Theatre by & for children of the Waterloo Region

A STATEMENT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Updated: December 22, 2021 at 12:30pm

ActOUT! TO CONTINUE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND PRODUCTIONS early 2022

STATEMENT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Virtual Rehearsal/ Park Performances/An actOUT! film/Announced to Mitigate Coronavirus Isolation -

December 22, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ActOUT! The Kitchener-Waterloo Children’s Drama Workshop announces spring season with covid protocols and outdoor performances

While streaming 2021 productions of The Show Must Go Online, Dr. Frankenstein, Ph. D., and Doctor Zoomlittle over the holidays and bringing back by popular demand Sherlock Holmes and Box: The Empathy Project actOUT! announces its spring productions.

ActOUT! is ready to return to the virtual rehearsal hall in preparation for spring outdoor performances.

ActOUT! is following up its collective creation of The Empathy Project with The Kindness Project a collective creation built on the theme of ‘kindness’ to be created and shot as a film in May-June 2022 for release summer 2022.

ActOUT! is beginning casting of The Claw: A New Children’s Musical and The Lottery both to begin rehearsal online and then rehearse and perfume outdoors in spring 2022

To celebrate virtual performance and to bring the company together for some light on-line drama, actOUT! Is announcing A Virtual Christmas Carol (ages 10-18) and Sherlock Holmes a radio drama for the Advanced Actors of actOUT! (ages 13-18) to be rehearsed virtually.

To celebrate our performers and to lend a hand in these difficult times, through 2020 actOUT! distributed free-of-charge “Quarantine Survival Kits” (a tin box with pencil, origami paper, dice, game boards, tokens game pieces etc.) to former members of the company of actors across the Waterloo Region with the hope to lend a little playful inspiration to children left in isolation or lockdown.

ActOUT! operates in accordance with advice from local public health and education authorities and in compliance with directives from government agencies. The not-for-profit charitable arts organization is committed to meeting the highest standards of health and safety for performers, patrons, staff, artists, volunteers, and the community at large.

“Keeping our community at large protected is one of our highest priorities,” says Todd Vercoe, Artistic Director of actOUT! “We support the logic behind social distancing and believe teaching children to support the community at large to reduce potential spread of coronavirus is of value.” “We reached out with our ‘Quarantine Play Survival Kits’ because actOUT! believes strongly in the importance of play for childhood cognitive and development and that play can offer escape from the stress of these difficult times.”

ActOUT! recognizes that this is an evolving situation. The company will continually reassess policies and procedures as it relates to rehearsals, workshops and performances as new information becomes available based on recommendations from designated Canadian public health and education authorities.

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Updated: October 24, 2020 at 4:30pm

ActOUT! MOVING TO VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS AND PRODUCTIONS

STATEMENT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Virtual Rehearsal/Performance/Workshops Announced to Mitigate Coronavirus Isolation - Plus a game for all members of the actOUT! acting company.

October 24, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ActOUT! The Kitchener-Waterloo Children’s Drama Workshop is taking its programs to the virtual world.

When actOUT! shutdown all in-person operations of its 25th Anniversary Season in March 2020 due to COVID19, 101 Dalmatians KIDS was two weeks from performance at the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre and both The Empathy Project as well as High School Musical JR shut down rehearsals in an effort to mitigate the potential spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). All in-person summer camps were also cancelled.

ActOUT! Is ready to turn to the virtual rehearsal hall and is prepared to offer Drama Basics, Monologues, Scene Study, Confidence in Public Speaking and Dramatic Games as workshops for children 6-18.

ActOUT! Is taking its collective creation The Empathy Project and restarting as a virtual production. With Streaming performances in March 2021.

ActOUT! Is taking 101 Dalmatians KIDS and High School Musical JR to the virtual rehearsal hall with multiple options as we see how our world develops,

To celebrate our performers and to lend a hand in these difficult times, actOUT! Is distributing free-of-charge “Quarantine Survival Kits” (a tin box with pencil, origami paper, dice, game boards, tokens game pieces etc.) to former members of the company of actors across the Waterloo Region with the hope to lend a little playful inspiration to children left in isolation or lockdown.

“Keeping our community at large protected is one of our highest priorities,” says Todd Vercoe, Artistic Director of actOUT! “We support the logic behind social distancing and believe teaching children to support the community at large to reduce potential spread of coronavirus is of value.” “We’re reaching out with our ‘Quarantine Play Survival Kits’ because actOUT! believes strongly in the importance of play for childhood cognitive and development and that play can offer escape from the stress of these difficult times.”

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Updated: Thursday June 4, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Updated: Friday, March 13, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.

Rehearsal/Performance/Workshop Cancellations Announced to Mitigate Coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ActOUT! The Kitchener-Waterloo Children’s Drama Workshop is temporarily postponing all programs and performances of 101 Dalmatians KIDS (KWLT), The Empathy Project (Touring) as well as its upcoming production of High School Musical JR (Cambridge Arts Theatre) in an effort to mitigate the potential spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). All in-person summer camps have been cancelled. This schedule change is effective immediately and will impact performances, rehearsals and workshops through, August 31, 2020

In addition to the temporary school closure in Ontario, Broadway theatres, major sports organizations and local theatre companies have already announced cancellations in accordance with the general consensus by medical experts to reduce mass gatherings.

Given actOUT!’s demographics, and the close proximity of people within workshop spaces, auditoriums and performance spaces, there is a strong case to support social distancing as the situation with COVID-19 evolves.

ActOUT!’s leaders and the volunteer Board of Directors have not made this decision lightly. We recognize there will be disappointed children. Some that have been in rehearsal for six months.

We are not looking to cancel our performances, only to postpone until such time that it is prudent for people to gather. Our shows will go on! Just not at this time.

Patrons who have purchased tickets for cancelled performances will be contacted by our ticket manager to facilitate account credits, exchanges for alternate performance dates, or refunds.

“Our kids have worked hard on these productions, however we feel that through this preventative measure, we can mitigate the impact of coronavirus and open again for a successful conclusion of our 25th season of theatre by & for children of the Waterloo Region,” says Vercoe.

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