For the complete 33rd Rhubarb Festival lineup, go to www.buddiesinbadtimes.com.
I love supporting my peeps, especially when it’s Theatre for a cause (or should I say Theatre for Peace). Emerging artist Tahirah Stanley is a hard working gal who fights for social change, and at such an early stage in her career, she’s taking all the right steps. More about what Tahirah and Theatre for Peace are doing below.
Tahirah Stanley is an actor/activist based in Toronto. Tahirah is the founder of Theatre for Peace, a project that seeks to empower youth, ages 14-18, through the performing arts (acting, singing, dancing, spoken word etc). Over the course of the past 3 months the youth worked with professional artists to develop monologues, dances, songs etc. All of the pieces were then compiled and put together to make a show; OUR STORY.
She has appeared in productions such as Anthology of Endurance, Marat/Sade, When it All Falls Down, and Face Value, to name a few. She is also the host of The LOVE Project, on Rogers TV, and has participated in some of Toronto’s high profile cultural festivals like Luminato and Fringe. Her passion for theatre is matched by her passion for social change.
Theatre for Peace presents OUR STORY playing this Sat (Jan.28th). Check out the Theatre for Peace promo video at: http://www.youtube.com/
Lots of amazing theatre happening all over the city. Here are few highly recommends:
Nightwood Theatre presents
THE PENELOPIAD
“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, directed by Nightwood Theatre’s Artistic Director, Kelly Thornton.
Previews Jan 10-11, 2012
Opens Jan 12 and runs to Jan 29, 2012
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (12 Alexander Street)
Tickets can be purchased in person or by phone through the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Box Office and online through T.O Tix
Red Snow Collective
in association with Aluna Theatre and Toronto Alpha presents
RED SNOW
The Red Snow Collective is honoured to present Red Snow , written by Toronto playwright and award-winning actor Diana Tso and directed by Aluna Theatre Artistic Director Beatriz Pizano, playing January 12-28 at Theatre Passe Muraille. Inspired by the stories of survivors of the Rape of Nanking, the production marks the 75th anniversary of this forgotten holocaust of WWII. Red Snow is a story of love and the struggle to reconcile the past with the present in the search for peace and healing.
Previews Jan 12-13, 2012
Opens Jan 14 and runs to Jan 28, 2012
Theatre Passe Muraille (16 Ryerson Street)
Tickets are available via The Arts Box Office or 416-504-7529
Tarragon Theatre presents
THE GOLDEN DRAGON
Roland Schimmelpfennig’s 2009 drama The Golden Dragon comes to the Tarragon Theatre in a new production directed by Ross Manson, from a script translated by David Tushingham. As Germany’s most frequently performed current playwright, Schimmelpfennig has won numerous awards in his native land, and his works have been staged in more than forty countries. Set in an Asian restaurant, The Golden Dragon tells the story of a young illegal immigrant who is looking for his long-lost sister. The restaurant staff rally to help the man as their customers obliviously enjoy their meals, until the solution to her whereabouts is revealed.
Previews Jan 10-17, 2012
Opens Jan 18 and runs to Feb 19, 2012
Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Avenue)
For tickets, contact the Tarragon Theatre Box Office: 416.531.1827 / boxoffice@tarragontheatre.com
Soulpepper Theatre Company presents
KIM’S CONVENIENCE
Soulpepper Academy alumnus Ins Choi’s hilarious and touching debut play set in a Regent Park convenience store was the smash hit of the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. The journey of a fractured but loving family confronting the future and forgiving the past is a Toronto classic in the making. Opens Soulpepper’s 2012 season.
Previews Jan 12-18, 2012
Opens Jan 19 and runs to Feb 11, 2012
Michael Young Theatre
Young Centre for the Performing Arts (55 Mill Street, Building 49, Distillery Historic District)
Tickets: Buy online or call the Young Centre Box Office at 416-866-8666
Arriving in the Point Four neighbourhood where the Liberian Dance Troupe meet, we pass a group of young men shouting at one another under a billboard that reads, “Cool, successful men choose Star Condoms.” One of the guys is bleeding from his left eye – blinded maybe – with more and more angry guys joining the melee as we drive by. We stop across from Sandra’s Garden, the bright green drinking hole that marks where we enter the Point Four shantytown to get to the LDT’s practice space. Walking down the path between the corrugated metal shacks, we come upon two LDT trainers stretching hide tight as they fix one of their drums. These men are the same age as those we saw brawling when we drove in, but instead of terrorizing their community, they volunteer every afternoon with the children of Point Four, drumming and teaching. Streaming from all directions, the young dancers arrive, each greeting Uncle Jake and I as they pass into the practice space, all wearing their game face. The LDT members take performing very seriously, and just as I’ve learnt not to talk to my friend Simon Bracken before he performs, so too have I learned not to try to start a conversation with even the 4yr olds of the LDT before a show – they are “in the zone.” There is a distinct difference between the kids of the Liberian Dance Troupe and the other kids one sees in Point Four. Where most are shy and stand staring at a distance, the LDT kids walk right up to visitors (of which there aren’t many), and extend holiday greetings. The kids treat their costumes and make-up with great reverence; it is a little unnerving to see three year olds so focused.
2012 NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL SELLING OUT LIKE HOTCAKES!
The Next Stage Theatre Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary presenting today’s best independent theatre talent! The twelve-day festival, produced by the Toronto Fringe, gives theatre fans a jolt of summertime festival fun in the dead of winter (complete with a heated beer tent provided by McAuslan Brewing Co.).
The 2012 Next Stage Theatre Festival runs until the 15th of January.
For more festival shows, schedule and ticket/passes information, check out www.http://fringetoronto.com/nstf/nstf_shows.html.
INS CHOI: TORONTO’S STAR‘S 12 TO WATCH IN 2012
Theatre Critic Richard Ouzounian profiles actor/playwright Ins Choi as they discuss his play, Kim’s Convenience, and its journey from fu-GEN to the Fringe Festival to Soulpepper.
Read all about it @ www.thestar.com/news/article/1112726–12-to-watch-in-2012-ins-choi
PRISON DANCER GOES VIRAL!
Prison Dancer is an original interactive musical web series created by 5-time Dora Award Nominee Romeo Candido and Carmen De Jesus. Inspired by the viral Youtube phenomenon, the “Dancing Inmates of Cebu”, this musical extravaganza features a cast of YouTube stars and some of the most exciting Filipino musical talent emerging in North America.
Check out (and share) the uber cool teaser: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTva63Eol1w&feature=youtu.be
Watch out for the full trailer coming soon and the debut of the 12 episode web series launching in March 2012.
For updates and more information, visit the Prison Dancer folk at Facebook.com/prisondancer and www.prisondancer.com.
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