Getting very excited...

I am going to take Justin for his birthday!

2010 and beyond

With 2010 coming to an end there is no better time to reflect on the year we've had, and to think about what is next. One of our goals,was to see more theatre. And to that end we have been tremendously successful. There was a lot of ground to make up, after traveling all last winter, but Justin and I have seen some great theatre this summer and fall: Mirvish's Legally Blonde in July, [title of show] by Angelwalk, Through the Leaves at Tarragon, Blasted at Buddies in Bad Times, everything at Soulpepper, Billy Twinkle at Factory, Silicon Diaries also at Buddies, Studies in Motion at CanStage, and both Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Mojo by the Red One Theatre Collective, to mention a few. It has been a great couple of months and more on the horizon.

We have also been fortunate to see more dance, particularly down at the Harbourfront Centre. Out of Context - for Pina by the Belgium based Alain Plate les ballets C de la B was one of my most favourite nights out this fall. It was a beautiful and inspiring show, and reminded me how much I love dance and want to be seeing more of it. We have been making an effort to include more dance coverage and one of our goals for 2011 is to include regular dance write ups and reviews. Hope the National Ballet is reading!

Another avenue that we are excited about exploring is opera. Opera has been a more recent interest to us and we are excited about developing a relationship with the COC. I had the pleasure of attending Operanation this fall, and was thrilled by all the young energy at the party. Seeing the COC's Amber and Wallis perform with Broken Social Scene was magical, and made me really interested in seeing more at the Four Seasons. My opera exposure is pretty limited. The first time I saw any opera wasn't until high school when a music teacher showed us the 1983 film version of La Traviata. It was mesmerizing. But not nearly as mesmerizing as seeing La Traviata in person, at an outdoor amphitheater in Florence, Italy. I was hooked! Justin and I went to see his first Opera at the COC, Electra, a few years back. Talk about a study in contrast. But one thing remained the same and that was the grandeur and depth of feeling. I have since seen both The Magic Flute and Madam Butterfly at the Met, and I know I will be a life long opera fan. EAP is super excited about seeing more from the Canadian Opera Company in 2011, at their beautiful Opera House.

With so much coming to the city's theatres in the next few months I am sure we will be as busy as ever. And we look forward to seeing you at the theatre.

Preview: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

It is opening weekend over at the Canon Theatre for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The Stratford Festival’s summertime sensation comes to the Toronto stage with most of the original cast in tow. Acclaimed director Des McAnuff bring us the 'scintillating, sexy and spectacular staging of the great Stephen Sondheim musical farce' (mirvish.com).

Liza saw the show years ago when it premiered on Broadway with Whoopi Goldberg and Nathane Lane so it will be interesting to hear what she has to say about the current Canadian piece. We have heard some great things, and audiences in Stratford seemed to love it so we are both excited to see it over the weekend! If you would like to see it, you do have about a month of dates to choose from!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Dec 15, 2010 - Jan 16, 2011
Canon Theatre,
244 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON
416 872 1212

Performance Schedule:
Tuesday - Saturday 8PM
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 2PM

FGor tickets please click here!

Preview: The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker opened this week in Toronto. Choreographer James Kudelka seems to have really hit this mark this year as all the major critics, and audiences alike, have been glowing with positive reviews. This will mark The National Ballet of Canada's 15th consecutive year of staging The Nutcracker.

It is a VERY hot tickets so if you do want tickets I would highly recommend buying them immediately.

The Nutcracker
Featuring Aleksandar Antonijevic, Heather Ogden, Sonia Rodriguez.
Artistic Director Karen Kain.
Choreography and Libretto by James Kudelka.
Presented by the National Ballet of Canada.
$45-$121. To Jan. 3.
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts,
145 Queen W. 416-345-9595.

Please click the link for tickets: www.national.ballet.ca

Preview: Mojo

Opening to strong review in NOW is this small little gem called, Mojo. This is said to be a dark and gritty comedy that looks at the harsh, backrooms of the British rock scene in the 1950s.

Now Toronto says that "the action centres on five low-life club employees who find their boss brutally murdered in a turf war. As the angry, paranoid group – all hopped up on pills, booze, greed and fear – try to figure out what happened and plot their next move, intense physical and psychological competition unfolds between them" (nowtoronto.com).

