If you are part of one of the productions that was chosen to attend the 2025 National Theatre School Dramafest Ontario Provincial Showcase-- congratulations!
There is a lot to prepare for this jam-packed event, so please take a look at the checklist below to make sure you have done everything you need to ensure an amazing time at the festival.
If you are a parent, friend, or other audience member coming to see the festival-- tickets are available to purchase on the Thousand Islands Playhouse website: www.1000islandsplayhouse.com
All performances will take place in the Springer Theatre at The Thousand Island Playhouse.
185 South St, Gananoque, ON K7G 1A1,
A thirty+ year veteran of the stage and audio waves, Julie started writing for the theatre fifteen years ago out of a determination to see her own community’s stories on stage. As an actor, she has appeared in theatres across the country, big and small, garnering multiple nominations and awards. As a creator, her works include Mixie and the Halfbreeds, about mixed identity in multiple universes, created with Adrienne Wong; the award-winning The Tashme Project: The Living Archives, a verbatim play about the Japanese Canadian internment experience told through the childhood memories of community elders, created with Matt Miwa- with whom she shares the company, Tashme Productions; and Mizushōbai (The Water Trade) about Kiyoko Tanaka Goto, a real-life Japanese picture-bride turned ‘underground’ business woman in 1930’s British Columbia.
Julie makes a daily practice of striving towards joy through intergenerational healing and finding strength in community in both her creative and personal life. She is a proud Sansei (third-generation Japanese Canadian), taiko player, community leader/connector and plant lover, living, working and playing in Tiohtiá:ke/Mooniyang (Montréal).
NTS (National Theatre School) DramaFest is a high school theatre festival providing students the opportunity to engage in all areas related to the production of a play or musical. Participants collaborate with peers to write and perform original or published works. DramaFest is a platform for young people to exercise their empathy, their listening skills, their sense of community, and to have conversations about the complexity of the world. It is a place to safely explore ideas, self-expression and friendship. All secondary schools are invited to register!
Secondary school drama groups must first enter one of approximately 20 District Festivals held in various areas of the province. Each District is organized by geographic location.
District finalists are then invited to one of six Regional Festivals (North, East, South, West, Central and Toronto), each usually running three to six nights.
Two Outstanding Productions from each Regional Festival are invited to perform at the Ontario Showcase and enjoy a weekend of workshops, social events and of course performances!
Would you would like to get involved in your District’s DramaFest or are you interested in holding a festival in your district? Contact your District representative or the NTS Team for more information.
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