Preview: Othello, c'est qui?

Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage season begins by shaking up Shakespeare with the North American premiere of Othello, c’est qui (Othello, who’s that) by German production company Gintersdorferand/Klaßen, Feb. 6-9, 2013.

Performed by Franck Edmond Yao (Ivory Coast) and Cornelia Dörr (Germany) in both English and French, the actors parody one of The Bard’s most controversial plays.  Together they pull apart themes of colonialism, migration, religion and politics in an urgent, seemingly improvised way.  Sharp, provocative and sensual, Othello, c’est qui? premieres during Black History Month at Harbourfront Centre’s Enwave Theatre.


Tickets: World Stage tickets are on sale now!  Regular ticket packages (three or more productions) offer discounts and exclusive partner offers, discounted parking and more and Single tickets are available anytime via our box office by calling 416-973-4000, Tuesday to Saturday, 1-6pm, or online here.

Opening Night Reception
Feb. 6 | FREE
Enwave Theatre
We invite you to join the World Stage team for nibblies, drinks and discussion at our opening night reception. Admission is free with the purchase of your ticket.

Talkshow
Feb. 7 | FREE
Have your voice heard! Engage with the artists and performers involved with the work. Please stay around after the performance for an informative and engaging talkshow. Admission is free with the purchase of your ticket.

Dates / Times / Location
Duration: 70 minutes
Enwave Theatre – located between Queen's Quay Terminal and York Quay Centre, adjacent to The Power Plant
Wed, February 6 at 8pm
Thu, February 7 at 8pm
Fri, February 8 at 8pm
Sat, February 9 at 8pm

Preview: Grupo Corpo, Brazilian Dance on at World Stage

Harbourfront Centre’s World Stage presents Sem Mim & Ímã, from world-renowned Brazilian dance company, Grupo Corpo.  Together, they combine classical ballet technique with a contemporary rereading of Brazilian and world dance forms resulting in performances that are virtuosic, athletic, breathtaking and simply spectacular.


In Sem Mim, meaning “without me”, “tattooed” dancers merge the rhythm of the sea with the music of medieval Portuguese-Galician chants.  The original score composed by Carlos Núñez, of Vigo, and José Miguel Wisnik, of Brazil, is based on the celebrated “sea of Vigo song cycle”.  The movement mimics the ebb and flow of waves in constant flux of advances and retreats.  The set represents different landscapes and elements from the sea to the mountains.

The second work, Ímã, meaning “magnet,” takes inspiration from the law of magnetism where dancers passionately come together and separate through solos, duos and smaller groups forming in a game of union and dispersion.  Using seven-color LEDs, Paulo Pederneiras creates an explosion of color that is violent, radical, and exuberant.  The soundtrack composed by Brazilian band + 2, combines influences from bossa nova, ‘70s afro-music and contemporary Japanese music.

Tickets: World Stage tickets are on sale now! Regular ticket packages (three or more productions) offer discounts and exclusive partner offers, discounted parking and more and single tickets are available anytime via our box office by calling 416-973-4000, Tuesday to Saturday, 1-6pm, or online here.


Dates / Times / Location
Duration: 70 minutes
Fleck Dance Theatre - 3rd Floor, Queen's Quay Terminal, 207 Queens Quay West
Tue, February 19 at 8pm
Wed, February 20 at 8pm
Thu, February 21 at 8pm
Fri, February 22 at 8pm
Sat, February 23 at 8pm

Preview: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Two men sit and wait, summoned to the Danish court for a special assignment: discover what is wrong with Hamlet. Stoppard's comic masterpiece follows these two as they negotiate their way around Elsinore and beyond, only to realize what little control they have over their fate.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are peripheral figures in Shakespeare's play: so expendable, in fact, that Laurence Olivier omitted both characters from his Oscar-winning 1948 film adaptation. Until Stoppard, the virtually (and literally, in some cases) interchangeable duo held as much significance as the Ambassadors and rogue Norwegian princes that peopled the world of Elsinore. By brilliantly reversing the negative, Stoppard pulls Hamlet's schoolmates, brought to court to discover the reasons behind his distemper, to the forefront, and reduces the Danish courts to supernumerary status. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern appear in the same scenes they populate in Hamlet: they meet the King and Queen; question the prince; watch a play; discover a murder; set sail for England. But they also live, argue, wager, and wait, Godot-like, in between Shakespeare's scenes, flipping coins, discussing their task, and pondering an existential crisis that threatens to rival Hamlet's. Beyond these titular characters, Stoppard delves into the world of the Players - wise travelling philosophers who help our hapless heroes better understand their own predicament. Stoppard's trademark wit lives at the forefront of this re-examination of familiar settings, a humour so incisive that after a viewing, it becomes difficult to view 'Hamlet' in the same way again.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead opens on February 7th and runs till the end of February.  Click here for a complete calendar of performance dates and times, and to purchase tickets.

