I didn’t realize that once I updated my blog to my new website it would no longer be added here. If you want to keep in touch, make sure you go here and update your RSS feed.

Oh and do check out the website. It’s kind of snazzy if I do say so myself.

A friend messaged me on Facebook recently to ask if I was still alive. When I answered that I had been taking a break from social media, she quickly wondered how that was possible since “you ARE social media.”

I just got tired, you know? I spend approximately 15 hours a day at two joe jobs that revolve entirely around social media. The vast majority of my life is spent in front of a screen and I just don’t have anything witty to say about it anymore.  I wonder if people who work as cooks or cleaners for a living then go home and realize that the last thing they want to do is cook or clean?  These days, I just want to sit in the sun with my new e-reader (ok, still a screen, but at least it’s got me reading fiction again) and hang out with the people I love.

Plus, I’m getting my shit together and re-branding this site. By mid-June, expect a brand spanking new website from yours truly.  There will be a few blog posts before then, mostly about the London Fringe Festival, which I plan on attending, but until then I leave you with this tidbit of juicy news:

Photo credit: Richard Gilmore

Les Prix Rideau Award-winning, critically acclaimed Roller Derby Saved My Soul RETURNS!

I’ve been invited to participate in the Summer Chautauqua Theatre Festival in Swift Current, SK.  The festival organizer was looking up successful Fringe shows that she would like to produce, read good things about RDSMS online and contacted me directly through Facebook (contrary to what I’ve been saying above: gogo social media!) asking if I was touring this year and would I like to bring the show to her festival.  Though the official line-up hasn’t been released, I can tell you that I will be performing on Thursday, July 5th at 9 p.m. and Friday, July 6th at 6 p.m.

That said, since I haven’t performed the show in almost a year, I will be heading up to Ottawa to rehearse with my director, Tania Levy.  Which means:

OTTAWA – ONE DAY ONLY!

Roller Derby Saved My Soul – PWYC – July 2nd, 2012 (Holiday Monday) at the Ottawa School of Speech and Drama – See it again or for the very first time.

Time TBD – If there is enough interest, I may do two runs of the show that day. If you’d like to see the show, please let me know in the comment section if you would like attend a matinee or an evening performance.

I am in a terrible mood. The post-show crash has finally hit me and I am going through one massive case of withdrawal. I wish I could take a vacation, sit on a warm sunny beach somewhere with a few books and finally take the time to read for pleasure. But instead I’m back at work feeling cranky and cross-eyes from editing too much HTML code.

I’ve got no auditions of projects lined up for the next little while and it is uber frustrating and easy to fall into that OMG I AM NEVER GOING TO WORK AGAIN trap.

So, I’m going to do what a friend suggested I do. Today I am taking a moping day to grieve the end of a beautiful show.

Well, the fifth annual Prix Rideau Awards celebration has come and gone and I am pretty thrilled with the results, even if I do say so myself. Roller Derby Saved My Soul walked away with the Outstanding Fringe Production Award and I couldn’t be happier.  After a wonderful matinee of Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety, I quickly ran out to get my hair and makeup done, got dressed and rushed over to the Shenkman Centre where some people had trouble recognizing me when I’m not in my hobo gear.

Accepting the award with my director, Tania Levy, but where's stage manager, Nicolas Alain? Photo credit: Andrew Alexander

There he is! Photo credit: Patrick Kennedy

It really was a perfect evening. A huge thank you to the awards’ organizing committee, as well as the fabulous Jes Lacasse who dressed both myself and my director, Tania Levy.

With the über-talented Jes Lacasse, stylist to the stars! Photo credit: Patrick Kennedy

Oh! And for those of you who’ve been asking when you might actually get the chance to see Roller Derby Saved My Soul? Stay tuned!

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FIFTH ANNUAL PRIX RIDEAU AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

For immediate release

Ottawa, April 23, 2012 – Founded in 2006 to celebrate, encourage and promote French and English locally produced professional

theatre work and its artists, the Prix Rideau Awards is proud to announce the winners for the year 2011.

In 2011, 36 English productions and 12 French productions were juried by two teams of local arts professionals. Nominations were submitted by secret ballot and tallied by independent accountants. A total of 19 awards were presented Sunday, April 22nd, during the Prix Rideau Awards Gala, at the Shenkman Centre for the Arts, in Orleans.

