It has been a horrendously difficult time to be away from Toronto due to the sheer amount of awesomeness that has been emanating from that city as of late. With that in mind, how exciting for all of you who *are* in Toronto! I’m sorry I have been neglecting my blog duties, I am currently swamped under the weight of (originally four now) three papers that need to be finished in order for me to hope to graduate in November as a Master of Drama Studies. That being said, let’s do a fun recap and see what exciting, fantastic things have been rocking the socks off the Canadian theatre community!

           

First of all, of course, the Luminato Festival dominated the theatre scene, between June 5^th-14^th, making my heart ache with all the innovative, amazing, Canadian new work that was being showcased and that I was missing. The buzz I heard from Halifax was on Catalyst Theatre’s production of Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe. “Hot on the heels of its June debut at Ottawa’s Magnetic North Theatre Festival came the Toronto premiere of a uniquely compelling theatrical experience. Delightfully dark and heartbreakingly comic, this amazing new creation by Edmonton’s award-winning Catalyst Theatre is a musical-gothic fairy tale for adults, an irreverent and affectionate homage to an iconic literary misfit.” Sounds amazing, huh? All I can say is that I wholeheartedly hope that this show will find another home in Toronto for a longer run, and soon, because it sounds like a theatrical experience not to be missed! Also, keep in mind that Catalyst Theatre’s production of Frankenstein will play at the Canadian Stage Company from May 3-29^th, 2010. This winner of eight Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards stars the world premiere cast: Nick Green, Andrew Kushnir, Tim Machin, Sarah Machin Gale, Nancy McAlear, Tracy Penner and George Szilagyi.

            The buzz was also on the North American premiere of Robert Lepage’s newest epic Lipsynch also at Luminato. Fresh from critically acclaimed presentations in London, Madrid and Sydney, Australia, this nine-hour multimedia extravaganza that weaves together the stories of nine interconnected lives over the span of seventy years, proved to be one of the theatrical events of the year. Co-written by Frédéike Bédard, Carlos Belda, Rebecca Blankenship, Lise Castonguay, John Cobb, Nuria Garcia, Marie Gignac, Sarah Kemp, Robert Lepage, Rick Miller, and Hans Piesbergen, Lipsynch was presented by Ex Machina/ Théâtre Sans Frontières. For such a gigantic, theatrical epic, Lipsynch only ran for five performers in Toronto, so one would hope that this is not the last we have seen of such a once in a lifetime epic from Canadian legend Robert Lepage. Especially since, I have yet to see a Robert Lepage show, and this is something I feel must be rectified as soon as humanly possible.

            The Canadian Stage Company’s Festival of New Ideas and Creation that I mentioned before is finishing up its second and final week at the Berkeley Street Theatre. I hope that you have been able to catch some of the incredible opportunities that have been offered through this exciting venture. Again, it hurts my soul that I have been missing it, it sounds like an incredible experience. Here are some events that are still coming up as part of the festival! 

Investigation: Dance / Theatre in Practice

Free Public Forum: Friday, June 19 at 3 p.m. 

Dubbed a 'contrived collaboration' led by theatre director Weyni Mengesha (‘da Kink In My Hair, blood.claat) and choreographer Kate Alton (The Four Horsemen Project, Appetite), this investigative workshop pairs two acclaimed artists together with a selected group of performers from various disciplines to explore some of the ways in which dance and theatre can intersect. Using a performance laboratory model, the group will spend three days developing and expanding a practice that aims to integrate these forms in hybrid creation work evolving out of questions posed and ideas put forth by Mengesha and Alton. On the final day findings will be shared with artists and the public. 

