COC NEWS: General Director Alexander Neef Renews Contract Through 2020/21

Amidst the recent, very public upheaval of one Toronto stalwart comes news that another, the Canadian Opera Company, has recommitted to their leadership.  Alexander Neef , has renewed his contract as the General Director for the COC through the 2020/21 season.

“The relentless improvement in the artistry we are witnessing on the stage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts is the best evidence of Alexander Neef’s unique ability to fit the right artists to the works that can best show their talents,” says Philip C. Deck, President of the Canadian Opera Company Board of Directors. Neef's work, in recent years, has inspired a resurgence of Opera fever in the city and brought tons of media attention, high profile productions and big name stars.  Mr Deck went on to say, " “From the range of operatic repertoire presented under his leadership to date, to the incredible opera stars now being seen and heard with the COC, he has already left an indelible mark on the culture of this city...Alexander has truly made the COC home to the best, and I look forward to the continued growth in artistic excellence that his tenure will bring.”  The news is sure to please local fans, particularly the younger, hipper crowds who have begun to attend parties and openings at the Four Seasons.


Since commencing his appointment as General Director in October 2008, Neef has overseen the presentation of:

- One world premiere (The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, 2009)

- Three Canadian premieres (Maria Stuarda, 2010; Love from Afar, 2012; A Florentine Tragedy, 2012)

- Six COC premieres (Rusalka, 2009; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2009; Nixon in China, 2011; Orfeo ed Euridice, 2011; Iphigenia in Tauris, 2011; Semele, 2012)

- Ten new productions to the COC’s repertoire (Fidelio, 2009; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2009; The Nightingale and Other Short Fables, 2009; Othello, 2010; Idomeneo, 2010; Aida, 2010; The Magic Flute, 2011; Rigoletto, 2011; Love from Afar, 2012; A Florentine Tragedy/Gianni Schicchi, 2012)

Congratulations Mr. Neef.  We'll see you at the Opera!

Preview: Sharron Matthews Superstar: GOLD

Tonight is the night! Our girl Sharron is premiering her GOLD cabaret piece TONIGHT at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Sure to be jammed full of hilarious, moving, heartfelt and robust storytelling and musical arrangements; Sharron is the Toronto Mother of cabaret and what a privilege it is to see her under the lights, shinning bright! Sharron is at Buddies until Sunday!

"Best of the Fest 2011" The Scotsman
"#1 Cabaret in New York City in 2010" - NitelifeExchange
"Best Cabaret Performer 2009" -Now Magazine

A Message From Sharron's team:

COME ON OUT TO THE Kick off of Sharron's 2012 Tour!

She is traveling to Scotland, London, New York City and South Africa!! LORD!! 

Sharron's ONLY TORONTO shows in 2012 is this weekend!

Tickets are $20.00
Show @ 8pm

Call Buddies Box Office #416 975 8555 for TIX or go down to 12 Alexander Street

Box Office Hours are 12-5 Tuesday to Saturday

HER SOLID GOLD HITS!! And NEW dreamy numbers and stories...all GOLD! GOLD DIGGERS! GOLD STEALERS!! GOLD SEQUINS!!! You get the picture people!

Harbourfront Announces the winner of FRESH BLOOD Award

Harbourfront Centre’s NextSteps and The Chimera Project are proud announce Toronto-based choreographer, Anjelica Scannura  as the winner of the Paula Citron FRESH BLOOD Award and the Audience Choice recipient for 2012.

Scannura won both awards for After the Fall, a dance performance she created and performed which dealt with the repression of women in societies that bar them from basic civil liberties. Scannura’s body becomes the movement, transgressing the boundaries of flamenco that is at her training roots.

“In a review early in Scannura’s career, I once called the dancer/choreographer “a wild child of dance”. This description still holds true,” says national dance critic, Paula Citron. “In performance, Scannura is passionate and compelling. She rivets the eye with her consummate charisma, and as a result, seems to dance rings around her fellows.”

FRESH BLOOD is presented by The Chimera Project, in association with Harbourfront Centre. "It's a unique opportunity for the FRESH BLOOD artists to be seen by the most respected dance critic in Canada, and we are all grateful to Ms. Citron for taking the time to invest in new contemporary dance artists in this way,” says Malgorzata Nowacka, Artistic Director of The Chimera Project. “Angelica is mesmerizing on stage - her presence and ability to transform are unique. She is someone to watch in the future."

“Harbourfront Centre is pleased to be a partner with The Chimera Project on FRESH BLOOD as a unique opportunity for the development of emerging artists and emerging voices,” says Aristic Associate for dance, Lynanne Sparrow. “Congratulations to all of the artists who were are a part of Fresh Blood and to Anjelica Scannura as the winner of both the Paula Citron FRESH BLOOD Award and the Audience Choice recipient for 2012.”

