Gr. 10, 11, and 12 students watched a live digital performance of Iphigenia and had an interview with the playwright, Jeff Ho.
The Shaw Festival
Chitra
In 2022, Mary Ward Drama once again began attending live theatre with a performance of Chitra at the Shaw Festival. Based on the Hindu epic Mahabharata and starring Mary Ward Drama alumnus Gabriella Sundar Singh, Chitra was a culturally responsive experience that impressed all our students.
Stratford Festival
Chicago
Drama and Tech Crew students saw the legendary musical Chicago at the Stratford Festival. All grade levels were stunned by the level of professionalism in acting, singing, dancing, and stagecraft.
U of T - Hart House
NTS Tech Training
Our Gr 12 Drama and Tech Crew students were invited to Hart House, the legendary theatre at the University of Toronto. In this session in partnership with the National Theatre School Festival, we learned about lighting & sound design, stage management, and theatre technology.
Theatre Passe Muraille
our place
our place is about two women, both illegal immigrants, working at a jerk restaurant in Scarborough. It was a fantastic experience for our Gr. 11 Drama students, who also benefitted from the matinee time and $10 pricing.
Studio 180
My Sister's Rage
Our Gr. 10 Drama class loved My Sister's Rage, exploring the lives of Indigenous women. This play was enhanced by a land-based creation workshop from Yolanda Bonnell, the writer/director.
Young People's Theatre
CRANKED: The Remix
In 2023, our Gr. 9 Drama students trekked downtown to the world famous Young People's Theatre to see a one-man show about substance abuse. CRANKED: The Remix featured a live DJ and a Q&A session with the actor and producer.
Guest Speakers & ARTISTS
Guest Speakers & ARTISTS
Every year, Drama @ Ward brings in professional actors, directors, writers, and and more to speak to our students.
Below are just some of the many talented people from whom our students have learned.
Meghan Swaby
Obsidian Theatre
A TCDSB graduate, Meghan is a Toronto-based actor and playwright. Her play Venus' Daughter was produced at Obsidian Theatre, and included on the Playwright's Guild of Canada "SureFire" list as one of the top 25 plays in Canada. Meghan worked with our Gr. 10 Drama students on writing, finding creative ways to express personal experiences, and life as a Canadian playwright.
Yolanda Bonnell
Yolanda is a Queer 2 Spirit Anishinaabe-Ojibwe & South Asian, european mixed performer, playwright and multidisciplinary creator/educator. Originally from Fort William First Nation in Thunder Bay, Ontario (Superior Robinson Treaty territory), her arts practice is now based in Tkarón:to. Yolanda spoke to our Gr. 10 class about land-based creation in preparation for viewing her play, My Sister's Rage.
Qasim Khan
Stratford, National Arts Centre, Soulpepper, CanStage
Qasim, fresh from his run as the main character in Stratford's production of The Neverending Story, spoke to our Drama students about his journey from Scarborough teen to international acting success. He also gave a private talk to our Gr. 11/12 class about writing.
Chelsea Woolley
Tarragon Theatre - The Scarborough Project
Chelsea is a Canadian playwright and educator who works with "The Scarborough Project" at Tarragon Theatre, connecting youth in Scarborough to arts opportunities in downtown Toronto. She worked with our Gr. 10, 11, and 12 students on writing and performing an original video game script using the TWINE coding program.
Chris James
Fight Choreographer
Our Gr. 11 and 12 students worked with fight choreographer Chris James on punching, headbutts, slapping, choking, and falling - on stage! Chris has extensive experience in stage combat, dance, stunt choreography, and martial arts. Our students got the chance to learn about all those skills, and more, under his expert guidance.
Blythe Stewart
Staff Director, National Theatre (London, UK)
Blythe is a director with the National Theatre of London, England. She has trained with the Stratford Festival and the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts. Her work has been nominated for 7 Off West-End Awards. Blythe worked with our Gr. 10 and Gr. 11 Drama students on how to produce their own original work.
Jeff Ho
Actor / Playwright
Jeff is an award-winning actor and playwright who has worked with the Stratford Festival, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe-Muraille, Young People's Theatre, and more. He spoke to our Gr. 10, 11, and 12 Drama classes about Iphigenia and the Furies (On Taurian Land) - his play that our students watched - as well as his creative process, pursuing your dreams as an artist, and overcoming adversity.
kumari giles
Young People's Theatre
kumari is a multidisciplinary queer non-binary artist who believes in art, movmeent, and food as tools for liberation, transformation, and healing. They are committed to nurturing overlooked brilliance by challenging systemic power in the arts. kumari worked with our Gr. 10 Drama class for pre- and post-show workshops around YPT's production of rhiannaboi95, exploring how actors use their bodies to represent secrets.
youngpeoplestheatre.org
Mateo Chavez Lewis
The Musical Stage Co.
Mateo is an actor, singer, musician, composer, and vocal coach. He has performed across Canada and written musicals that have debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival. Mateo gave our Gr. 11 Drama class a fantastic Musical Theatre workshop experience, where they sang, danced, and learned about how music shapes the hidden feelings and messages in Hamilton.
