BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES THEATRE PRESENTS
TIGHTROPE
By 2boys.tv
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2 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Design: Jonathan Kitchen, Photo: Tanja-Tiziana
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TO BE IS TO
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Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE 3
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WELCOME TO TIGHTROPE! We could not be more pleased to be presenting the world premiere of this piece. Since 2002, Montreal’s 2boys.tv have been thrilling audiences around the world with their trans-disciplinary shows. We, at Buddies, first fell in love with the boys back in 2003 when they brought their video drag spectacle Phoenix to the Rhubarb Festival. More recently, you may remember their magnificent performance as part of Arthouse Cabaret in 2007 or the stunning Zona Pellucida presented two seasons ago. Through their blend of drag, cinema and poetry, 2boys.tv transform, transgress and transcend artistic disciplines, gender lines and social boundaries. Always subversive and political, their shows are imbued with a delicate and deep compassion for those that they are portraying. Through performance, they tenderly resurrect and celebrate the queer people and traditions that dominant culture has erased. By witnessing these loving tributes, we all participate in restoring dignity to our forgotten. Thank you for joining us. Enjoy the show!
Brendan Healy, Artistic Director
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Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
TIGHTROPE Created and performed by 2boys.tv in collaboration with Radwan Ghazi Moumneh and Alexis O’Hara Lighting Design Lucie Bazzo Production Intern Bradley High 2boys.tv Costume Design by Sarah Doucet Chamber Technician Katherine Smith Crew Doug Morum, Shanna Miller, Helen Kotsonis, Alex Tigchelaar Tour Producer/Agent Kris Nelson/Antonym Graphic Design Jonathan Kitchen, jakcreative.com Photography Tanja-Tiziana, doublecrossed.ca TIGHTROPE was developed in a creation residency at Usine C with production support from Studio 303 and OBORO. Music: Ave Maria (Bach/Gounod), Trouble in Mind (Richard M. Jones), Show Me Love (Robin S.), See That My Grave is Kept Clean (Traditional), Les Coeurs, Tendres (Jacques Brel), Can You Hear Me (Aaron Pollard) Musicians: Sarah Wendt (French Horn), Fjola Evans (Cello), Laura Horn (Violin), Jason Sharp (Baritone Saxophone), Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Buzuq) and Jan Desrossiers (Saw). Mourners Toronto Mourners: Chy Ryan Spain (Tabitha Katchu), Andrew Robinson (Virginia Dentata), Jean-Paul Belivacqua (Lucia Latriste), Kaleb Robertson (Miss Fluffy Souffle), Nick Green (Lia Tard), Ryan Hinds (Ertha Katchu), Jonathan Schuster (Rose Dale), JP Kane (FaySlift), Saul Garcia Lopez (Saulitude Salsa Sour), Michael Lyons (Claudia Bop), Ryan Kerr (Brie Panty’s Breath) and Tycoda Gilecki (Britney Sparkles).
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The House of Bogue (Montreal): Jordan Arseneault (Tooloose LeTrick), Antonio Bavaro (Connie Lingua), Johnston Newfield (J’avlyn), Joshua Valentine Pavan (Lady Gaza), Andrew Thorne (Sister Horné Bogue) and Michael D Garfinkel (Not-Your-Boyfriend Bogue). Thank you: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, OBORO, Studio 303, Usine C, Trois Jours de Casteliers, Canada Council Inter Arts, Jocelyne Côté-O’Hara, Danièle de Fontenay, Shawn Daudlin, Saul Garcia Lopez, Miriam Ginestier, John Greyson, Shari Hatt, Brendan Healy, Erika Hennebury, Dayna McLeod, David Oiye, Peggy Shaw, Skidmore, Shareen Soliman, Sylvie Teste, Lois Weaver, Adrien Whan, Charissa Wilcox and Patricia Wilson. Special thank you to Bradley High. Love and deep gratitude to our close collaborators Alexis and Radwan.
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ignite your passion.
