Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The 2014 undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream festival begins on Tuesday February 11th at Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre in the Studio Theatre.
Opening the festival is a 7:00pm showing of Broken written and performed by Brian Fidler and directed by Maiko Bae Yamamoto. This production from Whitehorse, YK draws on puppetry of found objects to tell the story of a boy remembering his grandfather’s life.
At 9:00pm it is RiderGirl, created and performed by Ottawa’s own Colleen Sutton and directed by Janet Irwin. Wear your team colours and be prepared to cheer out loud as you follow her into sports fandom.
In-between the plays, experience Can We Talk in the lobby of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. The phone is ringing and it might be for you.
Below are descriptions of the plays.
For ticket information visit www.gctc.ca/undercurrents14
About undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream
undercurrents is GCTC’s festival of independent theatre is held in its Studio Theatre from February 11-23, 2014. The festival showcases the best in indie theatre from Ottawa and across the country. Keeping true to presenting theatre below the mainstream, the undercurrents programming reflects the growing diversity of Canadian theatre practice by presenting shows that differ in form, content, and creation methods.
Over the past three years, the festival has presented six world premieres as well as provided a platform to artists who are in the final stages of their creation processes.
GCTC created the festival in 2011 to give independent theatre companies and emerging artists in Ottawa an opportunity to develop and present their work. GCTC is committed to promoting Ottawa and national artists not only by presenting their work in its intimate Studio Theatre but also by providing mentorship in production management, grant writing, dramaturgy and touring opportunities.
Broken
A Ramshackle Theatre (Whitehorse, YK) production
Written and Performed by Brian Fidler, directed by Maiko Bae Yamamoto
What if you forgot who you are?
William has discovered a box of his late grandfather’s things: a broken camera, a pocket watch, a box of slides. Each object triggers a landslide of memories, revealing the complicated relationship between what he remembers and what he can never forget.
Drawing on Ramshackle Theatre’s puppetry of found objects, Broken is a story of 1985, lime poppe shoppe pop and Alzheimer’s disease.
“One of our favourite SummerWorks plays of 2013” ~ Torontoist
“Fidler’s performance leaves the audience in awe” ~ Whitehorse Star
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RiderGirl
A RiderGirl Productions (Ottawa, ON) production
Created and performed by Colleen Sutton
Directed by Janet Irwin
A prairie girl is seduced into sports fandom and discovers the rules don’t just apply to the game. Two-time Prix Rideau Award nominee Colleen Sutton throws herself into multiple characters as she fights for first downs and flags begin to fly. Loaded with laughs, it’s a fast-paced, physical and trash-talking march down the field that will haul your heart into the game. Come in your colours. It’s GAME TIME!
“…impossible to dislike perky Colleen Sutton who scores a touchdown with her one-woman go-go-go show…”
~ Winnipeg Free Press
“Trust me, this show is a MUST for Rider fans.” ~ Rod Pedersen, Voice of the Riders, 620 CKRM
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The Tashme Project: The Living Archives
Created and performed by Julie Tamiko Manning (Montreal, QC) and Matt Miwa (Ottawa, ON)
The Tashme Project is a verbatim theatre piece that traces the history and common experience of the Nisei (or 2nd Generation Japanese Canadians) through childhood, WW2 internment and post-war resettlement. Now in their 70’s and 80’s, the Nisei were children at the time of internment and their stories of adventure and play are presented in sharp relief to the more common internment narratives of hardship and injustice.
“The Highlight of the festival.” ~ What Are Years?
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A Quiet Sip of Coffee (or, This is Not the Play We’ve Written)
An AnimalParts (Toronto, ON / New York, NY) production
Created and performed by Anthony Johnston & Nathan Schwartz. Created with Anita Rochon
In the summer of 2004, Anthony Johnston and Nathan Schwartz – self-proclaimed gay/straight best friends duo – wrote a prank letter to a fundamentalist “ex-gay” organization asking for funds to develop their new play: Never Cry Wolfman. To their surprise, they were invited to workshop the play at the group’s retreat in rural British Columbia – under the condition that they also spend two weeks participating in gay conversion therapy. Years later, the friends reunite to tell their story as a piece of theatre.
"Fast paced and intriguing... more intimate than (an) on-screen close up... an experience that is unique wonderfully live" ~ nytheatre.com
“Hilarious and harrowing avant-garde autobiography." ~ Flavorpill NY
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Ciseaux - A WORLD PREMIERE
A THÉÂTRE ROUGE ÉCARLATE (Ottawa, ON) production
Written and directed by Lisa L’Heureux
Performed by Lissa Léger & Marie-Ève Fontaine
Deux vies tissées par un lien. Chacune portant en elle le pôle opposé. L’une le nord, l’autre le sud. L’autre, son homologue inséparable, sa négation. L’autre, vers qui tout converge jusqu’à en être indissociable. Comme deux lames de ciseaux.
