Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON – Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) will present a “theatrical” event like no other. They will be transforming the Mainspace for The Ultimate Theatre Championship, a three-day event culminating with the TPM Gala fundraiser and “Heavyweight” Championships.
The gladiators of Canadian theatre meet face to face in the Ultimate Theatre Championship to determine this country's greatest welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight actors! Bare-knuckle monologues, grudge-match scene work and nail-biting stage combat will keep you on the edge of your seat! Choose your champion, place your bets and come early to get a ringside seat! Two actors enter the cage, but only one will exit - the UTC will ignite your Theatrical bloodlust!
Created and led by Rebecca Northan, inspired by the UFC, this is a unique theatre experience showcasing the talent and diversity of Toronto’s theatre artists. Actors are paired up according to their division for a series of rounds in an all-out theatrical duel. The matches will occur onstage within a “caged” octagon, made to appear like a UFC bout. Guest judges, MC’s providing colour commentary, hot dogs and popcorn are all part of the experience.
HOSTED BY: Rebecca Northan & Ron Pederson. REFEREE: Colin Doyle
Thursday, April 9th – Welterweights... Keep your eye on these talents! Joella CRICHTON vs Craig PIKE
Katherine CULLEN vs Rose NAPOLI
Christy BRUCE vs Qasim KHAN (title match)
Friday, April 10th - Middleweights... You know them, you love them! Leah-Simone BOWEN vs Craig LAUZON
Alex MCCOOEY vs Ellen-Ray HENNESEY
Kristen THOMSON vs Matthew EDISON (title match)
Saturday, April 11th - Heavyweights - TPM GALA... Bastions of Canadian talent!
Kate HENNIG vs Tanja JACOBS
Maja ARDAL vs Andre SILLS
Ted DYSTRA vs Richard GREENBLATT (title match)
How a match works:
3 Round, Undercard Fight:
Round 1 - Monologue from Canadian Theatre cannon
Round 2 - The Cold Read! Actors are surprised with a scene from a Canadian play. Watch them make choices on the fly and work together.
Round 3 - The "Free" Round – Actors can do anything they want to show of their unique skills!
5 Round, Title match:
All of the above plus TWO more rounds:
Round 4 - Anything musical!
Round 5 - An improvised, slow-motion stage fight, extreme danger in super slow-mo!
Each fight judged by a panel of celebrity and industry Judges: media stars, Artistic Directors from across Toronto, seasoned actors.
"We haven't been this excited about our Gala Fundraiser in years! The actors are throwing themselves in with gusto, and keeping most of what they have planned a secret, even from us. I can't wait to see what sort of theatrical smack-down these fearless actors bring to the cage!" Andy McKim, Artistic Director, Theatre Passe Muraille
"I've wanted to do this forever - find a way for excellent actors to come together in a celebratory and ridiculous scenario. My boyfriend got me into watching the UFC... and every time I see it I think, 'wouldn't it be great to see a theatre audience lose their minds like that?' Keith Johnstone's Theatresports does that for improvisers, this is a chance for actors to get in on the fun of 'theatre as grudge-match.' " Rebecca Northan, creator
"I'm gonna mop the floor with Greenblatt!" Ted Dystra, Heavyweight
"Dykstra's gonna get what's coming to him!" Richard Greenblatt, Heavyweight
Theatre Passe Muraille gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of Season Sponsor BMO Financial Group.
Facebook: TheatrePasseMuraille Twitter: @beyondwallsTPM #UTCtpm
2015-03-30
Toronto: Theatre Passe Muraille's Ultimate Theatre Championship runs April 9-11