ALERT – Hamilton Festival Theatre Company

ALERT
Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training

Applications will open soon for the 2025 ALERT Company Residency

Apply to the ALERT program today!

The Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training (ALERT) program is a professional development program designed for emerging artistic leaders 18 years and over who want to help define the theatre culture in Hamilton. Participants take part in workshops with arts professionals and are partnered with professional mentors. The program runs on a two-year cycle, with one year focused on Artistic Producing and Leadership Skills (Producing Stream) and the second on Devising and Performance (Artistic Creation Stream).

ALERT runs from fall 2024 to spring 2025.

THIS YEAR:

Applications open soon for this year’s Company-in-Residence, and TWO paid Junior Producer positions in support of the Resident Company’s work.

ALERT runs from October 2023 to May 2024.

NEW THIS YEAR:

We pilot a new format for the Producing Stream in 2023-24. Femmepire has been selected as the Company-in-Residence for this session and the ALERT program will engage 2 Junior Producers to support the work of this resident company.

In 2023-24, we are accepting applications for the Producing Stream. Participants commit to approximately 90 hours over the 8 months, with an average of 11 hours/month. There is a modest honorarium provided to each of the 2 participants upon completion of the program.

ALERT runs from October 2022 to April 2023. Participants commit to approximately 70 hours over the 7 months, with an average of 10 hours/month. Participants will meet on Saturdays, with additional rehearsals in February 2023. There is a modest honorarium provided to each participant upon completion of the program.

The Artistic Creation Stream is the 2022/23 program and will focus on building skills in devising theatre while creating a show to be presented as a part of the 2023 winter festival Frost Bites. The Artistic Creation Stream asks applicants to identify a specific artistic focus (Playwriting – 1 spot available, Directing – 1 spot available, Design – 1 spot available, Stage Management – 1 spot, Artistic Producing – 1 spot available, Creation and Performance – 3 spots available). Successful applicants will be partnered with a specialized mentor who will assist them as they take part in the creation process for Frost Bites.

In 2022, we are accepting applications for the Artistic Creation Stream.

The Artistic Creation Stream is the 2022/23 program and will focus on building skills in devising theatre while creating a show to be presented as a part of the 2023 winter festival Frost Bites. The Artistic Creation Stream asks applicants to identify a specific artistic focus (Playwriting – 1 spot available, Directing – 1 spot available, Design – 1 spot available, Stage Management – 1 spot, Artistic Producing – 1 spot available, Creation and Performance – 3 spots available). Successful applicants will be partnered with a specialized mentor who will assist them as they take part in the creation process for Frost Bites.

The Artistic Leadership and Entrepreneurial Training (ALERT) program is a professional development program designed for emerging artistic leaders 18 years and over who want to help redefine the theatre culture in Hamilton. Participants will take part in biweekly workshops with arts professionals exploring a variety of approaches to theatre, support the development of the Frost Bites festival (Theme: Nourishment 2021-2023), participate in a professional community placement, and attend/access a diverse range of cutting-edge performances throughout the region.

ALERT runs from October 2021 to May 2022. Participants commit to approximately 75 hours over the 8 months, with an average of 10 hours/month. There is a modest honorarium provided to each participant upon completion of the program.

NEW THIS YEAR

In 2021/22, the ALERT program moves to a 2-year structure. Based on feedback from past cohorts, the program now consists of a Production Stream and an Artistic Stream, offered in alternate years. Participants can enter the program in Year 1 or Year 2 and may apply for a single year or return to apply to the alternate stream the following year. Past ALERT program graduates may also re-apply to the program in its new format.

The 2021/22 program will be the Production Stream and will focus on building producing skills in emerging artistic leaders. This year participants will:

Take part in professional development workshops (including Scheduling, Budgeting, Fundraising, Marketing, Grant Writing, etc),
Participate in a Community Engaged Arts Practice Intensive in partnership with Jumblies Theatre,
Contribute to the visioning for the annual PD Day and Monologue Slam,
Receive professional placements with Fringe or other community arts partners from the region,
Contribute to the development of a new critical path for the winter festival Frost Bites, which also switches to a 2-year format in 2022,
Connect with a professional mentor to assist with networking and career development.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, we anticipate that there will be a hybrid format to the program this year. Some ALERT sessions will take place virtually and in-person sessions will be scheduled when provincial health restrictions permit. We understand that there are a variety of risk-comfort levels for each person and we are committed to working with all prospective applicants to ensure the program works for you.

