Drama
Before the amalgamation of the schools, small productions were under the directorship of Mr. Klassen.
During the 1970s the AHSS Drama club was very active and produced one or two plays each school year.
Below are the playbills for many of them along with lists of cast members and photos.
There was strong support in the school for these productions that were held on the main gymnasium stage. The plays were well attended by the Almaguin family and local communities.
Today the drama club, now known as Tartan Theatre, produces 2-3 plays each school year, and participates in the National Theatre School, Ontario Drama Festival (formerly Sears Ontario Drama Festival). The present Tartan Theatre has had multiple plays advance to the Provincial Showcase.
During the 1970s the AHSS Drama club was very active and produced one or two plays each school year.
Below are the playbills for many of them along with lists of cast members and photos.
There was strong support in the school for these productions that were held on the main gymnasium stage. The plays were well attended by the Almaguin family and local communities.
Today the drama club, now known as Tartan Theatre, produces 2-3 plays each school year, and participates in the National Theatre School, Ontario Drama Festival (formerly Sears Ontario Drama Festival). The present Tartan Theatre has had multiple plays advance to the Provincial Showcase.
Jim Calarco 1969-2000 Jim Calarco was a local North Bay resident who attended Waterloo Lutheran then Laurentian University. When the East Parry Sound Board of Education advertised a job at Almaguin in 1969, he attended the job interview at Laurentian and remained at Almaguin throughout his teaching career.
He credits John McDermott’s interest in supporting the arts for the success of the programme. When John asked him what he would be interested in teaching, he mentioned drama and this programme started as a half-credit. John encouraged him to further his qualifications in drama and he enrolled in extra additional qualification courses and the program grew from there. In 1973 he got a lead role in a play and spent the next decade performing in theatres in northern Ontario while getting his specialist teaching degree in drama and communication arts. In 1983, his personal professional focus turned from the theatre to the screen.
AHSS drama productions in the early years included: The Marriage Proposal, Salem, Spring Fever, Don’t Drink the Water, The Rainmaker, Butterflies are Free, Wait Until Dark and Barefoot in the Park. The Sisters McIntosh was the first show entered in the Sears Drama Festival.
These new drama courses and co-curricular performances gave confidence to students who were not involved in arts as drama offered them extensive training in character development, voice and movement. It was very satisfying for Jim and the other members of faculty to watch these young students develop and grow in confidence and assurance while they practised and performed on stage.
The drama department production, Mr. Roberts, was one of the first plays to include the teaching staff as cast members and it really gave the students a chance to see another side of their hard working educators.
Jim's many antics became legendary at the school. He pulled several pranks to keep things light and loose. He remembers being called down to the office after he and another teacher switched the worn staff room furniture with principal John McDermott's plush office furniture. Another time, while John McDermott was being interviewed by the local news media, Calarco got the secretary to slip a note under the door reading, 'Don't look now, but your fly is down.' One imaginative teacher had the whole school believing that a Mr. Grosbeak was going to be the new superintendent of education. This was because he had seen a grosbeak outside the staff room window and thought it would be a good idea for a name. He got a great deal of satisfaction out of this hoax because it totally fooled one of the Almaguin staff's greatest dramatic pranksters. Following his retirement in 2000, Jim started a talent agency, and became involved in television commercials and film. In 2008 he established North Star Talent in order to represent actors from Northern Ontario. He also started Reel to Reel BG Agency and Cast North, a film and television casting agency. His most recent works include A Dark Truth, The Riverbank (also known as Tracing Iris) and One Wish. One Wish won the Mexico City International Film Festival's Golden Palm Award and the Canada International Film Festival's Award of Excellence.
He credits John McDermott’s interest in supporting the arts for the success of the programme. When John asked him what he would be interested in teaching, he mentioned drama and this programme started as a half-credit. John encouraged him to further his qualifications in drama and he enrolled in extra additional qualification courses and the program grew from there. In 1973 he got a lead role in a play and spent the next decade performing in theatres in northern Ontario while getting his specialist teaching degree in drama and communication arts. In 1983, his personal professional focus turned from the theatre to the screen.
AHSS drama productions in the early years included: The Marriage Proposal, Salem, Spring Fever, Don’t Drink the Water, The Rainmaker, Butterflies are Free, Wait Until Dark and Barefoot in the Park. The Sisters McIntosh was the first show entered in the Sears Drama Festival.
These new drama courses and co-curricular performances gave confidence to students who were not involved in arts as drama offered them extensive training in character development, voice and movement. It was very satisfying for Jim and the other members of faculty to watch these young students develop and grow in confidence and assurance while they practised and performed on stage.
The drama department production, Mr. Roberts, was one of the first plays to include the teaching staff as cast members and it really gave the students a chance to see another side of their hard working educators.
