Important dates for applications!
January 20th - applications for Wood Street Programs are due (now past due, but we are still sorting )
February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd - Interviews for new applicants (applicants will be sent a link to a live schedule to choose a 15-minute block of time) *as we have run up against late applications and a flood of processing of documents, there may be those who we need to see outside of these dates, but as auditions are hard on the heels, it would be early next week
February 8 - Live auditions in the MAD theatre at Wood Street for Grade 9/10 applicants
February 9 - Live auditions in the MAD theatre at Wood Street for Grade 11/12 applicants (returning grade 10s will be invited to this night, as it is a smaller group and can take the pressure off of the larger 9/10 group. If this is not possible, they can still come to the 9/10)
The auditions night for the MAD applicants is in our theatre at 411 Wood Street, upstairs through the double doors. This is a live audition with the other applicants and Carolyn and Dave.
There are no outside attendees, students and the teachers will be the only observers, so parents and friends cannot be part of the audience, as this is not a public performance. Unfortunately, we cannot have non-attendees in the building after hours, as we do not have a way to keep the building secure.
This is how the night goes:
1. Students come in to the theatre and when we are ready to go, we will spend some time warming everyone up, playing icebreakers, maybe do a bit of dancing for fun, maybe sing something- all to get people used to each other and connect them to the space.
2. When it's time, we will give students an opportunity to get ready for auditions, about ten minutes- costume, makeup, whatever is needed. When we have everyone settled, we will randomly select names to have people go up and perform their monologue as that character.
So what are we looking for?
1. Preparedness: did people write and memorize their monologue? Practice it enough to know it and say it?
2. Are they having fun and trying things out?
3. Can they spend time with other people in the warm-up, or do they avoid others?
4. It is not to find ready-made actors, after all- just people willing to try!
We get to see everyone perform, and this is a group trying to get into MAD, so a great audience for watching each other, and generally supportive of each other's efforts.
February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd - Interviews for new applicants (applicants will be sent a link to a live schedule to choose a 15-minute block of time) *as we have run up against late applications and a flood of processing of documents, there may be those who we need to see outside of these dates, but as auditions are hard on the heels, it would be early next week
February 8 - Live auditions in the MAD theatre at Wood Street for Grade 9/10 applicants
February 9 - Live auditions in the MAD theatre at Wood Street for Grade 11/12 applicants (returning grade 10s will be invited to this night, as it is a smaller group and can take the pressure off of the larger 9/10 group. If this is not possible, they can still come to the 9/10)
The auditions night for the MAD applicants is in our theatre at 411 Wood Street, upstairs through the double doors. This is a live audition with the other applicants and Carolyn and Dave.
There are no outside attendees, students and the teachers will be the only observers, so parents and friends cannot be part of the audience, as this is not a public performance. Unfortunately, we cannot have non-attendees in the building after hours, as we do not have a way to keep the building secure.
This is how the night goes:
1. Students come in to the theatre and when we are ready to go, we will spend some time warming everyone up, playing icebreakers, maybe do a bit of dancing for fun, maybe sing something- all to get people used to each other and connect them to the space.
2. When it's time, we will give students an opportunity to get ready for auditions, about ten minutes- costume, makeup, whatever is needed. When we have everyone settled, we will randomly select names to have people go up and perform their monologue as that character.
So what are we looking for?
1. Preparedness: did people write and memorize their monologue? Practice it enough to know it and say it?
2. Are they having fun and trying things out?
3. Can they spend time with other people in the warm-up, or do they avoid others?
4. It is not to find ready-made actors, after all- just people willing to try!
We get to see everyone perform, and this is a group trying to get into MAD, so a great audience for watching each other, and generally supportive of each other's efforts.
