Act Your Age
Who we are
Society’s preoccupation with youth means older actors are too often forgotten. This is not just a shame for the actors themselves and a terrible waste of their abilities, but it’s also a serious blow to our understanding of ourselves as a society and of the aging process that is part of life.
Without public role models and a visible and positive “place in the story,” it is all too easy for aging people to become invisible to themselves and to others and to fall prey to feelings of shame, isolation and loneliness.
Formed by some of ACTRA Toronto’s senior members, Act Your Age (AYA) is a volunteer advocacy committee formed with a mission to:
- Celebrate our talents by embracing the history, dignity, and richness of our stories of survival.
- Provide opportunities through an active actors’ gym to keep our skills facile and our focus sharp.
- Educate the industry and marketers, over time, on the needs and concerns of senior performers.
- Establish strong liaisons with other ACTRA Toronto committees, such as YEAA, Diversity and TAWC.
- Explore and spotlight the new reality of what it means to be a senior.
- Advocate for a change in the perception of senior performers – from invisible and easily dismissed, to capable, hirable, and fun.
Co-Chairs
Heather Dick
As a senior artist, I want to work just as often as I did when I was younger. For me, that means finding classes, workshops and opportunities that will help me to keep my voice, body and mind sharp so that I’m ready and able to submit for every audition that comes my way. I also want to embrace and see technology and making self-tapes as positive challenges rather than obstacles to be overcome. I’ve volunteered again to be a co-chair of AYA so that I can bring you workshops and opportunities that will keep us all ready and eager to use our creativity and experiences in the industry for as long as we choose to do so. We deserve to be seen and heard as the talented artists that we are!
If you’re not yet a member of the Act Your Age committee, please join us. We look forward to welcoming you at our next event.
Anne Wootten
I am honoured to be asked to Co-Chair the AYA Committee. Together with wonderful Co-Chair Heather Dick, I am looking forward to creating initiatives with and for the AYA membership. Let’s stay relevant, curious and keep our skills honed for what the future brings. And let’s have some fun along the way!
Member News
Three Queens opens on July 18
Don’t miss the July 18th opening of the most amazing talk show, Three Queens, written and directed by AYA member Val Kay, featuring J. Shand, Alison Chisolm, Lynne Atkinson, Patti Cannon & Tim Fanstone with music by renowned musician Charly Chiarelli.
Three Queens Press Release
Bon Mots Productions Presents “Three Queens” at the 2024 Hamilton Fringe Festival Fringe Mini Series
Bon Mots Productions is proud to present its production of Three Queens; a late night talk show like you’ve never seen. Chuckles and laughs with some reflection, and “I didn’t know that”, at the 2024 Hamilton Fringe Festival Fringe Mini Series! Funky talk show host, Rupert Wells will introduce you to some amazing guests. How did they get here? Are we in the past, present or future? With playwright Valeri Kay, you never can be quite sure. From the opening upbeat theme music, courtesy of renowned Hamilton musician Charly Chiarelli, to the final curtain call, you will be amazed at what Rupert’s guests reveal and get up to. And one of the cast is actually related to one of the guests. But is he actually a cast member? Come join us for 20 minutes of fun and a bit of a history lesson laced with humor, thanks to our talented cast who can’t wait to share their antics with you and make you part of the action.
Where & When
RINGSIDE (behind Architect Hair Design) – w/c accessible 324 James Street North, Hamilton ON
Thursday July 18 – 6:15 pm
Friday July 19 – 7:00 pm
Saturday July 20 – 8:30 pm
Thursday July 25 – 7:45 pm
Friday July 26 – 6:15 pm
Saturday July 27 – 7:00 pm
Tickets available online at the Hamilton Fringe Website
or at: https://valkay5.wixsite.com/website
Summerworks/Aye Caesar – August 8
AYA member Carolyn Fe invites you to attend a free public reading of Aye Caesar one of seven plays she wrote during her tenure as artist-in-residence at Tarragon Theatre last year.
Produced by Cahoots Theatre. Aye Caesar is a “Sci-not-so-Fi” story that explores elder loneliness, isolation, technology and the need for something… and someone… to hold on to.
There will be a Q&A session after the reading to help Carolyn refine the story.
Although the reading is free admission, registration is required to reserve your seat.
“Aye Caesar” FREE public reading will take place at The Theatre Centre / BMO Incubator Space on August 8, 6pm: 1115 Queen St W, Toronto, CA M6J 1J1
Disarming Venus Fundraiser – August 8
AYA member Jorie Morrow announces that the sold-out Toronto Finge hit, Disarming Venus, is returning for a one-night only fundraising performance at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 8 on the Green Room Stage at The Performing Arts Lodge Toronto (PAL).
No reservations. Tickets are cash only – $20 at the door. First come, first served.
Resources
The Canadian Artists Network [CAN] is the voice of Canada’s mature professional artists across all disciplines. CAN offers programs and services that enable artists to remain relevant, connected, informed, and motivated. Artists don’t retire. Their creativity and skills do not diminish with age. Creativity Lives Forever. …READ MORE
Initiatives
In this workshop, recorded in April of 2024, ACTRA member, Trish Adams leads us in a very practical, on-line editing workshop using the free ClipChamp app. ClipChamp comes with Office 365, however, there is a free, downloadable version as well.
Trish demonstrates how to send your video clips from your phone to your computer, upload them into the ClipChamp app, edit them, combine them into one movie within the app, add a slate, add simple transitions between takes, label the tape correctly and export the final version to your computer. When that’s done, you can submit your edited video to a casting site directly or send it off to your agent.
Because we want you to be able to use this information and the ClipChamp app easily and efficiently, Trish also created a simple step-by-step PDF document which you can print and follow while you watch the workshop recording. Watch as Trish shares her screen and walks you through goes through each editing step.
Click the video thumbnail below to watch the recording
Let’s See and Hear More “Senior” Voices (You may be surprised)
As a society we can put seniors in a box based on pre-conceived notions. But what does today’s senior really sound like? Check out these AYA “This is What _ Sounds Like” spots. ACTRA Toronto’s AYA Committee recorded this series of promotional audio spots to showcase (and sometimes surprise) the listener. The spots were directed by ACTRA Toronto member Tracey Hoyt.
Spin Class
Written by Tracey Hoyt
Cast
Instructor: Cari Haim
Client: Mike Hanson
Anncr.: Valeri Kay
Horseback Ride
Written by John McGrath
Cast
Son: John McGrath
Mom: Pam Hyatt
Wife: Patricia Wright Domingue
Anncr.: Tony Fletcher
Overqualified
Written by Tracey Hoyt
Cast
Boss: Heather Dick
Applicant: Elva Mai Hoover
Anncr.: Mike Hanson
Speed Date
Written by Tracey Hoyt
Cast
Female: Nina Keogh
Male: Gord Milroy
Speed Date
Moderator: Sylvan Valladares
Anncr.: Jorie Morrow
Connect with us
Email Us
Interested in joining or have a question? Please email us at: AYA@actratoronto.com.