Cast
Oliver Dennis, Tragedian
Leah Doz, Ophelia
Ted Dykstra, Rosencrantz
Diego Matamoros, Claudius
Nancy Palk, Gertrude
Jordan Pettle, Guildenstern
Gregory Prest, Hamlet
Peyson Rock, Tragedian
Paolo Santalucia, Alfred
William Webster, Polonius
Kenneth Welsh, Player
Daniel Williston, Tragedian
Production
Joseph Ziegler, Director
Dana Osborne, Set & Costume Designer
Kevin Lamotte, Lighting Designer
Mike Ross, Sound Designer & Composer
Nancy Dryden, Production Stage Manager
Janet Gregor, Assistant Stage Manager

Preview: RARE by Judith Thompson

Premiering tonight at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts is the smash hit from last year's Fringe Festival, RARE. The piece was created and directed by the very talented Judith Thompson. We are so thankful for the Young Centre and its commitment to bringing fresh, new and engaging pieces of theatre to the stage. Look for our favourite from last year, pomme is french for apple on stage here at the end of February...

Show Description:

RARE is a raw and boldly emotional piece of theatre in which nine performers with Down syndrome reveal themselves for the world to see. Created and directed by playwright Judith Thompson, with the cast writing most of their own material, the RARE artists lift the mask of Down syndrome to show us their humour, their grace, their rage and their dreams. It was a hit, and a Patrons' Pick, at last year's Toronto Fringe Festival. Mature content.

RARE
RARE Theatre Company in association with Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Tickets: $15 - 30: Please CLICK HERE.
Created and directed by Judith Thompson
Written and performed by Sarah Carney, Dylan Harman, James Hazlett, Nick Herd, Suzanne Love, Mike Liu, Nada Mayla, Krystal Nausbaum, and Andreas Prinz with musician Victoria Carr
Produced by RARE Theatre Company

Hedwig closing tonight

The hottest ticket in town and the best show we have seen in recent months is closing this evening. We hope to see Hedwig back soon though cause this piece has some serious legs! And congratulations to Seth Drabinsky on a magically powerful and star making performance. INCREDIBLE. 

Canadian Opera Company 2013/14 Season announcement

The COC has announced there 2013/14 season line-up.  And there are some not to be missed operas coming to Toronto this season.  First up is:

Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème with a new production featuring some of Canada’s brightest stars COC.

(l – r) Michael Sumuel as Schaunard, Dimitri Pittas as Rodolfo, Vuyani Mlinde as Colline and Joshua Hopkins as Marcello in the Canadian Opera Company/Houston Grand Opera (HGO)/San Francisco Opera co-production of La Bohème, 2012, HGO. Photo: Felix Sanchez

Music Director Johannes Debus makes his Benjamin Britten debut when he conducts Peter Grimes with a production starring acclaimed Canadian tenor Ben Heppner in the iconic title role.

l – r) Taryn Fiebig and Lorina Gore as Auntie’s Nieces and Stuart Skelton as Peter Grimes in the Opera Australia (OA)/Houston Grand Opera co-production of Peter Grimes, 2009, OA. Photo: Branco Gaica

Next there is: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte with a new COC production by renowned film and theatre director Atom Egoyan with Debus conducting.

Preliminary costume sketch by set and costume designer Debra Hanson for the COC’s new production of Così fan tutte, 2012.

Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera starring great Canadian diva Adrianne Pieczonka in a role debut.

(l – r) Anna Prohaska as Oscar, Dalibor Jenis as Renato, Oliver Zwarg as Samuel and Andreas Bauer as Tom in the Berlin Staatsoper production of Un ballo in maschera, 2008. Photo: Ruth Walz

 George Frideric Handel’s Hercules with a COC premiere and new COC production by world-renowned director Peter Sellars with a star-studded cast.