The ALERT Artist Development program would not be possible without the generous support of our partners:

Producing Program Activities

The ensemble selected for the 2023/24 Producing Stream will:

Take part in 4 devising theatre workshops designed to lead the ensemble from the entry point in creation to the final production,
Take on a specific role in the creation of a live performance for the 2023 Frost Bites event,
Participate in individual mentorship sessions with artists specializing in the focus areas selected,
Create and present a devised production at Frost Bites 2023 (Feb 15-20),
Contribute to the visioning for the annual PD Day and Monologue Slam and assist in the production of the event on March 25, 2023.

Who Should Apply for ALERT?

Emerging artists 18 years and over with less than 5 years professional experience*
Preference will be given to local, new-generation artists (18-30 years) but artists of all ages who are new-in-craft are welcome to apply
Applicants with an interest in the arts and a background in community-building, social work, and administration are also encouraged to apply
Aspiring leaders in the performing arts who are energized by the possibilities of extending accessibility and developing a care-centered approach to art-making
Artists and arts managers who want to gain employable skills by participating in the reimagining and relaunch of an active local indie production company
Theatre-makers who are energized by the possibilities in Hamilton

Applications can also be completed over the phone. Please call 289-698-2234 to make arrangements.

Applications Now Open!

Apply online today! Applications can also be completed over the phone. Please call 289-698-2234 to make arrangements.

Submission deadline: November 4, 2023

2022-2023 ALERT Cohort: Artistic Creation Stream

Fateme Abdiyan

I am Mohad! A material engineer who tries to find her way into art. I sing sometimes and I'd like to bring my ideas to the outside world so others can see them as well! My creativity helps me make the right jokes at the right times but I guess that's not enough! Let's see how far we can delve into the art world.

Jordan M. Burns

Jordan M. Burns (they/them) is a Disabled, Indigenous, Two-Spirit, Neurodivergent, multidisciplinary artist from Treaty 3 territory on Turtle Island. Jordan M. serves as a co-founding artistic director with Third Wheel Theatre Co., this position has allowed them to explore an assortment of roles as director, producer, puppeteer, actor, and playwright. Jordan M. is also a proud honours graduate of York University's B.F.A. Theatre Acting program and Humber College’s Theatre Performance program and York’s B.F.A. Acting program. Some of their favourite credits include Salt Baby (dir. N. Robitaille), Mno Bimaadiziwin (dir. H. Barnes), Art Ambulance (dir. D. Anderson), The Cat in the Hat (dir. S. Prelletz), The Echoes II: Pigeon Pie (dir. M. Wodzinska), Take Me To Your Garden (dir. J.M. Burns), and A Pineberry’s Past (writ. J.M. Burns).

See what Jordan M.’s working on now by following @ThirdWheelTheatreCo & @BurnsBright97 on Instagram!

Shayna Burns

Shayna (she/her) is a Disabled, Neurodivergent, LGBTQ+ multidisciplinary artist actively practicing as an actor, singer, director, aerialist, producer, and creator. Her artistic practice comes from a body-first approach, our bodies know more than we give them credit for and can tell the missing pieces words can’t. She is a co-founder of the Third Wheel Theatre Collective, engaged in the creation of original devised works exploring and bringing to life the unsought absurdities of society. Trained classically, and singing most of her life, she recently appeared in the original musical NeverWonder (Phat Tracks); and debuted in her first Opera Conan and The Stone of Kelior (Mightier Productions). Additional recent theatre credits include LuminUS (Clay & Paper), Take Me To Your Garden (Third Wheel Theatre Co.); as well as Willow (Fresh Ideas).

See more of what Shayna is up to on Instagram!

@crayshayshay

@thirdwheeltheatreco

Patrick Campbell

Trick Campbell is a Hamilton based writer, with a bachelor's degree in screenwriting and storytelling from York University. He is the published author of "Because Why Not", a collection of 25 short stories spanning the genres of sci-fi and fantasy, romance and horror, drama and comedy. He has worked as a production assistant for the Shooting Eye Corporation, and a film reviewer for the Hamilton Film Festival (HFF) 2021. His screenplay for "Twinkle Toes", a musical drama, made it into the quarterfinals of the Screencraft Film Fund 2021. And his original stage play, "A Wish For Granted", was performed at the Ground Zero Fringe Festival 2019 under Vanier College, where Trick worked as writer, producer and co-director. Trick spends his free hours writing about true things that never actually happened, with an adorable grey cat named Argo sitting on his lap.

Sungwon Cho

Sungwon Cho (he/them) is an emerging interdisciplinary artist with an interest in directing, writing and design. After acquiring their Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University, Sungwon has been developing theatre in Hamilton with a focus on giving space to underrepresented voices. He strives to create work that interrogates injustices and forms connections between individuals with disparate experiences.

