I am launching a project to produce a little show called Oleanna by David Mamet. You'd think that, considering I am an articulate and intelligent type, I would have a dozen great reasons for the why of this particular play. The project is going to take a lot of time and resources. I will be begging favours, I know, for months before this project is done. I will be drained when I am through. So what are all the reasons to embark on this craziness?
I can tell you it's an excellent piece. It's written by David Mamet, arguably the best American playwright alive today. Mamet has changed the way way we understand relationships -- even the way we hear ourselves. In Oleanna, a student goes to her professor seeking help with course material. In that first meeting, the student is convinced that the professor attempts to sexually exploit her. She subsequently accuses him of such and ruins his life. Their power struggle is riveting. But that's not really why I am doing the show.
I can tell you that if I don't do this show myself, I will likely not be able to do the show in Community Theatre. We are living in difficult times and the uncertain economy is having a huge impact on Community Theatres all over Toronto. These organizations are responding with material that is easily approachable, that is funny or heartwarming. It can be argued that all stories are worth telling but I think that we are shying away from stories that are challenging because we believe that no one is interested, that no one will come. I don't think this is true and I am looking seriously at many challenging titles. But that's not really why I am doing the show.
I can tell you that this show is in line with many of my sociopolitical interests. I am an unabashed feminist and interested in power as it impacts human relationships. This show deals with a lot of these issues and a lot of my friends are into discussions on these topics; so I am sure I have an audience - even if it might be a small one. But that's not really why I am doing the show.
I can tell you I will do a solid job. I have just finished two two-handers in a row and had a great time doing them: Wrong For Each Other for Encore Productions and The Last Five Years for TOKL Productions. Both directing efforts were well received. But that's not really why I am doing the show.
Here are all the reasons why I am doing the show:
1) Because I want to.
That's it. That's all of it. I want to, committed to, ready to work like crazy over the next few months to do this thing. And despite the fact that folks would assume I am much more complex being, the truth is very simple.
And I hope you come and see it.
Support Raising Oleanna, a fundraiser (similar to Kickstarter) in support of this project.
Jacqui Burke is
a freelance director, writer, and theatrical teacher living in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. She is currently directing and producing Oleanna by David Mamet and is looking forward to directing Love Letters for Encore Entertainment, and directing Lend Me A Tenor for Scarborough Theatre Guild. She is, also,
serializing The
Pretender, her first novel,
online at http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/.
She is preparing for two Shakespeare is Boffo! summer camp
sessions for 2012.
Want to contact me?
Jacqui
Burke
Artistic
Director
Jaybird
Productions
talk/text: 647-292-0210
twitter: @jaybird01
skype: Jacquiburkecell, jacqui.burke
www.wordsnimages.com
www.jaybirdproductions.ca
www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
http://jacquiburke.blogspot.ca
http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/
http://jaybirdproductions.blogspot.ca/
Ask me about Shakespeare is Boffo!
Premium Summer Camps for Kids. Two installments in
2012: The Homeschoolers` Version: 11:00 am
– 3:30 pm, August 13-17, 2012 for only $155.
Premium Full Day Summer Camp: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm,
July 16-20, 2012 for only $200. Both prices hold until May
15th, 2012. Spots are going fast. Register, now at www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
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Warbles in the dark.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Invasion
On Wednesday, the Toronto Fringe Festival starts. It's a crazy invasion of over 150 shows, hundreds of artists, thousands of theatre lovers tipified, in my mind, by The Great Poster Sprint (in which artists can put up posters advertising their shows) on Wednesday at about 4:30 pm. I am on a jury that is adjudicating as many offerings as possible to choose eight or nine shows for The Best of the Toronto Fringe Uptown, a fantastic festival in August that showcases some of the best of what the Fringe is all about. As part of that jury, I will see, likely, thirty-five shows. And then, after, as many as I can.... :) I couldn't be happier.
But, you say, the Fringe can be so hit-and-miss! You might sit through a lot of bad stuff. Yes! Yes, it is and I do. And yay!
For those of you who don't know how the Fringe Toronto works: This festival is un-adjudicated. Entries are chosen by lottery. That's it. So, if you have an idea and you want to submit your name, ya pays yer entry fee and ya takes yer chances. Some of the companies who win are more than up to the task. Others struggle. Some very worthy companies do not get picked. It's completely random. Once picked, a company builds and presents its show and ticket sales determine how much a company makes. So, it's a good idea to do an entertaining show. Some shows are hits; some not. But the worthy ones tend to rise to the top.
Long and short, however, is this: The Fringe is the celebration of creative drive and spark. A festival of intent, a festival of initiative. Amazing. I am happy to sit through dozens of shows to see one terrific one. If you feel the way I do and want some company, message me and I will let you know what shows I am seeing.
But, even if you are leery, there are options. Hold off until Friday, for example. Many of the 'good' shows are determined in the first days of the festival. Take a look at the following for feedback but be aware that if you wait, the popular shows will be harder to get into:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/guides/fringe/2012/
http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/
@Toronto_Fringe
And there are many other options for vetting shows. Definitely by Friday, the hits of the Fringe will be apparent and you can go and see them without fear. As soon as I am able - bearing in mind that the committee deliberations need to be private - I will release what I can.
