Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Play gives White Supremacy the Smackdown This fall, don’t miss Will You Be My Friend produced by Waterloo Region’s Green Light Arts, with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille.
Dr. West, Pluto's leading Friendiologist, presents a program just for People of Colour (POC) to make friends and find happiness. His secret: become White! Janice, a lonely artist, enthusiastically enrolls and gets paired up with Mike. He's a super well-meaning guy. Observe as she navigates love, friendship and the fun times pretending not to be "ethnic."
Originally titled: Janice Lee and the White Supremacy Smackdown, Will You Be My Friend is a sharply funny and brutally honest musical comedy about the everyday challenges when loving white people. Written by and starring award-winning Korean-Canadian artist, Janice Jo Lee. Through stories and fifteen original songs the award-winning performer challenges audiences to examine their privileges and reconsider the different ways we act in day-to-day life.
After premiering in Kitchener, ON to sold-out houses, Green Light Arts is bringing their hit show to Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace from Oct 25-Nov 11, 2018, thanks to the support of Theatre Passe Muraille who programmed it in their 2018-19 Season. “I am always interested in programming shows where people use their own lived experience as a jumping off point for dramatizing larger issues that are resonant and relevant to all of us. It also helps if it's as funny as this is. Plus it is a bonus for us to present the work of someone who doesn’t live in Toronto. And on top of all of that there’s music. What’s not to love?” offers Andy McKim, Theatre Passe Muraille’s Artistic Director.
Laura Mae Lindo, MPP for Kitchener Centre and a super supporter of the show, exclaimed that the play is the “perfect way to unpack racism, shed labels of ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘diversity’, and create a space where true work on anti-oppression can begin allowing for a much more nuanced and authentic discussion to occur.”
“The play is unapologetic,” shares Green Light Arts, Artistic Producer, Matt White who directed and helped develop the show with Janice. “When I first approached her about working together,” Matt continues, “she told me about this but warned me that, as a white man, I am kind of the antagonist in the play. I was up for the challenge. It’s been a great journey. I’ve learned a lot about privilege and the nuances of allyship. There is a definite urgency to having these conversations.”
Despite having been developing for a couple of years, the play contains themes headlining news feeds across North America. Sometimes it can feel like nothing is changing in these narratives. It is really refreshing when Janice disrupts the arc of the play: “we use the structure of the kind of a romantic musical fairy tale and then flip it on its head to challenge the audience to recognize that we can’t just laugh at the racism built into the structure, and go home feeling good and move on,” Janice suggests, “if they are aware of how easy it is to get away with racism, maybe they can do or say something to stop the behaviour.”
WILL YOU BE MY FRIEND
WARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE.
GREEN LIGHT ARTS CREATIVE TEAM
Written & Performed by Janice Jo Lee
Directed and Developed by Matt White
Set & Costume Design by Julia Kim
Lighting Design by Paul Cegys
Music Arrangements by Joni Nehrita
Original Music by Janice Jo Lee
Stage Management by Lin-Mei Lay
Production Management by Laura Johnson
SHOW SCHEDULE
WEEK 1 (previews):
Thursday, Oct 25, 2018 7:30pm
Friday, Oct 26, 2018 7:30pm
Saturday, Oct 27, 2018 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct 28, 2018 2:00pm
WEEK 2:
Tuesday, Oct 30, 2018 7:30pm (opening)
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2018 7:30pm (pre-show chat)
Thursday, Nov 1, 2018 7:30pm
Friday, Nov 2, 2018 7:30pm
Saturday, Nov 3, 2018 7:30pm
Sunday, Nov 4, 2018 2:00pm (relaxed performance)
WEEK 3:
Tuesday, Nov 6, 2018 7:30pm
Wednesday, Nov 7, 2018 7:30pm
Thursday, Nov 8, 2018 7:30pm
Friday, Nov 9, 2018 7:30pm
Saturday, Nov 10, 2018 7:30pm
Sunday, Nov 11, 2018 2:00pm (audio-described performance)
TICKETS
•BOX OFFICE HOURS:
•THEATRE ADDRESS: 16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2P3
•EMAIL: info@passemuraille.on.ca
•PHONE: 416-504-7529
Website: greenlight-arts.com
Facebook: @greenlight.arts
Twitter: @GreenLight_Arts
Instagram: greenlight_arts
Hashtags: #WillYouBeMyFriend #WYBMF #smackdown
Photo: Janice Jo Lee. ©Hannah Yoon.
2018-10-10
Toronto: Greenlight Arts presents "Will You Be My Friend?" October 25-November 11