Thank
you to everyone who came out to support our last mainstage show
which ran from Dec 9-20, 2009 at Studio 16 in Vancouver, BC
- Vatzlav by Slawomir Mrozek...
•
Our
Festival of Mythical Plays and Winning One-Acts
Theatre
In the Raw Took a Trio of Brand New One-Act Plays on the Road
in June 2009!
So,
what do ya call a small swarm of buzzin’ bees that “tell”… a
misplaced forearm gone awry… and a winged Jack Benny with an
assignment?
It
was our “Festival of Mythical Plays and Winning One-Acts”...
We hit the road for a lower mainland mini-tour of original one-act
plays in June and early July:
1.
Nuclear Fall-In by Ed Ballou - an original winning
One-Act Play – A nuclear family is living/working too close
to a leaky nuclear plant. (no pun intended) Mutation of living
creatures is on the rise. This play has a number of way out
surprises and something “loaded” to say.
"...We
don't want to believe what we already know."
2.
Jack Benny & The Angels by Jason Logan - an
original One-Act Myth Radio Play – Jack is back but as an
angel with an important job to do! Visiting earth, he interviews
a whole slew of wacky characters who happen to reside in BC
believe it or not. Is humanity worth saving is the question?
"...This
show has a hilarious cast! - Not to be missed! ...You'll be
on the floor in laughter..." plus... "A historical
piece of Vancouver I never knew!..."
3.
Telling Of The Bees by Jesse Matthew Cooper
- an original One-Act Myth Play – Can bees help a troubled
soul to tell the truth? A concerned father, an expectant wife,
a farm to be sold all rest in the hands of someone with a
secret that the bees want told. Note:
Playwright Jesse Matthew Cooper was in attendance at the Sunday
June 28, 2009 show in Vancouver.
"A
very moving scene between a father and son and a mother-to-be..."
"Poignant
and Prophetic..."
Directed
by our own Jay Hamburger, artistic director of Theatre In
the Raw.
Below... Some Promo Shots
of the One-Acts We Presented...
Nuclear
Fall-In by Ed Ballou
Photo by Steve Duncan
Telling
of the Bees by Jesse Matthew Cooper
Photo by Steve Duncan
Jack
Benny & the Angels by Jason Logan
Photo
by Peter Valentine
•
The Raw ITINERARY and where we went...
ABBOTSFORD:
Fri, JUNE 12 and Sat, JUNE 13, 2009
- Abbotsford, BC @ F.A.C.E. - Festival of Artistic & Creative
Expression - http://ragmag.net/face VENUE: Matsqui Centennial Auditorium, 32315 South Fraser
Way, Abbotsford, BC
CHILLIWACK:
Thurs, JUNE 18 and Fri, JUNE 19, 2009
- Chilliwack, BC VENUE: Studio Theatre - at the University of the Fraser
Valley, 45635 Yale Road, Chilliwack, BC
BURNABY:
Sat, June 20, 2009 VENUE: Special Event Hall at National Nikkei Museum &
Heritage Centre, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby BC
VANCOUVER:
June 25, 26, 27 & 28, 2009 (Thurs – Sun) VENUE: Little Mountain Studios, 195 East 26th Avenue
(just west off Main Street) - All four nights were sold out - Thank
you Vancouver!
VANCOUVER
Afternoon OUTDOOR FREE EVENT: Sun, July 5, 2009 VENUE: Cedar Cottage Community Garden – Under the Sky
Train at the big red “A” at Victoria Drive
>>>
Mythical Voices for Our Time&
Winning One-Acts
A
Part of Our Early Summer Mini-Tour 2009...
Theatre
In the Raw has been producing and presenting Mythical Voices
for Our Time Festival. We chose this project because we
want to bring together writers from various, social, economic
and ethnic backgrounds. The playwrights have been asked to write
a one-act play or radio-play based on and related to their culture's
myths. To take it a step further, the writers have been asked
to personalize their myth and if possible modernize it in some
way.
