Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) is excited to present the second musical of the 2013/14 season, The Way Back to Thursday written by and starring Rob Kempson. This innovative new show pairs actors (Kempson and Astrid Van Wieren) with musicians (Sam Bisson and Scott Christian), taking the orchestra out of the pit and putting the music onstage. Directed by Briana Brown, with Christian providing orchestrations and musical direction, The Way Back to Thursday is a musical journey through the eyes of a young man and his grandmother on stage in the Mainspace (16 Ryerson Ave.) from January 16 to February 8, 2014.
“I first met Rob at a ‘Pitch Andy’ session,” said Andy McKim artistic director, TPM. “Alone with a tiny Casio piano, he sang two songs from what has become The Way Back to Thursday. I was impressed by his talent, the intelligent lyrics and beguiling music, and decided then and there that I wanted to work with him. So what a delight it is to present this, his first professional production. As a theatre dedicated to giving voice to emerging artists, we feel privileged to share Rob’s work with a TPM audience.”
Cameron (Kempson) and his Grandmother (Van Wieren) have a special tradition – movie nights every Thursday. Together they escape into the glamour and romance of the Golden Age of film, but as Cameron grows, so does the distance between them. Based on the traditional song cycle, each scene is features a single song as a standalone piece. Together this group of songs creates the overarching narrative of the show. The Way Back to Thursday is a frank and honest account of a relationship between young and old, and unconditional love that crosses generations, genders and lifetimes.
“I was inspired by the song cycles of Schubert and Schumann,” said Kempson. “We’ve deviated from the form a little but the work of those composers definitely provided the structure for the piece. I wanted to tell a unique story, that of a grandmother and her grandson, and by using this medium I was able to focus on both perspectives, increasing each character’s sincerity and emotional connection with the audience.”
The production team for The Way Back to Thursday includes: Samantha Serles (dramaturg), Beth Kates (set/lighting designer), Emily Porter (sound design), Katie Horrill (costume coordinator), and Michael Sinclair (stage manager).
Theatre Passe Muraille offers Play Your Part events that will give audiences the chance to get more out of their evening at the theatre. The Play Your Part events for The Way Back to Thursday include:
Eggrolls with Andy|January 22 at 6:45 p.m.
This free pre-show program features artistic director Andy McKim in conversation with Toronto PFLAG. They will talk about the way in which The Way Back to Thursday contributes to a broader conversation about understanding sexual and gender diversity within a family. There are also plenty of free snacks and the upstairs bar is open and fully stocked.
Talk Back Tuesdays|January 28
Enjoy free talk backs on the first Tuesday after opening. These conversations with the cast and crew are facilitated to encourage more dialogue than a traditional Q-and-A.
Facebook: Theatre Passe Muraille
Twitter: @beyondwallsTPM; #TheWayBack
Production photographs: Available on the Media Page as of January 14
The Way Back to Thursday
January 16 to February 8; Opening night: January 21, 2014
A Theatre Passe Muraille production
Run Time
Approximately 75 minutes with no intermission
Performances
Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace|16 Ryerson Avenue, Toronto
Tuesday to Saturday 7:30 p.m.
Saturday Matinees 2:00 p.m.
Saturday Matinees Pay-What-You-Can,
with a limited number of $20 tickets
available in advance.
Ticket Prices
Previews $20.00
General $32.50
Senior / Artsworker $27.50
Under 30 $15.00
Tickets and Information
416.504.7529|passemuraille.ca
In person at the Arts Box Office, 16 Ryerson Ave.
About Theatre Passe Muraille
Founded in 1968, Theatre Passe Muraille is Canada’s oldest theatre company developing and producing new Canadian work. Theatre Passe Muraille operates out of a designated historical building; the former Nasmith Bakery and Stables. But true to name, productions also take place “beyond walls” at site-specific locations across Toronto.
Theatre Passe Muraille is known for developing innovative and daring Canadian theatre, but we exist to support our communities. From encouraging independent and emerging artists, and multicultural work, to inspiring our staff and artists to work collaboratively, Theatre Passe Muraille works to ensure all voices are represented on our stage. For more information visit passemuraille.ca
Photo: Rob Kempson and Astrid Van Wieren. ©2-13 Michael Cooper.
2013-12-19
Toronto: Theatre Passe Muraille rings in the New Year with the musical "The Way Back to Thursday"