I didn't say anywhere on your page about the theatre going downhill, I said it on my own, and as far as I can remember, that's what journals are for. And technically it has. When I was in Junir high, all of the Keyano shows, after Darold left, had a requirement of "16 and over" to audition. I think this took away alot of the younger people's interest in it, since they had no way to know about it or experiance it. I probably wouldn't have even got into acting if I hadn't been able to be in the shows when I was 9 and 10 .. that's what got me into it. But when they decided that you had to be 16 in order to be in those shows, I think it started to decline the interest in auditioning. The auditioning numbers HAVE gone down, overall, at keyano. There is also not as much money going into the theatre as there used to, and this is taking away from each of the play's budgets. When I saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat years and years ago, back in the early 90's, it was spectacle galore, and quite obviously a huge budget. I spoke to Mrs Towsley about the second time they did Amadeus, and the budget they had when they did it the first time, was again, much more generous, as they had a rotating set and such. I remember Miss Towsley even saying at that show, "I donated alot of money this year... where did it go to??" You can also look at the declining number of studetns in the VPA program. When I was in the earlier shows, there were way more of them, coming from many different cities in Alberta and evne a few other provinces. You can ask anyone from the previous graduating class, and they'll agree with me, the interest in it is declining, and I'm not BOASTING about that, I think it's a sad thing. It really, really is. Because Keyano has offered alot throughout the years and it's a pretty good facility considering the size of the city. And on a side note - music festival! Holy crap, the numbers have MAJORELY declined there, and it's really sad. I remember when I was 10 and stuff, going to see the "older students" and there was honestly about 6-8 people in the 17+, 18+ categories .... it's just too bad that overall the interest has gone down. Even when I was still there! I'm not saying that it's "gone downhill" just because I'm out of there now. It started when I was there, and again, I wasn't boasting about it, I think it's sad, and I really hope there's a way that maybe the interest will have a big boom again.
And you're right, drama is everywhere, it just seemed like when I was in Fort McMurray, there was always an abundance of it, especailly compared to the program I'm in now, there's no "rumours" that get everyone angry or upset with each other, so it's a nice change. And I'm not juts reffering to drama that I'VE been involved in .. It always seems like there was in the VPA program .. who liking who, and they liked someone else, but that person hated them... blah blah, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about! And there will always be the occassional 'love story' in theatre of course, but where I am now, it's just such a change from being back there because it isn't like that at all, between any of us.
And I know the anonymous person wasn't you. I have a 99% sure gut feeling of who it was.
And just another thing that I thought of as I was getting ready for school here, I thought of Phil Kersey's leave from the theatre... Georg MacDonald is also gone now, and I know they both have other reasons OBVIOUSLY, but they were 2 very influential people of Keyano theatre, and why they 'left' when they did is probably because of what I was explaining. I don't know if you know this, but Keyano used to do 6 shows a year. Usually 3 musicals. This was way back before I even could remember. Now how many do they do? 3. 1 musical. That's it. I remember when Mary's Wedding was brought to Fort McMurray. We were told that was a "deal" in which the Edmonton company would do their show in Fort Mac, and the next year, Keyano was supposed to do a show that was going to tour in Edmonton. That sure didn't happen. And now they keep bringing shows from Edmonton for the 2nd show each year, which leaves only THREE for the general public to audition for. I think it's great that the companies from Edmonton are exposing other theatre to Fort McMurray, but I think if you really want to see it, take the 4 and a half hour drive to Edmonton, but don't take away what little there is left for Fort McMurray.
I don't even mean this AGAINST anyone, I just got to thinkign about it, and the situation has made me upset for a long time... Keyano (and music festival) needs a BIG boost or a big change from somewhere .... It's needed it for quite a few years now, and I remember when I was in high school saying these exact same things, so I want to make it clear that I wasn't saying that just because I'm gone. And I think I made a mistake when I said I left at a good time. I would have actually left at a good time if I left like around 2000-2003.
And on a side note - music festival! Holy crap, the numbers have MAJORELY declined there, and it's really sad. I remember when I was 10 and stuff, going to see the "older students" and there was honestly about 6-8 people in the 17+, 18+ categories .... it's just too bad that overall the interest has gone down. Even when I was still there! I'm not saying that it's "gone downhill" just because I'm out of there now. It started when I was there, and again, I wasn't boasting about it, I think it's sad, and I really hope there's a way that maybe the interest will have a big boom again.
And you're right, drama is everywhere, it just seemed like when I was in Fort McMurray, there was always an abundance of it, especailly compared to the program I'm in now, there's no "rumours" that get everyone angry or upset with each other, so it's a nice change. And I'm not juts reffering to drama that I'VE been involved in .. It always seems like there was in the VPA program .. who liking who, and they liked someone else, but that person hated them... blah blah, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about! And there will always be the occassional 'love story' in theatre of course, but where I am now, it's just such a change from being back there because it isn't like that at all, between any of us.
And I know the anonymous person wasn't you. I have a 99% sure gut feeling of who it was.
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I don't know if you know this, but Keyano used to do 6 shows a year. Usually 3 musicals. This was way back before I even could remember. Now how many do they do? 3. 1 musical. That's it. I remember when Mary's Wedding was brought to Fort McMurray. We were told that was a "deal" in which the Edmonton company would do their show in Fort Mac, and the next year, Keyano was supposed to do a show that was going to tour in Edmonton. That sure didn't happen. And now they keep bringing shows from Edmonton for the 2nd show each year, which leaves only THREE for the general public to audition for. I think it's great that the companies from Edmonton are exposing other theatre to Fort McMurray, but I think if you really want to see it, take the 4 and a half hour drive to Edmonton, but don't take away what little there is left for Fort McMurray.
I don't even mean this AGAINST anyone, I just got to thinkign about it, and the situation has made me upset for a long time... Keyano (and music festival) needs a BIG boost or a big change from somewhere .... It's needed it for quite a few years now, and I remember when I was in high school saying these exact same things, so I want to make it clear that I wasn't saying that just because I'm gone. And I think I made a mistake when I said I left at a good time. I would have actually left at a good time if I left like around 2000-2003.
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