On Sunday, June 5 in the afternoon, come listen to some great performers sing, play, and make music at the KWMP hall! And what Coffeehouse would be complete without coffee, drinks, and other delicious treats? We will have those too!
We have 16 great performers who are ready to entertain!
Date: June 5, 2022
Time: 12 – 4pm (Doors open at 12, music starts at 12:30
Location: KWMP Hall
We are accepting creative team applications for:
Assistant Choreographer, Production Manager, Assistant Production Manager, Assistant Stage Manager (2), Props Assistant, Assistant Carpenter, Scenic Painter, Costume Assistant, Lighting Designer, Assistant Lighting Designer, Hair Stylist, Hair Assistant, Makeup Assistant
All other positions have been filled.
For more information, click here.
For information on what each of these roles entail, please click here.
First Rehearsal: Sunday January 16th, 2022
Rehearsals: Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons/evenings – Dates TBD
Performances: Friday April 1, & Saturday April 2, 2022
Performance Space: Knox Presbyterian Church
Special Note:
All creative and production team members, along with all cast and crew, will be required to provide proof of vaccination against Covid-19 or authorized medical exemption. Cast and crew must be 12 and over.
You’re invited to join us at the KWMP 2021 AGM, this coming November 21. It will be online via zoom at 2:00 p.m.
Online Via Zoom — Meeting ID: 921 9000 3052
Passcode: 298837
Meeting Link: Click Here
Meeting Phone Number: 1-855-703-8985
At the meeting, we will share what KWMP has been working on for the past year, answer your questions, collect your feedback, and elect a new Board of Directors.
Members may vote either in person or by proxy by one of the following:
Download: Proxy Form
Mail: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON, N2A 1N5
Scan & Email: info@kwmp.ca
E-Proxy Form: Click Here
Agenda and Links to 2021 Reports: Click Here
To RSVP for the AGM, or to assign your proxy, please click here.
There are several positions on the board open for election. If you are interested in joining the KWMP Board or any of its committees, please click here.
Please also consider joining the Facebook Event for this meeting, by clicking here.
KITCHENER – Local performing arts group Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions (KWMP) has received funding from the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation’s (KWCF) COVID-19 Arts Sustainability and Recovery Fund, and The Lyle S. Hallman Fund. The funding will allow KWMP to safely reopen the KWMP Community Arts Centre, and provide the local performing arts community with access to free or subsidized rehearsal and performance space, through a Pay What You Can model.
There is a real need for affordable rehearsal and performance space in Waterloo Region. This need has been documented in countless reports by all levels of Government and the local performing arts community. This need has only increased due to COVID-19, as spaces that performing arts groups have come to rely on have closed their doors, stopped renting or increased rents.
KWMP owns and operates the KWMP Community Arts Centre which is located at 14 Shaftsbury Drive in Kitchener (close to Ottawa St. N. and Lackner Blvd). The building was opened in 1925 as Natchez School, School Section No. 6 before it was purchased by KWMP in 1964 from the School Board of the Township of Waterloo. A large addition was added in 1980, creating 3 separate rehearsal spaces big enough to simulate any of the local performance venues (Centre in the Square, Conrad Centre, The Registry Theatre, etc.). The KWMP Community Arts Centre also features a costume shop, an extensive workshop for set building, and storage for costumes, sets and props.
“One of KWMP’s core values is to support the local performing arts community, and over the years we’ve worked hard to provide an affordable community arts space,” says Past President of KWMP Brenden Sherratt. “This funding will provide hundreds of hours of performing and rehearsal space to the arts community, will significantly decrease the costs that many groups incur, and ultimately help these organizations recover quicker from COVID-19.” Sherratt also notes that the organization is hoping to continue the program in years beyond the pandemic recovery period if funding can be secured.
Before COVID-19, KWMP Community Arts Centre was used for rehearsals, smaller theatre productions, workshops, film or photoshoots, jam sessions and concerts. In addition to being the hub for the development and rehearsal for KWMP productions, the spaces have been used by dozens of local arts groups, independent film crews, and more.
Local performing arts organizations wishing to take advantage of the Pay-What-You-Can rental initiative for the KWMP Community Arts Centre can view criteria and submit a rental request through the KWMP website at www.KWMP.ca/rehearsal-space.
For more information please contact Rentals@kwmp.ca
KWMP members are invited to our online Annual General Meeting, on November 22 at 4 pm.
At the meeting, we will share what KWMP has been working on for the past year, answer your questions, collect your feedback, and elect a new Board of Directors.
Due to the unprecedented global pandemic, the KWMP Board of Directors has approved a motion to temporarily eliminate the $25 membership fee for the 2020-2021 season.
