ACT II
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 HISTORY |
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 is a Seniors' Education Program in the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education RYERSON UNIVERSITY. The school developed out of an acting workshop taught by Vrenia Ivonoffski and offered by Ryerson's Seniors'
Studies Program (coordinated by Pam Hitchcock) in 1988.
was established as a Theatre School and Creative Drama Centre, with its own Board of Management, in the fall of 1991.
A core group of students, some of them working actors, others looking to theatre as a second career, and all of them with an intense desire to pursue theatre training and self-expression, wrote and performed "Love Makes No Promises" in 1990 at Ryerson. Under the name ACT II STUDIO (the word "studio" was chosen to underscore the primary focus on training), the founding group of 13 went on to present its first full production, "Morning's At Seven" at the Robert Gill Theatre in 1992 (Re-staged summer 2003).
Media attention and positive audience response resulted in a rapid expansion of the Studio with the influx of
some 25 new members. Susan Stackhouse, voice coach with the Shaw Festival, and Dorothy Ward, former speech coach with the Stratford Festival,
were added to the Faculty along with new courses in voice, speech, scene study and Shakespeare.
's growth led to an ever expanding curriculum,
additional faculty, the development of a Constitution and Board, membership services, a play development program, a play reading group, and outreach services.
Subsequent productions have included "The Dining Room" (1993), "Museum" (1994), "The Dreamers" (1995 and 1998 - written by member Irving Hoffman), "Departures and Arrivals" (1996), "A Murder is Announced" (1997), "The Circus of Human Folly" (1998), "King John" (1999), Canada's Century (2000), Noel Coward's "Waiting in the Wings" (2001), "What Glorious Times They Had" (Diane Grant and Company, in 2002), "Morning's At Seven" was again produced in June 2003, and Jean Giraudoux's "The Madwoman of Chaillot" with a big cast in 2004. The 2005 play was "The Inspector General", 2006 was "Fringe" Plays and 2007 - a re-mounting of "Museum". 2008 has been busy: the winter Shakespeare production was "On the Sly" - a story of Politics and Intrigue. More productions into the summer included: "Original Theatre Works" and "Summer Salsa". The studio also produced a radio play in the Spring. Winter 2009 produced "The Fan"- adapted and directed by Vrenia Ivonoffski
Among the Studio's regular programming are: the New Plays Festival featuring plays written
by ACT II STUDIO members; "Matinees" (in October, December, March, April and May) which give members an opportunity to perform in the supportive environment of other members; the annual Shakespeare Performance in February; the year-end play production (June) at the Robert Gill Theatre; and "Moving Scenes" (the brainchild of Elaine Vayda) an outreach project offering scenes, short plays and original collective creations which provoke discussion to community groups.
The Studio now has some 200 members annually with about 300 registrations a term. We are blessed
with a vibrant, energetic Board, 10 Faculty and a core of
Volunteers who share with the artistic director, Vrenia Ivonoffski, the direction and further development of the Studio. We also have a great reservoir of talent and experience among our members, helping to make this a dynamic and creative organization.
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