The past year in Toronto theatre has been a tumultuous one to say the least. From the firing of Ken Gass from the Factory Theatre, to the open letter to younger theatre artists by David Ferry on the Praxis website and the debate that ensued. From government funding, a desire for a new union model, the plethora of new independent theatre companies, and where emerging and veteran artists alike fit into the Toronto theater world, there is a lot of discussion to be had about where we stand as a community and where we should hope to go next. As we begin the new year I think this is a perfect time to reflect on what we have done as an arts community in 2012, where we currently stand and most importantly how we hope to move forward in 2013.
I have done this in the form of a “Start, Stop, Continue”. Our first installment features the ideas of Rob Kempson (Theatre Passe Muraille/Paprika Festival), Stacey Norton (Theatre Smash), Kelly Straughan (The Toronto Fringe, Seventh Stage Theatre) and Eric Double (Theatre Caravel).
“I am so deeply impressed with the vision and originality of the Tennessee Project! It is everything that a holistic arts project should be: grounded in excellence, collaborative in nature and focused on community. Bravo. I can’t wait.”
-Albert Schultz, Artistic Director of Soulpepper
THE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS PROJECT
Featuring the talents of nine theatre companies in the largest co-production Toronto has seen in years, the Tennessee Project will hit Toronto in MAY 2012! For seven nights, seven productions of Tennessee Williams’ one-acts will rotate through seven different Toronto neighborhoods, bringing Tennessee right to the heart of Toronto in an energized, heartfelt celebration of community, culture, and good ol’ Tenn.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
On May 1st 2012 at eight p.m., productions of the Tennessee one-acts will open in Cabbagetown, Greektown, Roncesvalles, The Annex, The Beach, Leslieville, and St. Clair West. The productions will rotate to a different neighborhood each evening, giving each community seven different nights of Williams.
WHAT’S THE POINT?
The point is to reach directly out to Toronto communities, develop relationships with them, and offer them a personal, friendly, uncomplicated theatre-going experience. We at the Tennessee Project believe Toronto has en enormous appetite for art, and seek to make it accessible, amiable, and celebratory, bringing theatre about our communities directly to them; to decentralize theatre from the downtown core and celebrate Toronto’s many faces, colors, and textures through the work of Williams – a man who always defended and treasured people from every walk of life. To bring a spectacular, unforgettable seven nights to the city that we love!!
BEYOND THE STAGE:
An evening in the theatre, like any form of entertainment, stands to be enriched through knowledge, familiarity, and interaction. The Tennessee Project is founded on the principle that audience outreach is an exciting and integral part of modern theatre that creates a more intimate and thrilling experience for all involved. Over the next few months, members of the Tennessee team will be getting to know each community. We will be volunteering at – and engaging with – local businesses, holding FREE events, opening up our rehearsals, holding ‘bar banter’ nights and VIP launch events, staging readings at local libraries, and bumping in to you on the street!
The companies involved are: Birdtown and Swanville Theatre Company, Red One Theatre Collective, Red Light Theatre District, Afterglow Theatre company, Another Theatre Company, Theatre Caravel, Written on Water Theatre, Quixotic Arts Collective, and Black Tea Theatre.