Previous works include: House Key Project (Hamilton Fringe 2022, Porchlight Theatre, Lighting Design), Riders to the Sea (Brave New Works 2022, Theatre Aquarius, Lighting and Sound Design) Relative Loneliness (Hamilton Fringe 2021, Open Heart Arts, Stage Manager/Designer) and Lost in Translation (McMaster Honours Performance Series 2021, Director/Writer/Performer)

Faezeh Daemi

Fay is an artist, activist, and researcher with a background in Theatre and Gender Studies with 6 years’ experience exploring the ideas of sexuality education for the youth demographic through theatre. Her enthusiasm for theatre and education has taken her from Iran to Canada. She is an award-winning independent writer who wrote the first Iranian young adult novel about sex education, Ava in the Mirror. This story revolves around a young girl named Ava who has been sexually abused, and how she is attempting to heal her soul by rewriting Sophocles's Antigone and playing the main role in a national theatre festival.

Junxue Mo

Faith is a Chinese queer theatre artist, mainly focus on the field of set and prop design. Born in China and currently living in Hamilton, Ontario, pursuing the career as a professional designer, Faith strives to work with more radicalized artists and create a safe space for them to use their voices and help them visualize their world. Graduating HBA of McMaster University's Theatre and Film program in 2020, Faith has worked on set design for multiple productions both in and outside of school, most notably for the four sets she created for Porch Light Theatre's House Key Project in the Hamilton Fringe Festival 2022. Faith believes that what makes theatre interesting is that we should all be bold, because there will always be someone in the crowd who can relate. She cannot wait to be a part of the upcoming Frost Bites and create something new!

Johnny Thirakul

Johnny Thirakul is a Lao-Canadian actor and creator from Hamilton, Ontario.

Having recently earned his BFA with Specialized Honours in Acting from York University’s Theatre Program, his recent acting credits include 1184, his professional theatre debut, as well as Everybody, The Late Wedding, and Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., as part of the Theatre@York Acting Conservatory. During his academic career, he received The Jean Gascon Award and The Mac Shoub Scholarship for demonstrating exceptional achievements in performance.

Johnny is currently signed with Toronto-based agency SoHo Management, and is a Program Assistant at the Theatre Aquarius Arts School, where he was an alumni.

He aspires to grow his creative work in hopes of inspiring young IBPOC artists, with an emphasis on Asian-Canadians, to pursue their artistic endeavours. Johnny is ready to share his enthusiasm for craft and desire to connect with those he crosses paths with along his career.

2021-2022 ALERT Team, Producing Stream

Catherine Allen

Catherine Allen (she/her) is an emerging Hamilton artist. Catherine was born with a love of performing and never passes up an opportunity to be onstage! She has trained in various styles of dance, as well as theatre acting. With a background in performing, she is shifting her focus to choreography and movement directing. Catherine loves to create original works, and is currently working on developing a movement show exploring queer identity out of McMaster University. Recent credits include: Reimagining Musical Theatre (2021), as choreographer with McMaster Musical Theatre; Mamma Mia (2020); Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave (2019).

Lexi Bardy

Lexi Bardy is an Indigenous artist, actor, dancer, singer, & model. She grew up in the east end of Hamilton, with ties to the Hamilton Regional Indigenous Centre, on Ottawa street. Lexi is currently pursuing a degree in Theatre & Film at Mcmaster University, with aspirations of breaking into the media industry as a director. She understands that storytelling was an important part of being Indigenous for generations, & wants to incorporate more Indigenous ways of being through art into an industry that lacks accurate modern Indigenous representation. You can follow more of her journey @yomisslex on Instagram.

Jordan Burns

Jordan M. Burns (they/he) is a Disabled, Indigenous, Two-Spirit, multidisciplinary artist from Tkaronto. Serving as one of Third Wheel Theatre Co.’s co-founding artistic directors, Jordan has explored different roles as a director, producer, puppeteer, actor, and playwright. Some of their favourite credits include Mno Bimaadiziwin (dir. H. Barnes), The Cat in the Hat (dir. S. Prelletz), The Echoes II: Pigeon Pie (dir. M. Wodzinska), and A Pineberry’s Past (writ. J. Burns). Jordan is a proud graduate of Humber’s Theatre Performance program, and they are also currently pursuing their B.F.A. in Acting at York University.