Alice Coote as Dejanira and David Daniels as Lichas in the Canadian Opera Company/Lyric Opera of Chicago (LOC) co-production of Hercules, 2011, LOC. Photo: Dan Rest

 Gaetano Donizetti’s Roberto Devereux with a COC premiere starring soprano Sondra Radvanovsky in a role debut.

(l – r) Scott Quinn as Lord Cecil, Hasmik Papian as Elisabetta, Andrew Oakden as Sir Gualtiero Raleigh, David Kempster as Duke of Nottingham and Stephen Costello as Roberto Devereux in the Dallas Opera production of Roberto Devereux, 2009. Photo: Karen Almond

And finally Jules Massenet’s Don Quichotte with a COC premiere featuring Debus in another conducting debut and the world’s pre-eminent bass Ferruccio Furlanetto in the title role.

Nicolas Cavallier as Don Quichotte in the Seattle Opera production of Don Quichotte, 2011. Photo: Rozarii Lynch

Looks like another fantastic season of opera, so be sure to check out all of the COC's ticket options, here. There are so many options for packages and under 30 deals, which make the Canadian Opera Company one of the most accessible deals in town. We'll see you there!

Preview: Every Letter Counts at Factory

Factory Theatre is a day away from opening its doors again after a very tumultuous year filled with a backlash of epic proportions after the board decided to let go of Artistic Director Ken Gass due mostly to vision conflicts. The company is back though, the dispute has been laid to rest and the dust has settled so let's all move on yes?

Here we go this year with the launch of the season with a new world premiere from the up and coming playwright Nina Lee Aquino entitled, Every Letter Counts. The show has a nice run and is on until February 24th. For tickets please click here!

Show Description:

Memory. Mortality. Imagination.

Every Letter Counts is Nina Lee Aquino’s very personal re-imagining of Filipino political icon, Benigno Aquino. Struggling to find her own path and haunted by her uncle’s voice, a desperate “Bunny” breaks into the Aquino Museum at night, where past, present, myth and memory collide.

*Nina Lee Aquino is a Filipina-Canadian playwright, director, dramaturge, and actor. She was a founding member and Artistic Director of fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company and is currently Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre Company and a member of Factory’s Interim Artistic Team. Aquino is a multiple award-winner (Ken McDougall Award, the John Hirsch Prize, Dora Mavor Moore Award) and has been an Associate Artist of Factory Theatre for three years. Every Letter Counts was developed through Factory Theatre’s Play Development Program and is the first Factory production of one of Nina Lee Aquino’s plays.

Written by: Nina Lee Aquino
Directed by: Nigel Shawn Williams
Starring:
Nina Lee Aquino
Jon de Leon
Anthony Malarky
Earl Pastko

Kuumba at Harbourfront is Back

Harbourfront Centre celebrates Black History Month at the 17th Annual Kuumba Festival, part of the TD Then & Now Series. “Kuumba” is the Swahili word for “creativity” which embodies Harbourfront Centre’s vision to celebrate the creativity and vitality of Toronto's African and Caribbean communities.

From February 1-3, join us as we showcase local and international artists from the African and Caribbean diaspora and celebrate milestones, anniversaries and the outstanding contributions of black Canadians.

Kuumba Festival Highlights:

10th Anniversary Celebration of The Trane Studio – An all-star lineup of local and international artists including Alexander Brown, Waleed Abdulhamid, Ernest Dawkins, Ursula Rucker, pay tribute to what would have been the 10th Anniversary of the Trane Studio. Hosted by CBC’s Garvia Bailey (Feb. 2 from 8 p.m.- 2 a.m. Cost $15).

An Evening with Dwayne Morgan – The official launch of Dwayne Morgan’s new book, Everyday Excellence, followed by an evening of soul music and spoken word performances (Feb. 1 from 8-11 p.m.).
Kuumba Hair Showcase, Film Screening and Panel Discussion – I Heart My Hair, Kinky Kreations Hair Salon and other industry professionals explore the wonders of black hair through panel discussions, a hair show and film (Feb. 2 from 7-9 p.m.).

The Known Unknown: Top 10 Emerging Artists Unplugged Edition – An unplugged and intimate showcase featuring rising urban music stars including Savannah Ré, Derek Wise, Jelly TooFly and more! Hosted by singer and television personality Tika Simone (Feb. 2 from 2-8 p.m. and Feb. 3 from 2-6 p.m.).
Kuumba Gospel Lounge – A two-hour gospel extravaganza featuring a full choir, choral groups and soloists (Feb. 3 from 4-6 p.m.).

