Evita - Oh What a Circus
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Photographer
Elaine Schuller |
Press Release
Monday, August 10, 2009
Provocative New Cabaret Hits The Guild
A Peek At “Martha’s Box”
The Guild
August 12 & 13, 8pm.
Licensed 19+, Provocative Content
Tickets $16.
Charlottetown – After you’ve been touring around the world with the hit stage musical Mamma Mia! for 5 years, what do you do for an encore? If you’re Island-raised Marlene Handrahan, you take a break from Dancing Queen and S.O.S., and head back to PEI to put the finishing touches on a musical cabaret show called A Peek At “Martha’s Box”.
The former Miss Stacy from the Charlottetown Festival’s production of Anne of Green Gables – The Musical™ is bringing her new show to the Guild in Charlottetown for a two-night only run on Wednesday, August 12 and Thursday, August 13 at 8 pm. Handrahan describes A Peak At “Martha’s Box” as “a saucy evening of stories, musings and music”, which prompts the actor to ask, “Do you hate tag lines as much as I do?”
Handrahan stresses that the show is “more cabaret than theatre - no set, no staging.” With the emphasis on the entertainment, the cabaret format gives the actor an opportunity to present highlights from her more formal work entitled Martha’s Box as well as some notable musical additions. “The stories are based on the character I created for my play Martha’s Box, though here they’re presented in a more intimate and very musical setting,” explains Handrahan.
The original piece saw Martha, after the end of a relationship, rummaging through a storage locker in an attempt to locate a set of dishes, and finding remembrances of her life in the process. Says Handrahan of the cabaret version, “The story, or arc, is similar to the play in that the evening reflects on relationships, growing up, sex, finding yourself, and finding those damn dishes!” Though wearing its double entendres intentionally, Handrahan adds that the cabaret’s title “refers to the storage space that Martha uses as a metaphor for compartmentalizing her life.” And of course, the audience will be peaking at the play by getting highlights during this full-length cabaret performance.
Joining Handrahan onstage is Halifax singer/songwriter Brad Davidge whom Handrahan describes as “an incredible musician and a really intuitive artist.” Davidge will be featured performing some of his own material, as well as accompanying most of the stories. Handrahan adds that the music “plays an integral part in the piece. I really see it as a duet - both elements really influence each other - the rhythm of the music kind of drives the rhythm within the monologues, and vice versa.”
Handrahan and Davidge met while doing Eastern Front Theatre’s production of Canada’s Songbird: A Musical Tribute To Anne Murray in Nova Scotia this past winter. Davidge played with the band and joined the three female leads during duets. He’s also toured with artists such as Gordie Sampson, Bruce Guthro, Lennie Gallant and Natalie MacMaster and has shared the stage with Faith Hill, Don Henley, Allison Krauss, Yo-Yo Ma, Rosanne Cash, Randy Bachman, and Wynton Marsalis. Davidge’s professional experience has also seen him perform at Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl with the LA Philharmonic and Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops, and appear on Good Morning America, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and ABC’s New Years Eve Special with Peter Jennings. In 2002, Davidge released a critically acclaimed solo recording, Unfolded, produced by Gordie Sampson.
Says Handrahan of the opportunity to present this cabaret on PEI, “I love storytelling, and my writing has been informed by the community and culture I grew up in. To be able to combine the spoken word with music in such a complementary and spontaneous setting is a thrill.”
A Peek At “Martha’s Box” is part of The Guild’s Gotta Go Festival sponsored by Freedom 55 Financial, a Division of London Life. Credit Union Central joins the festival as this show’s sponsor. For tickets and more information, contact The Guild online at http://www.theguildpei.com or via their box office at 902-620-3333.
The Guild reminds audiences that A Peek At “Martha’s Box” contains provocative content and is licensed.
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Written by Dave Stewart
Media Contact:
Cate Proctor, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), 902-620-3474
Friday, February 27, 2009
Can ACT come out to play?
Hello Gerry -
It was wonderful to see you kilted and graceful at the Private Lives Ball. Have you checked out what Laurella Parsnips had to say about you on our blog? ( http://www.themontgomerytheatre.blogspot.com ) Some nice pics of you and Brenda there as well…
I am hoping that perhaps you will share this attachment with the members of ACT. It is a great deal for groups of 10 or more who book and pay for theatre tickets before March 1st, when Montgomery Theatre starts selling its tickets through Bookings Online PEI.
I am looking forward to seeing Evita next month.
Cheers, Gerry!
Laurel
Monday, September 01, 2008
Cox and Box at Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield Fundraiser
“COX AND BOX” - a Boarding-House Musical
It’s the perfect scam. Landlady Bouncer is getting double rent for the same seedy room. Mr. Cox works by day, Mr. Box by night. Until today, they’ve never met. Nor do they know they are both engaged to the same woman—and both unwillingly.