The 21st annual Inside Out
toronto lgbt film and video Festival may 19-29, 2011 insideout.ca 8 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
presenTIng spOnsOr
Dinner menu features organic locally-raised meats and vegetables Accommodating gluten-free and special dietary needs Gourmet pizzas Delivery available 7 days a week 4:30 - 11pm Sunday Brunch from 11am – 3pm Caroline Murphy is proud to support Buddies’ 2010/2011 season. 554 Parliament Street (just South of Wellesley) 416-927-1593 restaurant 416-927-7777 delivery carolinesdininglounge.com
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BUDDIES IN BAD TIMES 11/12 FOR TICKETS AND PASSES
CALL THE BOX OFFICE AT 416-975-8555 OR CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT BUDDIESINBADTIMES.COM Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
THE MAIDS
By Jean Genet Translated by Martin Crimp Directed by Brendan Healy September 17 – October 9, 2011 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Studio 180 Theatre production
THE NORMAL HEART By Larry Kramer Directed by Joel Greenberg
October 14 – November 6, 2011 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Modern Times Stage Company production
HALLAJ
By Peter Farbridge and Soheil Parsa November 18 – December 4, 2011 10 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Nightwood Theatre production
THE PENELOPIAD By Margaret Atwood Directed by Kelly Thornton January 10 – 29, 2012
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
THE RHUBARB FESTIVAL
Toronto’s 33rd annual convergence of contemporary performance Festival Director Laura Nanni February 8 – 19, 2012 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes a Native Earth Performing Arts production
FREE AS INJUNS
By Tara Beagan Directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones February 28 – March 18, 2012 Candles are for Burning in association with Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
BLISS
By Olivier Choinere Translated by Caryl Churchill Directed by Steven McCarthy March 27 – April 8, 2012 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly welcomes A Cabaret Company production
DANCING QUEEN
Written and Directed by Sky Gilbert Choreographed by Keith Cole April 18 – 29, 2012 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre presents
LOST LOUNGE
By Split Britches (Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver, NYC) May 3 – 5, 2012 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE 11
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¨ ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES 2boys.tv, Creators/Performers Since 2002, as the collective 2boys.tv, Stephen Lawson and Aaron Pollard have pursued a collaborative practice that traverses disciplinary boundaries and political frontiers. Active locally, nationally and internationally, their beginnings as a performance duo emerged from Montreal’s wildly eclectic cabaret scene. Subsequently they have toured and taught across the country, to museums, galleries, theatres, artist-run centres, universities and festivals. Their ongoing collaborations with colleagues abroad at various intersections of performance and politics have brought them into a dialogue with audiences in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the USA, the UK, Italy and across Canada. They have toured their transdisciplinary performance, zona pellucida, across Canada (including a run at Buddies in Bad Times), to South America and the U.S.A. They have presented French, English and Spanish versions of their performance, Phobophilia in South America, the U.K., across Canada and to Under the Radar Festival and HERE Arts Centre in New York and will tour to Iceland this September. Their performative installation, boutique ARCADE premiered at festival Les Escales Improbables with a new version being built this fall for the Darling Foundry in Montréal. 2boys.tv are recipients of the Canada Council’s 2009 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton Award for outstanding achievement by mid-career artists working in the Integrated Arts.
Alexis O’Hara, Performer/Collaborator The undisciplined practice of Alexis O’Hara exploits allegories of the human voice. Through performance, drag, video, song and sound, she muses on post-apocalyptic culture, human biology and cognitive science, all couched in a distinctively feminine slant. She has released a book of poetry, (more than) Filthy Lies (2002) and two CDs, In Abulia (2003, Grenadine Records) and Ellipsis (2010, &records). Among her touring projects are interactive documentary performance pieces (Subject to Change and The Sorrow Sponge), an hour long vocal exploration of the act of sighing (Seufzernstadt) and a popular sound installation comprised of an igloo built of wired speaker boxes
Wills, Trusts & Estates Family Law Real Estate
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(SQUEEEQUE). These and other projects have been presented in Slovenia, Austria, Mexico, Germany, Spain, UK, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, France, Belgium, Holland and across Canada and the US. She is currently developing a group performance piece on/in/around/atop the speaker box igloo. Her alter-ego, Guizo LaNuit, is a mainstay of the Montreal cabaret scene. Alexis is very grateful to 2boys.tv for having rescued her from the relentless tyranny of a self-directed career in the arts.
Radwan Ghazi Moumneh, Performer/Collaborator Radwan Ghazi Moumneh is Jerusalem In My Heart (JIMH), and is a composer, performer and record producer/ co-owner of Montreal’s Hotel 2 Tango recording studio.
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Our community is stronger Together. AIDS Committee of Toronto 399 Church Street, 4th floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2J6 T 416-340-2437 F 416-340-8224 W actoronto.org
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CANADA’S HOME FOR QUEER CULTURE
Established in 1979, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to the promotion of Queer Canadian Culture. Buddies is committed to work that challenges the boundaries of theatrical and social convention. As a company, we celebrate difference and question assumptions. Over the past 30-something years, we have evolved from a small production company into the largest facility-based queer theatre company in the world.
