Stage Door News
Stage Door News
"This year's line-up is the most diverse in the festival's history – and brings together Ottawa's most exciting emerging artists with some of the city's most established” says Festival Director, Patrick Gauthier.
“Add in a bilingual show, a play staged on a bus, and a dog on stage... what's not to love?"
Meet the 2019 undercurrents lineup
BROKEN TAILBONE
Commissioned and developed by Nightswimming
Created by Carmen Aguirre
Directed by Brian Quirt
Performed by Carmen Aguirre with DJ Don Pedro
Toronto, Ontario
75 minutes | Mature
SYNOPSIS
Enter into one of Canada’s most unique environments… the hidden Latinx dance halls you’ve never heard of! Celebrated writer and performer Carmen Aguirre is joined by DJ Don Pedro to tell the hilarious stories of her experiences in these secret spaces. Daring, sexy, and fun, Carmen weaves stories of intimacy, politics, culture – and the forgotten origins of the salsa – into a public dance lesson that will have even the most reluctant dancer up on their feet.
Gather together to listen, move and be moved!
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, February 13 at 7:00pm
THURSDAY, February 14 at 9:00pm
FRIDAY, February 15 at 7:00pm
SATURDAY, February 16 at 9:00pm
Arts Court Studio
RAISING STANLEY / LIFE WITH TULIA
a Raising Stanley / Life With Tulia Collective production
Performed by Kim Kilpatrick and Tulia
Directed by Bronwyn Steinberg
Original art by Karen Bailey
Ottawa, Ontario
75 minutes | G
SYNOPSIS
Is a guide dog just a dog that works, or are they more than that? Kim Kilpatrick tells stories of the four guide dogs she has handled, accompanied by Karen Bailey’s paintings of the puppy she raised for Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind – guiding you on the journey from energetic puppy to working dog for the blind.
Whether your experience is through sound, sight, or the combination of both, you are fully included in the stories, the paintings, and the stories behind the paintings in this collaboration of storytelling, painting, video, and theatre.
Plus, you can never go wrong with a dog on stage.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, February 7 at 7:00pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 9:00pm
THURSDAY, February 14 at 7:00pm
SATURDAY, February 16 at 3:00pm*
Arts Court Theatre
*A talkback will follow this performance.
COACH OF THE YEAR
a Pierre Brault production
Created & Directed by Pierre Brault
Ottawa, ON
80 minutes | 14+
SYNOPSIS
Daryl Conners is on a winning streak. His Junior A hockey team is racking up minor league records and is deemed unbeatable. The boys would do anything for him, their parents adore him, and the league has just named him “Coach of the Year.”
When a young man shows up unexpectedly at Daryl’s motel room late one night, Coach Conners must answer for his past and the lasting impact he’s had on his former players.
A new play from award-winning Ottawa playwright Pierre Brault.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, February 8 at 9:00pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 7:00pm
WEDNESDAY, February 13 at 9:00pm
SATURDAY, February 16 at 1:00pm*
Arts Court Theatre
*A talkback will follow this performance.
LIGHT(LESS)
a Second Step production
Created by Monica Bradford-Lea, Caterina Fiorindi, Even Gilchrist, Nicholas Leno, Franco Pang, and Montana Adams
Directed by Nicholas Leno
Performed by Montana Adams, Monica Bradford-Lea, Rachel Lloyd, and Franco Pang
Ottawa, Ontario
75 minutes | G
SYNOPSIS
In a world where everyone can control electricity, what to make of a Boy whose power is out? Tired of being an unlit outsider, the Boy must journey through sea and sky, from deepest ocean to darkest space, to capture the brightest light there is – the Moon.
A play without words. An adventure for all ages.
Created as part of the under development program.
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, February 6 at 9:30pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 3:00pm*
FRIDAY, February 15 at 9:00pm
SATURDAY, February 16 at 7:00pm
Arts Court Studio
*A talkback will follow this performance.
