ZOOM WORKSHOP with KickStart
"CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT"
WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 10:30-11:30, 2020
STILL, LIFE: A DIGITAL FESTIVAL
"CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT"
WEDNESDAY 3 JUNE 10:30-11:30, 2020
STILL, LIFE: A DIGITAL FESTIVAL
HOLD MY HAND - a Zoom Play directed by Hila Graf performed and created with the Green College Players, UBC
Distant Dramaturgy - Susan Bertoia . Technical Support - Flick Harrison
April 4/5 2020 - Corona Time
(picture below one of our meet ups/rehearsals!)
Distant Dramaturgy - Susan Bertoia . Technical Support - Flick Harrison
April 4/5 2020 - Corona Time
(picture below one of our meet ups/rehearsals!)
PROJECT FIRST (2019)
FIRST OF MANY DRAFT 3.1
Lord Byng Sec. Theatre Residency - Devising Original Theatre (Sept-Nov)
project made possible by an ARTSTARTS
November 20 and 21 at 7:00pm
Byng Theatre (entrance off of Crown)
A crazy little devised piece of physical theatre about 'firsts' and 'one' and 'many'. What started out as piece about finding our place we discovered that we all can be one in a bigger space. Special thanks to Matthew Theissen, theatre/drama teacher at Byng Arts for artistic and producing support of this project.
FIRST OF MANY DRAFT 3.1
Lord Byng Sec. Theatre Residency - Devising Original Theatre (Sept-Nov)
project made possible by an ARTSTARTS
November 20 and 21 at 7:00pm
Byng Theatre (entrance off of Crown)
A crazy little devised piece of physical theatre about 'firsts' and 'one' and 'many'. What started out as piece about finding our place we discovered that we all can be one in a bigger space. Special thanks to Matthew Theissen, theatre/drama teacher at Byng Arts for artistic and producing support of this project.
COMMEDIA PROJECT (2019)
Isle dell' Arte, where everyone and everything is a little bit Commedia!🏝
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Preview October 16th @ 7:30, October 17th @ 7:30 , October 18th @ 7:30 , October 19th @ 7:30
Directed by Susan Bertoia
Devised by Susan Bertoia and BFA Acting Class of 2021
Isle dell' Arte, where everyone and everything is a little bit Commedia!🏝
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Preview October 16th @ 7:30, October 17th @ 7:30 , October 18th @ 7:30 , October 19th @ 7:30
Directed by Susan Bertoia
Devised by Susan Bertoia and BFA Acting Class of 2021
Every year the third year BFA Acting class of UBC, under the guidance of the legend herself Susan Bertoia, study the 16th century Italian theatre tradition of Commedia dell'Arte!
This year we bring you to the Island of The Tempest, as the characters of the classic Shakespeare play encounter the shipwrecked members of the hit 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island. Will the Gilligan crew ever manage to escape the Island madness? Can The Tempest Island Inhabitants find a way to keep their Island theirs? Come join us to find out!
This show is free of cost but has limited seating, so keep your arms and legs inside the boat at all times and join us for the ride!
Directed by Susan Bertoia
Devised by Susan Bertoia and BFA Acting Class of 2021
Featuring:
Abbey Laine Schwartz, Aiofe McAndless-Davis, Alain Tahir, Bonnie Duff, Chantal Gering , Charmaine Nomsa Sibanda, David Lundmark, Erin Purghart , Genevieve Guimond , Holly Collis Handford, Kirsten Kraemer, Kyle Preston Oliver, Mai Stone, Shannon Poole
Stage Manager: Jacob Wan, Assistant Stage Manager: Mikaela Kawaley-Lathan, Scenic Coordinator: Samantha Lam, Costume Coordinator: Amber Smith, Lighting Designer: Anita Jian, Assistant Lighting Designer: Mira Robinson, Sound Designer: Shiori Hatamoto
Masks: Gina Bastone, Melody Anderson
This year we bring you to the Island of The Tempest, as the characters of the classic Shakespeare play encounter the shipwrecked members of the hit 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island. Will the Gilligan crew ever manage to escape the Island madness? Can The Tempest Island Inhabitants find a way to keep their Island theirs? Come join us to find out!