The
Festival of Mythical Plays and Winning One-Acts supports
Theatre In the Raw's mission to develop playwrights and new
playworks. We are presently developing/dramaturging these one-acts
with three to four experienced theatre consultants who are helping
to get the plays ready to be produced. Some of the plays are
coming from the Mythical… project and some from
the recent winning plays with our 2007 Biennial One-Act Playwriting
Contest.
To
date, we have produced and performed two original myth one-acts
at three different venues in Vancouver, BC, 2006-2007. Those
plays are:
-
Bonsai Friend by Petronella van Oyen
-
The Toe Cutter by Bill Pollett ~ both One-acts produced
as Radio Shows
For
Part 2 of the project we've produced two more One-Act Mythical
Plays:
-Jack
Benny and The Angels by Jason Logan, produced as a
radio show
-Telling
of the Bees by Jesse Matthew Cooper
as a stage production
Currently
there are about 13 writers whose work we have either already
produced or looking into producing the remaining plays submitted
for The Festival of Mythical Plays and Winning One-Acts.
(Please see above)
The
project is both fascinating and very rewarding and we look forward
to presenting the final stage of this project.
During the early Summer 2009 we presented a Mini-Tour around
the lower mainland (including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Burnaby,
Vancouver) - See the final plays and venues chosen from Part
Two of our One-Act Festival work above.
Thank
you to our sponsors & supporters of this project:
Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House Small Grants, The City of
Vancouver - Office of Cultural Affairs, The BC Gaming Commission,
The Vancouver Foundation, The McLean Foundation, The
Hamber Foundation, Joanne Mackinnon - CCEC Credit
Union, Theatre In the Raw Society, Vancouver Co-op Radio 102.7
FM - Arts Rational Show and Canadian Actor's Equity.
.../top
>>>
Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti...
"...quite
a sweet experience." —Peter
Birnie, The Vancouver Sun
"...the
show was a roaring success on opening night..." —Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Courier
"...its
heart is in the right place..."
"...the music by Bill Sample and Earle Peach is excellent..."
—Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight
We're
thrilled that our recent mainstage show, "Bruce - The Musical"...
that ran from November 6 - 16, 2008 at the Russian Hall was
a roaring success. We appreciate all the wonderful feedback
and response we received so far... and we welcome your continued
feedback - as it will be helpful for future projects. We
welcome you to send us an email >>
"Bruce
- The Musical" (formerly named "The Tipping Point")
told the story (in music and song) of legendary Vancouver Downtown
Eastside activist Bruce Eriksen - including Libby Davies, Jean
Swanson and even a few dancing cockroaches to boot. Written
by Bob Sarti, lyrics by Sarti... Music by composer Bill Sample
(recipient of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame)... and Earle
Peach and Directed by Jay Hamburger of Theatre In the Raw.
>>>
Our 2008 Four-Province Summer Tour of One-Acts
The
Rolling Stock Prairie Theatre Tour
We
went on the road and...
we had a blast!
We snatched the creative muse by the nose
and went for it!!!
Theatre In the Raw embarked on one
of its most ambitious projects to date. Presenting three original
Canadian One-Acts, the troupe toured and played some of the
most interesting venues in four western provinces. Besides
three short plays, we also offered play-writing workshops
in Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Edmonton.
We wish to offer one great big thanks to all
who came out to the shows supporting us and grassroots live
theatre.
You
Are What You Eat, by Patrick Foley (Vancouver, BC) One
man's table in a local cafeteria is another man's established
territory. Two bachelors - one young, one young at heart -
compete for the attention of the pretty waitress and the right
to sit at the table of their choice. Feathers are ruffled
as these two Toms battle it out.
To
the Queen, by Larry Trask (Nipawin, SK) Two elderly gentlemen
meet in the park for their regular chess game - the last of
the fall season. As they play and philosophize through chess,
they're told to move on by a park worker and by the police.
The demands of an out-door hockey rink conflict with the old
gaffers' chess game. Who will prevail?
A
Hot Box, by Jay Hamburger (Vancouver, BC) A real live,
genuine, arrested, tree-hugger is putting the final touches
on an art exhibit in her gallery. However, her work is interrupted
by some unexpected knocking at her door. She doesn't want
to answer - after all, anything could be behind a knock -
but the knocks keep knocking...