Forum: Right Here, Right Now: an Un-Conference on The Future(s) of Toronto Performance

Facilitated by Misha Glouberman

In partnership with Small Wooden Shoe and Dancemakers

Saturday June 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., reception to follow

$10 (includes lunch)

A one day meeting of Toronto’s groundbreaking professional artists, arts workers and arts leaders to talk about the future(s) of performance practice and our city’s stages. Facilitated by Trampoline Hall’s Misha Glouberman using techniques drawing from open-space technology and world cafes (the “Un-” denotes a conference with no panels, guest-speakers or pre-determined outcomes), the agenda is crafted by participants and the issues on the table are the ones of most relevant as they most specifically impact practice and craft. All who have stake in the evolution of performance are encouraged to attend to strategize, explore and identify what we can do right now to address our most challenging and exciting opportunities  RSVP at: http://unconference.eventbrite.com

 101 Series:

Video Editing with Blair Francey

Thursday June 18, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., $15

Video is playing a greater role in both how we create for the stage, as well as how we share our creative process with our audiences through the web. This workshop will cover the basics of using video as creative and communication tool. The session will take participants through the process of how to get from your camera phone to YouTube, with topics covered to include essential gear, software, hardware, what to consider before you begin shooting (ie. theme, message, how it will be distributed), and various ways of distributing the video across the net.

            One of the most exciting events, in my opinion, is a co-production between The Canadian Stage Company and the Festival of New Ideas and Creation and Acting Up Stage Theatre Company which brings Tony Award winning composer William Finn (Elegies, A New Brain, 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Falsettos) to Toronto! On Monday June 22^nd at 7pm, William Finn will sit down at the Berkeley Street Theatre with Richard Ouzounian and talk about his life and his work, as well as hear performances by Thom Allison, Barbara Barsky, Steven Gallagher and Eliza-Jane Scott accompanied by Wayne Gwillim. Tickets are $25.00 or $50.00 and available by calling 416 368-3110. There are discounts available for CAEA members and 2 for 1 deals for students.

            Also, check this out! Thom Allison, Maja Ardal, Damien Atkins, Maev Beaty, Christine Brubaker, Marjorie Chan, Benjamin Clost, Sasha Cole, Melissa D'Agostino, Julian DeZotti, Diana Donnelly, Monica Dottor, Rosemary Dunsmore, Paul Fateaux, Tracey Ferencz, Cara Gee, Michele George, Dean Gilmour, Allan Gillespie, Maggie Huculak, Tanja Jacobs, Melody Johnson, Daniel Karasik, Rob Kempson, Andrew Kushnir, Rosa Laborde, Richard Lee, Trish Lindstrom, Matthew MacFadzean, Jordi Mand, Richard McMillan, Jeff Meadows, Andrew Moodie, Natalia Naranjo, Sarena Parmar, Jordan Pettle, Michelle Polak, Gregory Prest, Philip Riccio, Brenda Robins, Anusree Roy, Sarah Sherman, Erin Shields, Michele Smith, Birgitte Solem, Chy Ryan Spain, Jamie Spillchick, RH Thomson, Severn Thompson, Adam Underwood, Nigel Shawn Williams, Sarah Wilson, d'bi.young anitafrika and members of The Canadian Stage Company Young Company. Holy Hannica! What are all these Toronto theatre stars doing tonight and tomorrow night, you ask? Well, the answer is that they are all appearing in a part of a staged reading of Tom Stoppard’s The Coast of Utopia which started last night with Voyage, but continues tonight (Thursday) at 7pm and tomorrow (Friday) at 7pm at the Berkeley Street Theatre. Each play tells a complete story, so it is possible to attend just one evening. The trilogy has been called Stoppard’s “crowning achievement,” which speaks volumes since Stoppard has written a number of remarkable plays. The Coast of Utopia made Tony Award history when it won nine of the awards in 2007. Tickets are $15.00 and can be reserved by calling 416 368-3110. Sounds like another event not to be missed!

            Here’s some news from Monkey Toast! Monkey Toast: The Improvised Talk Show. David Shore and The Gladstone Hotel present the biweekly Improv comedy inspired by guest interviews.  This week with special guests, Gladstone bartender, Nathan Stevens, and author/musician, Dave Bidini. This show's improvisers:  Colin Mochrie, Jan Caruana, Paul Constable and Herbie Barnes. Music by Kevin Baker. Sunday, June 28th. 9pm. PAY WHAT YOU THINK. The Gladstone Hotel Ballroom 1214 Queen St. West. And, if you’re toasting for more monkeys—there is a NEW SHOW! Check this out! The Panel Show!  Monkey Toast presents a new show featuring a panel discussion on current events with real guests and improvisers portraying famous people.  This week's panellists are:  Andrew Coyne (Maclean's), Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (aka, Sam Kalilieh), Mrs. Karlheinz Schreiber (aka, Jan Caruana) and more.  Hosted and moderated by David Shore. Thursday, June 25. 8pm. $5. The Comedy Bar. 945 Bloor St. West.

