Stage Door News
Stage Door News
What is there left to do when you have one bullet, one granola bar, and one zombie blocking the only exit? That’s the dilemma facing these two survivors of the zombie apocalypse. Having narrowly escaped certain death it appears their luck has finally run out. With the zombie slowly nearing, they contemplate survival, fear, humanness, and their relationship with each other. Unique in its use of narrow staging and single setting to convey the feeling of claustrophobia and impending doom, DEAD END follows in the suspenseful and darkly comedic tradition of playwrights such as Martin McDonagh and David Ives.
Written by JONNY SUN (Author, Playwright, @jonnysun) and directed by MICHAEL ORLANDO (You Can Sleep When You’re Dead), DEAD END features a powerhouse cast and crew, starring CHRISTIAN SMITH (Showlo, Hatchlings Show), CHRIS WILSON (Peter N' Chris, 3-time Canadian Comedy Award winner) and CERIDWEN KINGSTONE (Inch of Your Life, Patron's Pick, Toronto Fringe 2016) and, lighting design by MELISSA JOAKIM (2016 Dora Awards nominee, Outstanding Lighting Design, The Whole Shebang 2015:Taken By Night), sound design by JASON O’BRIEN, special effects design by MEGAN FRASER and costumes by ROSELIE WILLIAMSON.
"I think at heart, it's a meditation on the idea of the Other," says playwright Jonny Sun, whose irreverent and hilarious Twitter persona @jonnysun has amassed over 175,000 followers. "I was drawn to writing it too because it's essentially made up of all the elements I love about intimate theatre: it's about the space and about being trapped there with these characters, which is an experience that only theater can truly encapsulate… I think [the audience will] like it because it's funny and dark and sad and sharp and entertaining.”
Adds director Michael Orlando, “This story and our production has many points of access for the audience member." Theatre Lab staged readings of Dead End earlier in 2016 to packed houses, who connected with the show that is, at once, very dark and screamingly funny. "Someone may find themselves being initially drawn in by a certain element," elaborates Michael, "but become more deeply engaged because of another I have often briefly described it to friends as hilarious and heartbreaking, equal part railway engine and stunned silence.”
Why are they both excited about this show? Put simply by Orlando - “I'm most excited to be able to tell this story. As a theatre artist, I consider myself primarily a storyteller, and Jonny has given [Theatre Lab] an incredible one to tell. Working on a new show is very much an act of faith, and working within such a strong and talented mix of both previous and new collaborators is thrilling and very fulfilling.”
DEAD END presented by THEATRE LAB premieres this October at Factory Studio Theatre: funny as hell and just as dark.
Theatre Lab presents
DEAD END
Written by JONNY SUN
Directed by MICHAEL ORLANDO
Featuring CHRISTIAN SMITH, CHRIS WILSON and CERIDWEN KINGSTONE
Lighting Design by MELISSA JOAKIM Sound Design by JASON O’BRIEN
Special Effects Design by MEGAN FRASER Costumes by ROSELIE WILLIAMSON
Stage Management by HEATHER BELLINGHAM Fight Direction by LOUISA ZHU
Produced by MICHAEL ORLANDO and JONNY SUN
Associate Produced by SIGRID VELIS and KEVIN VIDAL
Factory Studio Theatre 125 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M5V 2R2
Preview OCTOBER 5 - 8pm
Opens OCTOBER 6 runs to OCTOBER 23
Tuesday to Saturday 8pm Sundays 2pm
Tickets: Preview - $15
Tuesdays - PWYC
Wednesday/Thursday - $25
Friday/Saturday/Sunday - $30
All prices inclusive of HST
Call 416-504-9971 or visit the box office
2016-09-08
Toronto: Theatre Lab presents the premiere of Jonny Sun's "Dead End" October 6-23