Soca On Ice (part of DJ Skate Nights) – Dr. Jay De Soca Prince spins soca and calypso music on The Natrel® Rink at this annual Caribbean party on ice. Skate rentals available. Hosted by CBC’s Anne-Marie Mediwake and Dwight Drummond (Feb. 2 from 8-11 p.m.).
Additional event listings are available here.

Last week/end for BODY 13 at Theatre Passe Muraille

This is your last chance to catch this romantic tale from MT Space and Theatre Passe Muraille. Above is the production trailer and for tickets please CLICK HERE!

Show Description:

Body 13 exists on a stretch of Canadian beach during one sunny day between a funeral in the morning and a wedding in the evening. From the company that brought us the emotionally charged The Last 15 Seconds, this show uses MT Space’s signature visually captivating physical style. Body 13 looks at characters driven by their sexual desires— propelled forward or derailed because of love across cultural differences.


BODY 13

Produced by MT Space in association with Theatre Passe Muraille
Directed by Majdi Bou-Matar
Created by the Company
Featuring Badih AbouChakra, Jessalyn Broadfoot, Brad Cook (appears courtesy of Canadian Actors Equity Association), Trevor Copp, Nada Humsi, Tawiah Ben M’Carthy, Pam Patel.
Production Stage Manager: Hannah Metcalfe
Set & Lighting Design: Jennifer Jimenez
Costume Design: Denis Huneault-Joffre

On until JANUARY 26, 2013 at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

The Storefront Theatre is Open

Red One Theatre Collective is one of the hippest and most talked about new companies in town.  In addition to doing interesting work,The Collective has a history of creatively using space and revitalizing neighbourhoods  through the power of art, culture and community. To encourage the careers of Toronto-based artists, as well as local business, they have taken temporary occupancy of the retail space at 955 Bloor Street West and made it available for independent companies to book for a winter of independent theatrical productions. As well as developing productions of their own.

Run by founding members of the collective, Benjamin Blais and Tyrone Savage (Stratford Theatre Festival, Guthrie recipient), as well as Kelly Read (Associate Technical Director for Soulpepper Theatre) and Stacey-Lee Turner (Assistant Curator at the Campbell House Museum), The StoreFront Theatre will be a multi-disciplinary cultural hub throughout the early months of 2013.

And the StoreFront's first show Wait Until Dark,  which opened last week, has been very well received by local critics and audiences. With such an innovative approach and great theatre Red One has nailed it again.

Wait Until Dark plays at the StoreFront Theatre (955 Bloor Street West) until January 26th, 2013

Performances are Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm, with Sunday Matinees at 2pm
Tickets are $23.54 each, general admission.
Box Office opens One hour prior to showtimes or are available here

World Stage is coming...

The 2013 season of Harbourfront Centre’s signature contemporary performance series, World Stage, is around the corner and the line up has already garnered critical acclaim.  The Toronto Star says it’s "...theatre that will challenge, astonish, and stimulate”.  From February 6 until May 24, the world’s performance leaders are in town for four to five show engagements, so take advantage of this chance to see select works from provocative and cutting-edge international and Canadian contemporary artists.

Tina Rasmussen, World Stage Artistic Director notes "I am proud of continuing the legacy of World Stage for Toronto audiences by programming another inquiring season of leading performance from Canada and around the world. I believe in certain tenants in programming work that asks the audience to evaluate their role as witness, as citizen, and as human. In the contemporary performance programmed in World Stage 2013 we can offer a renewal of  perception and seek new understandings, propose a new hierarchy, introduce chaos and even have a bit of fun."

This season welcomes productions and artists from Canada, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Australia, China, Norway, Belgium, Portugal and the Netherlands, making it one of the most diverse seasons in its 27 year history.  The work proposes to redefine the act of witnessing, as it chronicles a day in the life in Auschwitz in KAMP (CAMP) and throws us to the dogs in Dachshund UN.

Shakespeare is turned on his head in a triptych of works that make the Bard relevant, immediate and moving with Toronto’s own LEAR, and two German works, She She Pop & Their Fathers: Testament and Othello c’est qui (Othello, who’s that).

