Spring Conference 2022

For over one hundred years, the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre (as it is now known) has been at the centre of Toronto’s popular entertainment scene. The theatre is currently in the final stages of renovations in preparation for the Toronto production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and we’ve been offered the opportunity to take hardhat tours of this beautiful City of Toronto Heritage Property.

There will be two tour groups, at 4:45 pm and 5:10 pm. Meet at the theatre entrance at 244 Victoria Street for whichever group you like, then pop across the street to the Jazz Bistro for the Kick Off Cocktail Party!

Why should the in-person attendees have all the fun? Start meeting friends and colleagues in the video chat room in Socio. We’ll check in from Toronto, too!

Open to all in-person Conference participants even if you’re not staying at the hotel. Come get your badge (and a welcome gift from Concord Theatricals!) to start the day! Chat will be open for online participants as well!

You don’t need a badge or a mask to get the networking started! Grab your coffee and head to the video chat rooms in Socio to meet your colleagues from all over the continent.

We’ll walk from the Marriott to our main Conference venue together, a great chance to see a bit of downtown Toronto. (It’s also a quick subway ride, or you can meet us there; See the Toronto Info tab or the Socio app for directions.)

Jason Maghanoy is a graduate of McGill University and the National Theatre School of Canada’s Playwriting Program. Currently, he is the Vice President, Digital Solutions & Business Development at SJC Media, as well as the Associate Publisher of Canadian Business. Prior to SJC Media he was the Director of Revenue at NOW Magazine, Senior Development Officer, Corporate Partnerships at Canadian Stage, the Manager, Community Investment at Toronto Arts Foundation, and a Sponsorship & Advertising Coordinator at TIFF.

In addition to his work in corporate partnership development and digital media, Jason is considered one of the brightest emerging leaders in the City of Toronto. He is a Mentor at Ryerson’s Social Ventures Zone, a member of Luminato’s Board of Directors, a member of the Impact Collective for the University Health Network, as well as a member of the TELUS Community Board.

Jason is also a playwright. He has been the playwright-in-residence at Theatre Passe Muraille and Young People’s Theatre, a member of the Banff Playwrights Retreat, a member of the Playwrights Retreat at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, a former member of the Tarragon Playwrights Unit, and a Finalist for the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwriting Fellowship at Juilliard.

A fully hybrid, fully interactive discussion of how everyone is doing as we enter this new phase of recovery and reopening. Share your success stories and lessons learned from the last few weeks or months, and how you’re marketing your upcoming seasons and events. Online participants will be able to join us on Zoom to connect live.

In-person participants: See the Restaurants tab in the Socio app for recommendations.

Online participants: The Socio Lounge will be open for face-to-face chat!

A lot has changed in the last two years…the pandemic, the movement for Black Lives, and beyond that shifts in technology, media, and how many people consume entertainment and interact with companies. How has this affected what patrons expect from us, both inside and outside the theatre? What does it mean for how we communicate, for subscriptions, exchanges, programming, streaming, and more?

Moderated by Pamela Adams (Atlantic Theatre Company), with Tralen Doler (Broadway On Demand), Tanya Doroslovac (Canadian Stage), John Karastamatis (Mirvish) and Paul Larson (Blueprint Advancement).

Hear songs from some new Canadian musicals!

If you’re joining us for the first time today, come get checked in and get your badge! Or just get settled for day two and get some coffee before we start our first session.

What does a marketing department look like now? Nowadays, Marketing Directors often find themselves having to be video producers, social media managers, customer service reps and so much more. How has the role of the marketing department evolved in recent years? How do you collaborate with other departments at your theatre? What do you enjoy about your evolving role, and what would you like to see change?

Moderated by Melanie Thompson (Segal Centre for Performing Arts), with Victoria Barber (The Musical Stage Company), Carol Chiavetta (Ogunquit Playhouse), Drew Francis (Red Mountain Theatre Company) and Eric Pugh (The Muny).

As local journalism continues to change and arts journalism and criticism take some of the biggest hits, how can theatres continue to get coverage and find audiences? What innovative solutions are organizations and media outlets finding? How are loyal audiences finding and creating new resources?

Moderated by Michael Rubinoff, with Karen Fricker (Toronto Star), Emily Jerison (The Olney Theatre), Diep Tran (freelance journalist) and Kevin Sweeney (Shea’s Performing Arts Center).

As many of us reopen our doors for the first time in two years, how are we welcoming audiences and artists home? We’re not just “generating content,” we provide accessible and equitable community spaces to gather and share an experience. How do we sell the concept of the theatre as a home and make culture more available to all — and how do we follow through on that promise? How do we communicate safety and trust even as policies and practices shift?

Moderated by Betsy King Militello (NAMT), with Andy Butterfield (Weston Theater Company), Kwofe Coleman (The Muny), Jennifer Jaquess (Red Mountain Theatre) and Dan McMahon (Goodspeed Musicals).

In-person participants: See the Restaurants tab in the Socio app for recommendations.

Online participants: The Socio Lounge will be open for face-to-face chat!

As theatres rethink their work and their missions from a social justice perspective, how does this change their brands? How are we perceived by patrons, by artists we work with, and by the community at large? What do you do when you want to shift how people think of your organization? How and when do you take a stand, even if it risks alienating some of your audience?

Moderated by Thembi Duncan (Shea’s Performing Arts Center), with Alethea Bakogeorge (The Musical Stage Company), and Andrew Leshovsky (Theater Latté Da).

How do you stay on top of rapidly changing social media trends? Is it worth it to try? Can social media replace or supplement traditional advertising and press? Can it grow new fanbases? What about just having fun? Hear from experts and your fellow members about how they’re navigating — and what’s worked for them!

Moderated by Chris Alleman (Lake Dillon Theatre Company), with Jason Carlos (Toronto International Film Festival), Joshua Cummins (Zach Theatre), Katie Desjardins (Goodspeed Musicals) and Melanie Thompson (Segal Centre for Performing Arts).