THE COMPANY Artistic Director Brendan Healy General Manager Shawn Daudlin Head of Production Charissa Wilcox Producer Erika Hennebury Director of Fundraising Jayne Schneider Young Creators’ Unit Director Evalyn Parry Youth Programme Coordinator Chy Ryan Spain Technical Director Adrien Whan Chamber Technician Katherine Smith Cabaret Technician Jazz Kamal Production Assistant Andrya Duff Finance Manager Cynthia Murdy Administrative Assistant Mark Aikman Box Office/FOH Manager & Volunteer Coordinator Chrystal Donbrath-Zinga Asst. Box Office Manager & Volunteer Coordinator Jenna Harris Bar Manager Paul Hill Assistant Bar Manager Patricia Wilson Box Office Personnel Thom Bryce, Christopher Mitchell, Wilson Ho, Evelyn Shaller-Auslander, Aaron Rothermund, Katherine Belyea Bar Personnel Victoria Gargarella, Michael Mackid, Glenn Dwyer BOARD OF DIRECTORS J. Paul Halferty (president) Russell Mathew (treasurer) Derek Billsman, Ellen Ray Hennessy, Joe Siegfried, Tatum Wilson, Diana Khong THE ALEXANDER STREET THEATRE PROJECT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cathy Gordon (president) Russell Mathew (treasurer) J. Paul Halferty (secretary) Kristyn Wong-Tam
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT), the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), is a participating member of the Creative Trust, and engages under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA), professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association (CAEA). 16 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
MISSION STATEMENT – Buddies in Bad Times Theatre strives to fulfill the role of the leading alternative facility-based theatre in Toronto. We are committed to work that challenges the boundaries of theatrical and social convention. As a company we celebrate difference and question assumptions. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is committed to theatrical excellence which it strives for through its play development programs, strong volunteer base, youth-mentorship initiatives and ever increasing wealth of Canadian Queer Talent. MANDATE – Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to the promotion of Queer Canadian Culture. We are dedicated to producing, developing, and supporting queer theatrical works that speak to one, or both, of the following criteria: 1. QUEER, referring to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered identity, encapsulates the core of our organization. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is a queer-run organization committed to representing the LGBT community by supporting its artists, and by telling its stories. 2. QUEER, referring to anything different or outside of the norm, represents the nature of artistic work presented at 12 Alexander Street. Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is dedicated to work that is different, outside the mainstream, challenging in both content and form. (This second definition of Queer is not LGBT-specific)
give make your tax-deductible donation to Buddies today MAIL Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street, Toronto ON M4Y 1B4 PHONE Box Office 416.975.8555 (Tue-Sat 12-5pm) Admin Office 416.975.9130 (Mon-Fri 10-5) ONLINE www.buddiesinbadtimes.com/donate
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THANK YOU! THE DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE VISIONARIES
$5000+ Jim Lawrence & David Salak Robert Wylie & William Hodge
BENEFACTORS
$1000-$4999 Adrian Ishak Dean Odorico & Woody’s Derek Billsman Jason Churchill Jim Tennyson Ken Moffatt Paul Hains Russell Mathew & Scott Ferguson Singing Strong
LEGACY CIRCLE
Ed Cabell & Roy Forrester Russell Mathew & Scott Ferguson
In Memory of Nigel Gough Donations made in Nigel’s honour will provide support for Buddies Queer Youth Art Program Anonymous Bobbie Smith Esme Fuller-Thomson Lynn Glazer Regal Road P.S. Social Committee Trevor Mangion Mr. & Mrs. Wood
CHAMPIONS $500-$999 Brendan Healy Brian Terry Joe Siegfried Ken Popert Lucinda Wallace Mark German Mark Peacock Michael Boyuk Michael Golych Richard Bingham PARTNERS $250-$499 Beverly Harris Don Clarke Ian Waldron & Tim Redmann Jerry Doiron Ken Aucoin & Gerald Crowell Paul Halferty Shameless For A Cause Tyler Curtis FRIENDS $100-$249 Alnoor Karmali & Doug Arcand Chris Rowlinson Brian McBurney
Clare Smyth Cobie Crawford In memory of Ed Fielding Eileen Sommerman Ellen Ray Hennessy George Grant Jaya Karsemeyer Joff Evans Jon Kaplan Kathleen Harquail Kishwar Iqbal Mario Vecchi Matthew Jocelyn Michel Beauvais Mitsuko Sada Naomi Campbell Noah Aychental Paul Bishara Paul Hartwick Pauline Pelletier Richard & Pamela Earle Richard McLellan Robert Wallace Robin Buyers Steve Lico Winnie Luk
Thank you to all the SUPPORTERS and VOLUNTEERS who give so generously to Buddies each season. We couldn’t do it without you. To find out about becoming a member of our family of donors, please go to: www.buddiesinbadtimes.com/donate
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Buddies in Bad Times gratefully acknowledges the following supporters for their commitment to the development of contemporary Canadian queer culture at Buddies LEAD CORPORATE DONOR
CORPORATE SPONSORS FESTIVAL SPONSOR QUEER MEDIA PARTNER
MAINSTAGE MEDIA SPONSOR
PUBLIC AGENCIES
FOUNDATIONS
The Lawrence Family Foundation The John McKellar Foundation Nancy’s Very Own Foundation Buddies in Bad Times Theatre 2boys.tv’s TIGHTROPE 19