Speaking of monkeys on toast, Matt Baram recently sent me a Facebook invite to a new Canadian film that he’s a part of called Baby Formula. It is being screened starting tomorrow at the AMC at Yonge and Dundas. It stars Angela Vint, Megan Fahlenbock and Rosemary Dunsmore. It plays Friday through Sunday at 12:35pm, 2:45pm, 5:00pm, 7:25pm, 9:50pm and Monday through Thursday 2:45pm, 5;00pm, 7:25pm, 9:50pm. In the words of the ever-quoteable Meghan Hubley, “movies are fun because you can sit still and eat!”

            So, by now your schedule may look a little heavier, and your wallet may feel a little lighter, but people, you can’t make plans for Saturday night unless they include the LAST EVER (FOR REALS) SHARRON’S PARTY. SHARRON’S BIG GAY PARTY is going to be so epic it deserves CAPITAL LETTERS! It’s pride, people, and there is no more fun to be had than at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre with Sharron Matthews celebrating the exuberance that was 4 years of the very best in Cabaret. You laughed. You cried. You spittaked. You sang. You choked. You got breast milk squirted at you. Really, what could be better! You need to go out and support Sharron, because you KNOW she’s going to go out with a bang and a really hot dress. Saturday, June 20^th. 8pm. Buddies. Jeigh Madjus. Thom Allison. 416 976-8666. Tickets= $20.00. This show= Priceless.  

Check out this amazing video! This is the very stuff of champions. Wow.

            Vancouver’s Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were announced at the Commodore Ballroom on June 15^th. You can check out the list of winners here!

            Hold on to your guns, Edmonton! Rapid Fire Theatre’s Improvaganza has begun! Since yesterday and for the next nine days, sketch, Improv and stand-up acts from around the world will grace the stages of the Varscona Theatre and B-scene Studios. Tickets are as low as $10.00 and feature amazing comedy acts such as Picnicface, Impromptu Splendor, Pete & Pat, That’s So Weird Cast, 4Track, La Gata from Colombia, Bansai Twins from Japan/Belgium, The Crumbs, Upfront Theatre, General Fools, Vancouver Theatre Sports League, Hawkmail and great local acts from Edmonton, plus live music! You can get more information on their website, and even if you won’t be in Edmonton this week, you should still check out all the cool things that Rapid Fire Theatre has to offer, including CHiMPROV and THEATRESPORTS. Also, there are cool cool people involved with Rapid Fire including Mark Meer and Chris Craddock! But it won't let me click on their pictures to read more about them on their website. Dear Rapid Fire Theatre, Please look into this, I'd love to see who else is involved with your company and I bet countless other people would too! Love, Amanda.

            Lastly, but certainly not leastly, I hope that you all have plans to vote for the 1^st Annual TWISI Awards! Votes are due June 21^st, 2009. All the information you need to vote is at http://mt-champion.livejournal.com. Thanks in advance!       
 

 *If you would like your theatrical event to be posted on The Way I See It’s “News From Around the Barrio”- throw me an email at twisi.theatre.blog@gmail.com and I’ll see what I can do!*  

 

Thursday night at the Comedy Bar could have easily been one of the liveliest, joyful, and ridiculous nights I have experienced there. (And that, TWISI-ites, is saying something; I mean the place is called COMEDY BAR for cryin’ out loud.)

