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Join Off the Wall for Here Comes the Sun – a Dance Party to celebrate the arrival of spring and, with it, the new theatre season.
Friday, April 17th at 7:00 pm, at the Stratford Country Club.
The fundraiser features classic rock with Strings and Traps, food stations, a cash bar and a spectacular silent auction.
Juno-award-nominated Dayna Manning joins the party as emcee and special guest performer. (More on her below.)
All funds raised will support Off the Wall’s Theatre Production training.
Whether you’re coming to dance the night away, reconnect with friends, or simply enjoy a fun evening out, your support will help make this event truly special.
Musical Performer: Dayna Manning
Dayna Manning is a JUNO Award–nominated, award-winning Canadian folk artist celebrated for her vivid storytelling and deeply rooted Canadian songs. Her latest album, Field Notes, is now available for purchase, offering a rich collection of songs inspired by Canadian people, places, and everyday moments. In addition to her five solo albums, Dayna has released three albums with the acclaimed folk trio Trent Severn, helping shape their signature sound as producer. Her solo album Morning Light earned her a Producer of the Year nomination at the 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards, and she won Ontario Independent Recording Artist of the Year at the 2023 London Music Awards.
Dayna’s music has appeared in films and on major soundtracks, including The Best of Lilith Fair. She is also the author of Many Moons: A Songwriter’s Memoir, with a foreword by Chris Hadfield, named one of the best books of the season by Canadian Living Magazine upon its release. In recognition of her lasting contributions to both her local community and the national folk music scene, Dayna was inducted into the Order of Folk by the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2024.
Dayna’s brand-new musical, Curveball, based on the 2021 hit play Kroehler Girls, will open at the Blyth Festival on July 10th 2026. Dayna holds a Master of Arts degree, specializing in Community Music, from Wilfrid Laurier University.
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The Theatre Production Arts Certificate was created to encourage students to become knowledgeable in many facets of the theatre production world. To complete this program, participants take five one-week courses during our 2026 summer program. Spots for Theatre Productions Arts students are limited, so please sign up early. Upon completion of five courses, participants will earn an Off the Wall Theatre Production Arts certificate.
Through this program, students will receive comprehensive skills training, a significant reduction in course fees, the eligibility to apply for the Desmond Heeley Scholarship, and more!
Key Information
- The low student-to-teacher ratio ensures instruction is geared to each participant’s skill level and experience.
- Eligible courses in 2026: any of the summer courses (listed below) that have space at the time of your registration.
- Note that students must enroll in both makeup workshops for said workshops to count toward the TPA certificate.
- You will choose your five courses during checkout.
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In this four day intensive artistic welding workshop discover the excitement and satisfaction of crafting in metal. Explore how to manipulate steel by bending, welding and texturing it to give life to your creative expression.
Learn and expand on these skills:
- Train in the safe and effective use of power tools and equipment;
- Explore the metal-working basics: welding, cutting, grinding, shaping and fitting;
- Practice and get creative with MIG welding;
- Discover Oxy-Acetylene gas brazing techniques; and
- Learn how to shape and hammer metal, including using jigs and applying heat.
This is not a ticketed course. This is an introductory artistic welding workshop meant to challenge students in the fascinating world of metalworking. All sessions of Artistic Welding cover the above techniques, enabling participants to heighten their skill levels with imaginative projects.
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each course ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Instructor: Clarke Ellis
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In this four day intensive artistic welding workshop discover the excitement and satisfaction of crafting in metal. Explore how to manipulate steel by bending, welding and texturing it to give life to your creative expression.
Learn and expand on these skills:
- Train in the safe and effective use of power tools and equipment;
- Explore the metal-working basics: welding, cutting, grinding, shaping and fitting;
- Practice and get creative with MIG welding;
- Discover Oxy-Acetylene gas brazing techniques; and
- Learn how to shape and hammer metal, including using jigs and applying heat.
This is not a ticketed course. This is an introductory artistic welding workshop meant to challenge students in the fascinating world of metalworking. All sessions of Artistic Welding cover the above techniques, enabling participants to heighten their skill levels with imaginative projects.
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each course ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Instructor: Clarke Ellis
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Combine your artistic vision with technical expertise to create an original bust, such as a dragon, monster, superhero, Greek goddess or human figure.
Sketch or download an image to interpret, and discover the multifaceted process of modeling, carving, assembling, and finishing your take-home project.
Note: These sculpting materials and techniques may be used at home without any special tools or equipment.Practice the following behind-the-scenes skills in this prop building workshop:
- Learn the steps involved in creating a figure sculpture;
- Create a concept sketch, using an image you’ve researched, or working from the artist- instructor’s selection of drawings;
- Build a small armature out of wire and tinfoil;
- Apply an oil-based polymer clay that will be fired at a low temperature;
- Carve and mold features in your sculpture using modeling tools, focusing on anatomical proportion and detail;
- Discover how to block out shapes, find the form, then refine it into a finished sculpture;
- Paint and take home your finished 8 to 10 inch sculpture.
The ratio of student to instructor is low allowing each student to have an effective week of learning regardless of their entry level.
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In this intensive, one-week Mask Making Workshop, practice and expand on the following behind-the-scenes skills:
- Develop interesting and effective characters that will read well on a theatrical stage.
- Learn effective techniques for sculpting with Plasticine.
- Create a plastic positive of your mask design with our vacuum-form machine.
- Explore different mask-making techniques through a myriad of demonstrations.
- Discover new techniques to create wire, buckram, foam and additive sculpture masks.
- Develop skills to fit masks properly to actors.
- Learn painting techniques that will enhance your sculpted mask.
Key Information
The low student-to-teacher ratio in each course ensures instruction is geared to the participant’s skill level and experience. Please indicate your related experience when you register.
Registration fee includes materials for the Mask Making Workshop.