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<div id=cover-sheet>PLEASE FORWARD, POST & DISTRIBUTE

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    class=shape>
    <p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt'>For Immediate Release                                                            <st1:date
    Year="2006" Day="12" Month="6" ls="trans" w:st="on">June 12, 2006</st1:date><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>AFRICANADIAN
    PLAYWRIGHTS’ FESTIVAL <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>In Partnership with<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><st1:PlaceType
    w:st="on"><b><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
     9.0pt;font-weight:bold'>UNIVERSITY</span></font></b></st1:PlaceType><b><font
    size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold'> <st1:PlaceType
    w:st="on">COLLEGE</st1:PlaceType> DRAMA PROGRAM, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
     w:st="on">UNIVERSITY</st1:PlaceType> OF <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">TORONTO</st1:PlaceName></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=1
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>CALL
    FOR PAPERS</span></font></b><b><font face="Monotype Corsiva"><span
    style='font-family:"Monotype Corsiva";font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:-.05in'><font size=1
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>University College, at the University of Toronto,
    has partnered with the AfriCanadian Playwrights’ Festival to host the
    conference component of the AfriCanadian Playwrights’ Festival, <b><span
    style='font-weight:bold'>August 22-27, 2006</span></b>: Featured lecturer: 
    Harry J. Elam Jr., Stanford University.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'><br>
    <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>The History: </span></b> Inspired by
    August Wilson’s groundbreaking speech, “The Ground on Which I
    Stand,” the first AfriCanadian Playwright's Festival in 1997 gathered
    nearly 50 Canadian playwrights of African decent for a celebration of Black
    playwriting in Canada. The festival included a Keynote Session with Ricardo
    Khan: Crossroads Theatre: <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region>;
    Yvonne Brewster: Talawa Theatre: <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region>;
    and George Elliot Clarke: Playwright, Poet, and Professor: <st1:country-region
    w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
    There was a week long playreading series, as well as panel discussions and
    a celebratory evening where all of the nearly 50 playwrights in attendance
    read a brief excerpt from one of their works for the stage. The millennium
    edition of the AfriCanadian Playwrights’ Festival was much larger in
    scope and featured a keynote dialogue with noted Canadian born, Tony Award
    winning director, Lloyd Richards and Nobel laureate Derek Walcott. 
    The millennium edition also saw the addition of Workshop Productions which
    showcased a number of new works in the later stages of development by
    presenting them with production elements (set, costumes and lights).  Moreover,
    Playwrights Canada Press published:  <u>Testifyin’: 
    Contemporary African Canadian Drama, Vol. </u>I, an anthology of Black
    Canadian plays, the first collection of its kinds in this country. 
    The 3<sup>rd</sup> edition of the festival in 2003, (our most successful to
    date) </span></font><font size=1><span lang=EN-CA style='font-size:8.0pt'>showcased
    and presented the work of more African Canadian playwrights and theatre
    practitioners than ever before</span></font><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>. The festival also endeavoured to broaden the
    spectrum of African Canadian playwrighting and theatre in the Canadian
    cultural studies arena with the publication of volume II of <u>Testifyin’:
    Contemporary African Canadian Drama</u>, and the addition of a conference
    component, from which the papers presented formed the framework for the
    spring 2004 edition of the Canadian Theatre Review 118: <u>African Canadian
    Theatre (Honouring the Word)</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto'><b><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
    font-weight:bold'>The Festival:  </span></font></b><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>In addition to a conference component, this
    tri-annual gathering will feature a remarkable range of events including
    Showcase Workshop Productions, staged readings, script reading, and our
    legendary Playwrights Guild sponsored Salon Luncheons, where writers give
    voice to their own work, accompanied by a sumptuous mid-day feast.  In
    all, the festival will involve the most substantial gathering of Black
    theatre practitioners and African Canadian theatre scholars nationwide.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto'><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>While
    the vision for the upcoming festival continues to grow, our primary
    objectives remain the same: <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>The
    celebration, examination, encouragement, development, promotion and
    presentation of African Canadian playwrights and their play</span></b></span></font><b><font
    size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>s</span></font></b><font
    size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto'><b><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
    font-weight:bold'>The Call for Papers:  </span></font></b><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>University College and The AfriCanadian
    Playwrights’ Festival invites paper proposals from all interested
    parties on a wide range of issues pertinent to African Canadian
    Playwrights, Black theatre in Canada, and its relationship to theatre of
    the African Diaspora, in order to encourage a broader and more sustained
    discussion on theatre by people of African descent in Canada.  Issues that
    might be considered include, but are not limited to:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>Nation versus Diaspora<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>Race, class and gender<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>African Canadian theatre, critical multiculturalism
    and critical race studies<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>Region, community, and nation<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>Forms, styles, and aesthetics<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><font
    size=1 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span
    style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>What is African Canadian theatre, and what does it
    look like?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto'><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>Abstracts,
    which must be submitted by <st1:date ls="trans" Month="7" Day="12"
    Year="2006" w:st="on"><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>July 12, 2006</span></b></st1:date>,
    should be no more than 500 words, and may be submitted electronically or by
    hard copy.  Abstracts will be evaluated by a committee of scholars and
    theatre practitioners.  Individuals who submit proposals will be
    notified regarding acceptance by <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>July 17<sup>th</sup>,
    2006.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
    auto'><b><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;
    font-weight:bold'>The Publication: </span></font></b><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>Selected not-previously-published conference papers
    presented during the event, revised for publication, will be considered for
    inclusion in an upcoming book to be edited by Djanet Sears and Ric Knowles.<b><span
    style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
    l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=1 face=Symbol><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<font
    size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>         
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt'>Submissions should sent to:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
    l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=1 face="Courier New"><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:
    Ignore'>o<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:8.0pt'>: <a href="mailto:djanet.sears@utoronto.ca"
    target="_blank">djanet.sears@utoronto.ca</a>  and <a
    href="mailto:festival@africanadian.com">festival@africanadian.com</a></span></font><font
    size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=1
    face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:8.0pt'>OR</span></font><font
    size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:
    l0 level2 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font size=1 face="Courier New"><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Courier New"'><span style='mso-list:
    Ignore'>o<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>        
    </span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><font size=1><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt'>Djanet Sears, AfriCanadian Playwrights’
    Festival, <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:.25in'><st1:Street
    w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
      style='font-size:9.0pt'>54 Wolseley Street</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><font
    size=1><span style='font-size:9.0pt'>, 2<sup>nd </sup>Floor, <st1:place
    w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Toronto</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">ON</st1:State>,
     <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">M5T 1A5</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.75in;text-indent:.25in'><font
    size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
    <p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
    style='font-size:9.0pt'>If you have any questions, please contact the
    AfriCanadian Playwrights’ Festival at (416) 367.8243 X305, or email
    us at <a href="mailto:festival@africanadian.com">festival@africanadian.com</a>
    .</span></font><font size=4><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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</span><![endif]><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><img width=1692
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