Stage Door News
Stage Door News
TORONTO, ON… OPENING TONIGHT IS HARDSELL 2.0, a lecture/performance created, directed and performed by Rick Miller. This show is presented by Factory Theatre and co-produced by WYRD & Necessary Angel Productions with design by Beth Kates and Ben Chaisson, playing October 13 - 23, 2011 at Factory Theatre. Following the successful remounts of MacHomer and Bigger Than Jesus, the third solo show featuring Miller at Factory Theatre is about marketing (sell) and biology (cell), and how humans seem to have evolved into these cells that sell in order to survive. (http://www.factorytheatre.ca/concrete/concrete/index.php/season-and-subscription/hardsell/).
HARDSELL 2.0 is an adaptation of HARDSELL, a 2009 play co-created by Daniel Brooks and Rick Miller. “HARDSELL 2.0 explores the issue of 'control',” says Miller, “how our behaviour can be controlled by marketing forces, and how difficult it is to maintain a semblance of control in an out-of-control world. To that end, Daniel Brooks has agreed to allow me to take full control of this current evolution of HARDSELL.” HARDSELL 2.0 is a completely new theatrical experience: part lecture, part circus sideshow, part multimedia extravaganza. Miller strikes at the heart of the dominant stories of today: the global financial crisis, Occupy Wall Street, the mass rebellion against greed, the commodification of everything and the lies inherent in advertising.
“Cynicism and righteousness duke it out onstage,” Miller adds, “and in this version of the show, there is a new winner. HARDSELL 2.0 has become a call to activism.” Miller has decided to donate his salary to his charity of choice, Because I Am A Girl campaign, which tries to get teenagers actively engaged in changing the world. Plan International’s Because I am a Girl initiative is a social movement to unleash the power of girls and women to claim a brighter future for girls in the developing world. This year, Rick helped develop “All About Eve”, a speaker presentation for girls to give to their communities and schools. Rick Miller has two daughters. See Miller’s interview for “Because I Am A Girl” at http://blog.becauseiamagirl.ca/2011/09/19/qa-with-rick-miller-using-theatre-to-tackle-the-girl-issue/#comments.
HARDSELL 2.0 plays Tuesday - Saturday, 8 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m., October 13 – 23 in the Mainspace Theatre. In addition, The Off Bathurst Theatre District Fall Marathon 2011 includes a special showing of Hardsell 2.0 on Saturday, October 22, 4 p.m. (see www.totix.ca for tickets). The show is approximately 90 minutes in length, with no intermission. Single tickets range from $35 - $45. Call the box office at (416) 504 - 9971 or go online: www.factorytheatre.ca, www.Twitter.com @FactoryToronto, www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2249250605.
Also playing at Factory Theatre: Cabaret of Songs (exclusive benefit concert in support of Factory Theatre) by pianist Tomson Highway and vocalist Patricia Cano on Thursday, October 27, 6:30 p.m. cocktails and canapés and 8 p.m. concert, Studio Theatre; Tomson Highway’s The Rez Sisters, opening Thursday, November 10 (November 5 - December 11, 2011; EarlyViews November 5, 6, 8 and 9); Ronnie Burkett’s Penny Plain, opening Tuesday, January 24, (January 20 - February 26, 2012; EarlyViews January 20, 21 and 22), Anosh Irani’s My Granny the Goldfish, opening Thursday, March 22 (March 17 - April 15, 2012; EarlyViews March 17, 18, 20 and 21); Robert Chafe’s Oil and Water, opening Wednesday, April 18 (April 18 - May 6, 2012): and, Itai Erdal’s How to Disappear Completely, opening Tuesday, May 8 (May 8 – 13, 2012).
2011-10-13
Toronto: Rick Miller’s “HARDSELL 2.0” plays at Factory Theatre October 13-23