Sun 28 May 2006
OK, come and get ‘em!
The fabulous marketing materials for THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND are beginning to roll off the line.
Postcards are currently available at the world’s best children’s bookstore: The Flying Dragon.
Stay tuned for more co-promotion announcements with The Flying Dragon.
Next up: Posters and our exciting postering campaign. We want EVERY KID IN TORONTO to see this show!
Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment
Sat 13 May 2006
We had our first Production meeting earlier this week and I met our new tech team!
Shawndra White will be our stage manager and scenic designer, Melissa Joakim will be our costume designer, and Mark Lavell will be our assistant stage manager and props person.
Here we go again — It’s a Fringe Production so we have to be able to strike our set in 15 minutes! And, of course, store everything in my car. Our director, Marc Richard, and the tech team have some really cool ideas up their sleeves — I can’t wait!
I can already hear the sound of hammering and sewing machines…
Next up is our first read through with the cast next week! Oink!
Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment
Fri 12 May 2006
“Miss Potter” to hit movie theaters in December 2006!
According to this article in Time Out London:
Renee Zellweger to play Beatrix Potter
The ‘Bridget Jones’ star will play the children’s author in a forthcoming period biopic.
Renee Zellweger currently riding high at the London box office in ‘Cinderella Man’, is to star in a biopic of legendary author Beatrix Potter, for ‘Babe’ director Chris Noonan. ‘Miss Potter’ will explore the life and times of the writer of such children’s classics as ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ and ‘The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle’, and the film will mix live-action with several scenes of animation.
Following her struggle for independence in Victorian England, the film will also chart Potter’s romance with publisher Norman Warne, a role that Ewan McGregor is reportedly in talks with the film’s producers to play. If he does accept, ‘Miss Potter’ will mark the first time McGregor has acted opposite Zellweger since they teamed up for 2003 romantic comedy ‘Down With Love’.
Richard Maltby Jr, who directed the Broadway hit ‘Fosse’ and co-wrote the lyrics of ‘Miss Saigon’, is currently busy working on the script, with production set to start on location in the UK next March.
OK, OK, I know this isn’t hot off the press or anything (it’s dated September 2005) but now that I’m immersed in THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND pre-production I’m more aware of Beatrix Potter news! And the fact that Ewan McGregor might (UPDATE: WILL!!!) be starring opposite Renee sends me swooning into nostalgic re-viewings of DOWN WITH LOVE!
I think Renee will be awesome as another Brit — I loved her in BRIDGET JONES DIARY!
Gee, I wonder if Beatrix is related to Harry?
Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment
RACHEL BRITTAIN
Alexander
Rachel is absolutely oinked to be joined with all her fellow farm dwellers in such a fun show! A graduate from Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance Program, Rachel’s selected theatre credits include: Hermia in A MIDSUMMER’S NIGHT DREAM (Theatre Sheridan), Joan in DAMES AT SEA (Northumberland Summer Scene), Kate in SCORING A HIT! (Theatre Sheridan), and Edith in BLITHE SPIRIT (Port Hope Festival Theatre).
Currently, Rachel can also be seen belting it out every Saturday night in the show I DECIDE (Knightflight Productions).
She would thank to thank her family and Daniel for all their love, and also wants to give a big wet sloppy kiss on the snout to the rest of the cast and creative team. Thank you!
TREVOR CAMPBELL
Dog
Trevor is doggone tickled pig-pink to be part of such a wonderful production and a wonderful team! As it’s the Chinese Year of the Dog, he has sworn only to play roles of the canine variety this year, and was last seen as T-Bone in the U.S. National Tour of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG LIVE! (Turnstile Productions).
Other favorite credits include Josh in F.E.A.R.L.E.S.S. (StageKids), Oliver Hix/Baritone in THE MUSIC MAN (Theatre Sheridan), Captain Nordenson/Sound Effects in SCORING A HIT! (Sheridan Workshop), and Mike in OKLAHOMA! (Sunshine Festival), as well as Student/Zombie in three years of mayhem at SHERIDAN COLLEGE.
He would like to send a dog pile of thanks to Suzy, Mitch, Mark and an extra big high-paw to Mom, Dad, Matt and Pam for the constant encouragement and support. Thank you to all! Now, up, pup, and away!