Dance is always featured prominently in the series with last years presentation of Wayne McGregor | Random Dance ENTITY making it to number one in NOW Magazine’s Top 5 Dance Shows of 2012. This begs the question, which of the six knockout dance shows featured this season will top the lists in 2013!?  Get ready to rally around Norway’s A Dance Tribute to the Art of Football, witness the physical demands of friendship with Still Standing You, feel the power of contemporary expression from superpower China with TAO Dance Theater, and warmly welcome the return of Brazil’s dance heavyweights Grupo Corpo.

As a pioneering culture port, World Stage’s commitment to developing Toronto artists continues with bold new work from Ame Henderson/Public Recordings in what we are saying, and Heidi Strauss/Toronto Dance Theatre with Everyday Anthems.

World Stage tickets are on sale now! Save up to 50% with a World Stage Flex Pass, when you purchase four tickets to any World Stage shows for only $110 or eight tickets for $180, only until January 23, 2013. Regular ticket packages (three or more productions) offer discounts and exclusive partner offers, discounted parking and more. The CultureBreak programme, designed for 13-25 year-old arts and culture cravers and/or students of all ages offers $15 tickets to any show, any time.  Seniors, groups of 10 or more, arts workers and NextSteps ticket buyers save 20%. Single tickets available anytime via our box office by calling 416-973-4000, Tuesday to Saturday, 1-6pm, or online here.  Click here for information for the entire World Stage season.

Good news! City of Toronto Increases Arts & Culture Investment by $17.5 million!

Press Release care of TAPA:

On Wednesday January 16, Toronto City Council passed Toronto's 2013 budget. City Council has committed to increase Toronto’s annual arts investment by a total of $17.5 million bringing the municipal investment in arts and culture grants to $25 per capita over the next four years. Effective in 2013, the budget includes an immediate increased investment of $6 million for arts and culture.

“We are grateful that city council has made a meaningful contribution and commitment to the arts in Toronto.  This additional funding will increase the economic and social vitality of our great city, benefitting all Torontonians." said Michael Rubinoff, TAPA Board President.

After a decade of intensive work including focus groups, market research, consultations and countless deputations, this is a huge success story for the cultural community. In November 2012, TAPA led the Friends of the Arts at the 3rd Annual Arts Day at the City.  Artists, audiences, business leaders, donors, and administrators from across the city attended a series of meetings with a majority of councillors. Discussions focussed on asking the City to increase spending on arts and culture from $18 per capita to $25. In 2003 and in 2011 City Council had twice unanimously supported this recommendation. In 2012, this target had yet to be realized, and Toronto’s investment in arts and culture lagged behind all major Canadian municipalities. 

“TAPA has been a real leader in pushing for the acceptance of this bill, and it has paid off in a triumphant way. It's truly an exciting day for the arts organisations and artists of this city – but more importantly for the entire population of this city who, we do hope, will be the beneficiaries of this historic impetus”, said Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic & General Director of The Canadian Stage Company.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and Membership of TAPA we wish to express our wholehearted thanks to the City Councillors and city staff who supported our ongoing advocacy efforts and work. Further, this is a great demonstration of our collective efforts with the Toronto Arts Foundation, Friends of the Arts and the Beautiful City billboard campaign gleaning positive results”, said Jacoba Knaapen, Executive Director of TAPA.

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) is an arts service organization that represents 185 professional theatre, dance and opera companies and is committed to nurturing an environment in which the performing arts may flourish and play a leadership role in the vitality of the City of Toronto. Programs and services provided by TAPA include: T.O. TIX - Toronto's Official One Stop Ticket Shop at Yonge-Dundas Square and online at www.totix.ca; the Dora Mavor Moore Awards; Toronto’s official Theatre Guide featuring Toronto’s only theatre map; hipTIX, offering $5 tickets to students between the ages of 15 and 29; citySPECIAL; the Commercial Theatre Development Fund; TRIP - the Travel Retreat Initiatives Program ,and the TAPA TRADE SERIES that provides ongoing professional development and workshops for TAPA members. For more information visit www.tapa.ca and www.totix.ca.

B[art]er Event at the AGO

Thank you to B[art]er, Sue Edworthy and Ricardo McRae for a wonderful evening on Wednesday. A beautiful group of art professionals came together to talk social media and the business of art.

Very Inspiring indeed!