Members may vote either in person or by proxy by one of the following:
Download: Proxy Form
Mail: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON, N2A 1N5
Scan & Email: info@kwmp.ca
E-Proxy Form: Click Here
Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81045947367?pwd=bXJNMXRYcCtzRjVGSVVjVm55bnhBZz09
Meeting ID: 810 4594 7367 Passcode: 527545
In 2018, the KWMP membership approved a by-law amendment to move our year-end to June 30, to be more in line with our season. This is also in line with our membership period which is from July 1 to June 30 of each year. This presents a challenge, as the majority of our members do not renew their membership on July 1st, and instead renew or become members when they start production of one of our shows.
In order to ensure we are representing the KWMP membership, and have quorum at the AGM, we have proposed a motion that would extend the membership period to the end of the AGM of that fiscal year.
Motion
1. Motion to amend section 24 of the K-W Musical Productions By-Laws from: “The membership period is July 1st to June 30th of each year,” to “The membership period is July 1 to the end of AGM of that fiscal year.”
KWMP By-Laws
When we started production of Addams Family the Musical over a year ago, we had a clear plan for how the show would come together. Unfortunately, COVID-19 had other ideas. Since we put the production on hold in March, a lot has changed in the world. We have been watching the developments of this pandemic closely and have been deferring to Health Canada and other authorities for guidance on how to proceed. As you probably know, singing represents a higher risk of spread of the virus. Based on what the experts are saying in the best-case scenario, we would not be able to safely get back together until May, a date that may change, and we would still need 2-3 months of rehearsal to put the show together.
Our original plan for Addams Family the Musical was clear; we knew when, where and how we would put this production together. Despite all our hard work, forces beyond our control have continually altered that plan. It doesn’t seem reasonable to expect that a cast and crew would stay committed to a show when we do not know when, where and how the show can be safely staged.
The KWMP Board of Directors has made the hard decision to end our production of Addams Family the Musical and release the cast and crew from their commitment to the show.
On behalf of the K-W Musical Productions’ Board of Directors, I wanted to thank our cast and crew for their hard work on this production. We are incredibly proud of what we were able to accomplish together and look forward to working with you again in the future.
We will continue to explore other options of how we can produce shows safely in a post COVID world, with the goal of producing a show in the Summer or Fall of 2021. In the meantime, we are working hard to implement the Your KWMP Action Plan.
KWMP and the whole Performing Arts Community is facing unprecedented financial challenges. We are unable to produce shows or rent our building out for the foreseeable future.
We are working to reduce costs and apply for any appropriate funding opportunities. We have a healthy reserve fund and no outstanding debts. We are confident it will help us weather these challenging times.
Over the summer of 2019, the K-W Musical Productions Board of Directors engaged the KWMP membership and members of the local arts community with a series of surveys, focus groups and conversations, to help our organization evolve and represent the dreams of our membership and community.
Over 200 people responded to our online survey, including current and past members, audience members, and community supporters.
The Board of Directors hired Lynda Abshoff to facilitate group discussions with 40 members, who in small groups shared their thoughts, ideas and brainstormed what they thought the future of KWMP should look like.
Members of the KWMP Board of Directors have met with representatives of dozens of performing arts organizations, community members, city and regional staff and local politicians.
Based on these conversations, we have identified four themes that included:
The KWMP Board of Directors has been working for the past year and a half to implement the plan’s priorities. Our efforts have been significantly hampered by the COVID-19 Pandemic. However, we are still making progress on several themes:
Community is core to KWMP’s mission. Every year we come together to produce high-quality community theatre. We do it because it is something we love; it brings people together, provides a creative outlet, and allows us to develop new skills.
Sometimes, when a show ends, that community is lost. We are working hard to provide opportunities to stay connected between shows through regular social events and training sessions. The events committee has adapted their plan to run more events out of our hall towards online events. We have hosted several virtual cabaret nights and a musical watch party.
We look forward to returning to in-person events next year.
If you would like to join the events committee, please email the Chair of our events committee, Gary Shantz, by clicking here.
KWMP is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organization with limited resources. We are working towards bringing on additional resources, training and more diverse representation in our leadership team.
We look forward to getting past COVID-19 and returning to a place where we can produce two musicals per year.
KWMP is also working on expanding our reach, by partnering with other arts organizations to provide space and resources to produce additional content. For the past several years, we have partnered with Stage School to provide performing arts classes and camps for children and youth.
This year we also partnered with Agnew Acting Studio to produce a Livestream children’s production of Charlotte’s Web. We have also supported the work of a new original musical production and many others.
There is a real need for affordable rehearsal and performance space in Waterloo Region. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, theatres were at capacity and turning groups away.
It has been difficult for us to find space to produce high-quality shows that you have come to expect from KWMP due to cost and lack of theatre space availability. KWMP is not alone in this, but we are in a unique position, as we own a building and have access to available capital.
KWMP has been actively exploring opportunities to increase the availability of affordable rehearsal and theatre space in Waterloo Region.
We can not do this alone and have been in talks with other performing arts groups, community members, community organizations, and both politicians and staff from all levels of government.