This show is free of cost but has limited seating, so keep your arms and legs inside the boat at all times and join us for the ride!
Directed by Susan Bertoia
Devised by Susan Bertoia and BFA Acting Class of 2021
Featuring:
Abbey Laine Schwartz, Aiofe McAndless-Davis, Alain Tahir, Bonnie Duff, Chantal Gering , Charmaine Nomsa Sibanda, David Lundmark, Erin Purghart , Genevieve Guimond , Holly Collis Handford, Kirsten Kraemer, Kyle Preston Oliver, Mai Stone, Shannon Poole
Stage Manager: Jacob Wan, Assistant Stage Manager: Mikaela Kawaley-Lathan, Scenic Coordinator: Samantha Lam, Costume Coordinator: Amber Smith, Lighting Designer: Anita Jian, Assistant Lighting Designer: Mira Robinson, Sound Designer: Shiori Hatamoto
Masks: Gina Bastone, Melody Anderson
HIGHLIGHTED PAST WORKS
PROJECT MEMORY - Theatre Residency with Grade 4/5 Students at Muheim Elementary School (Smithers, BC) 2019
Susan devised an original piece of spoken word, story telling and movement based on the memories of elders living in a care home, The Meadows, in Smithers, BC, with a class of Grade 4/5s from Muheim Elementary in Smithers. It was perform in the community June 4, 2019 at the Della Herman Theatre
Dates of Residency: May 28-June 4, 2019
Performance Date: June 4, 6:30pm
Venue: Della Herman Theatre, Smithers
Susan Bertoia, lead artist and director
Liliana Pesce, teacher and facilitator
Project supported by ArtStarts in School
Susan devised an original piece of spoken word, story telling and movement based on the memories of elders living in a care home, The Meadows, in Smithers, BC, with a class of Grade 4/5s from Muheim Elementary in Smithers. It was perform in the community June 4, 2019 at the Della Herman Theatre
Dates of Residency: May 28-June 4, 2019
Performance Date: June 4, 6:30pm
Venue: Della Herman Theatre, Smithers
Susan Bertoia, lead artist and director
Liliana Pesce, teacher and facilitator
Project supported by ArtStarts in School
Project Memory hits the news in Smithers... read all about it here.
www.interior-news.com/news/muheim-theatre-performance-not-one-to-forget/
www.interior-news.com/news/muheim-theatre-performance-not-one-to-forget/
THE TOWN THE TROLLS AND THE MENACE Hastings Elementary School (2019)
Written and directed by Susan Bertoia with contributions made by the Grade 3/4 class French Immersion students at Hastings Elementary and teachers Mme Natacha and Mme Charlotte.
A site specific show created to be played on the playground at Hastings School. Audience roved from gravel field to playground as the performers took the audience on a journey to Troll Mountain.
When the threat of the menace (aka Global Warming) becomes imminent, the adults must think quickly to save their town. Thwarted by the thought stealing Trolls (aka Corporations), it's up the children now to save their parents/guardian and the town. Will they succeed or will the menace take over...
Written and directed by Susan Bertoia with contributions made by the Grade 3/4 class French Immersion students at Hastings Elementary and teachers Mme Natacha and Mme Charlotte.
A site specific show created to be played on the playground at Hastings School. Audience roved from gravel field to playground as the performers took the audience on a journey to Troll Mountain.
When the threat of the menace (aka Global Warming) becomes imminent, the adults must think quickly to save their town. Thwarted by the thought stealing Trolls (aka Corporations), it's up the children now to save their parents/guardian and the town. Will they succeed or will the menace take over...