Featuring
Roger Howie, Maria Lakes, zi paris, and Serge Saika in various
roles, as well as vocalist and composer Michelle A. Richard,
who will be presenting Blues Dans La Nuit - a beautiful
selection of traditional French-Canadian, jazz, and original
songs, in both French and English.
Across
four provinces... Here's where we went...
•VANCOUVER - May 21,22, 23, 24 - .PAL
Theatre •REGINA - May 27 - Templeton Studio
Cabaret (Globe Theatre) •WINNIPEG - May 29, 30, 31
- Colin Jackson Studio (Prairie Theatre Exchange)
and The Ragpickers
Anti-Fashion Emporium •SASKATOON - June 2 - Saskatchewan
Native Theatre Company •EDMONTON - June 4, 5, 6 - The Third
Space (Northern Light Theatre) •CALGARY - June 7, 8 - Motel (One Yellow
Rabbit)
Above:
You Are What Your Eat by Patrick Foley
Starring Roger Howie, Serge Saika and Maria Lakes
Directed by Jay Hamburger • Video by Steve Duncan &
Associates
"Theatre
In the Raw is packing a cargo of issue-driven
one-act comedies and taking to the road…" —Regina Leader Post
"Rolling
Stock Prairie Theatre Tour quite the venture for a theatre
company." —Paul
Blinov, Edmonton's Vue Weekly
"Genius
for producing thought-provoking one-act plays…
[Theatre In the Raw] is the opportunity to help other people…" —Cassandra
Freeman, The Vancouver Jewish Independent
"Theatre
In the Raw's timing couldn't be better... relevant...got people thinking..."
—The Globe and Mail
The
Tipping Point (renamed Bruce—The Musical) by
Bob Sarti became a main stage production November 6-16th,
2008 at the Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Avenue during the
wonderful Heart of the City Festival in the DTES of Vancouver.
"Bruce" tells the story of legendary Bruce Eriksen
who was instrumental in saving the Carnegie Centre at Main
& Hastings in the core of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
The script received a staged reading at the Ukrainian Hall
in 2005.
Theatre
In the Raw put together a cabaret of all the songs in the
show along with narrative presented at Carnegie Theatre
in 2006. Moving on, we had an intensive workshop with invited
professionals at the Firehall Arts Centre in 2007. This
has been an important piece about Vancouver's Downtown Eastside
that has been in development for three years.
>>>
Our Other Past Theatrical Mainstage Productions include...
•Uncle Vanya - Anton Chekov •
Beyond
the Call
- Ernest Hekkanen
• Waiting
for Godot
- Samuel Beckett
• The
New World Order
- Herschel Hardin
• Top
Girls
- Caryl Churchill
• The
Street
- W. Ruth Kozak
• The
Glace Bay Miners' Museum
- Wendy Lill
• Medicine
- LaVerne Adams
• The
Inspector General
- Nikolai Gogol •
Bruce - The Musical - Bob Sarti
• Vatzlav - Slawomir
Mrozek
Theatre
In the Raw is constantly on the lookout for new original and
unique short-plays to be staged at our Festival of Original
One-Acts performed at local venues. To date we have produced
160 Orignal One-Act Plays.
We
have also produced 13 Original Radio Plays. The Radio Plays
were created in the Carnegie Theatre Workshop, in celebration
of the 100th Anniversary of the Carnegie Community Centre.
The 13 Original Radio Plays whose authors or subject matter
come from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, BC, have also
been aired on Co-Op Radio, 102.7 FM. Our next radio project
is Mythical Voices for Our Time. For more information,
please contact us at 604-708-5448.
>>>
Did You Know?
•
Over 600 actors, performers and directors have worked on our
stages.
• Over 100 technicians, stage managers, outreach coordinators
and administrators have logged time with us.
• Over
100 writers have had their work produced.
• We have performed at over 50 different venues in the
Lower Mainland and beyond.
• Our indoor/outdoor venues generate revenue for important
local neighbourhood businesses.
• Theatre In the Raw has been in operation for over 14
years.
