About the Author: Jen is passionate about building community and is constantly in awe of the talent and creativity of folks in the Bow Valley. When she’s not producing plays or chairing board meetings you can find Jen out on her bike or cross country skiing.
At our upcoming auditions for Treasure Island and The Wizard of Oz, you might notice something a little different— a group movement session. So, why are we doing this, and what can you expect? Let’s break it down!
In the same way that we do line reads to get a sense of how you approach dialogue, we use movement sessions to observe how you approach physical character choices. There’s no skill threshold to meet—this isn’t about dance technique or athletic ability. Instead, we’re looking at how you:
This is relevant for Treasure Island, where fight sequences require rhythm and coordination to be performed safely. For The Wizard of Oz, we’re looking for confident, energized movement to bring the fantastical characters of Oz to life. Think about how a winged monkey, a lion, or even the Tin Man might move— exaggerated, whimsical, and totally out of this world!
Nope! There’s nothing to prepare in advance. Just come ready to play and explore. Remember:
Please wear clothes that are comfortable and will not impede your movement. Sturdy shoes that stay on your feet are a must – please do not wear flip-flops, boots, high heels, wheeled shoes, etc.
Yes! While you should come ready to move, we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable. Chelsea will lead a short, 5-minute group warmup at the start of the movement call. This will help get your body ready to:
Our goal is to make this accessible for all, so the warmup is designed to help you feel prepared and confident as you step into the movement exercises.
We’ll explore a variety of movement exercises, including:
This session is inspired by several movement techniques, including:
We hope this gives you a better idea of what to expect from the group movement session. We can’t wait to see how you bring the characters of Treasure Island and The Wizard of Oz to life through your unique physicality and imagination.
We know this approach might be new to some folks, and that’s okay! If you have any questions or concerns about the group movement session, we encourage you to reach out. You can contact us via email at info@pinetreeplayers or by phone at (403) 589-5732.
Sometimes at Pine Tree Players — when you’re not quite off book or up all night sewing costumes — it can feel like every day is “theatre day.” Officially, however, March 27 marks World Theatre Day, and to make theatre even more accessible Pine Tree Players is offering a three-day, 20% discount off its upcoming production, The Importance of Being Earnest.
Mike Walters keeps Pine Tree Players’ productions running smoothly, often without the audience ever realizing just how much he’s doing. As stage manager for the upcoming The Importance of Being Earnest, Mike plays a central role behind the scenes, drawing on years of experience with Pine Tree Players as a backstage crew, tech operator, actor, and stage manager.
Sometimes at Pine Tree Players — when you’re not quite off book or up all night sewing costumes — it can feel like every day is “theatre day.” Officially, however, March 27 marks World Theatre Day, and to make theatre even more accessible Pine Tree Players is offering a three-day, 20% discount off its upcoming production, The Importance of Being Earnest.
Rhonda leads the old-time dance band Hip to Be Square and helps organize square dances far and wide. “It’s just pure fun and movement to exciting live music, and from the bandstand I’ve never seen bigger smiles.”
Love takes many forms on stage. From fairy royalty to newlyweds, from awkward flirtations to forbidden affairs, intimacy on stage helps tell the story of how characters are connected and what they mean to each other.
This Valentine’s Day, we spotlight intimate moments on stage across eight seasons of productions, honouring the care, choreography, and creativity behind every embrace, kiss, and whispered confession.
Anastasia’s connection to theatre began early, sparked by a junior high school production that made something click deep inside. “I saw a production the grade 8s had created for a ‘Welcome New Students’ night and felt an intense pull to be involved,” she recalls. “I haven’t stopped yet.” That lifelong passion eventually led her to Pine Tree Players, where she first appeared as an actor in the 2018 Canmore Summer Theatre Festival production of Romeo and Juliet, and earlier that same year she was the fight director for I Hate Hamlet.