REWIRE and Open Your Mind (2019)
SOME ASSEMBLY THEATRE
Directed and written by Valerie Methot in collaboration with diverse Metro Vancouver youth, REWIRE highlights integrity, positive action, community support, and inspires positive change in the face of stress, anxiety, and social isolation. It is a bold, must-see production full of truth, tragedy and comedy, along with original music and spectacular visuals. Performances take place May 1 – 4, 2019, during National Youth Arts Week and BC Youth Week.
Credits for REWIRE:
Director/Playwright/Set Design/Sound Design: Valerie Methot
Youth Support Worker/Musician: Ken Lawson
Video Design: Flick Harrison
Technical Director/Lights: Jeremy Baxter
Stage Manager/Props/Set Piece Design: Athena Ivison
Set Piece Design: Katie Gartlan-Close
Script Consultants: Allen Morrison, Linde Zingaro, Susan Bertoia, Ljudmila Petrovic, Brogan Ho, & Alishah Virji
Costumes: Nikki McLaren & Anna Talbot
Make-up/Hair: Brogan
Musicians: Sophie Elder Labrie, Joe Baker, James Moore & Stephen Fisk
Acting Coach/Youth Support Worker: Allen Morrison
Movement/Physical Theatre Advisor: Susan Bertoia
Head Technician: Terry Podealuk
Lights: Chantele Fry & Jessica Han
Photography: Emily Cooper
Youth Writers/Actors: Sophie Elder-Labrie, Joe Baker, Rylan Adriano, Carly Le, Devana Petrovic, Josh Kennedy, Denise Cachero, Fox Hunt, Charles Campbell, Ben Gauthier
info: link
SOME ASSEMBLY THEATRE
Directed and written by Valerie Methot in collaboration with diverse Metro Vancouver youth, REWIRE highlights integrity, positive action, community support, and inspires positive change in the face of stress, anxiety, and social isolation. It is a bold, must-see production full of truth, tragedy and comedy, along with original music and spectacular visuals. Performances take place May 1 – 4, 2019, during National Youth Arts Week and BC Youth Week.
Credits for REWIRE:
Director/Playwright/Set Design/Sound Design: Valerie Methot
Youth Support Worker/Musician: Ken Lawson
Video Design: Flick Harrison
Technical Director/Lights: Jeremy Baxter
Stage Manager/Props/Set Piece Design: Athena Ivison
Set Piece Design: Katie Gartlan-Close
Script Consultants: Allen Morrison, Linde Zingaro, Susan Bertoia, Ljudmila Petrovic, Brogan Ho, & Alishah Virji
Costumes: Nikki McLaren & Anna Talbot
Make-up/Hair: Brogan
Musicians: Sophie Elder Labrie, Joe Baker, James Moore & Stephen Fisk
Acting Coach/Youth Support Worker: Allen Morrison
Movement/Physical Theatre Advisor: Susan Bertoia
Head Technician: Terry Podealuk
Lights: Chantele Fry & Jessica Han
Photography: Emily Cooper
Youth Writers/Actors: Sophie Elder-Labrie, Joe Baker, Rylan Adriano, Carly Le, Devana Petrovic, Josh Kennedy, Denise Cachero, Fox Hunt, Charles Campbell, Ben Gauthier
info: link
BICYCLE THIEVES PuSh International Performance Festival (2019)
Jan 26 @ 7pm and Jan 27 @ 2pm, 2019
PERFORMANCE WORKS, GRANVILLE ISLAND
The film is projected with no sound. Onstage, the four actors—Marco Soriano, Stefano Guilianetti, Susan Bertoia, and Sal Sortino—provide live voiceovers in Italian while Mark Haney (bass), Martin Fisk (percussion), Molly MacKinnon (violin), Marina Hasselberg (cello), Emily Jane King (piano, keyboard) and Michael Simpsonelli (mandolin, guitar, percussion) bring Pankanea’s haunting score to life. Prepare to be moved and enthralled.