THE PERSISTENT STAIN
a Parry Riposte production
Created & Performed by Geoff McBride & Margo MacDonald
Composed by Nick Di Gaetano
Ottawa, ON
30 minutes | Mature
SYNOPSIS
Canadian punk band The Persistent Stain have been slogging it out on the independent music circuit – dive bars, basement clubs, small town arenas – for over 25 years. Thanks to their “hit” song Aristotle’s Dick making its way onto the soundtrack for a major motion picture, band members Joey Blank and Maxie Staines find themselves more popular than ever, but that’s not saying much. What do you do when you’ve followed your dream, but the dream is no longer enough?
A play about creating art, losing your way, finding your place… and some fucking loud music.
A work-in-progress, created as part of the under development program.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, February 7 at 10:30pm
FRIDAY, February 8 at 10:30pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 10:30pm
Arts Court Studio
The Persistent Stain is a PWYC (Pay What You Can) performance. You can pay cash only through a pass-the-hat after the show.
BY-PRODUCT.D-RIVÉ
a University of Ottawa Theatre Department production
Created by Poids Plumes, Even Gilchrist, Emily Pearlman, Emily Séguin & Maxim Racicot-Doucet
Performed by David Bélizaire, Émilie Camiré-Pecek, Virginie Charland, Liam Lahey, Noah Marcus, Adia Mayers-Hemmings, Maxim Racicot-Doucet, Aryane Roberge, Sine Robinson, Emily Séguin & Stephanie Velichkin
Directed by André Perrier
Ottawa, Ontario
90 minutes | 14+
SYNOPSIS
Somewhere between two languages, between Hull and the Glebe, is a scream. A middle finger. An amused look. A love letter. A desire. A fresh start. An invitation.
A portrait of the national capital region – seen and told by Ottawa’s emerging and established artists. At times soft and subdued, at times a little rough around the edges. It is fun, it is colourful, it is us.
Presented in collaboration with the University of Ottawa Department of Theatre.
SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, February 7 at 8:00pm
FRIDAY, February 8 at 8:00pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 8:00pm
LabO
THE ARCHIVIST
a Shaista Latif production
Created & Performed by Shaista Latif
Toronto, Ontario
60 minutes | 14+
SYNOPSIS
Shaista Latif is a storyteller who has been invited to tell a story.
She is a perpetual guest, and her time is limited.
So, she will be justifying her existence and building a live archive to mark her eventual disappearance.
This is her story. This is not Aladdin. Watch at your discretion.
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, February 6 at 7:00pm
THURSDAY, February 7 at 9:00pm
FRIDAY, February 8 at 7:00pm
SATURDAY, February 9 at 1:00pm*
Arts Court Theatre
*A talkback will follow this performance.
TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN
a Talk Is Free Theatre production
Created by Darrell Dennis
Directed by Herbie Barnes
Toronto, Ontario
90 minutes | 14+
SYNOPSIS
Simon Douglas. He’s the guy who sits next to you on the bus, and won’t stop talking. About his friends back on the reserve. His mom and grandmother. His girlfriends. A man torn between two worlds, ride along with Simon and see the world through his eyes.
Staged on an OC Transpo bus and sold out across Canada – don’t miss this ride!
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, February 13 at 8:00pm
THURSDAY, February 14 at 8:00pm
FRIDAY, February 15 at 8:00pm
SATURDAY, February 16 at 8:00pm
Staged on an OC Transpo bus.
BUY SINGLE TICKET $20 | BUY FULL FESTIVAL PASS $100
Service fees + HST are included in all prices.
ABOUT UNDERCURRENTS
Produced by Ottawa Fringe.
Our winter festival shows the best original, contemporary theatre being created by Ottawa performers and visiting artists.
Photo: Darrell Dennis in Tales of an Urban Indian.
2018-11-15
Ottawa: the "undercurrents" festival announces its 2019 line-up