Jet Coghlan

My artist statement is to create pieces that are intended to spark conversations about what is not openly discussed and to experience feelings that are frowned upon or minimalized; as there is a sense of guilt, punishment, or retaliation when expressing ideas outside the mainstream ideologies of capitalism. By bringing dialectical outlooks into my work I am able to juxtapose reality with a new possibility. I create stories where we have learned how to live without capitalism. My art attempts to present counter narratives that highlight the possibilities we are working to achieve. The reality of this capitalist world in which we live is that for the system to exist it must create a repressed individual that exchanges their free time for money. This is why I make free art.

Chelsea Haraburda

Chelsea Haraburda (she/her) is a Hamilton-born queer actor, theatre creator, and educator. Chelsea holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies from York University, has performed in various stage plays in the Toronto and Hamilton region, and has appeared in independent films. While studying Solo Theatre Creation, she performed her first original solo show and interactive installation For Eden (2016) where the audience could rummage through personal items. Her recent credits include: Vagabond (2021), a digital exclusive piece in the Hamilton Fringe; and Anna (2021) a short film in the Berlin Indie Film Festival and Cannes Short Film Festival.

Justin Shaw

Justin Shaw is an actor, writer, and comedian originally from Prince Edward Island (and if you're also from Prince Edward Island, his dad probably knows your dad.) Shaw has performed across Canada, sharing the stage with likes of Lorne Elliott, Scott Faulconbridge, and the late great Mike MacDonald. Shaw has been featured on Edmonton's Nextfest, the Island Fringe, Hamilton Fringe, and Halifax Fringe, and is in the process of touring his latest solo show Midnight Baby. As a writer, Shaw has been published in Maritime EDIT, Parton & Pearl, and RED: The Island Storybook, and as an actor, he received his formal training at the National Theatre School of Canada. Shaw is in the process of recording his first comedy EP, with an anticipated release for Summer 2022. www.justindshaw.com

Brianna Seferiades

Brianna Seferiades (She/Her) is an emerging multidisciplinary artist based in Hamilton, ON. She recently graduated from McMaster University’s Art History and Theatre & Film Studies programs. Recent credits include Belle (actor, 2019), Ideal Monsters (writer/director, 2019), and SHAPED (writer/director, 2018). Her personal work is inspired by everything whimsical, magical and monstrous.

Olivia Zotti

'Olivia Zotti (she/her) was born and raised in Hamilton. Her arts career started while performing at Theatre Aquarius and in community productions. While attending York University’s Devised Theatre program, she created work using physical movement to communicate themes of feminism and gender identity. She strives to create work that is interdisciplinary and multi-faceted. She diversified her skillset as the Production Manager/Technical Director of the Devised Theatre Festival, leading her peers to successfully develop and stage three new theatrical works.

Mentors

ALERT members will receive a professional introduction to a leader in the theatre industry for a coffee chat, an opportunity to form a new connection and network. Past mentors include:

Daniel MacIvor

Placement Organizations

ALERT members in the Producing Stream will have a 10 hour placement with a theatre company or artist. Previous placement organizations include:

Theatre Aquarius

Pat the Dog

Jumblies Theatre

Previous Public Workshops

In addition to the ALERT team workshops, current ALERT members gain free entry to public workshops held during their cohort year.

Artfare Essentials

Jumblies Theatre

Beyond Livestream: Approaches to Digital Performance

with Adrienne Wong

Site-Specific Work in Extraordinary Times

with Kim Collier

Previous ALERT Cohorts

Resident Company 2023-2024

femmepire
Kitoko Mai
Claud Spadafora

Junior Producers
Lian McMillan
Teryn Lawson

2022-2023 Participants
Mohad Abdiyan
Jordan M. Burns
Shayna Burns
Trick Campbell
Sungwon Cho
Fay Daemi
Faith Mo
Johnny Thirakul

2021-2022 Participants
Catherine Allen
Lexi Bardy
Jordan M. Burns
Jet Coghlan
Chelsea Haraburda
Justin Shaw
Brianna Seferiades
Olivia Zotti

2020-2021 Participants
Carly Anna Billings
Sophie Hughes
Manisha Maharajh
Mykola Paskaruk
Olivia ‘Margo’ Prunean
Kit Simmons

2019-2020 Participants
Nathalie Cortes
Olivia Hopen
Matthew Lazaris-Brunner
Micaela Morales
Rachel Offer
Ryan Percival

2018-2019 Participants
Luis Arrojo
Beekaa Abraham
Aaron Joel Craig
Khaleel Gandhi
Rebekka Gondosch
Victoria Hudson-Muir
Anthony Raymond Yu
Dylan Vandemaele