SOMEONE ELSE opens in this week!

Opening this week to great buzz is the new Kristen Thomson piece. Furthermore, it is from Crow's Theatre Company who just released the exciting news that they are moving into their permanent in the near future! Check out the preview below...

Show Description:

Cathy is a stand up comedian in a creative slump and Peter is a doctor at a community clinic. They’ve been married for eighteen years but it feels like five hundred and couples therapy isn’t helping. They seem bound for heartache when an intimate and sobering encounter with someone else forces them to recognize the fragile foundations that their life is built on. Careening between hilarity and disaster, this play is a naked examination of marriage, middle age, and the delicate nature of change.


SOMEONE ELSE
Written by Kristen Thomson, Directed by Chris Abraham
A Crow’s Theatre Production in Association with Canadian Stage

Box Office: 416.368.3110 or visit www.canadianstage.com

January 7 to February 2, 2013

Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street

Weekend Round-Up

It was a busy weekend for EAP.  With Justin off in Montreal Liza took to the playhouses alone.  Friday night  was the opening of the New Canadian Musical Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy at Hart House.  The audience was packed and super enthusiastic, which helped keep the pace brisk for this almost three hour odyssey.

The show is running all month long so you can definitely still catch it.  And although it is long it is clever and entertaining too.  Shout out to the cast and production which were both first rate.  Tickets are selling quickly so be sure to click here to get yours now.

The rest of the weekend was spent at Factory for the last weekend of the Next Stage Festival 2013.  It was fantastic, With Love and a Major Organ stole many hearts, perhaps predictably, since it was the toast of Fringe last summer.  What a beautifully poignant and remarkably smart show.  When we missed it at Fringe we were disappointed so it was great to see it this time around.  And if the show is further developed, this 60 minute gem, could easily make the leap to main stages anywhere.  

Afterward, while browsing through the Festival playbill , on the bus ride home I spotted this ad.

So many awesome shows are coming to Toronto stages this season, not the least of which is Studio 180's Clybourne Park. Can't wait!

Preview: Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy

Hart House Theatre is proud to present the hilarious  and thrilling Canadian musical, Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy. The epic tale of Robin Hood and his Merry Men opens at Hart House Theatre tonight, Friday, January 11th, 2013 for a three week run.

This Canadian-made musical is a witty and amusing twist on one of the most famous legends in the English language: that of the dashing, daring and handsome man in tights, Robin of Locksley, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Helping him defeat the ridiculously evil Prince John and The Sheriff of Nottingham is the rag-tag band of Merry Men, Little John, the beautiful Maid Marian, the unexpectedly feminine Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, and a slew of new friends Len, Ben, Ken, Glen and Glen. And Sven. With fast-paced, witty lyrics and a polished, sophisticated score, this show is sure to have you singing "The Evil Song", "Undercover Lover" and "After Intermission" long after the curtain has come down. Irreverent to the core, Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy is tongue-in-cheek entertainment that jabs an accusing finger at the social, political and religious constructs which inform our notions of status and the distribution of wealth.

Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy features music and lyrics by Kieren MacMillan and Jeremy Hutton, and book by William Foley, Jeremy Hutton, Jesse MacLean, Kevin MacPherson and Kate Smith. The show is based on the collective creation originally presented by Shakespeare By The Sea (SBTS) in Halifax in 2005, one of the most popular productions in the company's 20 year history. It has since been remounted in various incarnations by SBTS and Toronto Youth Theatre. The 2011 SBTS production was voted "Best Theatre Production" in The Coast's Best of Halifax 2011 Reader's Poll and appeared in several year-end "Best of 2011" lists by local critics. Hart House Theatre's production of Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy is the first full-scale production of the piece, while featuring an eight piece orchestra.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Crow's Theatre new space!

Found this little gem in Now Toronto and wanted to show everyone! How deliciously exciting that Crow's Theatre is moving into a new space in the east end. Great news for local Toronto Theatre and the foundational growth of our community...

Preview: Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Drake

Last night was the opening of  Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a rock concert with plenty of biographical interludes, at the Drake Hotel.  Hedwig tells the story of trans-bombshell Hedwig, former East-German twink and lead singer of nonchalant indie band ‘The Angry Inch’. This production takes the audience through a tragic story of betrayal, emotional and physical sacrifice, and love.