Jim's many antics became legendary at the school. He pulled several pranks to keep things light and loose. He remembers being called down to the office after he and another teacher switched the worn staff room furniture with principal John McDermott's plush office furniture. Another time, while John McDermott was being interviewed by the local news media, Calarco got the secretary to slip a note under the door reading, 'Don't look now, but your fly is down.' One imaginative teacher had the whole school believing that a Mr. Grosbeak was going to be the new superintendent of education. This was because he had seen a grosbeak outside the staff room window and thought it would be a good idea for a name. He got a great deal of satisfaction out of this hoax because it totally fooled one of the Almaguin staff's greatest dramatic pranksters. Following his retirement in 2000, Jim started a talent agency, and became involved in television commercials and film. In 2008 he established North Star Talent in order to represent actors from Northern Ontario. He also started Reel to Reel BG Agency and Cast North, a film and television casting agency. His most recent works include A Dark Truth, The Riverbank (also known as Tracing Iris) and One Wish. One Wish won the Mexico City International Film Festival's Golden Palm Award and the Canada International Film Festival's Award of Excellence.
Memories:
There are many fond remembrances about the music theatre at Almaguin. The public loved and supported the presentations, especially on the 'Dinner Theatre' nights. You had to be sure to get your ticket early, or you would miss out. Jim introduced the musicals in 1975 with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown followed by Good News, Life is a Fantasy, and Anne of Green Gables. The Dinner Theatre was the first one in the north, and after its success, North Bay schools started to introduce it. It started with a $5 lunch from The Golden Dragon in North Bay.
The Rainmaker story: Greg Paget played the rascal, Starbuck, and Aaron Currie played Deputy Sherrif File. Near the end of the play, File arrested Starbuck, and was holding him at gunpoint. Unfortunately, Aaron was holding the gun a little too tightly, and at the quietest point of the scene, he accidentally pulled the trigger. You could hear the “CLICK” at the back of the gym. Of course, Greg and Aaron both had the same thought – play it for laughs. While Aaron looked down at the gun in his hand, and slowly turned it towards his face, Greg bolted off stage. Aaron ran after him and dragged him back, both of them acting like it had been a misfire and pretending the next bullet would work.
There are many fond remembrances about the music theatre at Almaguin. The public loved and supported the presentations, especially on the 'Dinner Theatre' nights. You had to be sure to get your ticket early, or you would miss out. Jim introduced the musicals in 1975 with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown followed by Good News, Life is a Fantasy, and Anne of Green Gables. The Dinner Theatre was the first one in the north, and after its success, North Bay schools started to introduce it. It started with a $5 lunch from The Golden Dragon in North Bay.
The Rainmaker story: Greg Paget played the rascal, Starbuck, and Aaron Currie played Deputy Sherrif File. Near the end of the play, File arrested Starbuck, and was holding him at gunpoint. Unfortunately, Aaron was holding the gun a little too tightly, and at the quietest point of the scene, he accidentally pulled the trigger. You could hear the “CLICK” at the back of the gym. Of course, Greg and Aaron both had the same thought – play it for laughs. While Aaron looked down at the gun in his hand, and slowly turned it towards his face, Greg bolted off stage. Aaron ran after him and dragged him back, both of them acting like it had been a misfire and pretending the next bullet would work.
An early 1970s AHSS Theatre Troupe: Front row from left: Jeremy Thomas, Dana Kelly, Janet Bradley, Sue Newman, Patsy Evers, Gary Brooks. Back: Andre McConachie, Cheryl Putz, Brian Van Meirlo, unknown, Jim Colarco, Mike Burke, Janet Sargeant, Jennifer Thornborrow, Rick Moore, Bill Carr (photo courtesy of Rick Moore).
(Date unknown): From left: John McDermott, Jim Buchan, (unknown), Jim Calarco
Productions
The Marriage Proposal (no date)
Cast and Stage Crew: Seated in front from left: Cheryl Putz, Janet Sargent, Dana Kelly. Standing: Andrew McConnachie, Susan Newman, Gary Brooks, Jim Calarco (Theatrical Director), Rick Moore, Pat Evers.
An Evening of Theatre, February 26, 1975
Seated: Cheryl Kehoe. Middle row from left: Marilyn Maeck, Greg Paget, Bill Kehoe, Manuela Stevenson. Third row: Mike Tinney, Connie Gutjhar, Andy Main, Jim MacLachlan.
Don't Drink the Water, April 1975 (slide show)
photos courtesy of Pam TarBush nee Butler
photos courtesy of Pam TarBush nee Butler
You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, May 15, 1975 (slide show)
The Rainmaker October 1975 (slide show)
Good News May 18, 1976 (slide show)
Butterflies are Free, November 1976 (slide show)
Life's A Fantasy May 1977 (slide show)
Dark of the Moon May 17, 1978 (slide show)
Cast members front from left: Paul Preston, Jim Calarco (Director), Carolyn Dickie, Gloria Ney, Jane Smith (Co-Director), Sue Atkins. Back: Anita Robertson, Diana Thornborrow.
Anne of Green Gables, May 7-8, 1979 (slide show)