Christopher Williamson
Young People's Theatre
Christopher works with Young People's Theatre (YPT) as an artist educator. He has researched, planned and facilitated a variety of programs that led to inclusive, healthy and engaging programming for the public, especially for children and youth. He led the pre- and post-show workshops for Cranked, holding fascinating discussions and lively activities for our Gr. 9 Drama students.
Corporal Marc Boggio
2 Field Ambluance, Petawawa
A TCDSB graduate and independent filmmaker, Cpl. Boggio has served in the Canadian Armed Forces since he was in high school. After having his leg amputated below the knee, he has spoken to schools across Ontario about resilience and perseverance. Cpl. Boggio worked with the Gr. 11/12 Drama class to create a video reflection for Ward's Remembrance Day performance.
Stephanie Hope Lawlor
Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts
Stephanie is an award-winning performer and head of the Theatre Department at the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts, and graduate of the Randolph College for the Performing Arts (nationally respected for its "triple threat" program). Stephanie worked with our Gr. 11 Drama students on creating devised theatre, and using their own stories to create dramatic works.
Erik Canaria
Geeks With Kids, Royal City Musical Productions
Erik is a classically trained musician and actor who has spent 20 years performing, directing, and consulting for musical theatre productions across Ontario. He's also an award-nominated podcast producer. Erik worked with our Gr. 11 Drama class on musical theatre techniques, auditioning as a Filipino-Canadian, and discussed how cultural representation has improved on Canadian stages.
Luciano Iogna
Actor, Writer, Instructor
Luciano has taught theatre around the world for over 40 years to over 150 different groups. He came to Mary Ward through Mixed Company Theatre, working with our Gr. 10 class on Forum Theatre and Theatre of the Oppressed - examining power, oppression, and change. We were very fortunate to learn from his wisdom and experience.
Anne-Marie Krytiuk
Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA)
Anne-Marie is a theatre and stage actress, and voice-over artist. She spoke to our Drama students about what it takes to get a job in the industry, how to prepare for an audition, and all the supports offered to young artists by TAPA.
Scott Dion Brown
Actor, YouTuber, Filmmaker, Model
A TCDSB graduate, Scott has worked in TV series (Designated Survivor, Frankie Drake Mysteries) and produced his own independent film, Kessler Syndrome. As a YouTuber, his channel has almost 2,000 subscribers. Scott worked with our Gr. 9 Drama class to talk about using Drama skills online, following your Drama dream, and life as an Asian-Canadian in the entertainment industry.
Lindsay Price
Playwright, Entrepreneur, Founder of TheatreFolk
Lindsay is a professional playwright and VP of TheatreFolk, one of the largest play publishing companies in Canada. She spoke to our Gr. 11/12 Drama class about their award-winning production of her play, Look Me In The Eye, at the National Theatre School Festival.
Peter Mabrucco
Director's Guild of Canada
A TCDSB graduate, Peter has worked as a 1st or 2nd Assistant Director for many Netflix productions, including Odd Squad, Locke & Key, American Gods, Star Trek: Discovery, The Coroner, Good Sam, and more. He spoke to our Drama and Film students about life in the film industry and how to get started as an actor, writer, director, or producer.
Daniel Chapman-Smith
Co-Founder, "Project: Humanity"
As co-founder of the Project: Humanity theatre company, Daniel does documentary theatre training with high schools and youth shelters across the GTA. He worked with our Grade 9 students on verbatim theatre - using real life interviews to create scripts based on current events.
Matt Karzis
Actor, Writer, and Producer
A TCDSB graduate, Matt is a 15-year veteran of the North American comedy scene and one of the youngest people to ever win a Canadian Comedy Award. He works as a TV actor and film screenplay writer. Matt worked with our Gr. 11 Drama class on writing and producing original sketch comedy performances.
David Sazant
Lawyer; Film, TV, and Stage Actor
Before becoming a lawyer, David built a successful career as a teen film actor (Mean Girls, Degrassi: The Next Generation) and musical theatre performer (Pippin, Hair, Cabaret, Hairspray!, Fiddler on the Roof). David worked with our Gr. 9 Drama class to discuss the rehearsal process, how to get into character, and how Drama skills help you in your life and career.
Spencer Dunn & Vanessa Prevost
The Canadian Improv Games
Spencer and Vanessa are trainers and administrators with the Canadian Improv Games, Canada's biggest and oldest youth theatre competition. For over 50 years, the CIG has run training and competitions for high school students across Canada and Australia in the art of improvisation. Spencer and Vanessa worked with our Grade 9 class on the fundamentals of improv: making and accepting offers, building a setting, and advancing the scene.
Marvin Karon
Shakespearience
Marvin has decades of experience teaching Shakespeare to youth and professional actors across North America and Europe. He's worked in theatre, television, and film, as well as teaching Theatre at the university and college level. Marvin worked with our Gr. 10 and Gr. 11 students on their monologues and Shakespearean soliloquies, giving them the same training that professional actors get.
Page updated
Report abuse