For the complete 33rd Rhubarb Festival lineup, go to www.buddiesinbadtimes.com.

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/watch?v=Gc3B-xqoyug

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 75^th 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

Mutual Friends Co-op,
in collaboration with Mercedes Grundy presents

OTHER PEOPLE

Written by Christopher Shinn, directed by Aaron Willis, Other People tells the story of three ambitious young New Yorkers who struggle with sex, desire and their art over Christmas in the East Village. Stephen is a frustrated “blurb writer” and aspiring playwright waiting to hear about a grant. Petra is Stephen’s roommate, a wannabe writer who has recently returned from working as a stripper in Japan. Mark is Stephen’s ex, a successful screenwriter fresh out of rehab, now a born again Christian crashing on Stephen and Petra’s couch, struggling with his attraction to a mysterious young hustler named Tan. What ensues is a heartfelt and hilarious look at love, sex and friendship.

Previews Jan 18, 2012
Opens Jan 19 and runs to Jan 28, 2012
The Tank House Theatre
Young Centre for the Performing Arts (55 Mill Street, Building 49, Distillery Historic District)
Buy tickets online at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts or call 416.866.8666

Native Earth Performing Arts presents

ALMIGHTY VOICE AND HIS WIFE

Daniel David Moses’ seminal play about the legendary 19th century Saskatchewan Cree explores Almighty Voice as both accidental martyr and icon. Directed by Michael Greyeyes.

LIMITED RUN IN TORONTO!
January 20, 8pm
January 21, 2pm and 8pm
Joseph G. Green Theatre
York University (120 Accolade East Building , 4700 Keele Street)
For more information, contact Native Earth at 416.531.1402 / office@nativeearth.ca 

Acting Up Stage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre Company presents

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

Caroline, an African American maid to a Southern Jewish family, is struggling to keep afloat both emotionally and economically, while the young son of her employer tries to make sense of the world following the death of his mother. A Tony, Olivier, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel and Obie award-wining musical—and the only musical of the 21st century on New York Magazine’s shortlist for “The Greatest Musical of All-Time”—Caroline, or Change mixes fact and fantasy, symbolism and reality, plus a wide palette of musical styles to tell the story of ordinary people facing extraordinary change. Book and lyrics by Tony Kushner, music by Jeanine Tesori and directed by Robert McQueen

Previews Jan 21 – 22, 2012
Opens Jan 23 and runs to Feb 12, 2012
Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley Street)
To purchase tickets:  in person: Berkeley Street Theatre; online: www.canadianstage.com; over the phone: 416-368-3110

Why Not Theatre presents

A BRIMFUL OF ASHA

Real-life mother and son, Asha and Ravi Jain, share the stage and tell this true (and very Canadian) story of generational and cultural clash. When Ravi takes a trip to India his parents decide it is the perfect time to introduce him to potential brides. Ravi is not sold

Ravi Jain is an award winning actor, director, producer and educator. Ravi and his mother tell their story together, letting us into their personal drama. Select Sunday performances take place at Dish Cooking Studio (390 Dupont Street) and include a cooking class with Asha, the performance, and a shared vegetarian Indian meal.on the idea of getting married-at least not yet-but Asha fears that time is running out.

Previews Jan 24-25, 2012
Opens Jan 26 and runs to Feb 19, 2012
ExtraExtra Space
Tarragon Theatre (30 Bridgman Avenue)
For tickets, contact the Tarragon Theatre Box Office:  416.531.1827 / boxoffice@tarragontheatre.com / www.tarragontheatre.com

The LDT’s practice space is too small to hold the dancers and an audience, so all performances at present must be held outdoors. Where they hold these is in a sandy square smack-dab in the middle of the slum, where vendors move their tables of dried fish and oranges to the perimeter, and the siblings of the LDT dancers who’ve had advance warning that there will be a show take the choice seats on the steps leading up to a community church. LDT drummers then begin warming up, the rhythms they establish reverberate off the walls around us. More and more onlookers come, mostly women and children as in Buduburam, but also some men curious about the program. Pouring out of the practice space, the dancers get into formation behind the drummers, youngest to oldest, making final adjustments to their make-up and costumes. Then they advance, recite the Liberian pledge of allegiance, before 11 year old Kindness – whose incredibly commanding presence is reminiscent of my former schoolmate Kayla Deorksen’s, leads the troupe a cappella in a traditional Liberian song of welcome. And then they dance. In a drum beat, they transform themselves and the place; they are no longer some of the poorest people in one of the poorest places on the planet – they leave me dumbstruck. They are magnificent. A little boy sits beside me, his hands on his knees, flies swarming around the open sores all over his body. But you wouldn’t know how sick he is if you were just looking at his eyes, because he is being transported as he watches; he is elated.

With the money that we were able to raise, the Liberian Dance Troupe has achieved many things.

They have set up a bank account, completing the requirements to legally establish their NGO status.

Negotiating on Christmas day with their landlord (in the hopes of finding him in a generous mood), they have paid the rent for their practice space for all of 2012 – with the agreement that the landlord will raise the roof so the LDT can more safely perform their acrobatics.

Still dancing in outfits made in the Buduburam Refugee Camp, they have commissioned a tailor to sew one hundred new costume pieces, and repaired four broken instruments.

As mentioned in a previous update, all trainers received a small honorarium for the important work they are doing; these honorariums have allowed for an expansion of cultural operations, with LDT trainers now going into schools to teach over a thousand Liberian students about their heritage.

Schoolbooks and pencils have been given to each new recruit of the Liberian Dance Troupe, and six senior members have received scholarships for the coming school semester.

And finally, in the developing Caldwell neighbourhood, a fifteen minute drive from Point Four, two plots of land have been purchased. This land will one day be the site of the new home of the Liberian Dance Troupe.

Without the support the Liberian Dance Troupe received from our many generous donors, none of the incredible things they have achieved would have been possible. Having spent six weeks with the LDT has been truly inspirational, and the privilege of being able to see with my own eyes what the LDT is able to accomplish when they have support has been amazing. We will be working diligently toward raising the money to build the new home of the Liberian Dance Troupe over the coming year, but the land has been purchased and the costs for the LDT’s 2012 season have been covered, so from the Liberian Dance Troupe, Cahoots Theatre Company, Charlotte and Matt, thanks a whole hell of a lot!

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