Stage Door News
Stage Door News
BOOM, the most presented new play in Canada, hits the stage of the CAA Theatre, August 14 to 19, 2018. Written, directed and performed by Rick Miller, BOOM has travelled across the country since originally playing in Toronto in 2015 at this same venue. It returns home for an encore engagement and wants to mark its homecoming with a very special and unusual promotion.
BOOM is an explosive solo performance that documents the music, culture and politics that shaped the Baby Boomers (1945-1969) in Canada. BOOM takes us through 25 turbulent years, and gives voice to over a 100 influential politicians, activists and musicians. It's a mind-blowing experience for audiences of all generations.
One of the seminal events that BOOM explores is the emigration of draft dodgers and resisters from the U.S. to Canada during the Vietnam War. Beginning in 1965 and continuing into 1974, when the war was formally ended, it is estimated that as many as 125,000 U.S. citizens crossed the border into Canada to avoid or resist the war.
BOOM would like to celebrate the draft dodgers' contributions to Canadian culture by inviting them to join the opening night audience on Tuesday, August 14, 8:00 PM at the CAA Theatre. Tickets will be free to each draft dodger attending. All that is needed is a form of proof — an old draft card, a copy of the Manual for Draft-Age Immigrants to Canada, or just a person’s word of honour. Like the Canadian government in those halcyon days of the 1960s and 1970s, the doors of our theatre will be open to all, but an advance ticket is required.
Draft Dodger tickets can only be booked in advance by visiting https://www.mirvish.com/draft-dodgers. Only one free ticket per eligible draft dodger. If you want to bring your spouse, partner, children, grandchildren, friends, neighbours, colleagues — tickets are priced from $25 to $89. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited — when they’re gone, they’re gone.
Canada was not officially involved in the Vietnam War, although about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in southeast Asia on the American side and Canada did provide peacekeeping troops. As well at the time, Canada had an open-border policy which made it possible for these mostly young men to move here, claiming political asylum.
At its peak in 1971 and 1972, Canada received more immigrants from the U.S. than from any other country. There were many Canadian grassroots organizations founded to assist the American draft dodgers, among them the Toronto Anti-Draft Programme, which in 1968 published the Manual for Draft-Age Immigrants to Canada.
Canadians became much richer because of this influx of U.S. citizens, many of whom were well-educated, and politically and socially conscious. When President Jimmy Carter offered a pardon to draft dodgers if they returned to the U.S. in 1977, many did not return because they found in Canada an inclusive, welcoming society.
Even the Government of Canada officially acknowledged the draft dodgers when it declared: "Starting in 1965, Canada became a choice haven for American draft resisters. Although some of these transplanted Americans returned home after the Vietnam War, most of them put down roots in Canada, making up the largest, best-educated group this country had ever received.”
In Toronto, the draft dodgers formed many communities, especially on Baldwin Street, just outside Kensington Market; at Gerrard and University, which became a bohemian enclave of artists; and in Yorkville, which was already established as the anti-establishment, counter-culture headquarters in Canada. (The CAA Theatre, formerly the Panasonic, is actually located in the Yorkville neighbourhood.)
If you’re not a draft dodger, come out and celebrate with them on August 14 or on any of the subsequent performance days. BOOM will delight and enlighten you, telling stories of the Baby Boomer generation through first-person accounts, songs and many famous events.
David Mirvish presents
BOOM
written, directed and performed by Rick Miller
August 14 to 19, 2018
Evenings — Tue-Sat 8:00 PM; matinees — Wed 1:30 PM, Sat & Sun 2:00 PM
CAA Theatre (formerly the Panasonic), 651 Yonge St., Toronto
Tickets: $25 to $89
Book online: mirvish.com; or by Phone: 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333
* Draft Dodger tickets can only be booked in visiting https://www.mirvish.com/draft-dodgers. Only one free ticket per eligible draft dodger. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited — when they’re gone, they’re gone. After the opening night performance, there will be videographers in the theatre lobbies that will be happy to record each draft dodger’s personal story.
2018-07-23
Toronto: "BOOM" invites American draft dodgers to attend free on opening night August 14