Ottawa Arts: September edition
Hi everyone!
Welcome to a brand new season of the arts in Ottawa. This season is especially exciting because, as I’m sure most of you have heard, the Great Canadian Theatre Company opens its doors this weekend to the new Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre at Wellington and Holland. Tours are happening Saturday and Sunday, but feel free to pass by outside before then – this building is HOT.
Everyone is saying that Ottawa needs more venues for theatre, film, dance, and multi-media: this place is certainly a step in the right direction. Not only is the GCTC using this building, but numerous other companies in the area. Third Wall Theatre Co. is the permanent resident of the studio space. After Top Girls, which plays at the Arts Court in October, all their shows will take place at the new venue. Also, John P. Kelly’s 7:30 Productions has a show coming up in October. Then, in February a company from Toronto called Artword will mark the first guest company to perform in the mainstage space. They’re producing a revival production of “If Cows Could Fly,” created and performed by Allan Merovitz, about growing up Jewish in Smiths Falls.
So many good things happening all year. But for now, let’s focus on what’s going on in September. The opening show can make or break a season… so, the pressure’s on!
The National Arts Centre’s English Theatre opens their season with The Penelopiad, the novel-turned-dramatic spectacle by Margaret Atwood. The story revolves around Penelope, wife of Odysseus (from Homer’s The Odyssey), telling her side of the story. Since this is a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England, the all-female cast is made up of Canadian and British actresses (Mojisola Adebayo, Derbhle Crotty, Lisa Karen Cox, Philippa Domville, Penny Downie, Kate Hennig, Pauline Hutton, Corrine Koslo, Sarah Malin, Pamela Matthews, Kelly McIntosh, and Jenny Young) and is directed by Swedish based Josette Bushell-Mingo. At the NAC Theatre from September 21 to October 6, The Penelopiad marks the first time the RSC has collaborated with a Canadian theatre company – which makes this show a very, very big deal.
For more information, check out nac.ca/en/theatre/the_penelopiad/index.html
And if you’re looking brush up your Homer before The Penelopiad (ha, try saying that 10 times fast…) opens, then you should definitely check out the Ottawa Storytellers’ telling of The Odyssey, which runs from September 13-15 at the NAC’s 4th stage. Four gifted tellers – Gail Anglin, Jan Andrews, Jennifer Cayley, and Ellis Lynn Duschenes – will tell four of the most famous stories from this epic classic: the encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the seduction by the enchantress Circe, the return of Odysseus and the great battle in the hall that cleanses his kingdom, and the reunion of Odysseus and his faithful wife Penelope.
One thing I’ve noticed about the Ottawa arts scene is the rising number of spectacular photographers in our midsts. From the Ottawa Xpress freelancers to the photography artists in their studios, there is a lot of talent that deserves to be seen. So, when I heard that this city was hosting Festival X: the Ottawa Photography Festival, my response was: Well, of course! What a simple, yet brilliant idea.
In short, the festival, which runs from September 20-30th showcases Ottawa’s top photographers by highlighting the hot spots for photography in the city. Don’t miss amazing galleries such as La Petite Mort on Cumberland (right around the corner from my new apartment!) and Carisse Studio Cafe (on Sussex – home of Jean Marc Carisse’s rare pieces, and a great source for political and cultural Canadiana). There are also workshops, gallery lectures, artists’ talks, and a super fancy gala.
For more information, check out http://www.festivalx.ca/
Inspired by A Company of Fools’ production of Twelfth Night this summer? Have some burning desire to become a fool yourself? Take a gander at the Fools’ workshops happening this fall: Al Connors delves into improv from September 21-23; Margo MacDonald shares her expertise of Shakespearian texts and techniques from September 28-30; and Scott Florence encourages you to embrace your inner Fool from October 5-7.
For more information, http://fools.ca/
Finally, if you’re looking to get into the acting scene yourself, you might want to check out this audition notice from Ottawa’s own….
New Ottawa Repertory Theatre (NORT) will hold auditions for “Family Matters” by Paul Dervis, author of the award-winning “On Any Monday Night”, and “At Water’s Edge.
Auditions:
Date: Sunday September 9, 2006 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
For appointments, phone 613-231-7562, or e-mail nort@ncf.ca.
Location : Club Saw (Arts Court), 67 Nicholas Street (near Daly)
Characters: 6 characters, male and female; the youngest is stage age 16.
Actors will be asked to read from sides of the play.
Performance Dates:
Oct.24-28, Oct.31–Nov.4, 2007, 8 pm
All performances take place at Club Saw (Arts Court), 67 Nicholas Street (near Daly)
The Play
“Family Matters” is a series of three connected one act plays, demonstrating how actions within an extended family can affect family members over generations
The three plays are interrelated by the fact of the different family relationships – mother, brother, niece, brother-in-law. However, none of the characters is in more than one play. For example, in the first play, the woman talks about her two children. Her son is in the last play, thirty years later.
Best of luck fitting all of these wonderful events into your schedule! Stay tuned for MANY more openings this fall as the GCTC, Third Wall, Vision Theatre, NORT, Tara Players, and 7:30 Productions kick off their seasons. Check out my article in the Ottawa Xpress this week for more details. If there is another event that you know should be included here, please contact me by email, and I will post it on my website at www.jessicaruano.wordpress.com
Artistically yours,
Jessica
P. S. This just in from Amanda Lewis…
The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama (OSSD), Ottawa’s pre-eminent theatre school, is opening the doors at OSSD to the public for its annual Fall Open House.
Saturday September 8, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Admission is free.
Guests are invited to participate in:
- Free mini workshop with instructors and staff
- Tours of OSSD’s rehearsal and performance studios
- Free draws for prizes including a draw for a $500.00 course voucher
- Registration for fall courses
- LIVE ON LOCATION radio broadcast with MAJIC 100
It’s a great opportunity to meet with staff and instructors and enjoy free refreshments.
The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama offers professional instruction in acting, musical theatre, auditioning techniques and much more. Children and adults have developed stage skills, spontaneity, confidence and a sense of teamwork. The Ottawa School of Speech & Drama also offers a 2-year, pre-professional program for the career-minded thespian!
For information on the Open House or OSSD’s courses call (613) 567-6788 or visit http://ossd.com/public_html/html/studios/studio_whatson.html
Workshop Schedule
11:30am – Theatre Games (Paul Dervis)
12:00pm – Spoken Word (Danielle K.L. Grégoire)
12:30pm – Playwright’s Workshop for Adults (Paul Dervis)
1:00pm – Spoken Word (Danielle K.L. Grégoire)
1:30pm – Improvisation (Ken Godmere)
2:00pm – Singing (Sylvia Larrass)
2:30pm – Drama Games (Nick Miller)
