A (mostly) Canadian theatre update for Canada Day! Although I also have a few NYC festival projects coming up in July and August, scroll down for those…
Ontario Experiments & Festivals
My first week, in Toronto, was spent participating in Directors Lab North with an incredible group of 27 early- and mid-career directors from different countries, trainings, and focuses of work. We had the opportunity to share workshops with our fellow labbies, have conversations with Canadian directors, and attend productions at the Stratford Festival and Soulpepper Theatre. Just to name a few, we pitched approaches to a contemporary play, tried out Bouffon and performance art, learned a coin trick from a magic director, wrote an exercise with the Fornés method -- and started so many fascinating discussions and connections with peers. I also enjoyed exploring Toronto and meeting some local researchers from my Expand the Canon committee in person.
Before leaving Ontario I visited the Stratford and Shaw Festivals to catch their early-season offerings, and as usual marvel at all that goes into producing repertory theatre on a large scale. At Stratford, I particularly enjoyed their delightful musical production of La Cage, and well-staged productions of Romeo and Juliet, which I have worked on a good deal, and Cymbeline, which I have not. At the Shaw, highlights included the exciting and innovative premiere of The Orphan of Chao, catching the Canadian premiere of The House That Will Not Stand (which I missed in New York), and checking out their cool Spiegeltent cabaret venue.
It’s been a whirlwind yet extended stretch of traveling, with lots of thought-provoking theatre and a little bit of vacation. But now on to the next, and they’re coming up quick…
Introducing Ladies & Fools
I’ve got not one but two classically-inspired, contemporary-minded festival shows in the works for this summer, so I’m putting together a little banner to encompass both. Ladies & Fools projects spring from a passion for:
-Centering language
-Sparking conversation through comedy
-Bringing new voices into the canon
… And now have a home on my website Here! I’ll keep that page updated with info for both festivals as tickets go on sale. I’m also planning a little pre-production fundraising around July 4th weekend, so stay tuned!!
Fools in the Forest - Ticket information available soon!
June Highlights & Recommendations
Favorite media and performances from the month
Reading A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
Listening (soon) to Mary Kate Wiles’ third Anne Shirley audiobook installment of Anne of the Island, and the Premiere the Play podcast’s upcoming fourth season
Before heading north, early in June I enjoyed catching the Lord of the Rings re-release of The Two Towers in theaters, and my first time seeing August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean, at Two River Theater!
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