We are investigating large and small changes we could make to our current space at 14 Shaftsbury Drive in Kitchener and exploring partnerships with other organizations to bring together existing spaces and run them collaboratively or creating a brand new space.
It took the vision for the KWMP Board of Directions to purchase our building in 1964 and then add a significant addition in the 1980s. That vision has helped us produce over 100 musicals and provide rehearsal and production space for hundreds of productions, workshops, events over the years.
As KWMP and the local arts community continues to evolve, we are committed to honouring that vision and looking to the future. We believe that KWMP can act as a community leader and support a viable, sustainable plan to create additional affordable rehearsal and performance space, benefit not only KWMP but also the whole community.
KWMP is facing unprecedented challenges, we have an ambitious plan to move KWMP forward, but we need your help. We need our members to join a committee or join the Board of Directors and help shape the future of KWMP.
In particular, we are looking for people with knowledge of one of the following areas: marketing, fundraising, finances, or theatre production.
KWMP members are invited to our Annual General Meeting.
We have adjusted our fiscal year to align more appropriately with our performance season, which means we have scheduled another Annual General Meeting for November 19th, 2019 from 7 to 8 pm at the KWMP Rehearsal Hall.
Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions Mini AGM
Date: Tuesday, November 19th, 2019
Time: 7 PM
Location: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON
Members may vote either in person or by proxy by one of the following:
Mail: 14 Shaftsbury Ave, Kitchener, ON
Scan & Email: info@kwmp.ca
Being a member of the Board of Directors of Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions (KWMP) is an opportunity for individuals who are passionate about KWMP, community theatre and the community at large to contribute their knowledge, energy, expertise and good judgement to shaping the future of KWMP.
Your involvement will give you skills and experience and an appreciation of the unique benefits of a community-focused volunteer organization. KWMP will benefit from your time, energy, expertise, skills and knowledge, while you will benefit from the skills, experience and knowledge you will gain as a result of serving on the board and immersing yourself in the strategic direction and leadership of the organization. Oh, and we usually splash a little fun in there too!
ABOUT THE KWMP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors consists of volunteers who are elected by the members of KWMP. The Board is entrusted to manage the affairs of the organization. It meets roughly once per month, typically on a weekday evening. Directors are elected to serve for a two-year term, and may ordinarily serve for up to 8 consecutive years.
Directors must be eighteen years of age or over. They are expected to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of KWMP, and not to use their position on the board for personal gain.
DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS
Directors must be able to attend regular meetings of KWMP. Within a one-year period, these normally consist of up to one board meeting every month, plus the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Directors are also encouraged to attend as many member events as possible during the year, including show kick-off meetings, performances of KWMP productions, the annual gala and other social events.
SPECIFIC SKILLS AND ABILITIES BEING SOUGHT
In considering the skill sets and abilities that would best complement or augment the current board and serve the organization well as we go forward, the following would be considered helpful:
KWMP is actively seeking volunteers to join various committees for 2019–2020.
We also endeavour to be an organization that mentors our members in areas of interest. So whether you are fully skilled or willing to learn, we welcome you!
The following are specific opportunities.
1) Finance Committee
The Finance Committee ensures that all financial matters for KWMP are taken care of to ensure the success of the organization. It is responsible for setting and tracking budgets, managing revenue and expenses, and for financial reporting.
The Finance Committee is looking for volunteers with accounting, bookkeeping or general financial management skills and experience to join the committee to assist and to learn.
2) Operations Committee
The Operations Committee is responsible for managing and overseeing the operations, maintenance and rental of the building as well as the inventory of costumes, props, set pieces and other materials.
The Operations Committee is looking for general volunteers to assist with various projects in and around the building. These might include cleaning, sorting, lifting, moving, gardening, hauling and light construction or trade work.
3) Events Committee
The Events Committee is responsible for the planning and organizing of all KWMP events and social activities as well as building and managing a database of all members. Its goal is to keep the membership engaged and active with KWMP, as well as reach out to the broader community.
The Events Committee is looking for volunteers to assist with all aspects of events including planning, organizing, preparing/setting up, attending/helping out at the events, and/or cleaning up after events.
4) Marketing and Communications Committee
The Marketing and Communications Committee oversees all aspects of the organization’s marketing and communications.
This committee is looking to add two or three volunteers who can commit to meeting at least once every 6 weeks. Specific skills and experience being sought include:
5) Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee is responsible for fundraising for KWMP. This includes grant applications, corporate sponsorships and charitable donations.
The Fundraising Committee is looking for people with skills and experience in any of the specified aspects of fundraising.
7) Performance Committee
The Performance Committee is responsible for recommending show choices, based on available venues, the scale of productions, available rights to shows, and budget. The Performance Committee helps put out the call out for the cast and creative team of a given production and works with the Board of Directors to produce the show.
8) Show-Related Volunteers
In addition to committees, there are a number of show-related volunteer opportunities. These include: