Classic Theatre Festival

03/30/2026

Burning Passions Theatre celebrated World Theatre Day at the Rideau-Rockliffe Crc with the final two performances of our Seniors Sharing Stories play A Circle Complete. Written by Laurel Smith, and featuring (left to right) Tammy Southin, Joanne Veillette, Deborah Bolton and Bonnie McDougall, with stage management and music design by Matthew Behrens, the run of the show was well attended, featuring powerful post-show audience talkbacks on the challenges and joys facing our community elders.

Special thanks to all who attended and supported this 3-year project, and stay tuned for more exciting projects coming soon!

03/27/2026

Two wonderful audiences for two wonderful performances!

Burning Passions Theatre's opening shows yesterday for A Circle Complete were warmly received by afternoon and evening audiences, with terrific post-show talkbacks as well.

The show runs two more times today (Friday March 27 at 2 pm and 7 pm) at the wheelchair accessible Rideau-Rockliffe Crc Drama Room (2nd floor).

It's so rare that media/entertainment in any context focuses on the lives, hopes, dreams, and challenges faced by seniors, Ottawa's fastest growing demographic and one increasingly enduring poverty due to lack of supports and services, the corrosive effects of ageism, and a society with the wrong priorities.

Written and directed by Laurel Smith, and featuring Joanne Veillette, Tammy Southin, Deborah Bolton and Bonnie McDougall (Stage Management by Matthew Behrens), this new hour-long play with post-show audience talkback is by, about, and performed with Ottawa seniors.

Tickets are pay-what-you-can and no one is turned away for lack of funds! Learn more at https://bptheatre.ca/new-play-highlights-challenges-and-joys-of-ottawa-seniors-2/

03/26/2026

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=989532060304197&id=100077422376088&rdid=wtA5Dv6F0KQid9fJ #

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Women in Musical Theatre in a terrific showcase at Trinity Presbysterian Church in Kanata! Led by veteran director Laurel Smith, this evening of musical hits will bring warmth and sunshine into your lives!

7:30 showtime
free admission

03/12/2026

Rehearsal photos from A Circle Complete, a new play by Laurel Smith and Burning Passions Theatre's Seniors Sharing Stories troupe, which includes the talents of Deborah Bolton, Tammy Southin, Bonnie McDougall, Lucretia Mott and Joanne Veillette.

You are invited to attend this new hour-long play by, about, and performed with Ottawa seniors on March 26 and 27, 2pm and 7 pm, "pay what you can," at the wheelchair accessible Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre. Parking is free, and the show is followed by a community talkback with the performers.
Learn more and reserve tickets at https://bptheatre.ca/new-play-highlights-challenges-and-joys-of-ottawa-seniors-2

02/16/2026

Rehearsals are now underway as Burning Passions Theatre prepares to premiere a new play about the lives of Ottawa seniors with four performances (2 and 7 pm each day) at the wheelchair accessible Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre Drama Room on March 26 and 27.

A Circle Complete, written by company Artistic Producer and director Laurel Smith and featuring Tammy Southin, Deborah Bolton, Joanne Veillette, and Bonnie McDougall, is the last in a trilogy of works produced by the company’s Seniors Sharing Stories project, an arts in the community training initiative which since 2024 has produced works based on input from community elders who represent Ottawa’s fastest growing demographic.

All tickets are pay what you can and available at https://2831283.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/39751

02/01/2026

Do you live in Ottawa and enjoy acting?

Seniors Sharing Stories, an ongoing project from Burning Passions Theatre, brings to the stage stories by and about seniors, featuring seniors.

We are looking for someone who can play the role of a woman in her early 80s (you don’t need to be in your 80s—it’s acting!!!) who is dealing with health challenges.

If you are interested in this volunteer training opportunity (learn new skills while having fun) and to take part in this one-hour play, please contact [email protected] asap!

Rehearsal Schedule is Monday and Wednesday from 12 pm to 5 pm with performances on March 26 and 27 at 2 and 7:30 pm at the Rideau Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre. No phone calls please!

Join the fun!

(Image from our 2025 production, A Circle of Time, photo by Jean-Denis Labelle)

01/04/2026

Step into the spotlight with a joyful and energizing musical theatre course celebrating the iconic roles, songs, and stories of women in musical theatre. Guided by veteran director Laurel Smith of Burning Passions Theatre Company, participants will explore rich ensemble material drawn from classic and contemporary musicals written for – and about – strong, dynamic female characters. Throughout the course, students will work on duets, trios, and full group numbers, developing vocal confidence, harmony skills, storytelling technique, and onstage connection. With a supportive, social atmosphere, this class is perfect for anyone who loves to sing, move, and collaborate.

