Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – Live from the Annex’s final show in its 2015 series is on December 1st. The holiday party show line up includes Elvira Kurt (Comic), David Jones (Music - Piano), Karim Rizkallah (Music – Halo Drum), Baker & Cawley (Improv/Sketch), Sasha Wentges, Laurie Murphy and Brian G. Smith (Co-MCs & LFTAnnex Co-Producers) and ‘CSI Annex Pop-Up Market’ (CSI Profile). In addition, the show features Brunswick Stew (Annex Improv) with guest improviser Naomi Snieckus. 'Live from the Annex' monthly cabaret features Toronto's best comedy, music and social innovators. A show blending arts, community and technology with live streaming via a video portal, LFTAnnex gives local talent the rare opportunity to shine locally and internationally. (http://www.dailymotion.com/youandmedia).
Torontonian funny gal Elvira Kurt is known for signature spark and quick quipping. According to a Chilliwak News article, “She earned her chops with Second City, wrote material for This Hour has 22 Minutes and Ellen DeGeneres, was nominated for a Gemini award, and has hosted a variety of both radio and television shows. You might recognize her from CBC’s Debaters, The Comedy Network, as the host of Q’s Hall of Shame or YTV’s Cook’d. No matter what you know Elvira from, she proves time and time again that she is one of Canada’s best-known and most-loved comediennes for a reason!” (for a video bio, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EXSce2h2yY).
Baker & Cawley are Toronto sketch comedy artists and improvisers. Rob Baker is a three-time Canadian Comedy Award winning actor, writer and improviser. He is an alumnus of the legendary Second City, where he co-wrote and starred in four critically acclaimed shows. He co-created and starred in the sitcom Guidance, which aired on Bite TV. He has developed numerous projects for DHX Media, including the satirical news program Current Afairs and the CBC original series Body Buds. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldm9GS6n2IY). Recent TV highlights include Man Seeking Woman and Dad Drives. He has performed at JFL 42 as part of Mantown (CCA Best Improv Troupe 2013) and can be seen regularly with Bonspiel! Watch for the Second City series White Guys in early 2016. Adam Cawley is an alumnus of The Second City Mainstage and three-time Canadian Comedy Award winner. Take his bio update, for example: “My bio is basically the same as Rob Baker's with minor changes,” says Cawley, “So read his again and then guess which things I HAVENT accomplished yet. During the show, watch him more than me. Also, I have an improv podcast called The Backline.”
Naomi Snieckus is an actress, writer, improviser, voice-over artist, director, and teacher. With six CCA awards, an ACTRA and a Canadian Screen Awards nomination under her belt, she is no stranger to success. She is an alumna of The Second City Toronto, where she crashed the auditions, got a spot with the touring company, and went on to write and perform in five hit shows. Naomi is a founding member (along with her partner, Matt Baram) and co-artistic director of The National Theatre of the World (a five-time CCA winner). In 2010, Naomi won the CCA for Best Female Improviser. She has performed in theaters across Canada (from Canadian Stage in Toronto to The Arts Club in Vancouver). She is Coach Bobbi on CBC’s Mr. D show, and in the feature film Two for One, with Gavin Crawford. She has hosted the Dora Mavor Moore Awards two years in a row, and recently co-hosted the Toronto Mayor’s Evening for the Arts in October. (https://www.facebook.com/naomisnieckus).
Guest improviser Snieckus joins this month’s Annex Improv Brunswick Stew members Noah Goldstein, Tom King, Caleigh Le Grand, Tony Lee, Laurie Murphy, David Perlman, Denise Pinto, Kelli Thompson and Sasha Wentges under the direction of Lisa Merchant. (http://www.anneximprov.com/sign-up.html).
David Jones’ musical pursuits are many, dividing his time as performer, composer, arranger and teacher. Having studied piano and violin from an early age, his performance experience has been diverse, ranging from guest appearances on The Tommy Hunter Show & The Mr. Dressup Show to music for silent film and solo recitals. As a composer, David has written music for live shows, television commercials and over 30 films. He has also been a clinician at several Canadian workshops teaching both piano and violin. David is also a founding member of the ensemble Vox Metropolis; a Canadian trio which performs a wide variety of classical music, jazz standards and original music for silent film. (www.davidjonesmusic.com). Jones will play holiday tunes, and will also accompany Brunswick Stew, underscoring the improv games and scenes. Joining Jones is guest musician Karim Rizkallah, playing on a special instrument called the Halo, descended from the resonant steel pan or handpan.
Live from the Annex’s Dec 1 Holiday Party Show is pleased to profile the CSI Holiday Pop Up Market whose event is on Thursday, December 3, 12p.m. – 3p.m., followed by the Sustainable (Un)Professionals SOCIAL presented by #GreenPeopleTO – 5p.m. - 9p.m., both at CSI Annex, Main Level. The December 3 Pop Up is an opportunity for Toronto’s artists, entrepreneurs, and social enterprises to convene and showcase their goods and work for the city to see, and socialize with people from different sectors in a casual and open setting. (https://www.facebook.com/events/868922673214791/)
This is the final ‘Live from the Annex’ show in 2015, capping a nine-show series that began with a pilot on April 7 running monthly on the first Tuesday. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with curtain at 8 p.m. Beer, wine and refreshments are offered for sale before, during and after intermission at the CSI Coffee Pub. Hummus and chips are provided gratis.
The series is produced by Sasha Wentges (Mea Culpa), Laurie Murphy (MARRAM) and Brian G. Smith (Annex Improv) with support from sponsors and partners including Dailymotion, Centre for Social Innovation and Analytical Engine Interactive.
The ‘Live from the Annex’ show runs the first Tuesday of every month in 2015, 8 p.m. – 10 p.m., and takes place in ‘The Garage,’ at the Centre for Social Innovation - Annex location, 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto. Beer, wine and refreshments are offered for sale before, during and after intermission at the CSI Coffee Pub. $25 tickets are available at the door, with $20 advance tickets at http://www.eventbrite.ca/e/live-from-the-annex-comedy-music-cabaret-series-tickets-18486130514 and livefromtheannex.com. Follow on Twitter #LFTAnnex and Facebook. For a ‘Live from the Annex’ series promo, see http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2zoqnv.
2015-11-19
Toronto: "Live from the Annex" announces its December 1st line-up