Live Auditions
1. Come up with a character (older than you, enough to change who you are, can be a different gender, but not a different ethnic background. We are looking for your characteristics to change: how you move, how you speak, your age and your personality)
2. Write a one-minute monologue and memorize it (lots of examples online, but basically it is a scene involving just one character)
3. Come up with a costume for the character (glasses are not a costume! do not come to the audition in your costume; we will give you time to change)
4. Deliver your monologue in front of us and the other applicants (hint: do what you want but know that Dave and Carolyn love to see humour over drama)
2. Write a one-minute monologue and memorize it (lots of examples online, but basically it is a scene involving just one character)
3. Come up with a costume for the character (glasses are not a costume! do not come to the audition in your costume; we will give you time to change)
4. Deliver your monologue in front of us and the other applicants (hint: do what you want but know that Dave and Carolyn love to see humour over drama)
MAD Live Calendar of Events
Can't see the live calendar? Click here for December's non-live calendar
Here's a little synopsis of what MAD is about
The Music, Arts and Drama program is a publicly-funded high school program that works to provide experiential learning in theatre, film and more. We incorporate our English, Social Studies, Physical Education, and more into working in our theatre environment, and perform a number of shows per year, now online, and hoping to return to live shows.
Your teachers for your year at MAD are Carolyn Westberg and Dave Kanary. Carolyn is your teacher for Drama and English classes, while Dave teaches Social Studies, PE, Dance, as well as another senior theatre credit.
The first semester of the year is for Grades 9 and 10, while the second semester is for our Grade 11 and 12 students.
At the bottom of this page you will find a live calendar for shows and other important dates for this school year.
*Previous experience in Music, Dance, or Theatre is not a requirement for entrance to the program.
The Music, Arts and Drama program is a publicly-funded high school program that works to provide experiential learning in theatre, film and more. We incorporate our English, Social Studies, Physical Education, and more into working in our theatre environment, and perform a number of shows per year, now online, and hoping to return to live shows.
Your teachers for your year at MAD are Carolyn Westberg and Dave Kanary. Carolyn is your teacher for Drama and English classes, while Dave teaches Social Studies, PE, Dance, as well as another senior theatre credit.
The first semester of the year is for Grades 9 and 10, while the second semester is for our Grade 11 and 12 students.
At the bottom of this page you will find a live calendar for shows and other important dates for this school year.
*Previous experience in Music, Dance, or Theatre is not a requirement for entrance to the program.
This website is for the M.A.D. students.
This site will provide you with a schedule of lessons, a calendar, handouts, assignments and due dates. Pictures will also be posted throughout the semester.
In the event that you are absent it is your responsibility to catch up on outstanding assignments.
This site will provide you with a schedule of lessons, a calendar, handouts, assignments and due dates. Pictures will also be posted throughout the semester.
In the event that you are absent it is your responsibility to catch up on outstanding assignments.
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Welcome to the MAD Program!
Welcome to our 2022-23 MAD 9/10 class! We are now beginning our foray into the land of theatre for a class of all-new students to our program. Here are some important first-day details:
- MAD is at Wood Street Centre (411 Wood Street, corner of 5th Avenue and Wood Street)
- We begin our day at 8:45am, but most students will arrive between 8:30 and 8:40am, and we finish at 3:05pm
- School buses arrive around 8:40am, and pick up around 3:10pm, city bus drops most at 2nd and Steele and they walk)
- Dress for mess! We get dirty and sweaty because we lift, carry, and paint everything! Work clothes in class is absolutely necessary. While in theatre classes our theatre wear is super-neutral, industry standard of high-neck t-shirt and gym pants or leggings for easy movement, with an eye on being able to perform as any one and anything (referred to as blacks), the tradition of no jeans still applies, 29 years later (did they have jeans back then, you might wonder- yes they did, your first Social Studies lesson). There will also be dance/exercise clothes, and we'll cover all that the first day, but dance isn't starting for another week
- You all get your own locker in the classroom and it has your name on it. Desks too, but since we're easily bored, you'll likely sit with everyone, eventually
- Student phones go in the "phone jail" for privacy concerns around performing and to avoid unnecessary distractions while in class, so please direct all calls to the Wood Street office at (867) 667-8413. Students get their phones at lunch, but lunch can be little short on busy show days!
- No visitors upstairs, please, but parents are welcome to come up at lunch if you need, just check in with the office to the right as you come through the doors, where Susanne can greet you!