The course culminates in a showcase performance, giving every participant the chance to shine and celebrate the power of women’s voices—onstage and beyond.

Fun, inspiring, and filled with community, Leading Ladies is an empowering musical theatre journey for performers of all experience levels. This course will include both working with recorded music and an accompanist.

Wednesdays from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
January 14 – March 26
* No class March 18 (March Break)

Musical showcase will take place on March 27, venue TBA
10 rehearsals + the showcase

Adults (16+)

Sister Stages: Celebrating Women in Musical Theatre Kanata Acting StudioWednesdays from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMJanuary 14 – March 26* No class March 18 (March Break) Musical showcase will take place on March 27, venue TBA10 rehearsals + the showcaseAdults (16+) Instructor: Laurel Smith Registration fe...

12/29/2025

As we reflect on many projects in 2025 and exciting plans for 2026, you are invited to contribute to the work of Burning Passions Theatre, with a year-end, tax-deductible contribution via etransfer at [email protected], by visiting
https://2831283.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesdonation/475, or by sending a cheque to Burning Passions Theatre, 2583 Carling Ave., Unit M052, Ottawa, ON K2B 7H7

Wishing you all happy viewing, and a festive, restful, peaceful holiday season

12/27/2025

Step into the spotlight with a joyful and energizing musical theatre course celebrating the iconic roles, songs, and stories of women in musical theatre. Guided by veteran director Laurel Smith of Burning Passions Theatre Company, participants will explore rich ensemble material drawn from classic and contemporary musicals written for – and about – strong, dynamic female characters. Throughout the course, students will work on duets, trios, and full group numbers, developing vocal confidence, harmony skills, storytelling technique, and onstage connection. With a supportive, social atmosphere, this class is perfect for anyone who loves to sing, move, and collaborate.

The course culminates in a showcase performance, giving every participant the chance to shine and celebrate the power of women’s voices—onstage and beyond.

Fun, inspiring, and filled with community, Leading Ladies is an empowering musical theatre journey for performers of all experience levels. This course will include both working with recorded music and an accompanist.

Wednesdays from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
January 14 – March 26
* No class March 18 (March Break)

Musical showcase will take place on March 27, venue TBA
10 rehearsals + the showcase
Adults (16+)

Sister Stages: Celebrating Women in Musical Theatre Kanata Acting StudioWednesdays from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PMJanuary 14 – March 26* No class March 18 (March Break) Musical showcase will take place on March 27, venue TBA10 rehearsals + the showcaseAdults (16+) Instructor: Laurel Smith Registration fe...

12/27/2025

As Burning Passions Theatre looks back on 2025, we are sharing some of the highlights of a very busy year.

Among them was the ongoing training and educational work led by our Artistic Producer, Laurel Smith, shown here conducting an auditioning workshop in Perth, Ontario. Laurel also facilitates workshops on scene study, character development, direction, dramaturgy, and acting, and in partnership with the Ottawa Acting Studio launches a weekly workshop series called Sister Stages: Celebrating Women in Musical Theatre beginning January 14.

To contribute to the work of Burning Passions Theatre, you can make a year-end, tax-deductible contribution via etransfer at [email protected], by visiting
https://2831283.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesdonation/475, or by sending a cheque to Burning Passions Theatre, 2583 Carling Ave., Unit M052, Ottawa, ON K2B 7H7

Wishing you all happy viewing, and a festive, restful, peaceful holiday season!

11/26/2025

Burning Passions Theatre's ongoing Playwrights Circle, which provides dramaturgical support to Ottawa playwrights, held another workshop this weekend for a new play by Michael MacLean. "Whoosh" is described thusly: "Biking through the city, Stuart is hit by a bus and launched into the fractured landscape of a near-death experience. With problematical guidance from a trio of shape-shifting clowns, he stumbles away from the big bright light, tripping over OC Transpo, genetics and the physics and history of bicycles. It’s a comedy. Mostly."

MacLean was supported through the workshops by (left to right) fellow playwright circle member Jessie Bergeron and actors Robert Bockstael, Ananya Antony, Rebecca Benson, Mitchell Cohen, and Dramaturge/Director Laurel Smith.