Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Nightwood Theatre is thrilled to announce that due to popular demand and sold out performances, the World Premiere of Diane Flacks’s Unholy will be extended by an additional week. Unholy will now run onstage at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, from January 17 – February 5, 2017.
Asking “Should women abandon religion?” four female panellists face off in a wild, whip-smart public debate about religion and misogyny. With opinions flying from a progressive Muslim lawyer, an Orthodox Jewish spiritual leader, an excommunicated nun and a lesbian atheist pundit, Unholy delivers a hilarious, no-holds-barred look at contemporary women in organized religion.
Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre, says, “Unholy is creating a lot of buzz, and there seems to be an overwhelming desire to talk about women and misogyny in the context of the current political climate. With the inauguration in the U.S. happening in the first week of the run, we are thrilled to be staging a piece that directly responds to the Trump era.”
To expand the conversation about women in religion beyond the stage, Nightwood has programmed compelling conversations with some of Toronto’s most engaging female leaders in progressive religious thought:
Friday, January 20th – Gretta Vosper: as an atheist and a minister with the United Church of Canada, Gretta’s self-proclaimed motto is “Irritating the church into the 21st century.” SOLD OUT
Monday, January 23rd* – Nightwood Theatre Young Innovator Michela Sisti hosts a panel discussion about women in religion as part of Brave New Theatre’s response to Unholy. Joining her will be playwright Diane Flacks, Raheel Raza (journalist and inter-faith consultant), and Andrea Budgey (Humphrys Chaplain, freelance writer and environmental activist).
*Please note, there a no performances of Unholy on Mondays. For more information on Brave New theatre please visit: https://www.facebook.com/bravenewtheatre/
Wednesday, January 25th – Stay post-show for a Q & A with stellar cast members of Unholy.
Friday, January 27th – Lynn Harrison: a Reverend with First Toronto Unitarian, an interfaith, non-denominational congregation with its roots in social justice and inclusion.
Thursday, February 2nd – Due to popular demand, atheist minister Gretta Vosper will return to share her insights on women in religion and inclusive atheism.
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT:
Diane Flacks is an Emmy, Gemini and Dora nominated writer/performer, known for her theatre work, TV writing (Working the Engles for NBC, Baroness Von Sketch, Workin’ Moms and Kids in the Hall for CBC), her featured columns in the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail, as well as her regular national CBC radio column on parenting. Diane has a long history of play development and performance with Nightwood Theatre, and Unholy marks her third production with the company (along with Random Acts and Bear with Me). Other noteworthy playwriting and performing credits include Waiting Room (Tarragon Theatre), and the award-winning Sibs and Care, co-written with Richard Greenblatt (Tarragon Theatre). Flacks’ work is celebrated for confronting difficult issues with her unique brand of honesty, edge and humour.
Unholy stars Diane Flacks, Barbara Gordon, Niki Landau, Blair Williams and Bahareh Yaraghi.
Tickets range from $25 to $35 and are available in person at the Buddies in Bad Times Box Office, 12 Alexander Street, 416-975-8555 or at nightwoodtheatre.net or buddiesinbadtimes.com
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Tuesday – Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2:30pm and 8pm. Sunday, 2:30pm.
Opening Night: Wednesday, January 18th, 2017
For more information on Unholy or Nightwood Theatre visit nightwoodtheatre.net
Photo: Niki Landau and Barbara Gordon. ©2017 John Lauener.
2017-01-17
Toronto: Diane Flacks's "Unholy" is extended to February 5 due to popular demand