It sounds like an interesting piece of theatre and Now gave it a very strong review so we thought it was worth discussing on the blog. It is important to support smaller works so check this out if you can!

We suggest emailing torontomojo@gmail.com if you have any questions.


MOJO
By Jez Butterworth (Red One Theatre)
At Ezra’s Atlantic (326 Carlaw, unit 122, meet at Lola Bar, 1173 Dundas East)
To December 19
$20

Preview: T'was the BITCH SALAD Before Christmas 2010

Photo: The Cheeto Girls


Back with their end-of-year bash - T'was The BITCH SALAD Before Christmas... 2010 is mounting an "all-star Holiday-Themed Comedy-Variety-Musical-Live Sex(kidding about that one) EXTRAVAGANZA!"

Featuring a fantastic line-up of quality performers, and allegedly some 'surprised guests', this year's Christmas Salad should be a riot!

Host Mr. Andrew Johnston has released the following list of bitches that will be performing tonight at Buddies in Bad Times, along with Johnston himself:

Canada’s ultimate all-girl sketch operation, SHE SAID WHAT.

Kooky karachter komedian KATHLEEN PHILLIPS.

Comedian and hype-woman extraordinaire KEESHA BROWNIE...

and

An all-new set of soon-to-be holiday classics by Bitch Salad staples THE CHEETO GIRLS!

EAP is obviously most excited to see our favourite bitches Heidi Brander and Zachary Pearse perform as part of the Cheeto Girls. If anyone has not seen the video for Bitch Salad Gives Back Pride 2010 in which the Girls did a parody to Grindr, then you MUST click here! It is explosively good, and hilariously funny. The Cheeto Girls are simply wonderful.

Tuesday, December 7th
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander St.)
Doors at 8, Show at 8:30
$10 at the door!

Any and all questions should be directed to femaledogsalad@gmail.com

Preview: A Christmas Carol

Joseph Ziegler, Photo: Sandy Nicholson

Soulpepper’s perennial holiday classic returns with Joseph Ziegler in his triumphant performance as Ebenezer Scrooge. Set in England, in the year 1843 Charles Dickens’ timeless Christmas ghost story is perfect for the whole family. We hear this version is absolutely wonderful so we highly recommend everyone checking it out! Also, after seeing Joseph's powerful performance in November's Death of a Salesman, we can only imagine what he is capable of in this classic role.

A Christmas Story
December 6th - 30th
The Young Centre for the Performing Arts
The Distillery District
Toronto, ON

Adapted and Directed by Michael Shamata
Featuring Kevin Bundy, Owen Cumming, Daniel Chapman Smith, Charlotte Dennis, Oliver Dennis, Deborah Drakeford, Matthew Edison, Stephen Guy-McGrath, Maggie Huculak, John Jarvis, Tangara Jones, Alyson MacFarlane, Elliot Waugh, Sarah Wilson, and Joseph Ziegler.

Originally produced in 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2008


For tickets, click the header or click here!

Preview: A Year with Frog and Toad

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD has been getting wonderful reviews here in Toronto. This Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical follows the cheerful Frog and the rather grumpy Toad through four fun-filled seasons. Awaking from hibernation in the spring, the two great friends enjoy planting gardens, swimming in the pond, raking leaves and sledding down the hill. Along the way they meet new friends and learn the importance of forgiveness. Staying true to the spirit of the popular Arnold Lobel books, this delightful musical celebrates in the attributes that make each of us different and special.

Although A YEAR is targeted towards a younger demographic - it still sounds really wonderful to me. We haven't seen the show yet, however, we are looking forward to seeing it over the next few !

A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
DIRECTED BY ALLEN MACINNIS
MUSIC BY ROBERT REALE
BOOK AND LYRICS BY WILLIE REALE
BASED ON THE BOOKS BY ARNOLD LOBEL
MAINSTAGE NOV. 15-DEC. 30, 2010
RUNNING TIME: APPROX. 60 MINUTES

Starring: Louise Pitre, Kevin Dennis, Cara Hunter, Jennifer Villaverde and Allen MacInnis

TICKETS: $10-$20

At Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in Toronto