Presented by Breathe.Feel.Love and starring Seth Drabinsky as Hedwig. Drabinsky has a great feature this month in Xtra and EAP is proud to call him a friend.  We are really looking forward to seeing him at the Drake Underground in this fantastic role.  Hedwig at the Drake is sure to be a hit and is running all month long. So don't miss it!


With:
Jeremy Knowles - Drums
Matthew Trotter - Bass
Devrim Eldelekli - Guitar
Sarah Burton - Guitar & Keys

Directed by Seth Drabinsky and Stephen Low
Stage Manager - Samantha Aylsworth
Technical Director - Tim Lindsay
Music Director/Coordinator - Jeremy Knowles

Doors open 30 minutes prior to show time
The show is 90 minutes without intermission
Tickets $35.  Or $25 for students and arts workers with i.d.
Click here for tickets

Dates Added for Toward Light at Harbourfront's NextSteps

Harbourfront Centre is reporting that a performance has been added to Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps 2012-13 season.  Toward Light: A Tribute to Rachel Browne by Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Twenty-one dancers take to the stage as Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (WCD) honours their beloved founder, Rachel Browne, by remounting nine of her signature works from 1964 through 2012. Her work has influenced generations of dancers whom she has trained and directed, and as the founding artistic director of WCD, she also gave numerous choreographers a place to develop and mount their works. Browne remained active as a choreographer, teacher and performer until her passing. She had received numerous awards, most notably the 1995 Jean A. Chalmers Award for Creativity in Dance, the 2000 Canada Council Jacqueline Lemieux Prize and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1997.

Rachel Browne passed away at the age of 77 while in attendance this summer at the 2012 Canada Dance Festival. Toward Light is a loving tribute to this icon of Canadian modern dance.


Saturday, January 12 at 8pm
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Fleck Dance Theatre

Regular priced tickets are $25 and are available at the box office;
click here or call             416-973-4000    

Canadian Opera Company News

SIX RISING OPERA STARS TO JOIN CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY’S 2013/2014 ENSEMBLE STUDIO

 The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premier training program for young opera professionals, welcomes six outstanding new Canadian artists for the 2013/2014 season.  Bass-baritone Gordon Bintner, mezzo-soprano Charlotte Burrage, soprano Aviva Fortunata, baritone Clarence Frazer, tenor Andrew Haji and mezzo-soprano Danielle MacMillan were among the 10 finalists who competed for the highly coveted Ensemble Studio positions at the Second Annual Ensemble Studio Competition in November 2012.  Bintner, Haji and Burrage were top prize winners at the 2012 competition with Bintner securing the first-place and audience-choice awards, Haji receiving second-place honours and Burrage taking the third-place award.

The six singers join the Ensemble Studio in August 2013 and become part of an illustrious program that, since its inception in 1980, has launched the careers of over 150 Canadian singers, opera coaches, stage directors and conductors, including Ben Heppner, Isabel Bayrakdarian, John Fanning, Wendy Nielsen, David Pomeroy, Joseph Kaiser, Lauren Segal, Krisztina Szabó and Allyson McHardy.

These new members of the Ensemble Studio join four returning artists for the 13/14 season: soprano Sasha Djihanian, soprano Claire de Sévigné, tenor Owen McCausland and baritone Cameron McPhail.

Congratulations to the new members and we are excited to see your work at the Opera Company soon!

Preview: Japan’s Hiroaki Umeda/S20

NOW Magazine’s Glenn Sumi named Political Mother and Dark Matters in his top 5 dance shows of 2012, so it is exciting to see more dance at Canadian Stage in 2013. To start, they're featuring two performances from Japan’s Hiroaki Umeda/S20 as part of the Spotlight Japan festival in February.

A star of Japan’s avant-garde dance scene, Hiroaki Umeda/S20 combines hip-hop, soundscape, and video/light effects in two utterly hypnotic performances. Haptic and Holistic Strata will be presented as a double-bill, and all tickets are $54.

This show runs Feb 26 - March 2nd.  This is a short run at the Berkeley Theatre and tickets will go fast. So click here for information and links to buy tickets 

Preview: The Penelopiad

Starting off the new year in fine form in the city, we have the remounting of THE PENELOPIAD from the Nightwood Theatre company. It was a critical darling last year and audiences went crazy for it. We highly recommend this gem of a show!

