Inspirato: A dilettante who looks for moments of inspiration. An artist at heart.

The Ten-Minute Play: Original, Relevant & Edgy

Welcome to an exciting and emerging form of theatre: The ten-minute play. Some call it the haiku of theatre; short, thought-provoking plays.  Experience a night of ten-minute plays and get ready for some great drama and humour.  You will soon understand why so many are calling this high-octane entertainment for today's demanding audiences.  

As an audience member, if you don't connect with the ten-minute play you're watching, another play will. Since ten-minute plays are produced in groupings of five to eight plays, audiences experience a range of perspectives in a single sitting - from the serious, to the absurd, and everything in between.

Now entering its fifth season, the InspiraTO Festival has produced 45 ten-minute plays involving 107 actors, 45 directors, 30 volunteers and 1,385 audience members.  Over 770 ten-minute plays have been submitted to date.  

InspiraTO Festival's mission is to produce quality ten-minute plays that engage audiences and inspires them to participate in live theatre. 

InspiraTO's vision is to be Canada's leading ten-minute play festival for new and emerging artists.  The InspiraTO Festival encourages artists to explore and create in this new art form.      

About Theatre Inspirato
Theatre Inspirato was formed in 2003 to encourage people to participate in live theatre by fostering creativity in drama.

In searching for practice scenes, I came across a genre in theatre I never heard of before: The ten-minute play.  At first I felt this was a new gimmick that was too short to have any merit.   After some careful investigation I realized how this form of theatre was growing and being taken seriously with such festivals such as the Short & Sweet Festival in Australia and the Humana Festival in the States which receive over a 1,000 script submissions a year!  The real deal breaker, however, was reading some inspiring ten-minute plays. I was hooked. 

A ten-minute play is a compact play, with a beginning, middle and an end.  These plays are similar to full-length ones, with conflict, distinctive characters and high stakes. Above all, every line of dialogue is crucial.  Ask anyone who has seen a great ten-minute play and they will tell you that so much can happen in ten-minutes. Ask anyone who has written a quality ten-minute play and they will tell you how much work goes into this art form.

We launched Toronto's first Ten-Minute Play festival with 6 ten-minute plays over a weekend at the intimate Alchemy Studio Theatre in 2006. It was a perfect venue for a new theatre festival.  

With some experience under our belt we launched our second season in 2007 and had an overwhelming 200 play submissions and produced 14 plays in two weeks.  Beginning with our third season we decided to have a theme for each season based on "one of the senses."  Our theme for the 3rd Inspirato festival was based on "smell/scent", our body's highest survival sense.  We had 220 play submissions and produced 15 plays that season. 

The reaction from audiences surpassed our expectations (last year there were three sold out shows). As awareness grows and word spreads the festival promises to be a hit in the coming years.   

Because of the growth of the festival, we have moved the venue to Lorraine Kimsa's Studio Theatre in Toronto's King St. East historic district.   This year's festival theme is on "taste" and we had a record-breaking 318 play submissions. We are set to give even more value as we present 10 ten-minute plays in one evening.  The ten-minute play art form keeps getting better and better.  

What started as a small group of people exploring theatre, art and creativity has mushroomed into a vibrant and exciting event. Many people have come to lend a hand and truly made the idea a reality.   Some people who helped out must have been sent by "angels" as their timing was uncanny.  Scroll down to Past Productions to see all those who have been involved.  

My gratitude extends to all those who have been involved and to the audience members who have come out to support us.  A million times thank you.

Keep inspiring us.  

Dominik

Dominik Loncar 

Theatre Inspirato

 

The Ten-Minute Play:

Perfect for the YouTube Generation

In an era of YouTube, instant information and short attention spans, people can be challenged to sit through two hours of drama.

The question is how to excite audiences who don't usually bother with theatre? The solution: The ten-minute play.

A ten-minute play is a compact play, with a beginning, middle and an end. This is not a Saturday Night sketch comedy or scene study. A lot can happen in ten minutes. These plays are similar to full-length ones, with conflict, distinctive characters and high stakes.  Above all, every line of dialogue is crucial.  This growing genre is referred to as the haiku of theatre. 