                CRUSH (NYC) was up first. Imagine eight bodies of energy and wit playing as a team, riffing for a good 45 minutes on one simple suggestion from the audience: ‘foot.’ Their 8 voices melded together and played off each other creating ocean waves and a Broadway show, their bodies becoming submarine sides, boat masts, and giant under water spiders. I was completely in love with the crew, (Brandon Lisy, Brian Bockrath, Steve Horak, Chet Siegel, Nick Kanellis, Frank Bonomo, Lauren Olson & Taylor White... directed by Christian Capozzoli) not even 10 minutes in. Our hosts for the evening warned us that CRUSH was going to “rock your pants off.” And metaphorically I was embarrassed, because I sure was not in my skinny jeans by the end of this set.

                Next on stage were “improv royalty” from Winnipeg, CRUMBS. Lee White & Steve Sim, riffing on audience suggestions of ‘popsicle’ and ‘respiratory therapist.’ The two were joined by live improvised music that ranged from a country-western creep to epic Nintendo-sounding super hero music. It is astonishing to see these two men onstage together; building with what the music is giving them and completely in tune with their counterpart. They created the basement of a hospital so vividly with just the two of them, I felt like I was reading ‘The Bell Jar.” I have no words to describe; really, my mind was blown out of its skull. The Facebook event said, “Miss this show and hate yourself.”DON’T WORRY GANG…you, too, can love yourself by coming out at 9pm tonight to see CRUMBS perform once more.

                The 9:30 pm show began with 4TRACK (Christian Capozzoli & members from CRUSH [NYC]) who got the suggestion ‘cheese.’  Nothing is more enjoyable to watch than artists taking care of each other and becoming completely engrossed in sense of play. There were dinosaurs. There was a horrific director on a film set. There was picture day in Hicksville, where the kids’ skin is so shiny it causes glare on the camera. There was magic, absolute magic.

                The evening wrapped up with one of the coolest projects I’ve heard of. It was a gigantic movie project; directors and improvisers filmed different beginnings of a film, ending at cliff-hangers, the stakes held high. As they ended, different improvisers, doppelgangers, rushed onto the stage and had to pick up where the clip had ended. The movies themselves were hilarious, and the after effect of people forced into monkey suits, T arantino-esque living rooms, and outer-space, was fantastically funny. This is one amazing (PROJECT) project, indeed.

                TONIGHT is your last night to catch the COMBUSTION festival.  At 8: The Kid is Hot 2night showcase:“After an intense audience-choice long form elimination tournament that started in February with more than 64 improvisers, only 6 are left standing. And they are here to play for you. Find out who made it all the way...” All this is to be followed by some amazing HALIFAMOUS improvisers and writers, MARK LITTLE and ANDY BUSH from Picnicface. They hold a special place in my heart because Andy taught me at Neptune Theatre many years ago and Mark helped whip my high-school improv team into some sort of shape when I was a wee teenager. Now they are here in Toronto being exceptionally awesome and you should PROBABLY HEAD OUT to see them!

                9:30 tonight is when, as I said, CRUMBS will be up once more, and then the festival explodes to an ending with Samurai Davis Jr. & Dim Sum's Super Mega Happy Fun Time Improv Show. Facebook says; “This improv/Japanese game show/edible gross-out sensation from Atlanta's Dad's Garage Theatre (Amber Nash, Chris Blair & special guests) will destroy you. With laughter.”

                There’s not much to say, readers. Just do your heart a favor and get out to the Comedy Bar (945b Bloor St. W.) tonight! $8 for one show, $12 for two shows on the same night - available at the door.

 

Apparently Andrew Bush, Mark Little and I have switched places. While I wander through the streets of Halifax crossing my fingers that the beautiful weather doesn’t shrivel up and disappear, Bush and Little are at Comedy Bar in Toronto gearing up for PROJECTproject’s 2^nd COMBUSTIONfestival. According to its website, “PROJECTproject: The Wu-Tang Clan of Toronto Improv is made up of eight improvisers (and over 20 affiliated artists), the company draws from almost every major house of improvisation and school of Comedy in Toronto and joins forces to tackle projects of all shapes and sizes.” With a core cast of Mark Andrada, Bob Banks, Adam Cawley, Jason DeRosse, Julie Dumais, Sarah Hillier, Sean Tabares, Alex Tindal and Kayla Lorette, PROJECTproject performs every Wednesday at Unit 102 (46 Noble Street) in Toronto.