Two lives bound together. Each carrying within her the opposite pole. One is the north while the other is the south. Each is the other’s counterpart, the other’s negation, towards whom everything converges until the part become inseparable. Like a pair of scissors
Ciseaux will be presented in French with English surtitles. Ciseaux sera présenté en français avec surtitres en anglais.
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Morro and Jasp do Puberty
An Up Your Nose and In your Toes (Toronto, ON) production
Created and performed by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee
Directed and Dramaturged by Byron Laviolette
Morro and Jasp do Puberty explores clown sisters Morro and Jasp’s journey into almost adulthood. As Jasp marvels at the wonders of boys and brand new bodily functions, Morro awkwardly attempts to hide from the inevitable changes overtaking her. This show is perfect for anyone who wants to remember (or forget) the magical and terrifying journey that is growing up. A hilarious look back at the best period of your life!
WINNER – Patrons’ Pick 2009, Best of the Fringe 2009 (Toronto Fringe Festival)
Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble (NOW Magazine, 2009)
Official selection: New York Clown Festival (2010)
“Two of the most original clowns on the Canadian scene” ~Toronto Star.
“So well written and so well performed that I think EVERY girl and boy who is going through puberty or have passed it, should see this show...simply brilliant.” ~ Tapeworthy
“Funny and touching, it’s a Fringe winner." ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ~ NOW Magazine, 2009
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In addition to the 6 plays, undercurrents will present two special productions in the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Lobby.
REVISED From the Belly of the Whale
A Mi Casa Theatre (Ottawa, ON) production
Created and performed by Nick Di Gaetano and Emily Pearlman
Created and directed by Patrick Gauthier
REVISED From the Belly of a Whale is a response to 2012’s LIVE From the Belly of a Whale – a show that almost tore a company and friendship apart. Join Mi Casa for a live reconciliation party/concert as they examine their friendship while unpacking their flawed creative process, air the skeletons in their closet and probe the delicate and personal nature of the imagination. Drinks, music, laughs and warm hearts included.
ONE NIGHT ONLY - Admission is $10 and includes a free downloadable track from the show
Can We Talk?
A STO Union (Ottawa, ON) production
Created and performed by Sarah Con
The phone's ringing and it might be for you! Emma from Victoria is on the line and she has some questions about life in Ottawa. Part storytelling, part conversation, Can We Talk? is an exploration of the impulse to leave the place where you were born, emigration by choice, and the decision to stay behind. Can We Talk? is an interactive and immersive live art piece for one audience member
All performances take place in the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Lobby.
Admission is pay-what-you-can
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Pitch Party
A Company of Fools (Ottawa, ON) and GCTC production
Got a project that you need creative collaborators on? Wanting to get onboard someone’s project in the early stages? The Pitch Party is made for you. Need some collaborators for your devised piece? Need a writer to give words to your idea? Need a director to give shape to your words? Need a producer to bring your piece to the world? The Pitch Party is the place to be.
Creators, writers, directors, producers – you’ll have an opportunity to pitch your project your project in 4-5 minutes.
Actors, directors, producers, writers – you’ll have an opportunity to hear pitches, and then have a 4-5 minute ‘Dance Card’ meeting with the people whose projects are of interest to you.
On Wednesday, February 19th, all will have the opportunity to drink, eat, schmooze and dream in an evening we hope will fuel the next few seasons of new work on Ottawa stages.
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GCTC’s undercurrents: theatre below the mainstream runs from February 11 – 23, 2014.
Show times:
Each of the 6 productions run approximately one hour and is presented 5 times throughout the 12 day festival. During the week there are two performances a night - at 7:00 and 9:00 PM. On Saturday and Sunday show times are 1:00, 3:00, 7:00 and 9:00 PM. Can We Talk runs approximately 20 minutes and is presented 10 times throughout the festival at 12:30, 2:30, 6:30, and 8:30 PM. Please check the festival schedule for dates.
For the full festival schedule visit: http://www.gctc.ca/undercurrents14
Tickets go on sale December 11, 2013.
Single tickets - $15,
3-show subscription - $40,
6-show subscription - $60
Reservations for REVISED Belly of the Whale need to be booked through the GCTC Box Office or online at www.gctc.ca. Ticket price is $10.00.
By Phone: GCTC Box Office at 613-236-5196. In Person: GCTC Box Office at 1233 Wellington Street West, at the corner of Holland Avenue. Online: http://www.gctc.ca/your-visit
Photo: Brian Fidler in Broken. ©2013.
2014-02-10
Ottawa: GCTC's 4th annual "undercurrents" opens Tuesday, February 11