Come into Beaconsfield’s boarding house as the Rataplan Players of Nova Scotia - Duncan Miller, Tony Marshall, and Jacqui Good, accompanied by Leon Cole on piano - sing and squabble through this delightful, 50-minute Victorian gem by Sir Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan) and F.C. Burnand, future editor of Punch. The piece is a musical adaptation of a popular farce of the day, Box and Cox.
Have you ever heard a lullaby sung to a rasher of bacon? It’s here. And watch for the PEI celebrity mystery guest, who plays the non-love interest of Cox and Box.
For the second half you can join the audience chorus for selections from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “HMS PINAFORE”, led by Carl Mathis and accompanied by Leon Cole, who in another life was host of the well-loved CBC Radio program, RSVP. Solos are optional. Or you can just listen and cheer on the fun.
At the end of the evening, reward your vocal chords with fine Victorian refreshments from Lady Baker’s Tea Trolley.
The event is a fundraiser in aid of Beaconsfield’s Garden Project and takes place one night only, Friday, September 19 at 7:30pm in Beaconsfield’s Carriage House - corner of West and Kent Streets in Charlottetown. Seating is limited and reservations are recommended.
Tickets are $30 (with a tax receipt portion to be issued) and reservations can be made by calling Beaconsfield Historic House at 368-6603.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Associate Producer
Intern in Professional Theatre
The musical stage production Anne & Gilbert is looking for a reliable and responsible person to intern with our show. The ideal candidate should:
- Have an interest in theatre.
- Be 16-years of age or older.
- Have a valid driver’s license and consistent access to a vehicle.
- Be available from mid-June through mid-July.
- Be available to work in Summerside, PEI.
The Anne & Gilbert intern assits the show’s stage management team. This is a non-paying position, though an honorarium is offered at the end of the internship. It is an excellent opportunity for someone with an interest in theatre to gain valuable experience.
All candidates should e-mail their contact information along with some details about their theatre or related experinece to: anneandgilbert@gmail.com Please also indicate why you are interested in interning with Anne & Gilbert
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Option to Renew
Just to let you know, there will be a reading of my play “Option to Renew” at UPEI this Wednesday, November 8. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Faculty Lounge, on the first floor of the Main Building. Greg Doran and the UPEI Theatre students are putting this together.
This is the script that won first prize in the TheatrePEI New Voices competition this year. If you are interested in seeing a reading of the play, a screwball comedy, you are most welcome to attend.
Margaret Martinello
Friday, June 02, 2006
CITT/ICTS Rendez-vous 2006 Toronto, Ontario
CITT/ICTS Rendez-vous is an annual classic within the Canadian performing arts industry; it combines professional workshops, social events and unique networking opportunities for members and fellow colleagues from across the country. This year, the Toronto Committee has been working relentlessly at putting together a fantastic 4-day event centered around the theme (Enter: The Building) More the Bricks and Mortar. Conference dates are August 10 to 13 2006, with pre-conference workshops August 8 and 9.
Check out conference details and schedule in this month issue of http://www.citt.org/newsletter/2006-06.pdf
e-StageWorks and on the website http://www.citt.org/conf.htm
Sunday, March 27, 2005
World Theatre Day International Message 2005
27 March 2005 World Theatre Day
World Theatre Day International Message 2005
Ariane Mnouchkine
Stage Director
Saturday, January 15, 2005
National Theatre School One Month Curtain Call!
Only 30 days left to apply to the “National Theatre School of Canada”
Only 30 days left to apply to the “National Theatre School of Canada”
The National Theatre School has made its mark as one of the few conservatory-type institutions in the world that unite all the theatre disciplines under one roof. Located in Montreal, the NTS offers training in set and costume design, technical production, playwriting, directing and acting, in both English and French.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
The Theatre Listing 2005 is here!
Your guide to professional theatres and rental facilities across Canada
The Theatre Listing 2005 is comprised of detailed contact information for 340 professional theatres, theatre rental facilities, and key government departments and organizations across Canada. Published by the PACT Communications Centre, this is an annually updated, print directory that has become a staple reference tool for producers, playwrights, actors, designers and other theatre professionals, as well as for students, agents, arts service organizations and more.
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Saturday, January 01, 2005
TheatrePEI’s 24th Annual New Voices Playwriting Competition 2005
Play scripts are now being accepted for TheatrePEI�s 24th annual New Voices Playwriting Competition. Prize money is awarded for scripts entered into the full length, one act and high school play categories. Individual students or classes may enter into the high school category. A $5 entry fee must accompany each play. All scripts are judged by three theatre professionals - playwrights are not identified to the judges.