Friday, August 31, 2012

Sound of Music in Kingston, Ontario

Please note that we are also offering this production for the holidays Dec. 5 - 14, 2013.  This is our second year featurying this musical. Please refer to 'Sound of Music Kingston Ontario 2013' post for new information, or better yet, visit our website (bottletreeinc.com)!


Bottle Tree Productions presents The Sound of Music this year at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in downtown Kingston at 130 Clergy Street East. Dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday December 13-15 and the following Thursday, Friday and Saturday December 20-22

This family favourite stars among others: Robert Bruce, Mary Deacon, Theresa Witjes, Hannah Smith, Sara Sturgeon, Alex Whitehead, Justin Robertson, Savannah Kimmerer, Maureen Barnes, Julia Moore, Khira Whiting, Cindy Chapelle, Gillian Foster and many more, singing songs like “Climb Ev'ry Mountain.” My Favourite Things.” “Sixteen going on Seventeen.” “The Sound of Music” and “Eidleweiss” 

Robert Bruce makes his stage debut as Captain Von Trapp and Queens University students Hannah Smith and Sara Sturgeon will split the role of Maria.

Directed by Charles Robertson. Produced by Anne Marie Mortensen.

The production takes place in the beautiful confines of St Andrews Presbyterian Church where the songs and the music will be a treat for the ear because of the great acoustics. Because several scenes take place in a church, this will be a great setting for the musical.

Because the musical takes place in downtown Kingston, there will be a fabulous opportunity to have dinner before the show or drinks after ward if you have left the kids at home. Take in some shopping before hand and then a show.

Bottle Tree Productions has a rich tradition of theatre and theatrical education including musical theatre classes. in Kingston.

The Sound of Music will be a must-see.

To buy tickets go to Sound of Music-Tickets 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Acting Classes Fall Session-Bottle Tree Productions


Interested in Acting?

Why not try our acting classes. Acting Classes are a great way to develop self-esteem, social skills, reading skills, comprehension skills, vocal skills, movement skills, creative skills, and the imagination. 

Our acting classes can also open the door to a career in the performing arts. According to ACTRA, the Canadian professional actor's union in Canada, there are approximately 22,000 professional actors in tv, film and commercials in Canada. According to SAG-AFTRA, the American professional actor's union in the United States, there are approximately 120,000-130,000 such professional actors. These figures do not include professional actors exclusively doing theatre. Through Bottle tree Productions, learn the nuts and bolts of a career in the performing arts.

Bottle Tree Productions starts its fall session of Stage Right acting classes Saturday September 14th .at St Andrews Presbyterian Church at the corner of Princess and Clergy Streets in Kingston's down town.

Stage Right JR (6 - 10) years $159.90    ($141.50 + HST) 
Stage Right INT (11 & 12) years $245.78     ($217.50 + HST)
Stage Right SR (TEENS)               $245.78     ($217.50 + HST)

On Wednesdays we have Stage Right Acting Classes from 7 pm until 8:30 pm. These classes cost 217.50 dollars plus hst.

We have a large room for classes. Our teachers have a lot of experience and connections to various amateur and professional theatre companies.

Our acting class program has been developed over years of experience. We believe in developing the fundamentals for technique and self-confidence.

We believe each child and adult has an incredible amount of potential. Our goal is to unleash that potential that is inside everyone. But potential is not identically distributed, so we do not believe in the cookie-cutter approach. We believe in suiting our teaching approach to the needs of the individual within the context of the class as a whole. 

We use theatre games to develop the imagination and the ability to be in the moment and to build self-esteem. We do scenes to develop technique. Warning-This is not the public education system. We do not have lessons and marks. Lessons and marks not an optimum way to learn how to succeed in any art form.  While the public education system considers success moving on to the next grade, we consider success the development of the person. We know what works and what doesn't. We work with young and old to get them ready for the stage. We are not concerned with the passing fads of theatre learning. We are only concerned with making our students ready for performing under the lights.

Several of our students, young and old, have recently appeared in productions of The Sound of Music, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Fiddler on the Roof, various Domino Theatre productions, Blue Canoe and many more. Some of our more successful students have worked professionally, in film, television and theatre.

We believe that theatre is a team sport, that in order to succeed in theatre a student has to learn that the team is important, that strength comes from numbers, that wanting attention, or being concerned only about your own needs, does not work in professional theatre, film or television. No one will work with someone who rubs everyone else the wrong way. No one in show business wants to work with a diva.

The performing arts is a collaborative art form. Everyone has to pull together in the same direction. There are so many people that contribute to the success of a show. Directors, writers, choreographers, costumers, set designers, stage management, sound and lighting people, marketing people and performers are some of the people that contribute to the success of a show. Theatre is a community. We work hard to make sure that our students are ready to become a valuable part of that community.

For more information about our fall acting classes or to register please go to Acting Classes

To purchase an acting class and be automatically registered through Paypal - See below


Acting Class Options (all regular classes)


Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Mahi Raptis back in Kingston


Greek-Canadian Soprano Andromahi(Mahi) Raptis headlines the Galalujah! Fundraiser at St Andrews Presbyterian Church Saturday September 15th. Originally from Kingston, Mahi has been studying music in Toronto. 


Anne Marie Mortensen and Charles Robertson first saw Mahi in Urinetown at KCVI and she was captivating. The following year they had the pleasure of working with her in Bottle Tree Productions' The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan.

Mahi is beginning her final year of a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance at the University of Toronto, under the tutelage of Professor Lorna MacDonald. This summer Andromahi attended the world renowned Franz-Schubert-Institut in Vienna, Austria for an intensive five weeks devoted to German Lieder. In 2011 she was a National Finalist at the Canadian Music Competition and won the Provincial Finals of the Kiwanis Music Festival. In August of 2011, she sang the role of Ilia in Summer Opera Lyric Theatre’s production of Idomeneo. For Opera Atelier, Andromahi has sung in the chorus of both Don Giovanni and La clemenza di Tito, which starred Measha Brueggergosman. Andromahi’s choral experience began with the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston in 2001, and since has taken her to the stage of Roy Thompson Hall with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Helmuth Rilling. For more on Mahi see  Greg Burliuk's article in The Whig Standard

Galalujah is a fundraiser for Bottle Tree Productions' The Sound of Music and the St Andrews Music Fund.

The evening kicks off at 7:00 PM -
with Hors d'Oeuvres & cash bar (mocktails and soft drinks)
There is a Silent Auction throughout the evening
At 8:00 PM The Musical Gala begins

Featuring Andromahi Raptis
The Kingstown Tenors
The Kingston Community Strings
The Frontenac Women's Chorus
St Andrews Choir
The Cast of The Sound of Music

Cost $30/adults
$25/students and seniors

For tickets
go online at Galalujah! 2012
or phone 613-384-8433
or email info@bottletreeinc.com
or go to the Grand Theatre Box Office
218 Princess St. Kingston, ON
phone 613-530-2050

For more about Andromahi, please go to Mahi Raptis

Anne Marie and Charles are pleased to welcome Andromahi back to Kingston and invite you to come an enjoy the talent of this exceptional young woman.