The COMBUSTIONfestival is set to ignite the Comedy Bar (945 Bloor Street, Toronto) by bringing “some of the most exciting, talented, boundary-pushing, genre-bending, industry-leading improvisers in North America together in Toronto to showcase what they do best and collaborate together on festival-exclusive projects and shows.” It sounds mind-blowing. The Festival runs Monday May 25^th to Saturday May 30^th and features over 50 artists from 15 different companies from Canada and the United States including 4TRACK (New York), CRUMBS (Winnipeg), Mark & Andy from Picnicface (Halifax), Dad’s Garage (Atlanta), CRUSH Improv (Ottawa), Sister Act (Vancouver), CRUSH (New York), Rapid Fire Theatre (Edmonton), and PROJECTproject (Toronto). You can check out a nifty (and easy to read) schedule of the specific shows here.

For those who are interested in honing their Improv and Sketch skills, the COMBUSTIONfestival is providing an extraordinary opportunity for emerging artists to work closely with these incredible visiting artists. For the first time, PROJECTproject is offering workshops with 4TRACK (New York), Mark and Andy from Picnicface (Halifax) and/or CRUMBS (Winnipeg). For more information see the website.

This Festival is extremely exciting for those within the Improv community, but I think it is even more exciting for members of the public who are interested in Improv, Sketch and Comedy in Toronto, but feel overwhelmed by the thought of choosing what to see. Here, PROJECTproject is creating a space to showcase some of the best North America has to offer at affordable prices, all in one venue, and within a supremely social ambiance. (There’s even a Semi Formal!). I am all about building community, and collaboration and celebrating and sharing talent, skill and expertise. I strongly encourage you to check out the festival, I guarantee it will make you feel proud, warm and toasty on the inside, and possibly a little sore from such intense laughter.

Sketcherson Gary Rideout Jr.’s Comedy Bar is buzzing with activity even more fervently than usual these next few weeks in May. Even before the COMBUSTIONfestival detonates, Rideout Jr. is presenting four opportunities to see American stand-up comedian Andy Kindler TOMORROW Friday May 22^nd at 8:00pm and 10:00pm and Saturday, May 23^rd at 8:00pm and 10:00. Kindler works frequently on The Late Show with David Letterman, and has become notorious for his scathing attacks on the world of entertainment, including breaking the taboo and making fun of his fellow comedians (he once compared Dane Cook to Adolph Hitler). Kindler can currently be seen in a new stand-up special running on Comedy Central. He has also performed on the HBO Young Comedians Special, Late Night with Conan O’Brian, The Daily Show, and played “Andy” on the CBS sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond. Tickets are selling faster than hotcakes, so you should make sure to book yours right here now. You can check out a Q&A with Kindler from NOW. Nothing he says isn't funny! (wait... what?)

            Just as exciting and hilarious, after performing 4 stand-up shows, Kindler will join Gary Rideout Jr. and the other members of the Sketchersons as the very special guest of the weekly show Sunday Night Live. The hijinks begin Sunday May 24^th at 9:00pm at Comedy Bar. Tickets are only $8.00 and advanced tickets are available here. It is guaranteed to be momentous!

colin mochrie and naomi snieckus
photo credit: skye regan

            If you’re in the mood for a magical, little bout of theatre (and who isn’t), I highly recommend seeing Andy Kindler on Saturday night because The National Theatre of the World’s Impromptu Splendor graces the Theatre Passe Muraille stage tomorrow (Friday May 22^nd) at 10:00pm to perform an improvised one act play in the style of incredibly gruesome, darkly hilarious, usually symbolic Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. Matt Baram, Naomi Snieckus and 2009 Jessie Award Nominee Ron Pederson are joined by the fabulous Ari Cohen, Dora, Jessie and Gemini Award Nominee soon to star in Soulpepper’s production of Awake and Sing! Pederson won a Sterling Award for his performance in McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, so you know that this Impromptu Splendor will be sheer bliss.