Show Description:

"Now that I’m dead, I know everything.” So begins The Penelopiad, Margaret Atwood’s daring response to Homer’s The Odyssey. Destined to spend eternity in Hades, Penelope recounts her life’s story and the murder of her twelve handmaidens by her vengeful husband Odysseus. Atwood’s acerbic wit brings one of history’s most powerful myths to the contemporary imagination. A provocative new look at a woman’s longing, lust and culpability.


January 8 to February 10, 2013
Tuesday to Saturday at 8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2:00pm
Wednesday Matinee at 1:30pm

For tickets please CLICK HERE!

Nightwood Theatre presents the Toronto Premiere

THE PENELOPIAD
by Margaret Atwood
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Starring Megan Follows

The Penelopiad is performed at:

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
12 Alexander St
Toronto Ontario M4Y 1B4

SummerWorks: Call for Submissions

With Next Stage in full swing and most of the major houses have shows opening in the next few weeks. It's time to get back to the theatre!  But that also means that some important summer festival deadlines are coming up.  In fact, Today, 7th January, is the last day to apply for the National Series portion of the Summerworks festival.   The National Series provides the opportunity for independent artists from outside Ontario to showcase their work in Toronto.

The Festival will cover successful applicants travel, accommodation and shipping costs. Companies are responsible for production costs with some negotiated assistance from the Festival. So get to the post office NOW!


ALSO:
The Theatre Creator's Reserve Deadline is January 18th. Please mark your application for the attention of Lucy Eveleigh and please note that your submission does not have to be for a piece for the 2013 Festival. Download the application package by clicking here.

The Theatre Series deadline is February 1st. Download the application package by clicking here.  This year, artists are required to submit their work online as well as in hard copy.

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: Musical Works in Concert

Musical Works in Concert is an initiative founded in 2010 to provide a forum for Canadian writers and composers to help develop and present original music theatre. The focus of these evenings is to showcase new pieces by artists working with musical theatre models. The series offers artists a space to have their work presented in a stripped-down concert format for one night only in front of an audience. This year, the performances will take place on Sunday, August 11th and Monday, August 12th. Applications are available at  summerworks.ca, and must be postmarked no later than Friday March 8th, 2013. For more information about the program and to apply, click here. (Picture:  Blood Ties featuring Barbara Johnston and Anika Johnson.)

The Penelopiad 2013 Trailer

Opening tomorrow! Preview to come but check out the trailer for THE PENELOPIAD which opens tomorrow at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre...

For tickets please click the header.

Next Stage Festival Toronto

Already two days in and the festival that kicks off the new year is already soaring high with sold out shows, hot buzz and gossip and loads of warm red wine. Check out the details and for more info on shows please click the shows below and to purchase tickets please CLICK HERE!

FACTORY THEATRE MAINSPACE:

AWAKE

THE PEACE MAKER

SUDDEN DEATH

THRONE OF GAMES

FACTORY THEATRE STUDIO:

MEMORIAL

POST EDEN

SALT BABY

WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN

FACTORY THEATRE ANTECHAMBER:

LIZA LIVE

PITCH BLOND

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TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now!

ONLINE

Click here!

BY PHONE

416.966.1062

10am – 5:30pm MON-FRI (Nov. 19th – Jan 2nd)

1pm – 7pm MON-FRI (Jan. 2nd – 19th)

Visa or Mastercard only.

*Gift Vouchers are available (by phone only)

AT THE DOOR

NSTF Tickets can be purchased at the Factory Theatre one hour before the first show of the day, January 2nd – 13th, 2013.

Cash, Visa and Mastercard accepted (NO Debit or Amex).

TICKET PRICING

$15 Evening Performances (7pm onwards start-time)

$12 Afternoon Performances (6:59pm or earlier start-time)

$10 Ante-Chamber performances

PASSES

$48 – Four Play Pass: Good for 4 tickets, redeemable in advance by phone or at the door. Maximum of one ticket per play. Non-transferrable.

$88 Eight Play Pass: Good for 8 tickets redeemable in advance by phone or at the door / Maximum of two tickets per play per pass. This pass can be used by two patrons.

WE ARE BACK!

Liza and I have had a delicious holiday season and we hope you ALL have as well. We are back and ready to go for an exciting 2013 season. The Toronto Theatre scene is continuing to thrive and we are thrilled to be apart of the ever-growing evolution of a community we love. Happy New Year everyone!