Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON… In its 33rd year, Nightwood Theatre packs a punch with its 2012-2013 season. The company is bringing back the wildly popular The Penelopiad, premiering Jordi Mand’s Between the Sheets and building on its successful New Groundswell Festival with a new play by Judith Thompson. Nightwood is working with some of the country’s finest female artists including author Margaret Atwood and actors Megan Follows and Susan Coyne.
Nightwood launches the season in September with the world premiere of Jordi Mand’s Between the Sheets directed by Kelly Thornton, starring Susan Coyne and Christine Horne. With razor sharp intensity, Mand has crafted a rollercoaster ride of high stakes drama. What begins as an ordinary parent teacher interview unravels into a gripping and raw confrontation between two women on the brink of disaster. Theatre patron and actor Nancy Palk said after she saw the workshop production in the 2011 New Groundswell Festival, “I was so impressed with the depth and wisdom and humanity of the piece.”
In January Nightwood is thrilled to bring back last season’s sold out hit, The Penelopiad. One of the front runners in the 2011/12 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations with six nods: production, direction, ensemble, set, costume and choreography. The Globe and Mail called it “An absolute triumph”, 3 1?2 out of 4 stars; The Toronto Star described it as “stunning theatre”, 4 out of 4 stars and NOW Magazine gave it 4 N’s. Starring Megan Follows as Penelope and Kelli Fox as Odysseus (2012 Winner Best Supporting Actress in a Play (The Penelopiad), Toronto Theatre Critics Award), The Penelopiad is Atwood’s daring response to Homer’s The Odyssey, bringing one of history’s most powerful myths into the contemporary imagination with acerbic wit and wisdom. A bold theatrical spectacle, The Penelopiad is pure theatre.
Next up in March is The New Groundswell Festival - a National Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre. Over 10 days, the festival features 2 national works by women: La memorie du corps lBody Memory (Odelah Creations, Montreal, QC) and The Oracle at Gros Morne (Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, Cow Head, NL) as well as Who Killed Snow White?, a new play by local playwright Judith Thompson. The Festival will also feature an Industry Series consisting of master classes, provocative audience engagement panels, open forums and public readings.
On March 21, 2012, Nightwood presents the 30th annual FemCab (The Five Minute Feminist Cabaret). A celebration of International Women’s Day. Always a crowd pleaser!
Join us this season! As Kelly Thornton, Nightwood’s Artistic Director says, “It’s thrilling to unveil a season which introduces a powerful new writer like Jordi Mand and places her alongside artistic giants like Margaret Atwood and Judith Thompson. It’s what makes Nightwood such a vital company: working with artists of the highest caliber while always seeding the next generation of talent. It’s inspiring work.”
ABOUT NIGHTWOOD THEATRE
Nightwood Theatre – Artistic Director Kelly Thornton, Producer Denyse Karn and Chair Karon Bales.
As Canada’s national women’s theatre since 1979, Nightwood has launched the careers of many of the leading theatre artists in the country. We have won Canada’s highest literary and performing arts awards and more than ever our success proves the need for theatre that gives voice to women and celebrates the diversity of Canadian society. We remain actively engaged in mentoring young women and promoting women’s place on the local, national and international stage.
2012/13 Programming:
Nightwood Theatre presents the World Premiere
Between the Sheets
By Jordi Mand
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Designed by Kelly Wolf
Lighting Designed by Bonnie Beecher
Featuring Susan Coyne and Christine Horne
September 18 to October 7, 2012
Tarragon Extra Space
What begins as an ordinary parent teacher interview unravels into a gripping and raw confrontation between two women on the brink of disaster. One woman is fighting to protect her family. The other is fighting for the family she always wanted. With razor sharp intensity, Mand has crafted a rollercoaster ride of high stakes drama.
Nightwood Theatre presents
THE PENELOPIAD
By Margaret Atwood
Directed by Kelly Thornton
Designed by Denyse Karn
Lighting Designed by Kimberly Purtell
Choreographed by Monica Dottor
Composed by Suba Sankaran
Featuring Megan Follows, Maev Beaty, Neema Bickersteth, Fiona Byrne, Sarah Dodd, Monica Dottor, Audrey Dwyer, Nicole Joy-Fraser Kelli Fox, Cara Gee, Patricia Hamilton, Pamela Sinha, Sophia Walker
January 8 to February 10, 2013
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Following its wildly successful sold out run, The Penelopiad returns to the stage! In Atwood’s daring response to Homer’s The Odyssey, Penelope recounts her life’s story and the murder of her twelve handmaids at the hands of her vengeful husband Odysseus. A bold theatrical spectacle, matching gorgeous design, stage invention, potent storytelling, song, dance and powerful performances, The Penelopiad is pure theatre.
The New Groundswell Festival - A National Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre
March 15 to March 24, 2013
The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs
Who Killed Snow White? by Judith Thompson –Nightwood Theatre, Toronto
Predator or Prince Charming? Three generations of women collide when faced with their own ideas of good, evil and happily ever after. Judith Thompson tackles feminism and gender issues head on in this gritty new play.
La memoire du corps l Body Memory by Arianna Bardesono & Christine Khalifah - Odelah Creations, Montreal, QC
An original multi-disciplinary and multilingual piece on the memory of the female body. Incorporating physical theatre, dance, projection and puppetry, Body Memory delves into the female psyche to reveal its hidden essence.
The Oracle at Gros Morne by Berni Stapleton – Theatre Newfoundland and Labrador, Cow
Head, NL
Come one, come all to the "Mr. and Mrs. Show" and discover the truth of the past. The Newfoundland fishery is long gone and Gros Morne is now a spectacular tourist side show. The Oracle looks to the past, present and into a dystopian future to reveal what happens to a culture when faced with environmental collapse.
FEMCAB 2013
March 21, 2013
The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs
FemCab is Nightwood’s annual International Women’s Day celebration. This year’s cabaret is nestled in The New Groundswell Festival and is sure to be a raucous and joyous event as always. As NOW Magazine said in 2009, “FemCab is one of the most entertaining and inspiring shows of every year.”
Nightwood Season Passes on sale starting June 15, 2012
$75 (includes a ticket to Between the Sheets, The Penelopiad and The New Groundswell Festival)
Passes can be ordered by calling: 416.944.1740 x8
2012-06-05
Toronto: Nightwood Theatre announces its 2012/13 season 2