Anjelica Scannura began her dance training at the National Ballet School of Canada and her training in Flamenco at Ritmo Flamenco. Scannura appeared in Disney's Camp Rock, alongside the Jonas Brothers and starred in the TIFF 2009 film Manson, My Name is Evil. She has toured extensively throughout the world and has choreographed for and taught at various secondary schools and McMaster University. Scannura is a recipient of the Chalmer's Professional Development Award (OAC) in May 2011, a board member of Dance Ontario and has been co-producing a new dance series Dance Expeditions. Her most recent appearance was in Diasporic Genius Productions' Tumbling Into Light and she is currently working towards Ritmo Flamenco's new production Vida Flamenca.

FRESH BLOOD presents interesting, innovative and surprising dance works of tomorrow’s contemporary dance superstars. Each emerging Canadian choreographer on the programme has less than five years of professional experience and is given five minutes to showcase his or her work.

The One and Only Returns: Sharron Matthews Weekend!

One of EAPs favourites returns this weekend to the Buddies and Bad Times cabaret space! Sharron Matthews is BACK!!! One of the most inspiring human beings working in the theatre community folks. Preview to follow, but please check out this wicked good clip from her Superstar Tour last year! Goose. Bumps. Forever. 



For tix please click the header!

A message from the Toronto Fringe Festival 2012 Round-Up

Press Release:

The 2012 Toronto Fringe:
More Rootin’ Tootin’ Than High Falutin’

The 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival kicked off to record crowds and sales on July 4th at its headquarters, in the parking lot behind Honest Ed’s. This year had the highest grossing opening sales day in Fringe record. There were over 300 people in attendance for the opening ceremonies and poster sprint; the poster wall filled up completely within two minutes; and the Fringe sold $14,000 worth of tickets.

The brand new Artist Alley arrangement allowed for the Fringe to showcase its visual artists like never before. The visual artists sold over $13,000,which is a 400% increase over last year. With 10 visual artists, 10 alley plays, The 100 running around, an open mic stage and a daily rotating local food vendor, The Artist Alley was the place to be during the festival.

2012 tickest were 1% away from an all time record, despite the fact that there were 13 less companies than the record year. The Toronto Fringe sold 59,182 tickets to this year’s festival. This means that the Toronto Fringe returned $450,470 to artists. This total brings the Toronto Fringe to just shy of $6 millionreturned to artists since its inception in 1989.

The 2012 Toronto Fringe Festival had 155 shows featuring artists from Toronto and around the world. This year’s festival didn’t see a “run-away” hit, but rather a large group of successful productions with many of those shows having near sold out runs. The site-specifics this year were truly an exemplary example of Fringe spirit selling out buses, bars and bra-shops! The 2012 had a very successful Tip-the-Fringe campaign raising over $43,000. The continuing support of the creation lab by our patrons and the matching campaign from TD Bank means that the Toronto Fringe can continue to be the home for independent theatre year-round.

Patron's Pick of the Fringe

The Patron’s Pick is decided after every company’s 4th show.  Selection is based on a combination of cash ticket sales after the first four shows coupled with media reception and overall ‘buzz’ of the production.  The winning plays are announced on the Fringe website, and listed at the Festival Box Office and all venue box offices.  100% of the tickets available for Patrons’ Pick performances can be sold in advance. Tickets are on sale now.

the 2012 patron’s picks are:

Rare: Sunday, July 15th at 9:15pm – Tarragon Mainspace
Mahmoud: Sunday, July 15th at 9:15pm – Tarragon Extraspace
Tinfoil Dinosaur: Sunday, July 15th at 7:30pm – Solo Room
One In A Million (a micromusical): Sunday, July 15th at 9:15pm – Randolph Theatre
A Funeral for Clowns: Sunday, July 15th at 9:45pm – Annex Theatre
Help Yourself: Sunday, July 15th at 9:30pm – George Ignatieff Theatre
The Other Three Sisters: Sunday, July 15th at 6:45pm – St. Vlad’s Theatre
Medicine: Sunday, July 15th at 9:15pm – Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse
21 Days: Sunday, July 15th at 6:45pm – Robert Gill Theatre
pomme is french for apple: Sunday, July 15th at 6:45pm – Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace
With Love and A Major Organ: Sunday, July 15th at 7:30pm – Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace
The Dinner: Sunday, July 15th at 9:15pm – Factory Theatre Mainspace

Best of Fringe

Each year the Fringe jury selects the best eight show from that year to be showcased at the Best of Fringe Festival Uptown.  Well, the results are in and the line up for the Best of ... Uptown is here.  Among the notables are With Love and A Major Organ, The Wakowski Brothers, Rare  and our personal favourite of the festival pomme is french for apple.  Check them out below.

Help Yourself
Mahmoud
pomme is french for apple
Rare
The Shape of Things
The Taming of The Shrew
The Wakowski Brothers
With Love and a Major Organ


“The Best of Fringe Uptown”, is hosted at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Shows are selected by a panel of independent producers who take box office numbers and media responses into account when choosing the winning productions. Best of Fringe Uptown is produced by Toronto Centre for the Arts and will take place from July 18th – August 3rd. Click here for ticket info.  This is the best chance you've got to see one some of the highlights of Fringe which you may have missed.