Become a Member
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
for the 2025-26 season!
Alumnae Theatre Company (ATC)
The Alumnae Theatre, now housed in a converted firehall in downtown Toronto, has been run by women for over 100 years, a notable accomplishment in a field traditionally dominated by men.
A charitable organization that produces engaging and thought-provoking theatre, the Alumnae continues to thrive because of its diverse, enthusiastic, and fun group of women volunteers. We invite women with a passion for theatre to join us!
Alumnae Theatre is a place for women artists to hone their craft, learn a new one, and explore their passions. Whether you want to brush up on your acting, try your hand at writing, or direct for the first time, there are opportunities for everyone in our various groups and programs. Experience is not required: veteran artists work and learn alongside artists who are just beginning.
Become a Member
So you’re interested in becoming a member of Alumnae? Whether you’re a seasoned performer or an emerging producer, there is a membership option for you! Membership shall commence on the first day of July and end on the last day of June in each year.
Benefits of Active Alumnae Membership
– One complimentary ticket for each Alumnae production
– Regular membership social meetings at the theatre
– Free events like our play readings put on by the Social Committee
– Free or discounted workshops from industry professionals
– Opportunities to join groups like our New Play Development group for playwrights
– Opportunities to work on committees like the Board of Directors, Social Committee, Programming Committee, and more
– Regular newsletter that showcases opportunities like acting auditions and creative/production team call-outs for our productions before making them available to non-members
– Guaranteed auditions and high consideration for casting
– Opportunity to pitch for directing
– High consideration for play submission festivals (New Ideas, FireWorks)
– Opportunity to vote for MainStage season plays
– Discounts on rental space in the theatre after two years as a member
– An invitation to our Volunteer Appreciation Party
– A voice at membership meetings
– Voting rights at the Annual General Meeting.
In return for the privileges of membership, Active members agree to contribute a minimum of twenty hours of theatre service in one or more hard-to-staff areas within one season. (See the list below.) We are a volunteer-run organization, and we rely on the good will and commitment of our members and volunteers to keep the theatre thriving! No experience needed!
Please note that members do have access to additional complimentary tickets (for themselves only – if space is available) so that they can attend a show more than once.
To view/download the list of volunteer opportunities, click the button below.
You may have noticed some points of contact in the above list were empty. If you’re looking to step into a leadership role or sit on a committee, then get involved in Alumnae leadership by emailing the President at president@alumnaetheatre.com
What follow are the membership options.
Active Member Under 30
This membership option is for women aged 18-30 who want to participate in Alumnae groups and programs and will contribute a minimum of twenty hours of theatre service. Members are supported by the Emerging Artists Director, who can be reached at emergingartists@alumnaetheatre.com
Supporting Members
This option is for women who want to support the theatre but aren’t able to volunteer. Supporting members are issued a tax receipt and receive our monthly newsletter. Supporting members do not receive complimentary season’s tickets or other Active membership benefits.
Lifetime Members
This option is for existing members who have shown dedication to the Alumnae and demonstrated exemplary theatre services and who, over the years, have made significant contributions to Alumnae. They enjoy all the benefits of Active membership without having to lift a finger!! (Of course, if they’d still like to volunteer, we’re more than happy to have them.) The Board of Directors nominates and votes for lifetime members.
Want to nurture your theatrical voice?
In addition to our members’ groups, Alumnae hosts professional workshops based on member interest in all areas of theatre. Previous workshops have included Scene Study, Voice, Stage Combat, and The Audition/The Callback, as well as Writing Intensives with Diane Flacks, Colleen Murphy, and Beverley Cooper and Master classes with R.H. Thomson, Ingrid Hart, and Richard Rose. Workshops and master classes are free or discounted for Active members.
Want to incubate transformative new works?
Join our New Play Development Group or our various play selection committees for productions like the New Ideas Festival and the FireWorks Festival.
The New Play Development Group meets monthly, and the sessions typically include fifteen-minute readings of our playwrights’ works, a five-minute writing exercise, workshops, discussion of new business, and the planning of initiatives. To further the development of new plays by Alumnae members, each year the group organizes and produces such activities as the WriteNow challenge, monthly Next Stage Readings, and the Big Ideas Reading Festival. These programs offer Alumnae dramaturges, directors, and actors lots of opportunities to get involved.
WriteNow is an annual weekend writing challenge where participants write a short play based on a secret topic revealed at the beginning of the challenge. The playwrights, directors, and actors then present these new plays to an audience.
Next Stage play readings are booked throughout the season. Our playwrights have the opportunity to have their full-length play directed and read by Alumnae members and receive audience feedback.
Want to present compelling theatre?
Join the production and creative teams of the Alumnae season, giving you hands-on experience in mounting a show! We are keen to present work and are eager to form co-producing relationships with theatre companies in the near future.
Want to strengthen your camaraderie with fellow theatremakers?
Meet and break bread with the membership at our regular membership meetings where we hear from other Alumnae members about how to get involved and what’s coming up; at our play reading club where we host bespoke workshops and read thematically relevant plays; at our playgoing club where we bear witness to Alumnae and external shows and hold meaningful dialogue; and at our planning session for the Volunteer Appreciation Party to celebrate the dedication of you and your fellow members.
If you’re interested in membership, email membership@alumnaetheatre.com for more information.
Not ready to commit to membership? Then why not get involved as a volunteer or a donor? We’d love to meet you!