ANDREW CHANDLER
Policeman
Andrew is no stranger to pigs. Recently released from his pen at Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre Performance program, he has previously hogged the spotlight as “Larry” in COMPANY, “Egeus” in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, and “Jimmy Smith” in NO, NO, NANETTE.
While he has sampled some of the finest troughs from his hometown of Halifax, he is very excited to join Toronto’s theatre community. Andrew enjoys rolling in mud. Many thanks to Marc, Suzy, Mitchell and this amazing cast and crew, who make him feel like the luckiest pig on the farm. “Life is much too important to be taken seriously” — Oscar Wilde.
DANIEL GREENBERG
Pigling Bland
Daniel is thrilled to be appearing as “Pigling Bland” with this incredibly talented cast. Daniel starts the Sheridan Music Theatre Performance Program this September, and he can’t think of a better way to prepare himself than by working with director Marc Richard!
Daniel attended the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts Pre-College Program and is also an alumnus of City Youth Players where he played Ren McCormack in their production of FOOTLOOSE. Daniel was part of the CharActors Theatre Troupe where he was in such shows as THE BOY FRIEND, THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER and THE WIZ. A special thanks goes out to Mom and Dad and Megan and Wayne!
JANNA POLZIN
Cat
Janna is delighted to be a part of this talented cast and crew for THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND.
She has been waiting for the chance to be involved in a new musical, and can’t think of a better beginning than surrounded by all this beautiful bacon!
Janna graduated from Sheridan’s Music Theatre Performance Program last year, and was in such shows as BERLIN TO BROADWAY with Kurt Weill, THE MUSIC MAN, and CATCH A RISING STAR. A special thank you goes out to Suzy, Mitch, and Marc, and especially Mom, Dad, and Dieter, who without their love and support Janna would not be where she is today. Keep oinkin’!
REBECCA STEWART
Aunt Pettitoes
Rebecca is a graduate of Sheridan Institute’s Music Theatre-Performance Program and is thrilled to working with so many fellow Sheridanites!
Previous theatre credits include: CATCH A RISING STAR, NO, NO, NANETTE, PLANE CRAZY, COMPANY (Theatre Sheridan), HONK! (Da Capo Productions) and THE MUSIC MAN (Theatre Ancaster).
Rebecca would like to thank the talented cast and crew, as well as her wonderful family, for all their support and enthusiasm. “Keep Shining!”
LANA SUGARMAN
PigWig
Lana is tickled pink to be in this show working with such a fun and zany creative team. Originally from Red Deer, Alberta, Lana received a diploma in Acting from Red Deer College, and is a recent graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance Program.
Favorite roles of the past include Cordelia in FALSETTOS, Jenny in COMPANY, Annie in ELIZABETH, Desdemona in GOODNIGHT DESDEMONA (GOOD MORNING JULIET), and three different productions of THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. Many thanks to Marc, Suzy, and Mitchell for this lovely opportunity and much love to her family, cast, and the ever-supportive Mr. Wright.
TREVOR WILLIAMS
John Piperson
Trevor is crazy farm happy to be a part of THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND and to be joining such a wonderful cast and creative team.
A graduate of Sheridan College’s Music Theatre Performance Program, some of Trevor’s credits include: Billy in THE PERFECT LIFE (US Premiere), Meeny the Giant in EENY MEENY MINY MOE (Castlemoon Theatre), Demetrius in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Rex Turlington in SCORING A HIT! (Theatre Sheridan) and BERLIN TO BROADWAY (Theatre Sheridan).
Trevor gives many thanks to his wonderful parents for supporting him through such a crazy lifestyle and to his friends for always reminding him it is worth it. Schonste.
MARC RICHARD
Director
Marc is very pleased to be making his Toronto Fringe Festival debut. Earlier this summer season he directed NUNSENSE for Drayton Entertainment at the King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetang. This past year Marc has been busy directing workshop productions of new shows including EVANGELINE, CYRANO, PLANE CRAZY, and Andrew Kushnir’s CAP’N PRINCESS.
