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. “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 last week, 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.”
On the weekend, Mary was released from hospital and is now continuing her recovery from the comfort of her home. This is great news and TPM wishes a speedy recovery for Mary so she can fully recuperate and regain her strength. You can send her a message here.
In lieu of a production of Dancing With Rage, TPM has begun a fundraising campaign: Dancing Without Mary. 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, was a play reading of Linda Griffiths' celebrated national hit Maggie and Pierre on Friday March 16. The second was last night's play reading of Michael Healey's Proud. Both of which were a wonderful success and had full houses
TPM is looking forward to 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.
This Thursday's Songbook Series features a variety of Torontonian musicians, including: Susan Cuthbert (with Chase McMurren), Martin Julien, David Fox, Daniel Krolik, Hilary Thomson, Megan Liley, and Matthew Hendrickson, Pat Power and Elke Schroeder, Scadding Court Community Performance Group, Shaina Silver-Baird, Tom Mifflin, Andrew Aquino and Tori Anderson, Anna Sudac, Sophia Walker & Suzanne Roberts Smith (Oreo & J Ro Ro), Megan Poole, Tess Barao, Michael Moss and Bram Cayne, Wendy Fox and Matt Pilipiak, Richie Wilcox and Aaron Collier, Darren Eedens and friends... and of course, The Family Band (Eric Chisholm, Chelsea P. Manders, Kristin Rodgerson, and Rob Kempson).
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.
We have one more surprise event for you on March 26, keep checking the website for details!
TPM is in the process of calling all patrons who have booked tickets to see Dancing With Rage and is giving them four options. The first is a full refund by calling the Arts Box Office, the second is a ticket exchange for the next show in our season Crash, or a ticket to the 2012/2013 season. The third option is to join us for one of our fundraisers, donating the rest of your ticket price. The last option is to donate the entire ticket cost to the Dancing Without Mary fund-raising campaign.
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.
2012-03-20
Toronto: Update on Mary Walsh and Theatre Passe Muraille’s “Dancing Without Mary”