The Ottawa School of Speech and Drama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section is written like an advertisement.
Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view.
Mark blatant advertising which would require a fundamental rewrite in order to become encyclopedic for speedy deletion, using {{db-spam}}. (December 2007)

OSSD Logo

The Ottawa School of Speech and Drama (OSSD) is a centre in Ottawa for drama, theatre, musical theatre and speech arts education and training. Since 1988, the school has offered specialized theatre courses that build on their individual abilities. Students 3-75 can work with professional instruction to develop skills such as acting, singing, vocal production, movement, dance, sight-reading, language arts, text analysis, scene study, character development and aspects of technical theatre.

1 General Information
2 Programs
3 History
4 OSSD Board
5 OSSD's contact information
6 External links

[edit] General Information

The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama (OSSD) is a not-for profit charitable organization that provides training and education in Drama, Theatre, Speech Arts and Musical Theatre for students ages 3 through adult in the Ottawa-Carleton area. The school works with theatre professionals and drama educators.

OSSD’s facilities in Westboro include four studios equipped with specialized flooring and lighting, acoustically sound doors, and barrier free accessibility. The Natalie Stern Studio Theatre, a flexible black box studio, enables students to explore various performance styles and elements of stage craft. The NSST allows the school to support the development of work by new theatre artists. The school also houses the Harold Crabtree Foundation Resource Centre, an extensive collection of plays, poetry and theatre resource books.

Over the course of 18 years, OSSD has built a large team of instructors. Professional actors, directors, writers, singers and dancers all find homes teaching at OSSD, as do specialists in drama in education, voice coaches and drama teachers.

[edit] Programs

Children and Teens
Students explore their creativity and develop the tools they need to express their thoughts and ideas. OSSD provides a range of courses to choose from in creative drama, acting and musical theatre, as well as specialized classes in Shakespeare, playwriting or auditioning techniques. They also give students an option to take internationally recognized examinations through Trinity College in England.

OSSD students learn specific skills such as vocal production, singing, movement, dance, improvisation, sight-reading, language arts, text analysis, scene study, character development and aspects of technical theatre. The classes aim to help to build self confidence and develop a love of literature and the spoken word.

Adults
In the last 3 years, adult courses at OSSD have expanded. There is a large team of experienced instructors. Courses at OSSD allow students to develop new skills or improve existing ones. The School offers classes for both beginning and expirenced actors. Classes include Musical Theatre, Improvisation, Move Into the Act and a 55+ course.

The Pre-Professional Acting Program
The Pre-Professional Acting Program at OSSD is certified as an educational institution offering a unique opportunity for dedicated students. A curriculum of professionally based training helps students to develop the skills they need for a career in acting.

The primary emphasis of the program is on embedding the basic skills that an actor relies on to work successfully in the profession. At OSSD there is a focus on the development and creation of new work, coupled with intensive and specific training.

Enrolment is limited, ensuring individualized attention and a personalized approach benefiting students from a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.

March Break Camp
OSSD offers 3 courses for kids aged 7-15 during the week of March Break.

Summer Camp
OSSD’s summer programs have been running for 15 years. They give children and youth a chance to discover theatre with professional actors, directors and teachers.

The camps help to develop self- confidence, spontaneity, empathy, the ability to articulate and ability to work collaboratively with others. The camp works to create an environment that is supportive, encouraging, safe and fun.

Each day begins with a physical and vocal warm up to get campers ready for a day of drama. The emphasis is on learning creative skills, making new friends and exploring ways that theatre can bring ideas to life. Every camp session ends with a presentation for family and friends.

They have one, two and three-week workshops offering a wide variety of choices. The workshops are for beginner and advanced students aged 6 to 16 years old.

[edit] History

The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama was founded by Natalie Stern in 1988 and has demonstrated significant growth since its inception. The School began by teaching Speech and Drama courses, aimed at developing effective vocal skills and dramatic awareness and culminating in examinations through the International Examination Board, Trinity College London, England.

The School moved into a two-studio location at 111 Pretoria Avenue in 1986. In 1990, a summer arts camp, The Young Actors’ Space, was added to the programming. This camp operates for seven weeks each summer at Arts Court and continues to flourish, enabling the School to offer year round activities.

Over the years OSSD has expanded programming to include courses in Acting, Creative Drama, Musical Theatre, Shakespeare, Auditioning Techniques, Improvisation, Voice, Movement, Playwriting and Collective Creations. OSSD students learn specific skills such as vocal production, singing, movement, dance, sight-reading, language arts, text analysis, scene study, character development and aspects of technical theatre.

In 1995 the School became a not-for-profit registered charity.

In August 2003 Amanda Lewis was hired as Artistic Director.

In August 2005, OSSD moved into a brand new facility at 294 Picton Ave. in the neighborhood of Westboro. Housed with three studios the new space allowed the School to expand its programming further.

[edit] OSSD Board

The OSSD Board of Directors is a volunteer board that oversees the health and vibrancy of the school. Led by Chair Randy McIntyre.

Current Board Members

 Randy McIntyre, Chair
 Amy Fan, Treasurer
 Anne Marie Todkill, Secretary
 Deborah Edwards, Member
 Audrey Churgin, Member
 Drew Lyall, Member
 Holly Solomon, Member

Ex-Officio Founding Members Natalie Stern Raymond Stern Ex-Officio Staff members Amanda Lewis — Artistic Director Sheila Sturk-Green, General Manager Bruce Bissonnette, Director of Adult Programs Board Advisors Vicky Bleeks- Student Representative