"Theatre
In the Raw's timing couldn't be better... relevant...got people thinking..." —The Globe and Mail
"The
talented cast… deserve a standing ovation for… their roles…"
—Karen Kinna, The Langley Times
Paul
Beckett as Oedipus , Sindy Angel as General Barbaro, Olivier
Oudry as a Soldier and James Behenna as Vatzlav in Vatzlav
by Slawomir Mrozek.
Photo by Colin Zavier
Emily
Rowed as "Justine" in Vatzlav by Slawomir
Mrozek.
Photo by Steve Duncan
left
to right: Danielle St. Pierre (Libby Davies); Playwright
Bob Sarti; Anna Kuman (Jean Swanson) and Libby Davies,
MP at the opening of "Bruce - The Musical"
photo by Steve Duncan
"Bruce
(Steve Maddock) & Libby (Danielle St. Pierre)"
in Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti Bruce
- The Musical by Bob Sarti
photo by Sindy Angel
The
Roaches: l to r: Adam Abrams; Dave Campbell and zi paris
in Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti
photo by Steve Duncan
The
Roaches: l to r: Adam Abrams; Dave Campbell and zi paris
in Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti
photo by Sindy Angel
Anna
Kuman (Jean); Steve Maddock (Bruce) and Kuei-ming Lin
(Mrs. Leung) in Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti
photo by John Ferguson
Mikal
Grant (Reporter) in Bruce - The Musical by Bob Sarti
- photo by John Ferguson
Sylvan
Hamburger and Madelaine Sommers as kids in Bruce - The
Musical by Bob Sarti - photo by John Ferguson
Bruce
- The Musical by Bob Sarti
photo by Sindy Angel
l
to r: Jason Logan (Marty); Steve Maddock (Bruce); Adam
Abrams (Danny) and Danielle St. Pierre (Libby) in Bruce
- The Musical by Bob Sarti - photo by John Ferguson
zi
paris (Barkeep) and Anna Kuman (Jean) in Bruce - The
Musical by Bob Sarti - photo by John Ferguson
The Glace Bay Miners' Museum by Wendy Lill
photo by Reid Cohoon
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
photo by Sharon Kravitz
New
World Order by Herschel Hardin
photo by Reid Cohoon
Beyond
the Call by Ernest Hekkanen
photo by Nick Procaylo
Radio Play
The Bonsai Friend by Petronella van Oyen
photo by Atty Gell
Radio Play
The Bargain by Joel Fishbane
photo by Atty Gell
The Tipping Point by Bob Sarti
Ruffians by Alex Karolyi
Medicine
by LaVerne Adams
photo by Nenad Stevanovic
Medicine by LaVerne Adams
photo by Nenad Stevanovic
Medicine
by LaVerne Adams
photo by Nenad Stevanovic
Medicine by LaVerne Adams
photo by Nenad Stevanovic
Theatre
in the Park by Lori Sherritt
photo by Atty Gell
A
Mummers' Play by Lori Sherritt
photo by Atty Gell
A Car Ride by Joyce Lam
photo by Gary Shilling
Jessica's Will by Kent R. Brown
photo by Gary Shilling
Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekov
photo by Alan Sirulnikoff
Mikva the Money, Dig It by Pat Kaufman
photo by Gary Shilling
He Stumbles to Conquer by Joel Fishbane
photo by Gary Shilling
Early days of Theatre In the Raw
at La Quena Café
"Performances
so genuine that there is a real sense of sadness
mixed with the laughs." —The
Vancouver Sun
So,
what do ya call a small swarm of buzzin’ bees that “tell”… a
misplaced forearm gone awry… and a winged Jack Benny with an
assignment?
surprises and something “loaded” to say. 
•
The Raw ITINERARY and where we went... 
"...quite
a sweet experience."
The
Rolling Stock Prairie Theatre Tour
The
Original Canadian One-Acts we presented...
Theatre
In the Raw is constantly on the lookout for new original and
unique short-plays to be staged at our Festival of Original
One-Acts performed at local venues. To date we have produced
160 Orignal One-Act Plays.