As an audience member, if you don't connect with the ten-minute play you're watching, another play will. Since ten-minute plays are produced in groupings of five to eight plays, audiences experience a range of perspectives in a single sitting - from the serious, to the absurd, and everything in between.

Producing more plays in one night allows a theatre company to risk content that they couldn't if they were staging a single play.

Ten-Minute Play festivals have been sprouting up all over the States. In Canada this is a relatively new phenomenon.    

Playwrights love it because they get a chance to test drive their creativity with greater odds of getting their plays produced. Actors love it because it offers them more opportunities to practice their craft. Audiences love it because they feel they are getting their monies worth; they don't have to risk investing their time and money on one play.

This does not, nor should not, replace the experience of a full length play.  However, as the entertainment industry clamours for our attention, catching a night of thought-provoking drama may be on the bottom of someone's list. The ten-minute play acts as a wake up call to the power of the stage.  

The paradox is that we have more means to stay-in-touch electronically but in fact may be less connected emotionally. The best antidote to our high-tech, instant-satisfaction society are simple low-tech, high-quality dramas that engage and re-energize audiences.    

 

Past Productions

InspiraTO Festival -- 4rd Annual Toronto Ten-Minute Festival
June 4-13, 2009,   Lorraine Kimsa Studio Theatre, Toronto

Play Selection Committee; Shirley Barrie, Molly Thom, Daniela Mazic & Dominik Loncar. 

A SIMPLE QUESTION by Michael Wilmot. Directed by Victoria Shepherd. Cast: Ned Petrie, Lindsey Alston.  JALAPEÑO COUGH SYRUP by Albert Pergande.  Directed by Cydney Penner. Cast: Ingrid Wirsig, Chris Reid-Geisler. SAY NO MORE by Michael Kimball.  Directed by Dominik Loncar. Cast: Tracey Beltrano, Mark Augustine, Janine John, Mike Charles.  THE PIANO by Amy Fox. Directed by Jaclynn Tanner. Cast: Ese Atawo, Adrian Sheperd-Gawinski, Sara Mitich. HUMAN BEANS by Cerise de Gelder. Directed by Meg Gennings. Cast: Cary West, Pauline Wu, Nathan Callens, Jimmy King. FIFTY YEARS HUNGRY by Daniel Heath. Directed by Brian Crosby. Cast: Natalie Feheregyhazi, Laura Alderson. PURITY & THE PRINCE by Robin Rice Lichtig. Directed by Richard Carter. Cast: Josh Boychuk, Kimberly Persona, Harpeet Bains. WHILE ISABELLE BLEEDS by Sasha Semienchuk. Directed by Liz Bragg. Cast: Brian Dickson, Anne Shepherd. ATOMIC FIREBALL by Dominik Loncar.  Directed by Eve Kinizo (June 4-6). Directed by Dominik Loncar (June 11-13).  Cast: Irene Theocharis, Kasia Dyszkiewicz, Lauren Maykut.  CONTEST WINNER: IN PARIS YOU WILL FIND MANY BAQUETTES BUT ONLY ONE TRUE LOVE by Michael Lew. (By special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. www. playscripts.com). Directed by Tommy Taylor. Cast: Adam Bradley, Mila Beaudoin, Elissa Ciullo.

THE PRODUCTION TEAM:    Dominik Loncar, Producer & Artistic Director;  Stevie Baker, Production Stage Manager;  Kate Duncan, Assistant Stage Manager; Lance Fox, Production Assistant; Molly Thom, Shirley Barrie, Daniela Mazic & Dominik Loncar, Play Selection Committee; Lumir Hladik, Creative Consultant/ Web Design; Kate Duncan, Program Design;  silverpointmediainc. ,video trailer;  Zmak Photography, Photography; Erika Rueter, STAF,  Publicity/ Marketing.

Thank you to Jeff Cowan at LKTYP.

