Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Mary Walsh has recently updated Theatre Passe Muraille with the news that she will be unable to perform her run of Dancing With Rage. As of now, Mary is still in hospital recovering from pneumonia, making travel and performance an impossibility. This an obvious disappointment for both Mary Walsh and TPM, however the main priority is for Mary to fully recuperate and regain her strength.
“Mary Walsh is a beloved Canadian treasure in part because she is so indomitable. I didn’t think anything could stop her. So it has been hard for her and for us to accept that something has.” said Artistic Director Andy McKim. On the phone with him, Mary said “I kept hoping that I would be better, that I would be there. I thought I would turn it around, but unfortunately I am still in hospital. I’m in my second week in hospital and still attached to an iv pole and not there. I would so much rather be there than here.”
TPM is in the process of calling all patrons who have booked tickets to see Dancing With Rage and giving them three options. The first is a full refund, the second is a ticket exchange for their next show Crash, or a ticket to their 2012/2013 season. The third option is to donate the ticket cost to the Dancing Without Mary fund-raising campaign. This campaign is an effort to recoup some of the lost $60,000 that TPM incurs as a result of this full cancellation.
TPM has also launched a programming series under the same title- Dancing Without Mary. These presentations by some of TPM’s theatre friends will compliment the fund-raising campaign. The first of which, announced on Tuesday, is a play reading of Linda Griffiths' celebrated national hit Maggie and Pierre on Friday March 16. Also announced was the play reading of Michael Healey's latest play Proud on Monday March 19.
TPM is pleased to announce the next two additions to the Dancing Without Mary fund-raising programming. We will be presenting the next edition of the Songbook Series, which has traditionally been a part of After Hours @ TPM. It will be on Thursday March 22nd at 8:00pm. On Saturday March 24 at 2:00pm, the Puppetmongers will take the TPM stage by storm with their hilarious production of Brick Bros. Circus, which is suitable for the whole family.
The Songbook Series celebrates the work of a single artist, group, era or style that has had a significant impact on our collective musical history, using a variety of musicians from all disciplines to re-imagine that music in their own way. Through the lens of the diversity of musicians and music that is present in our city, Toronto will get to hear the Beach Boys in a way they never have before.
Brick Bros. Circus is guaranteed to stimulate the imagination and spark participation in true circus style. It is a complete miniature one-ring circus performed by highly trained building bricks. Yes, common building bricks in little bitty sequined costumes, flying through the air in incredible acts of daring-do! See bricks do tricks in one of the silliest shows on earth! See Brikko the Clown, Madame Briaskova on the high trapeze, the terrifying Wild Brick and many more.
TPM encourages everyone to keep checking back with the TPM website for updates on Mary's health, a place to send Mary a message and new programming developments for Dancing Without Mary.
Photo: The Brick Bros. Circus with Ann and David Powell.
2012-03-15
Toronto: Update on Mary Walsh and Theatre Passe Muraille’s “Dancing Without Mary”