The winners for English-language productions are:

Outstanding Production

Twelfth Night, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival Outstanding Direction

Joël Beddows, The Lavender Railroad, Evolution Theatre Outstanding Performance, Female

Beverley Wolfe, The Lavender Railroad, Evolution Theatre Outstanding Performance, Male

Andy Massingham, Exit the King, Third Wall Theatre

Outstanding Design

Martin Conboy, Lighting Design, The Shadow Cutter, Great Canadian Theatre Company / Sleeping Dog Theatre

Ivo Valentik, Set Design, Speed-the-Plow, Plosive Productions Outstanding New Creation

Julie Le Gal, Andy Massingham and Kevin Orr, Bifurcate Me, Theatre 4.669 Outstanding Adaptation / Translation

David S. Craig (Adaptation), The Fan, Odyssey Theatre Outstanding Fringe Production

Roller Derby Saved My Soul, Broken Turtle Productions

Emerging Artist Award

Katie Bunting, ActorThe winners for French-language productions are:

Production de l’année

Frères d’hiver, Théâtre la Catapulte Mise en scène de l’année

Joël Beddows, Frères d’hiver, Théâtre la Catapulte Interprétation féminine de l’année

Micheline Marin, Taram, Théâtre du Trillium Interprétation masculine de l’année

Richard Bénard, Les Étoiles d’Angus, Théâtre de l’Île

Conception de l’année

Guillaume Houët, éclairages, Frères d’hiver, Théâtre la Catapulte Pierre-Luc Clément et Olivier Fairfield, environnement sonore, Taram, Théâtre du Trillium

Nouvelle création de l’année

Michel Ouellette, adapté par Joël Beddows et Marie Claude Dicaire, Frères d’hiver, Théâtre la Catapulte

Prix artiste en émergence

Marjolaine Beauchamp, dramaturgie

Derrière le Rideau Award

Mathieu Charette, régie, Feu la mère de madame et Un bain de ménage, Théâtre de l’Île

Though I’m all about Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety these days, this is also the week that all these student films I worked on late last year get their official screening. 

Big shout-outs to the gangs at Humber College and York University. I wish I could be there with you to see how everything turned out. In the meantime, here’s the trailer from one of those films, The Sheppard, which premieres tonight at the Bell Lightbox, home of the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Shepherd Official Trailer from Tenebre81 on Vimeo.

Can’t wait to see the whole thing!

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DOUBLE BILL: Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety and [boxhead] 

Arts Court Theatre 
2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON 

April 18th to 28th, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. 
Pay What You Can Matinee: Sunday April 22nd – 2 p.m. 
(no show on Monday) 
Tickets $25, $20 for Students/Seniors 
Available by phone by calling Arts Court at 613-564-7240 

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

I get nervous easy. That’s why I keep so damn busy all the time so I don’t have to focus on how scared I really am. One of the ways I keep busy with a show looming on the horizon (previews tonight!) is by creating my character a playlist. As in what would my character be listening to right now. I know, it might seem a little weird, but I enjoy it.

Now my director has told me I need to have a dance party before the show starts to warm up (which my stage manager has gleefully decided to join me in on), but what does Mary Magdalene listen to during the day?

Here’s what I came up with:

And I’ve been poked and stoked. It’s all smoke, there’s no more fire, only desire for you, wherever you are.

I’ll tear out every page, I’ll give into my rage and if you come back I’ll swear you off for good. My chances looking slim when happiness looks grim. I like this dark place the liquor cheap and good.

Who finds the money? When you pay the rent? Did you think that money was Heaven sent?

She looked at him and he felt a spark tingle to his bones. It was then he felt alone and wished that he’d gone straight and watched out for a simple twist of fate.

And of course, it’s a little on the nose but:

When You Were Young – The Killers
You sit there in your heartache waiting on some beautiful boy to save you from your old ways.

As this is an “infinite” playlist, feel free to leave additional suggestions in the comment section.

****************************************************

DOUBLE BILL: Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety and [boxhead] 

Arts Court Theatre 
2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON 

April 18th to 28th, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. 
Pay What You Can Matinee: Sunday April 22nd – 2 p.m. 
(no show on Monday) 
Tickets $25, $20 for Students/Seniors 
Available by phone by calling Arts Court at 613-564-7240 

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

When I first walked into the space where I will be performing Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety, I was worried about my voice. The space felt big and echo-y, I talk a heck of a lot and my voice has been out of theatre shape for a few months. But after a few days, things seemed to fall into place. Until today. It could be stress, fatigue, or play ol’ sickness, but I woke up with a pretty sore throat this morning.

So, in the spirit of not panicking, I took to Twitter instead. Here, in no particular order, are some tips and tricks I have now picked up from some pretty swell people online. If you have your own tips, please feel free to leave them in the comment section.

@jpduboisgodin: Don’t force your voice, let it come naturally; use only enough air as you need; don’t speak in throat voice, use the “mask”. Direct your voice to the front of your face, don’t hold it back. Air in through the nose, out through the mouth; do warm up exercises; stretch; sing.

@mikaeladyke: stop talking. Honey, Gargle olive oil, steam your vocal chords

@krisjoseph: Rest. Hydrate. Repeat.

@BrianMCarroll: 1) warmups 2) hot water and honey 3) abdominal breathing while performing 4) relaxation exercises before performing. Use the body resonators (skull, sinuses, chest, abdomen) rather than vocal chords to project.

