Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Three of our country’s most gifted creator/performers set out to answer one question: is there such a thing as a gay heritage? The result is a hilarious and moving homage to the people who came before us and the events that continue to shape our lives.
This January the Dora-nominated smash-hit and audience favourite, The Gay Heritage Project, returns to Buddies for an extended engagement before embarking on a nation-wide tour. The show’s 2013 premiere played to packed houses, captivating Toronto theatre-goers and garnering great praise from critics. Nominated for two Dora Mavor Awards (Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Performance – Ensemble), The Gay Heritage Project deftly blends its creators’ personal narratives with uncovered pieces of history and discovers the ties that bind them together. Buddies is proud to bring back this critically-acclaimed hit and share it with Canadian audiences on a tour that reaches the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Victoria’s Belfry Theatre, and The Cultch in Vancouver.
“Funny, imaginative, thought-provoking… A wide-ranging and wildly entertaining inquiry into what it means to be gay.” – Globe and Mail ★★★ 1/2 (out of 4)
“Celebratory, upbeat, and deeply moving” – Toronto Star ★★★ 1/2 (out of 4)
The Gay Heritage Project is created and performed by Damien Atkins (Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play, Angels in America), Paul Dunn (Outside, Memorial) and Andrew Kushnir (Cock, Passion Play), directed by Ashlie Corcoran (Artistic Director of The Thousand Islands Playhouse) and features designs by Kimberly Purtell, Thomas Ryder Payne, and Cameron Davis.
NATIONAL TOUR SHARES THOUGHT-PROVOKING HIT WITH CANADA
After centuries of queer life being hidden in the closet and the loss of almost an entire generation of gay men to HIV/AIDS, The Gay Heritage Project is an important step in the excavation, preservation, and promotion of a community's cultural history. The tour brings an essential conversation about history and identity from the world’s largest queer theatre to cities across Canada. In this way The Gay Heritage Project acts as an important catalyst for a national discussion on contemporary queer life.
Working closely with historian J. Paul Halferty, the three creators behind The Gay Heritage Project spent hours researching the ancient anecdotes, secret correspondences, and overlooked footnotes that currently comprise queer history. What they discovered was an array of heroes and stories that inspire, comfort, challenge, and empower. Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir bring these people and stories to life on stage in rapid-fire succession using a highly physical, comedic, and fast-paced performance style. They offer an eclectic mix of historical characters and reenactments that shed light on the forgotten champions and occurrences that created our community. In doing so, they educate us about our past and inspire us to further unearth an expansive but overlooked part of our history.
THREE TORONTO’S TOP CREATORS REUNITE
The Gay Heritage Project tour reunites Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir in a laudable production that showcases their talents as playwrights and performers. The tour offers Canadian audiences a chance to catch these intrepid artists at the height of their careers.
Atkins, Dunn, and Kushnir, each of them strong individual creators, come together to create an indomitable creative force. All three creators have seen major success in their field since The Gay Heritage Project premiere two years ago. Each has exciting projects on the horizon: Atkins is currently researching material for We Are Not Alone, a piece on UFOs commissioned by Crow’s Theatre, Dunn’s powerful anti-homophobia and bullying piece, Outside, will soon be touring communities throughout Ontario with Roseneath Theatre and Kushnir’s exploration of Ukraine’s political history, Wormwood, is on now at Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace.
"We were overwhelmed and gratified by the feeling of community and celebration that our Toronto run engendered.” says Paul Dunn, “We felt so connected, every night, to our audience, and we felt them connect to each other. We can’t wait to bring the piece to Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria and see what happens."
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
The Gay Heritage Project
created & performed by Damien Atkins, Paul Dunn, & Andrew Kushnir
directed by Ashlie Corcoran
set & lighting design by Kimberly Purtell
video design by Cameron Davis
sound design by Thomas Ryder Payne
historical consultant J. Paul Halferty
Preview: January 6
Opening Night: January 7 | Closes January 31
Runs Weds-Sat 8pm, Sat & Sun 2:30pm.
Tickets: PWYC - $25 until January 5 | Regular Price PWYC - $37
Box Office 416-975-8555 or buddiesinbadtimes.com
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON
Photo: Paul Dunn, Andrew Kushnir and Damien Atkins.
2015-11-26
Toronto: "The Gay Heritage Project" kicks off a national tour at Buddies in Bad Times in January