A special thank you to Lumir Hladik.

InspiraTO Festival -- 3rd Annual Toronto Ten-Minute Festival
May 1-10, 2008,   Alchemy Theatre, Toronto

WEEK 1: Tango Player by Cathernie Frid; Doctor J's Magic Spray by Jay C. Rehak; Pitter-Patter by Michael Gianakos; Things That Go Bump by Richard Ballon; Restitution by Dominik Loncar; Aliens Saved My Marriage by Samuel Toll; Like A Baby by Greg Vovos; Turtle Beach by Aoise Stratford.

Directors: Danielle Capretti, Jennie Grimard, Bruce Williamson, Kim Harrington Meg Gennings, Michael Orlando, Kevin Shaver, Jimi Shlag.

Cast: Shabnam Munjal, Rod McTaggart, Scott Gorman, Nathan Callens, Emily Andrews, Michael Stewart, Scott Chacko, Frank Von, Raffaele Ciampaglia, Tyson James, Steve Schwabl, Erica Vella, Jaclyn Tanner, Tommy Boston, Julie Jarrett, Tia Brazda, Meghan J. Bower.

Production: Production Stage Manager: Esther Tusa; Lighting & Sound Technician; Ryan Holliday; Front of House: Linde Weedman, John Bourke; Web/postcard design: Lumir Hladik; Photographer (action pics): Bill Michelson; Lighting set-up: Simon Michellepis; Stage Manager (Pitter-Patter): Amy Williamson; Music (set changes): Dalma Adria; Music (plays): Tango De Manzana & Dance of Deception by Kevin MacLeod (http://www.incompetech.com/).


WEEK 2: Janice and the Pink Anger by Ann McDougall, Ginger by Robin Pond, The Gardener by Joe Musso, The Beekeeper by David Starkey, Earth's Potion by Dominik Loncar, A Toxic Fairytale by Elena Naskova, Furious by Eric Appleton

Directors: Mirelle Blassnig, Charlene Rockwell, Roselie Williamson, Adam Barrett, Pawel Maj, Tim Sweeney, Dominik Loncar

Cast: Anne-Marie Smith, Ken Hall, Edgar Nentwig, Aidan Black-Allen, Stephen Kiely, Alexis Hancey, Dan Nicks, Ben Muir, Aaron Rothermund, Benny Min, David Occhipinti, Danielle Nicole, Monica Nunes, Lisa Rivers, Stefania Indelicato, John Petitti

Production: Production Stage Manager: Amanda Holder; Lighting & Sound Technician: Acey Rowe; Front of House: Linde Weedman; Web/postcard design: Lumir Hladik; Photographer (action pics): Bill Michelson; Lighting set-up: Simon Michellepis; Stage Manager (The Gardener): Andrew Huisman; Music (set changes): Dalma Adria; Music (plays): Acrobat & Circus (http://www.freeplaymusic.com/), Canon Song by Gasper Barone, Buttercup, I'm a Supergirl by Shonen Knife.

A special thank you to Lumir Hladik.

Artistic Director & Producer: Dominik Loncar

***  The Alchemy Studio Theatre was a perfect venue for a new up-start theatre festival: intimate, affordable with up-to-the minute technology.  This venue helped us develop our roots in our first three seasons and has allowed us to "fly" to a larger venue.  It was sad to see its doors close at  the end of 2008.   To the director and creator of the Alchemy Studio Theatre, Simon Michellepis, a very big thank you.             

Trapped Spaces -- 2nd Annual Toronto Ten-Minute Festival
June 7 -16, 2007, Alchemy Theatre, Toronto

WEEK 1: Fudged by Susan Elizabeth Megson; Female Dogs by Barbara Lindsay; Guilty by Writing by Miranda Laurence; Curfew by Arthur Jolly; Don't Look by Lynn Snyder; Queen Bee Syndrome by Tom Sime; Up On The Roof by Mark Harvey Levine.

Directors: Mirelle Blassnig, Alexandra Riccio, Nicole Rubacha, Jason Scheide, Pawel Maj, Meghan Gennings & Adam Barrett.

