Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – August 26, 2014. Founding member and Artistic Director Philip Akin is pleased to announce Obsidian Theatre’s 15th season. With a musical set in the roaring 20’s and a play set in the turbulent 60’s this season looks back at two influential times in history.
The season begins with award winning The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. In a partnership that brought the multi Dora award winning Top/Dog Underdog to Toronto, Obsidian Theatre will once again be in association with the Shaw Festival. The Mountaintop starring Kevin Hanchard (Orphan Black, Obsidian-‐ Topdog/Underdog)and Alana Hibbert (Shaw-‐Ragtime/Obsidian-‐Caroline or Change) and directed by Philip Akin ( Obsidian-‐Topdog/Underdog / Intimate Apparel) follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the last night of his life at the now iconic Lorraine Motel. When a young maid arrives at his door, we are led on a heart-‐breaking journey through the life of the man and the myth.
Continuing on the season, Obsidian presents the musical The Wild Party by Michael LaChiusa and book by Michael LaChiusia and George C. Wolfe. Presented by Acting Upstage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre. Set in the roaring 20’s and directed by Robert McQueen (Obsidian -‐Caroline or Change /Stratford-‐ Man of La Mancha) the story centers around the excesses of the 20’s and Queenie and Burrs, two Vaudeville performers who are both living life at it’s edge. Musical direction by Bob Foster and choreography by Stephanie Graham.
The Spring will see our continuing support of new Canadian work with The Development Series. Playwrights Lisa Codrington and Meghan Swaby enter into their second year of development with workshop productions.
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THE MOUNTAINTOP
BY KATORI HALL
Obsidian Theatre in association with The Shaw Festival September 27 -‐ October 19, 2014
1968, a storm rages outside as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. settles into his last night in the now iconic Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel. He is exhausted, having just delivered his powerful “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech. When room service arrives, he meets a beautiful and slightly mysterious young hotel maid. Through their intimate and ultimately transformative conversation, we hear the hopes and fears of King – both the leader and the man – as he is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy.
Directed by Philip Akin
Stage Manger: Andrea Schurman
Production Manager: Patrick Lavender
Set & Costume Design: Judith Bowden
Lighting Design: Kevin Lamotte
Sound Design: Freddy Gabrsek
Multi Media Design: Andrew Smith
Starring: Kevin Hanchard and Alana Hibbert
Aki Studio Theatre Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas St E Toronto, ON M5A 2B7
Tickets on sale August 27,2014 Tickets: 416-‐531-‐1402
Online: nativeearth.ca
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THE WILD PARTY
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY MICHAEL JOHN LaCHIUSA
BOOK BY MICHAEL JOHN LaCHIUSA and GEORGE C. WOLFE
Acting Up Stage Company in association with Obsidian Theatre
February 20 -‐ March 8, 2015
The Wild Party tells the story of one wild evening in a Manhattan apartment just before the crash in 1929. In a relationship marked by vicious behaviour and recklessness, Queenie and Burrs, a vaudeville dancer and a vaudeville clown decide to throw a party to end all parties. A handsome young stranger named Black arrives and he and Queenie’s mutual attraction brings the party to a climax. Capturing the sound of a bygone era, we realize that moral decadence is not only limited to our past.
Directed by Robert McQueen
Musical Direction by Bob Foster
Choreographer Stephanie Graham
Set Design Michael Gianfrancesco
Costume Design Alex Amini
Lighting Design Kim Purtell
Sound Design Peter McBoyle
Starring: Daren A. Herbert, Lisa Horner, Sara-‐Jeanne Hosie, Sterling Jarvis and Cara Ricketts Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs
Tickets on sale Monday November 17, 2014 Tickets: 416-‐368-‐3110
Online: canadianstage.com
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THE DEVELOPMENT SERIES
This year, Obsidian is incubating two vibrant and imaginative new works with our Development Series. These new Canadian plays explore the length and breadth of the Black Canadian experience. In the Spring of 2015, Obsidian will present staged readings of these works.
Dates TBA
UP THE GARDEN PATH
BY LISA CODRINGTON
The late 1960′s, Rosa, a young Bajan girl dresses as a man and travels to Canada to work in the Niagara Region on a problem addled Vineyard. Ghosts, cannons, and the constant threat of starlings fill this vivid and lively comedy.
VENUS’ DAUGHTER
BY MEGHAN SWABY
Inspired by the life of Sara Bartmaan, (Hottentot Venus) Venus’ Daughter peels away the thick fog of silence around the infamous woman, and uncovers her connection to a young woman almost 200 years after her death.
Photo: Alana Hibbert and Kevin Hanchard in The Mountaintop. ©2014 David Cooper.
2014-09-22
Toronto: Obsidian Theatre Company announces its 2014/15 season