Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, ON, March 21, 2016 – On the heels of the sell-out success of Grey Gardens The Musical, Acting Up Stage Company is excited to announce an all new triptych of artwork inspired short musicals, in Reframed at the Art Gallery of Ontario from April 12 – 17, 2016, co-produced with the Art Gallery of Ontario in association with Yonge Street Theatricals. A rare opportunity to be immersed in fine art, music, and live performance at the AGO, performances take place in the gallery, surrounded by the paintings that inspired them. Visitors will be immersed in the dynamic and resonant connections between art and music.
Acting Up Stage Company’s latest initiative to foster Canadian composers, lyricists, and bookwriters and the creation of new Canadian musical theatre, Reframed couples three pairs of prominent Toronto playwrights and composers with a painting in the AGO’s permanent collection for the creation of an original 20 minute musical. All three pieces are performed nightly for an intimate audience inside the AGO’s Richard Barry Fudger Memorial Gallery where the paintings are hung.
The three new works being presented at Reframed are Sara Farb and Britta Johnson’s He Is Coming inspired by Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs’ He Is Coming, Erin Shields and Bryce Kulak’s La Casati inspired by Augustus John’s famous painting of his socialite lover The Marchesa Casati and Julie Tepperman and Kevin Wong’s The Preposterous Posthumous Predicament of Paulie Peel inspired by Canadian artist Paul Peel’s The Young Biologist.
“This is such an exciting initiative for us,” comments Acting Up Stage Company Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus. “With Reframed we are bringing original Canadian musicals to life and showcasing the work of a fantastic new generation of musical theatre writers – a core priority of our mandate. Simultaneously, we are experimenting with cross- disciplinary partnerships and bringing a music, theatre and visual arts audience together for an intimate, immersive celebration of creativity. I think the combination of live musical theatre performers and musicians in one of the country’s most hallowed artistic institutions, is going to yield a truly distinctive and unmissable artistic experience.”
“We are thrilled to be part of this innovative partnership in which musical theatre brings 3 extraordinary artworks to life in ways we have not previously imagined possible,” says Judith Koke, Chief, Public Programming and Learning, Art Gallery of Ontario. “The writers and actors have inspired unique, contemporary readings of paintings we tend to see through the lens of history. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience live theatre in the actual galleries.”
Reframed is produced by Acting Up Stage Company and the Art Gallery of Ontario in association with Yonge Street Theatricals, directed by Robert McQueen, with musical direction by Tara Litvack.
Reframed runs April 12 – April 17, with 7:00pm shows April 12, 13, 14; April 15 at 6:00pm; and April 16 and 17 shows at 1:00pm and 4:00pm. Tickets can be purchased from $25 - $40 at www.actingupstage.com.
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About Reframed
On stage April 12 - 17
Produced by Acting Up Stage Company and the Art Gallery of Ontario in association with Yonge Street Theatricals
Directed by Robert McQueen
Musical direction by Tara Litvack
Written and composed by
Sara Farb & Britta Johnson (He Is Coming inspired by He Is Coming by Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs)
Erin Shields & Bryce Kulak (La Casati inspired by The Marchesa Casati by Augustus John)
Julie Tepperman & Kevin Wong (The Preposterous Posthumous Predicament of Paulie Peel inspired by The Young Biologist by Paul Peel)
Cast
Tim Funnell
Kaylee Harwood
Eliza-Jane Scott
Orchestra
Tara Litvack
Sam Bisson
Tara Davidson
The Preposterous Posthumous Predicament of Paulie Peel
Music and lyrics – Kevin Wong
Book - Julie Tepperman
After the sudden death of his scientist father, ten year old Paulie Peel, and his mother Pauline, struggle to make sense of this tragedy. At the funeral, Paulie reveals a surprising scientific theory for dad's untimely "death" - a conundrum that only he, as his father's trusted apprentice, can solve.
Inspired by The Young Biologist, Paul Peel (Canada, 1860-1892). 1891. Oil on canvas, 119.4 x 99.1 cm. Bequest of T.P. Loblaw, Toronto, 1933. Copyright 2016 Art Gallery of Ontario.
He Is Coming
Music and lyrics – Britta Johnson
Book – Sara Farb
Irene Newman, arguably New York's most influential living artist, is being evicted from her legendary apartment and studio in just a few minutes. But, of course, what's the rush?
Inspired by He Is Coming, Otto Willem Albertus Roelofs (Holland, 1877 – 1920). Late 19th, early 20th c. Oil on panel, 37.5 x 30.5 cm. Bequest of F.W.G. Fitzgerald, 1949. Copyright 2016 Art Gallery of Ontario.
La Casati
Music and lyrics – Bryce Kulak
Book – Erin Shields
Painter Augustus John discovers his friend and one-time lover Luisa, Marchesa Casati hiding out in her crumbling Venetian palace. His attempts to get her to come to terms with her imminent bankruptcy are hijacked by La Casati’s desperate need to draw him into the past.
Inspired by The Marchesa Casati, Augustus John (England, 1878-1961). 1919. Oil on canvas, 96.5 x 68.6 cm. Purchase, 1934. Copyright 2016 Art Gallery of Ontario.
About Acting Up Stage Company
Acting Up Stage Company produces entertaining and poignant contemporary musicals, brings new musicals to life, and develops the artists and audiences of tomorrow.
Since 2004, they have been rewarded time and again with rave reviews, sold-out performances, 10 Toronto Theatre Critics’ Awards, 45 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations and 9 wins. .
Past productions include Grey Gardens, The Wild Party, Elegies: A Song Cycle, Once On This Island, Falsettos, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata, Caroline, or Change, Ride The Cyclone, Parade, and The Light In The Piazza.
Visit http://actingupstage.com.
Illustration: The Marchesa Casati. ©1919 Augustus John.
2016-03-21
Toronto: Acting Up Stage Company and the AGO present "Reframed" April 12-17