Cast: Corine Haan, Luke Slade, Kelly-Marie Murtha, Manuela Nudo, Michael Dodds, Valarie McKee, Suzanne Bernier, Irene Theocharis, Steve Schwabl, Meredith Shaw, Allana Reoch, Meredith Heinrich, Erica Vella, Tyson Li.

Production Stage Manager: Michele Stewart; Lighting & Sound Technician; Tohru Kawakami; Front of House: Linde Weedman.

WEEK 2: The Quiet Actor by Steven Schutzman; Moon's Interview by Robin Pond; Bankin' On the Grand by Chris Shaw Swanson; Orphan Train by Julie Tosh; Out by Ian Walker; Half Moon Half Sun by Dominik Loncar; The Growth by Chris Shaw Swanson.

Directors: Samantha Stasiuk, Chuck Harvey, Jimi Shlag, Jordan Dibe, Craig Downton, Eve Kinizo, Kevin Shaver.

Cast: Lisa Metzger, Tracey Beltrano, Ken Hall, Ingrid Wirsig, Elliot Shermet, Brian Dickson, Tia Brazda, Patrice Henry, CJ Reader, Nathan Callens, Jayne Collins, Jon DeSantis, Brian Mifsud, Kate Lai, Julie Jarrett, Tommy Bostn, Janice Peters.

Production Stage Manager: Alex Whyte; Lighting & Sound Technician: Negar Khalvati; Front of House: Linde Weedman. A thank you to Chuck Harvey & his wife for coordinating the Friday Performance.

A thank you to Simon Michellepis for his advice and setting up the lighting and sound system.

A special thank you to Jason Scheide.

Artistic Director & Producer: Dominik Loncar


Bitter Sauce -- 1st Annual Toronto Ten-Minute Festival
June 9 & 10, 2006, Alchemy Theatre, Toronto

Coffee or Tea by Chuck Harvey; The Marionette & the Puppeteer by Ali Shamlou; Living the Dream by Robert Bruce; Substitution, Blueberry Pie and Sleepwalking by Dominik Loncar.

Directors: Dominik Loncar, Farah Farah, Valarie McKee, Chuck Harvey, Luciana Galli & Jason Scheide.

Cast: Margaret MacLeod, Farah Farah, Scott Chacko, Jason Scheide, Andrew Moyes, Valarie McKee, Jennifer Roach, Suzanne Godbehere, Steve Schwabl, Luciana Galli, Kerrie Lamb, Miranda Laurence, David Goldberg, Christopher Simm & Laura Alderson.

Production Stage Manager: Michele Stewart, Lighting & Sound Technician: Linde Weedman, Front of House: Mirelle Blassnig, Rudhra Persad, Aali Ali.

A special thank you to Michele Stewart.

Artistic Director & Producer: Dominik Loncar

 

The Glory Café by Dominik Loncar
A play about the 2003 blackout
May 6 & 7, 2005, Walmer Theatre Centre, Toronto
Directed by Dominik Loncar

Cast: Robert Bruce, Farah Farah, Luciana Galli, Suzanne Godbehere, Miranda Laurence, Patrick Rheins & Valarie McKee.

Lighting Design: Dale Whittington; Lighting Technician; Inna Povrchuk; Sound Technician: Linde Weedman; Sound Recording: Ruth Ward; Front of House: Laurie Konkle, Wallie Seto.

A special thank you to Dale Wittington, Inna Povarchuk & Linde Weedman

Artistic Director & Producer: Dominik Loncar


Theatre Inspirato was launched in 2003, with Dominik Loncar as Artistic Director, offering acting/improv workshops and a performance in 2004. A great big thank you goes to the inaugural Theatre Inspirato troupe of 2003-2004: Farah Farah, Suzanne Godbehere, Luciana Galli, Miranda Laurence, Valarie McKee & David Goldberg.

A special thank you to Joe Ward.

Thanks to all those Inspiratos who made our productions a success.