@_DefyGravity23: garlic boosts the immune system, lemon and honey sooth 🙂 Halls vitamin C droplets are awesome when not at home.

@maxlroze: fishermans friend. Period.

@dloehr: Ricola, warm tea.

@tenbruggencate: gargle liquid calcium. Plus lots of lemon tea with honey #liquids

@HeatherInOttawa: I stayed away from hot and cold drinks prior to shows or recitals, and only drank warm or room temperature. My voice teacher recommended that. I don’t actually know if it’s legit or not!

And although  there isn’t a prize for best advice tweet…

@AlixSideris: keep lubricated … f’you know what I mean

****************************************************

DOUBLE BILL: Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety and [boxhead] 

Arts Court Theatre 
2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON 

April 18th to 28th, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. 
Pay What You Can Matinee: Sunday April 22nd – 2 p.m. 
(no show on Monday) 
Tickets $25, $20 for Students/Seniors 
Available by phone by calling Arts Court at 613-564-7240 

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

Oh right, I have a blog don’t I?

I can’t believe I’ve already been in Ottawa for two whole weeks. Rehearsals have been INTENSE. You guys, one person shows are hard! You’d think I already knew this, but nope; Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety has pushed me further in two weeks than Roller Derby Saved My Soul did in all the months of work I ever did on it. And that’s as it should be. Every new project should challenge you in new and exciting ways.

So here I am, after some well-needed Easter rest, ready to head back to work. Zombie Jesus may not have risen again this weekend, but Mary Magdalene sure is good to go.

Initial press is very good. Some nice things were said about me in the Ottawa Citizen and on The Visitorium blog (and be sure to check out Kevin, The Visitor’s interview with the [boxhead] gang as well!)

I’m going to try and blog a bit more as we go into tech week, but you can probably find out more if you follow me on Twitter, along with the Hashtag #soberMary.

See you at the show, yes?

****************************************************

DOUBLE BILL: Mary Magdalene and Adventures in Sobriety and [boxhead] 

Arts Court Theatre 
2 Daly Avenue, Ottawa, ON 

April 18th to 28th, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. 
Pay What You Can Matinee: Sunday April 22nd – 2 p.m. 
(no show on Monday) 
Tickets $25, $20 for Students/Seniors 
Available by phone by calling Arts Court at 613-564-7240 

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!

To steal a title from a friend’s great Fringe show: The Honeymoon Period Is Officially Over. This is the part where I want to quit.

Let’s say I try something new like, oh I don’t know, roller derby. And let’s say that when I try this new thing, I am moderately good at it from the start. This is good. This is encouraging. Then let’s say someone else is impressed and points out that I am “really” good for someone who’s never done said thing before. That’s usually the point where my Ego jumps in and starts telling me that yeah, I am really good for someone who’s never done this before. Maybe I’ve just discovered my life’s purpose? Maybe I’m some kind of prodigy who will soon be wowing the world with her circus-like acrobatics in her one-woman reinterpretation of Starlight Express… you know, hypothetically speaking.

So the early ease with which something came to me, pushes me to try harder, but then that’s when the real work begins and  my Ego jumps back in going “Whoawhoawhoawhoawhoa. What the fuck is this? Why can’t you just get it right away? What is wrong with you? Wow, you suck!”

Then I get more and more frustrated with myself, cursing my weak inner thighs that keep trying to close my knees in on each other, instead of staying open – because dammit, there goes my dream of being the James Bond villain who breaks men’s next with her powerful abductors – and I just want to quit.

Because if I can’t get it perfect on the first go then what’s the point of trying, right?

Well, at least I’m self-aware enough to realize that’s what I’m doing.

My massive love affair with clown sisters Morro and Jasp has been well-documented in the pages of this dear blog.  I was first introduced to them (well, Morro at least) in 2009 at the Big Comedy Go-To (that thing again?). Morro was flying solo that night and put on what I called ” the bravest and most endearing pieces of theatre I’ve seen in years” (later on I found out her bit was part of the wildly successful Morro and Jasp do Puberty). Since then, I’ve followed them to the Toronto Fringe Festival (where I ended up embarrassing myself in Squeeeeee-like proportions when I found out I was standing next to MORRO’S DAD!) and, of course, my well documented adventures at the Next Stage Theatre Festival (which you can read all about here and here.)

But then I did something a little stupid. I think I might have taken things a little too far. You see, after what I’m sure was a wild night of drinking with my roommate, I think I may have brought up the clown sisters and, well you can just watch the video from yesterday to see how well that worked out…  I booted it out of there so fast under that tablecloth. I’m sure I didn’t look suspicious at all.

So I needed to redeem myself. But maybe I should have just bought them a new tablecloth instead.

 

You guys, I think I have a problem.