dossier: WAIT UNTIL DARK by Red One Theatre and the StoreFront Co-op

dossiers are simple interviews, or profiles about an upcoming event or show that’ve caught my attention.

For the first dossier, I got in touch with Benjamin Blais of Red One Theatre and the StoreFront Co-op to talk about their show WAIT UNTIL DARK. As the show opened on the 11th, I figured I’d get this one up right away. 

That said, here’s dossier number one:

WUD

Legend:
Andrew Gaboury
Benjamin Blais

The Storefront Theatre is an amazing new development in this city. Why did this come about?

The Red One Theatre Collective has a history of bringing new life and revitalizing neighbourhoods through the power of art, culture and community. We decided to break ground on this location in order to encourage the careers of Toronto-based artists, as well as local business.

What draws you to theatre?

I enjoy the sense of community that it inspires. Also I love the ride when you put up a show.

The buzz in the air on an opening night is palpable. It is intoxicating.

What’s your earliest memory of wanting, or needing to do this?

Dancing naked in the living room as a child.

Why WAIT UNTIL DARK as the first show in the Storefront Theatre?

We wanted to present a show that would illustrate to people how plausible it is to put a show up in the space. Even something as complicated and high octane as WAIT UNTIL DARK.

What was your favourite memory from directing WAIT UNTIL DARK and working in your new space?

Aside from all the exciting work with the actors in the rehearsal studio and the massive push the crew did to put the show (and space) up in no less than a few days it was when we put the sign up.

It was the final touch and after flipping the switch in the basement you could hear the “oohh & ahhh” upstairs.

Describe the show for us in three adjectives or phrases.

Intense and Intriguing,

Electric, Exciting!

Do you have anything you want to share with us? A story? A photo? A song? A video?

Photo Credits: Nathan Kelly

Photo by Nathan Kelly
Photo by Nathan Kelly
1: Ben Blais / Wait Until Dark / http://wp.me/p3483T-T

red nosed hello

Good day. And welcome to my new webpage.

This is my first post! And you’re reading it!

I plan to make this a sort of meeting place, like a library or cafe, for the many interesting things happening in my wonderfully artistic community here in Toronto. In such a big city, with such a diverse crowd of talented and passionate people it’s quite easy to lose track of the many smaller events happening all across it. I plan to use this space to help advertise events that have come to my attention. Usually the events I showcase on this blog I’ll have had some personal experience with, either from attending or performing as part of, but sometimes they’ll be brand new to me! Like the one I’m actually starting this blog with. Exciting!

My plan in the near future is to also begin posting interviews with the organizers behind such events, or the artists involved in them, so we can all get to know each other a little bit better.

And what would a personal blog/website be without a little shameless self-promotion every now and then (read: all the time)?

To start us off, let’s talk a bit about this:

Red Nose District

Now, I’m new in the world of clown so I’ve never actually attended one of these. Flatteringly, I’ve been asked to perform at this one.

If I can talk to anything in the Toronto clown scene, I’d speak to how astoundingly accommodating and friendly it is. Especially to newcomers. I find it always makes for a good night out. The variety of clown acts in this city is staggering. There’s always humour, but more often than not there’ll be one turn that takes you completely by surprise and messes around with your expectations. So if you’re into that sort of thing, why not check it out?

There’s a pretty great line-up, including:

The Host:
Sketchy the Clown
Along with:
Trip Phoenix
Eric Miinch
Stevie Jay
Issac Luy
Andrew Gaboury
Matthew Pazzol
and more to be announced!

Here’s the description from their facebook page:

The Red Nose District show was created to provide a space for new clowns, returning clowns and veteran clowns to create and hone new material in front of a supportive audience. The Red Nose District continues in the tradition of classic Toronto clown shows such as Space Night, Cirque du Poulet and Clown Chowder.

For more info contact shows[at]torontoclown[dot]com

I’ll be performing as my new clown, Rutherford’s Best Friend, who you can see in the photo section of this website.

And maybe before his next show I can get an interview with Dave McKay, the organiser of the event and also the brains and body of Sketchy the Clown.

Cheers.

A.G.