May Days
May, 2009
Hello All, Well. this years Mussorgsky Project was a huge success. In only three years this annual reading series of new works by the Obsidian’s Playwrights Unit has grown steadily- reaching five times as many people as in 2007. On May 3rd the Studio at Factory Theatre was packed with friends, family, artists and alumni who sat back and enjoyed three exciting, new works.Thank you all for supporting the Obsidian Playwrights Unit and these very fine artists.
09/10 Season Announcement
We are thrilled to announce a dazzling 10 th anniversary season featuring the remount of our highly acclaimed production Intimate Apparel by the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage (presented by the Canadian Stage Company) , and the World Premier of playwright/ director ahdri zhina mandiela’s who knew grannie: a dub aria (in association with Factory Theatre). We are also looking forward to another year of artist development through the Mentor/ Apprentice Program, Playwrights Unit and the Harvest Reading Series. Intimate Apparel
Written by Lynn Nottage
Directed by Philip Akin (A remount of Obsidian Theatre’s Canadian Premier production, presented by The Canadian Stage Company) February 8th – March 6th, 2010 Bluma Appel Theatre Intimate Apparel is a love story set in New York in 1905. Esther, an ambitious and independent African-American woman has aspirations in conflict with turn of the century society. A gifted seamstress who has gained financial independence by sewing elegant undergarments for socialites and prostitutes, she dreams of opening her own boutique. When a charming Caribbean islander writes to her a romance begins that promises to help her realize her dreams.
who knew grannie: a dub aria
Written and Directed by ahdri zhina mandiela (World Premier in association with Factory Theatre) March 13th – April 4th, 2010 Factory Theatre Mainstage Playwright ahdri zhina mandiela (Scratch, Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,/rock.paper.sistahz Festival) delivers a dub aria entrenched in the political and performative poetics of Jamaican reggae roots culture. Steeped in the language of the land who knew grannie revisits the shaping songs of childhood, the strength of matriarchal influences and the ability of four cousins to come together to honour their common source of strength; grannie. Harvest Reading Series October 21, 22, 23rd, 2009 Berkeley Street Theatre Obsidian presents the Harvest Reading Series - three evenings of Black Canadian playwrights reading from their works. Harvest is both a retrospective of plays that have shaped Black Canadian theatre since 1970 and a look at the works of emerging playwrights. From the iconic to the untested, plays presented at Harvest will reflect the breadth of the Black Canadian theatre cannon.
Pin-Ups Represent
Show your support with Obsidian buttons! Now Available for only $2 each or 3 for $5 For more information please send an email to office@obsidian-theatre.com
Call Out for Playwrights Unit 09/10
This coming season Obsidian will be introducing Playwrights Unit: Tier 2, which will concentrate on the development of full-length main stage plays. Tier 2 begins in the fall and will work according to the needs of the playwrights and their scripts. There will be dramaturgical support, private readings and a public event that will showcase their new works. How to Apply: Please send in a resume or current bio, cover letter explaining the project you would like to work on while in the Unit and a 5-10 pageexcerpt from said project by Friday May 29, 2009 to:
Playwrights Unit- Tier 2 c/o Harmony Cohen
Obsidian Theatre Company
943 Queen St E
Toronto, ON
M4M 1J6
Successful Playwrights will be notified by Monday June 15, 2009.
That about wraps it up for this month, Philip |
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Audrey Dwyer, star of Black Medea shows off her Obsidian Style
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