COMPOSER Joelysa Pankanea BASS Mark Haney CELLO Marina Hasselberg VIOLIN Molly MacKinnon MARIMBA/PERCUSSION Martin Fisk MANDOLIN/GUITAR/PERCUSSION Michael Simpsonelli PIANO/KEYBOARDEmily Jane King ACTORS Marco Soriano, Susan Bertoia, Stefano Guilianetti, Sal Sortino SCRIPT TRANSLATION Michal Bartosiak ASSISTANT TO THE COMPOSER Evan Rein COMMISSIONED BY PuSh Festival LINK
Jan 26 @ 7pm and Jan 27 @ 2pm, 2019
PERFORMANCE WORKS, GRANVILLE ISLAND
The film is projected with no sound. Onstage, the four actors—Marco Soriano, Stefano Guilianetti, Susan Bertoia, and Sal Sortino—provide live voiceovers in Italian while Mark Haney (bass), Martin Fisk (percussion), Molly MacKinnon (violin), Marina Hasselberg (cello), Emily Jane King (piano, keyboard) and Michael Simpsonelli (mandolin, guitar, percussion) bring Pankanea’s haunting score to life. Prepare to be moved and enthralled.
COMPOSER Joelysa Pankanea BASS Mark Haney CELLO Marina Hasselberg VIOLIN Molly MacKinnon MARIMBA/PERCUSSION Martin Fisk MANDOLIN/GUITAR/PERCUSSION Michael Simpsonelli PIANO/KEYBOARDEmily Jane King ACTORS Marco Soriano, Susan Bertoia, Stefano Guilianetti, Sal Sortino SCRIPT TRANSLATION Michal Bartosiak ASSISTANT TO THE COMPOSER Evan Rein COMMISSIONED BY PuSh Festival LINK
60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAME FURLANE CLUB (2018)
October 14, 2018
FAME FURLANE CLUB (Penticton and E.Pender, Vancouver)
Artistic Direction for Cultural Presentation
October 14, 2018
FAME FURLANE CLUB (Penticton and E.Pender, Vancouver)
Artistic Direction for Cultural Presentation
FESTIVAL DI COMMEDIA 'THE FORGOTTEN PROPOSAL' (2018)
starring The Dirty Rascals and Duke Bressington's Illustrious Travelling Thespians aka. The Dirty Thespians!!
October 17-20, 2018
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Directed/Devised by Susan Bertoia (ADJUNCT PROFESSOR at UBC)
Featuring the work from the illustrious 3rd Year BFA UBC Acting Students (2018)
A devised insane commedia dell'arte theatre piece using the culled resources of the 16 students. Sold out houses every night!!
starring The Dirty Rascals and Duke Bressington's Illustrious Travelling Thespians aka. The Dirty Thespians!!
October 17-20, 2018
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Directed/Devised by Susan Bertoia (ADJUNCT PROFESSOR at UBC)
Featuring the work from the illustrious 3rd Year BFA UBC Acting Students (2018)
A devised insane commedia dell'arte theatre piece using the culled resources of the 16 students. Sold out houses every night!!
THE ICE THAT BREAKS THE NIGHT (2018)
HASTINGS DRAMA CLUB 2018 - Volunteer Program
Oct 2017 - March 2018
Hastings Elementary, Vancouver
Directing/Devising: Susan Bertoia
Performed by Students in Grade 6 and 7
Modern poetic Adaptation of the Events Surrounding the Titanic using poetics, movement, readers theatre and music. Hastings Drama Club. Performances; School - March 13 /14 and Public Performance March 14 at 7:30pm
HASTINGS DRAMA CLUB 2018 - Volunteer Program
Oct 2017 - March 2018
Hastings Elementary, Vancouver
Directing/Devising: Susan Bertoia
Performed by Students in Grade 6 and 7
Modern poetic Adaptation of the Events Surrounding the Titanic using poetics, movement, readers theatre and music. Hastings Drama Club. Performances; School - March 13 /14 and Public Performance March 14 at 7:30pm
EAST OF HERE, WEST OF THERE (2018)
SOUNDSCAPES PROJECT - ArtStarts in School Program
Smithers Secondary, Smithers BC
Artist-in-Residence: Directing/Devising- Susan Bertoia
Heather Lee - Lead Drama Teacher
Devise and lead physical theatre exercises to create a performance with elementary students with support from secondary students. Found sound, images and movement are used to animate a retelling of the tale, 'East of the Wind, West of the Moon'. Public performance in Smithers.
