Dome Theatre (Montreal) facts for kids
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| Address | 2000 rue Atwater, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3Z 1A4 |
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| Location | Downtown of Montreal |
| Owner | Dawson College |
| Operator | Dawson Professional Theatre Program |
| Capacity | 190 seats |
| Construction | |
| Built | 2007 |
| Construction cost | US$10.5 million |
The Dome Theatre is a cool building located in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It's a special part of Dawson College.
This theater is a key place for young people to learn about performing arts. The Dawson Professional Theatre Program helps actors, directors, and crew members become really good at what they do. Their students and teachers add a lot to Montreal's cultural scene.
The theater department at Dawson College has a three-year program. Students in their second year perform "Studio Productions" at the Dome Theatre. Third-year students put on bigger shows called "Major Productions."
Contents
History of the Dome Theatre
How the Theatre Got Its Name
Before it was the Dome Theatre, there was a place called the Vendôme theater. It was in a different part of Montreal. In 1974, Dawson College bought this theater. They started renting it out and renamed it the "Dome Theatre." This became the main place for the Dawson Professional Theatre Program. Shows were held there until 2007.
Building a New Theatre
In 2000, people at Dawson College started thinking about building a new, bigger theater. They wanted a modern space for their growing program. The first plan was for a theater with 183 seats.
After six years of planning, the Quebec government announced good news in 2006. They would give $8.5 million to build a new theater and expand the college's entrance area. The new building was finished in the summer of 2007.
The whole project cost about $10.5 million. This money came from an agreement between Quebec and Canada to help groups who speak minority languages. The new theater was designed in an old "Elizabethan" style. It has 190 seats, and the expanded entrance area can hold 350 people.
When the funding was announced, Prime Minister Jean Charest said the theater would help "bring out the best talent in Quebec."
Theatre Training in Montreal
Learning About Theatre
Montreal has several great places where you can study English-language theater. These include Concordia University, McGill University, the National Theatre School of Canada, John Abbott College, and, of course, Dawson College.
These schools offer lots of cool things for theater students:
- They share a calendar of upcoming plays and shows in Montreal.
- You can find information about professional theater training programs.
- They also have details on acting classes for kids and adults, plus summer theater camps.
- Sometimes, they help you get tickets for shows.
- They provide useful contacts for theater groups, arts councils, and other organizations.
- You can find announcements about auditions, job openings, and acting competitions.
Becoming a Professional Actor at Dawson College
Dawson College's three-year program teaches you how to become a professional actor. You'll learn many acting techniques. The program also covers the history of theater, from old plays to modern ones.
Students take classes in:
- Acting in a studio setting
- Improvisation (making things up on the spot)
- Voice techniques
- Movement and dance
- Stage combat (safe fighting for plays)
- Acting for the camera
You get to practice your skills by performing in studios and on the stage of the new Dome Theatre. The plays put on by students and directed by teachers are open to the public.
The program also helps students get ready for a career in acting. They learn how to:
- Showcase their skills as artists.
- Promote themselves online with photos and voice recordings.
- Prepare for auditions and competitions, like those for the Quebec Dramatic Art Federation.
Students also learn about agents who help actors find work. They get information about the film and theater industries in Montreal and Quebec.
After finishing the program, students can find many exciting jobs. They can work in theater, television, movies, radio, and even on digital platforms.
See also
- Dawson College
Other links
- Playwrights Canada Press
- Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia
- The Canadian Theatre Record