However, I invite you to come down right at the very beginning. Come see a show on Wednesday night. I think that part of the Fringe Festival is fear. The artists lay so much on the line every time they get out there. I think that, perhaps, audience members could also, from time to time, lay something on the line, too. Be an integral part of the process. Be a part of the invasion. Super fun.
Jacqui Burke is a freelance director, writer, and theatrical teacher living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is currently directing Kidsplay 2012: The Mayan Prediction opening June 20. 2012 at the Palmerston Library Theatre for one night only, and The Last Five Years for TOKL Productions running July 20-21st, 2012 at the Alum Studio. Next year, she is looking forward to producing/directing her own show in the fall, directing Love Letters for Encore Entertainment, and directing Lend Me A Tenor for Scarborough Theatre Guild. She is, also, serializing The Pretender, her first novel, online at http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/. She is preparing for two Shakespeare is Boffo! summer camp sessions for 2012.
Want to contact me?
Jacqui Burke
Artistic Director
Jaybird Productions
talk/text: 647-292-0210
twitter: @jaybird01
skype: Jacquiburkecell, jacqui.burke
www.wordsnimages.com
www.jaybirdproductions.ca
www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
http://jacquiburke.blogspot.ca
http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/
http://jaybirdproductions.blogspot.ca/
Ask me about Shakespeare is Boffo! Premium Summer Camps for Kids. Two installments in 2012: The Homeschoolers` Version: 11:00 am – 3:30 pm, August 13-17, 2012 for only $155. Premium Full Day Summer Camp: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, July 16-20, 2012 for only $200. Both prices hold until May 15th, 2012. Spots are going fast. Register, now at www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
Like what you read? Click on an ad!
But, you say, the Fringe can be so hit-and-miss! You might sit through a lot of bad stuff. Yes! Yes, it is and I do. And yay!
For those of you who don't know how the Fringe Toronto works: This festival is un-adjudicated. Entries are chosen by lottery. That's it. So, if you have an idea and you want to submit your name, ya pays yer entry fee and ya takes yer chances. Some of the companies who win are more than up to the task. Others struggle. Some very worthy companies do not get picked. It's completely random. Once picked, a company builds and presents its show and ticket sales determine how much a company makes. So, it's a good idea to do an entertaining show. Some shows are hits; some not. But the worthy ones tend to rise to the top.
Long and short, however, is this: The Fringe is the celebration of creative drive and spark. A festival of intent, a festival of initiative. Amazing. I am happy to sit through dozens of shows to see one terrific one. If you feel the way I do and want some company, message me and I will let you know what shows I am seeing.
But, even if you are leery, there are options. Hold off until Friday, for example. Many of the 'good' shows are determined in the first days of the festival. Take a look at the following for feedback but be aware that if you wait, the popular shows will be harder to get into:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/guides/fringe/2012/
http://www.mooneyontheatre.com/
@Toronto_Fringe
And there are many other options for vetting shows. Definitely by Friday, the hits of the Fringe will be apparent and you can go and see them without fear. As soon as I am able - bearing in mind that the committee deliberations need to be private - I will release what I can.
However, I invite you to come down right at the very beginning. Come see a show on Wednesday night. I think that part of the Fringe Festival is fear. The artists lay so much on the line every time they get out there. I think that, perhaps, audience members could also, from time to time, lay something on the line, too. Be an integral part of the process. Be a part of the invasion. Super fun.
Jacqui Burke is a freelance director, writer, and theatrical teacher living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She is currently directing Kidsplay 2012: The Mayan Prediction opening June 20. 2012 at the Palmerston Library Theatre for one night only, and The Last Five Years for TOKL Productions running July 20-21st, 2012 at the Alum Studio. Next year, she is looking forward to producing/directing her own show in the fall, directing Love Letters for Encore Entertainment, and directing Lend Me A Tenor for Scarborough Theatre Guild. She is, also, serializing The Pretender, her first novel, online at http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/. She is preparing for two Shakespeare is Boffo! summer camp sessions for 2012.
Want to contact me?
Jacqui Burke
Artistic Director
Jaybird Productions
talk/text: 647-292-0210
twitter: @jaybird01
skype: Jacquiburkecell, jacqui.burke
www.wordsnimages.com
www.jaybirdproductions.ca
www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
http://jacquiburke.blogspot.ca
http://thepretender-amarcienoelnovel.blogspot.ca/
http://jaybirdproductions.blogspot.ca/
Ask me about Shakespeare is Boffo! Premium Summer Camps for Kids. Two installments in 2012: The Homeschoolers` Version: 11:00 am – 3:30 pm, August 13-17, 2012 for only $155. Premium Full Day Summer Camp: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, July 16-20, 2012 for only $200. Both prices hold until May 15th, 2012. Spots are going fast. Register, now at www.shakespeareisboffo.ca
Like what you read? Click on an ad!
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