SOUNDSCAPES PROJECT - ArtStarts in School Program
Smithers Secondary, Smithers BC
Artist-in-Residence: Directing/Devising- Susan Bertoia
Heather Lee - Lead Drama Teacher
Devise and lead physical theatre exercises to create a performance with elementary students with support from secondary students. Found sound, images and movement are used to animate a retelling of the tale, 'East of the Wind, West of the Moon'. Public performance in Smithers.
FOR THE LOVE OF 3 ORANGES (2018)
PROJECT ORANGE - ArtStarts in School Program
Oct 2017 - March 2018
Van Tech Secondary
Artist-in-Residence: Directing/Devising- Susan Bertoia
Drama Teacher: Ramona Orr
PROJECT ORANGE: Modern adaptation of Gozzi's play 'The Love of Three Oranges',
set in East Vancouver using movement, lazzi and music. Performances: March 6-8 at 7:30pm
PROJECT ORANGE - ArtStarts in School Program
Oct 2017 - March 2018
Van Tech Secondary
Artist-in-Residence: Directing/Devising- Susan Bertoia
Drama Teacher: Ramona Orr
PROJECT ORANGE: Modern adaptation of Gozzi's play 'The Love of Three Oranges',
set in East Vancouver using movement, lazzi and music. Performances: March 6-8 at 7:30pm
HOTEL AMORE (2017)
A commedia show... "What a'more do you want!?"
October 2017
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Directed/Devised by Susan Bertoia (ADJUNCT PROFESSOR at UBC)
Featuring the work from the amazing 3rd Year BFA UBC Acting Students (2017)
This show was created and devised using the commedia dell'arte genre of theatre as it's base. The class began as a study in neutral mask, emotion mask, character full and half mask to finally the commedia dell'arte mask. I led students to discovering the roles they were suited (and wanted) to play. We used sourced material as well as original material for the show.
A commedia show... "What a'more do you want!?"
October 2017
Dorothy Somerset Studio, UBC
Directed/Devised by Susan Bertoia (ADJUNCT PROFESSOR at UBC)
Featuring the work from the amazing 3rd Year BFA UBC Acting Students (2017)
This show was created and devised using the commedia dell'arte genre of theatre as it's base. The class began as a study in neutral mask, emotion mask, character full and half mask to finally the commedia dell'arte mask. I led students to discovering the roles they were suited (and wanted) to play. We used sourced material as well as original material for the show.