Marc is a faculty member at Sheridan College where he has directed COMPANY, HIGH SOCIETY, BERLIN TO BROADWAY WITH KURT WEILL and SCORING A HIT. Other directing credits include: NUNSENSE II, SUDS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, MENOPOSITIVE, JASPER STATION, RACE DAY, MESHUGANUNS, NUNCRACKERS, I DO I DO and KITCHEN WITCHES.
SUZY CONN
Book and Lyrics
Suzy divides her time between Toronto, New York, and Chicago, where she is enrolled in the Theatre Building Chicago, Musical Theatre Writer’s Workshop.
Suzy is in the workshop process with two musicals, Plane Crazy, a fun, upbeat musical about feminism set against the backdrop of glamour and innocent sex appeal of the swinging ’60s Jet Age; and The Tale of Pigling Bland (co-written with Mitchell Kitz), a classic coming of age pig story based on the Beatrix Potter story of the same name.
Suzy is in development on three other musicals with various co-writers, and she is also close to completing another solo work which is titled Becky and Booger Behind the Bedpost, a story of a nose-picking habit gone terribly, terribly wrong.
Suzy is a member of the Association of Canadian Librettists, Composers, and Lyricists (ACLCL), SOCAN, ACTRA, Toronto Musician’s Association (Local 149, A.F. of M.), Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), Songwriters Guild of America (SGA), The Dramatists Guild of America, and the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC) and she has numerous publishing credits and U.S., international, and Canadian song cuts.
Suzy always signs off with: “Thanks for listening!”
MITCHELL KITZ
Music
Mitchell Kitz’s music has been heard around the world on stage, radio, television, film and dance clubs.
On stage, works performed include FRONT AND CENTRE at the St. Lawrence Centre, SO BEAUTIFUL at the Poor Alex and WHISKEY SERENADE.
Mitchell contributed arrangements for the performance of Suzy Conn’s PLANE CRAZY at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2005, where he first had the pleasure of working with Suzy.
For television, he was writer, arranger and music director for the popular children’s show 4 SQUARE on Treehouse TV which just completed taping its second season. In the fall, Mitchell will be the music director/arranger for the children’s musical AFTERNOON IN THE PARK to be performed at the Vaughan Playhouse. Mitchell is a member of The Dramatists Guild of America and SOCAN.
SHAWNDRA WHITE
Stage Manager / Set Design
Shawndra is very excited to be part of the Pigling Bland family. In fact, Shawndra is not only stage managing THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND, but she is also set designing the show. Shawndra is a graduate from Sheridan College Theatre Arts Technical Production Program and her previous work includes Stage Manager of FALSETTOS, and Assistant Stage Manager of THE MUSIC MAN at Sheridan College.
Her previous work in set design includes VIBE 2006 — an RQ Productions touring group.
Shawndra is pleased to part of this production and would like to give a great THANKS to her family, The Pigling Family, and her best friend for life, Michael.
MELISSA JOAKIM
Costume Designer
Melissa Joakim is thrilled to be a part of the Fringe Festival for the first time. She is currently enrolled in York University’s Theatre program with a focus on production and design.
Other theatre credits include Stage Manager for THE CYCLICAL EXISTENCE OF YOU AND ME; Assistant Stage Manager, head of Props, puppet trainer and playing the role of “movement coach” in THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI; co-director, co-author, costume, set and lighting designer as well as playing the role of “Emily” in the original production of GOOD DAY SUNSHINE.
Melissa is excited to be a part of this wonderful crew and thanks everyone for this great opportunity.
DON McMAHON
Assistant Stage Manager / Props
Don is thrilled and excited to be part of the PIGLING BLAND team. This is his first production with the Toronto Fringe Festival.
After 12 wonderful years as an Early Childhood Educator he enrolled at Sheridan in the Theatre Arts Technical Production Program and will be graduating next Spring.
Over the last ten years Don was heavily involved in community and semi-professional theatre back home in Thunder Bay. Most of his experience has been as a set painter/co-designer and in stage management; however, he has also enjoyed time onstage as an actor, singer, and puppeteer.
Favorite set: painting lips for THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Favorite role: Cherry Poppins in THE NORTHERN KNIGHT’S FEAST.
“Oinks” go out to the members of Cambrian Players, Rob MacLeod’s Capitol Players (miss ya Boss!), and EVERYONE at Schoolhouse Playcare Centre of Lakehead, Inc.
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