Some playwrights are ahead of their time. Among them is Vishesh Abeyratne, the Ottawa-based playwright who began tackling complex intersections of systemic racism, class, and gender… in a play.
An Ottawa theatre company is embarking on a “window tour” of long term care facilities, using FM radio to broadcast the sound to indoor spectators.
Members of the Ottawa theatre community have come together to produce a socially distanced virtual play called Behind the Beyond, available now for free on YouTube.
Eleanor Crowder is an award-winning actor, playwright, and director. She is a member of several artist collectives, including Bear & Co., Calalou, The Skin Songs Collective, and The AWAY Collective. With MASC, Eleanor works in classrooms to explore text and dramatic creation.
Amanda Lewis: “I wanted the children to know that they could continue learning and having fun, but most importantly I wanted them to feel seen and heard and valued. I wanted to give them a small sense of normalcy by continuing their relationship with a trusted and familiar instructor.”
Skeleton Key Theatre produces original Canadian work that creates an immersive theatrical experience outside of traditional theatre spaces. Artistic Director Kate Smith shares her love of imaginary worlds and the “limitless” potential for creative collaboration during COVID-19.
For the last 35 years Odyssey Theatre has been performing open-air Commedia dell’arte plays in Strathcona Park. In order to keep going, the company has announced an ambitious Virtual Odyssey that rolls out over the rest of the year.
Jamaal Jackson Rogers (AKA Just Jamaal the Poet) is well-known as a driving force for good in Ottawa’s spoken-word and literary scene, as well as a member of the MASC community. He talks about working with youth, being inspired by his family, and how he’s managing to stay creative in our COVID-19 world.
The live reading takes place on Thursday, April 23 at 1pm. The stream will run 30 minutes including a live Q&A.
Well-known playwright and comedian Pierre Brault is live streaming his solo show on Friday, April 17th at 8pm.
The Ottawa Arts Council announced its annual Arts Awards winners this week via social media.
The news of the Ottawa Fringe Festival cancellation still came as a shock, since it was the first major summer festival in Ottawa to be cancelled.
Brian Carroll: “This is a finely balanced and executed ensemble performance of a 1990s classic.”
If you are already a fan of the music (ie. have listened to the cast recording on repeat) and have never seen Cats on stage, you couldn’t ask for a better production value to bring something you already love to life. However, for the rest of us, Cats leaves a lot to be desired.
BFFs: “If you’re a fan of the movie, or a fan of this era of hair bands, or just want a trip down memory lane, Rock of Ages is well worth it. You’ll leave tapping your foot, banging your head and grinning from ear to ear.”