TALES OF THE GROVE (2017)
September, 2017
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS - STUDIO THEATRE
Directed, Devised, Lead Facilitator: Susan Bertoia
Created and devised by: Lauren Alliston, Erika Bruci, Emily Chrysler, Haven Desormeaux, Racheal Dimaggio, Chantal Gering, Chloe Harder, Finn Howes, Syrah Khan, Amrit Mandair, Yulia Skobkareva, Nika Styk, Audrey Tan. Performers: Lauren Alliston, Erika Bruci, Haven Desormeaux, Racheal Dimaggio, Chloe Harder, Finn Howes, Syrah Khan, Amrit Mandair, Nika Styk
Presented by: PuSh International Festival, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Surrey Arts Centre
Professional Guest Artists who lead students in workshops
Jonathan Ryder– Lighting Designer
Elliot Vaughan– Sound/Music Composition
Dia Davina- Spoken Word
Robert Leveroos – Scenic Design:Working with Materials
Joel DeStefano– Found Sound
James Fagan Tait– Dramaturgy
Producers…
Cory Philley (title) - Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Christine Campbell (title) and Kent Gallie (title)- Surrey Arts Centre
Norman Armour (Artistic Director) and Roxanne Duncan (Managing Director)- PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
www.educationthatinspires.ca/2018/06/04/curiosity-sprung-from-trees-tales-of-the-grove/
September, 2017
SHADBOLT CENTRE FOR THE ARTS - STUDIO THEATRE
Directed, Devised, Lead Facilitator: Susan Bertoia
Created and devised by: Lauren Alliston, Erika Bruci, Emily Chrysler, Haven Desormeaux, Racheal Dimaggio, Chantal Gering, Chloe Harder, Finn Howes, Syrah Khan, Amrit Mandair, Yulia Skobkareva, Nika Styk, Audrey Tan. Performers: Lauren Alliston, Erika Bruci, Haven Desormeaux, Racheal Dimaggio, Chloe Harder, Finn Howes, Syrah Khan, Amrit Mandair, Nika Styk
Presented by: PuSh International Festival, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts and Surrey Arts Centre
Professional Guest Artists who lead students in workshops
Jonathan Ryder– Lighting Designer
Elliot Vaughan– Sound/Music Composition
Dia Davina- Spoken Word
Robert Leveroos – Scenic Design:Working with Materials
Joel DeStefano– Found Sound
James Fagan Tait– Dramaturgy
Producers…
Cory Philley (title) - Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
Christine Campbell (title) and Kent Gallie (title)- Surrey Arts Centre
Norman Armour (Artistic Director) and Roxanne Duncan (Managing Director)- PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
www.educationthatinspires.ca/2018/06/04/curiosity-sprung-from-trees-tales-of-the-grove/
THE CT PROJECT: Critical Thinking (2015-16)
Sept 2015 – April 2016
Rivers Edge Theatre (Riverside Secondary School), Port Coquitlam BC
DOUGLAS COLLEGE THEATRE, New Westminster
Devised/Directed: Susan Bertoia
Lead Teaching Artist: Nicole Roberge
Selected to perform at the Sear's Drama Festival 2016 at Douglas College, New Westminster
The process-driven, student-centred devised performance theatre project at Riverside Secondary’s River’s Edge Theatre engaged 2 Acting 11/12 classes (30-50 students).Through a variety of critical thinking and metacognitive experiments and influenced by the avant-garde art and theatre practices, the CT Project performance was born!
Sept 2015 – April 2016
Rivers Edge Theatre (Riverside Secondary School), Port Coquitlam BC
DOUGLAS COLLEGE THEATRE, New Westminster
Devised/Directed: Susan Bertoia
Lead Teaching Artist: Nicole Roberge
Selected to perform at the Sear's Drama Festival 2016 at Douglas College, New Westminster
The process-driven, student-centred devised performance theatre project at Riverside Secondary’s River’s Edge Theatre engaged 2 Acting 11/12 classes (30-50 students).Through a variety of critical thinking and metacognitive experiments and influenced by the avant-garde art and theatre practices, the CT Project performance was born!
PLUM AND OTHER COLOURS (1999-2004)
Writer/Performer: Susan Bertoia
Director: James Fagan Tait
Original solo show. A series of unique vignettes that explored the many colours of the human condition.
Invited Performances:: Summer Works Festival (Toronto) 2000, Vancouver International Theatre Festival, UNO Festival of Solo Shows (Victoria, BC), Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, UBC Chan Centre for the Arts
Writer/Performer: Susan Bertoia
Director: James Fagan Tait
Original solo show. A series of unique vignettes that explored the many colours of the human condition.
Invited Performances:: Summer Works Festival (Toronto) 2000, Vancouver International Theatre Festival, UNO Festival of Solo Shows (Victoria, BC), Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, UBC Chan Centre for the Arts
