•••Click here for more pictures•••

HISTORY OF THE FESTIVAL
What began as a little “Drama Fiesta” with three plays in 1946 has evolved into one of the longest running cultural traditions in Canada and one of the largest student festivals in the world. Annually the Sears Ontario Drama Festival attracts the participation of approximately 12,000 students and their teachers, representing more than 300 schools across Ontario.   The Festival has three stages – District, Regional Festivals, and the Provincial Showcase:

• February to April, local schools participate in District
  Festivals where they receive profes-sional adjudi-
  cation and often participate in workshops that
  encourage teamwork and skills development.
• In April, six Regional Festivals showcase
  Outstanding Productions from District Festivals.
  Each selects two Outstanding Productions to form...
• A 12-play Ontario Showcase.

Awards, bursaries and scholarships ($250 to $3000) are awarded to students over the course of the Festival. These are to assist them in continuing their studies in the performing arts.

Alumnae of the Festival are now contributing members of the Canadian work- force in many professions. Some former “grads” in the performing arts include Yanna McIntosh, David Cronenberg, Franco Boni, Mira Friedlander, Anne Michaels, Sky Gilbert, Margot Kidder, Rachel McAdams, Helen Shaver, Sonja Smits and R.H.Thomson