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Elizabeth's world of...
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Creative Arts
Elizabeth trained for many years as a dancer, singer, actor - dramatic and comedic, with a focus on improv. She worked professionally in all these disciplines. Meanwhile, she was also writing - poems, essays and short stories. In the last few years she has had numerous poems and short stories published. In 2014 her novella 'Jazz...Nature's Improvisation' was published by Quattro Books after winning the Canada-wide Ken Klonsky Novella Contest. She is also the recipient of the Writers Federation of New Brunswick's 'Young Adult Fiction Prize' for 2014. She is, in every sense of the word, a 'creative artist'.
Visit Elizabeth' website: http://www.elizabethcopeland.ca
For more detailed information, download Elizabeth's resume from her Resume Page.
Visit Elizabeth' website: http://www.elizabethcopeland.ca
For more detailed information, download Elizabeth's resume from her Resume Page.
literary arts
Stories want to be told. Some come directly from our personal experience. Others emerge from us of their own volition, almost as though they already exist and we are chosen to tell them. Not a common view perhaps, but the stories could care less.
Elizabeth's literary creations are touching, irreverent, funny, dramatic, full of the triumphs and failures that make them rich and real. They seek no quarter. Adults turn the pages feverishly. Kids want to know where they can buy them. Poetry lovers pause and exhale. When she writes, it is with the intensity of one given over to a single all consuming task. Write. Write now. There will be time enough to sleep. Grants and Awards
Ken Klonsky Novella Prize - JAZZ
NB Writer's Federation Young Adult Fiction Prize - TRAEH GNUL Miranda's Journey from the Great Forest Canada Council Film Treatment for JAZZ New Brunswick Dept. of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Writer-in-Residence / James M. Hill ArtSmart Artist-in-Residence / MVHS Writing Links
Read selections of short stories, poems and reviews of Elizabeth's writings online. Note: 'Forge' was originally published under Elizabeth's pseudonym, Brynn Copeland.
Recent Writing Credits
Novella, Poems, Short Stories JAZZ Novella Quattro Books 2014
My Choice Short Story published in The Furious Gazelle 2014 Il Vento di Candela Short Story Circa/Journal of Historical Fiction 2014 Sequoia Poetry Collection published in The Furious Gazelle 2014 Fallow Poem Forge Journal 2012 Plays and Monologues
The Raven of Eirean Mhor
The Vogue Theatre 2015 Barnyard Brains Musical Play Gilles Laplante Theatre 2014 My Choice Monologue performed at Sarsvati Theatre's Wild Women Cabaret of Monologues - Winnipeg Sarasvati Productions 2013 Spirit of the Irish Musical Play Canada’s Irish Festival 2012 Into the Circle Script Consultant Ontario Tour 2010 |
creative facilitation
Elizabeth facilitates creative expression, whether it be a group of elderly women given over to the joy of singing, a young person who can barely walk, but wants to dance and fly, the marginalized confidently offering their own wisdom and insight. She facilitates breaking down barriers and opening doors. And all this with hardly any commotion at all. These things happen quite naturally when someone listens, empathizes, supports and has at their fingertips a world of creative experience and techniques to draw upon for the benefit of others. And in the end, aren't we all really just the same? Who is not indebted to that one person who truly saw us and let us know that we could do anything we imagined.
Elizabeth has dedicated herself to supporting the creative spirit wherever she lives and travels. Awards
Toronto Mayor's Award for Volunteerism
Special Community Programs
and Performances That's the Spirit
Working with a group of adults marginalized by poverty, and the staff of Woodgreen United Church in Toronto, ON, Elizabeth and musician Margo Jamieson created a one hour show using music and drama to explore what it means to be different. Based on the success of this project, many more shows were created and toured to local community centers between 2002 and 2006. Sisters on a Journey In collaboration with ArtStart Toronto, 'Sisters on a Journey' was created with a group of immigrant women who came together to share their experiences of moving to a new culture. |
community theatre arts
"You're having trouble with the blocking? Okay, try this. No, that doesn't work? Take a deep breath. We'll figure this out." The words of a truly fine theatre director who, though she arrives meticulously prepared, is nevertheless ready to turn on a dime to meet the needs of her actors.
"The intro is two bars of eight. I'll count you in...5,6,7,8..." Your play has dancing and the community participants are out of their comfort zone? Oh...no problem. Elizabeth worked as a professional dancer for many years, and has since choreographed several shows. When the scene needs intensity of feeling - real drama, she finds a way to draw it out. This scene needs a bit of clowning. Slapstick anyone? This person is very shy. I mean it... very shy. No longer. With her quiet, consistent support, the shy person has blossomed into a confident individual. These abilities, along with a deep respect for the craft of acting, combined with years of experience on professional stages, dancing, acting, singing, clowning, succeeding and sometimes failing are what make a fine theatre artist and director. Oh, and did I mention that she possesses a keen visual artistic sense. That about covers it! A Few Selected Highlights
Across the Years Actor
The Rivals Banff Drama Festival Mrs. Malaprop
Canadian Mime Theatre Niagara-on-the-Lake Company member MacBeth Actor’s Trunk Lady MacBeth Emily Toronto Public Theatre Emily Carr Journeyman National Arts Centre Ottawa Company member Boy, are my arms tired Second City Touring Co. Revue Sleeping Arrangements Charlottetown Festival Charlottetown Phyllis Hansel and Gretel Honolulu Symphony Witch Producer, Director, Dramaturge
I Feel Good Glenn Gould Studio / Toronto
Director/Producer Madness, Masks & Miracles Hub Productions Dramaturge Spirit of the Irish Canada’s Irish Festival Director/Producer Barnyard Brains Gilles Laplante Theatre Director/Producer The Raven Of Eirean Mhor The Vogue Director/Producer |