Origins Theatre Projects Blog

Gordon Armstrong Playwrights Rent Award 2010

2010-05-04T07:19:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Please forward or Post widely:
GORDON ARMSTRONG PLAYWRIGHT’S RENT AWARD 2010

Now more than ever! Call for Applications OR NOMINATIONS

Along side the professional community based in Vancouver, Origins Theatre Projects Society celebrates the FIFTEENTH year of this award to honour theatre artists currently writing a new work. Congratulations to last year's recipient, playwright Janet Hinton.

Cash Award: $550.00
We invite B.C. based individual theatre artists with professional experience who are writing new plays to apply for the award as follows:
Send a letter that discusses your work’s importance or about yourself as an artist.
Make it a personal letter, not a formal grant application letter. Max. 350 to 400 words.
Attach YOUR RESUME, and, if you wish, a short excerpt of something you are currently working on, although this is not necessary.
Please keep the application simple for yourself.
If you have applied before, or if you have received the award, you are still eligible.

OR! NOMINATE SOMEONE Members of the professional community may nominate a playwrighting artist. Send a brief statement as above outlining your reasons to nominate this artist.

Send to or drop off to:
Gordon Armstrong Playwright’s Rent Award (GAPRA)
C/O Origins Theatre Projects Society
#213-1857 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C.
V6J-1M4
Contact: Donnard Mackenzie: origins@vcn.bc.ca or voicemail 604-608-7422

History of the Award:
Shortly before our production of his play Blue Dragons ten years ago playwright Gordon Armstrong died of AIDS related illness. Just 35, he already had an impressive body of work, with the promise of more. Origins Theatre Projects has presented this cash award ever since.

The metaphor of rent remains constant, whether you are fighting a tragic disease, or merely fighting the good fight for funding support. Born from artists helping artists, it is an open application based upon merit and need, juried by our board. Thank you to all the applicants for your heartfelt expressions of your art.

To reference a past recipient, despite the difficulties, stories for the theatre are too powerful to ignore, and we offer this humble cash award and honour, as an encouragement.

Hurry !! NEW DEADLINE: LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAY 20, 2010.

Posted letters are absolutely preferred, but if necessary, we will accept email submissions.
The award will be presented at the Vancouver Jessies Nomination party May 25th 2010
The jury may choose not to award if there are not sufficient applications
The award is for individual artists, not a producing company.

Origins Theatre Projects 15th Year, NGGRFG OPENS IN OCTOBER

2009-10-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

Origins Theatre Projects marks our 15th year based in Vancouver as a small project-based theatre company. Despite the recent cutbacks, we are still alive. We are pleased to be an associate producer of the critically acclaimed production Nggrfg, which is back for an extended run. Thanks for your continued support of live professional theatre.

Donnard MacKenzie, Artistic Director.
Originstheatreprojects.ca

Small Brown Package Productions
& Guys In Disguise
In association with Origins Theatre Projects and the Firehall Arts Centre
proudly present:

nggrfg

Written and performed by Berend McKenzie
Directed by Denis Simpson

He’s Black!
Don’t miss this chance to see Berend McKenzie’s hit fringe play nggrfg held-over at the Firehall Arts Centre, October 22-31.

Directed by Canadian theatre legend Denis Simpson, nggrfg is a riotous and poignant one-man tour-de-force about being black and gay in a world that doesn’t always have room for either. Inspired by words that are used to oppress, nggrfg explores the impact of those two words in intimate and humorous ways.

nggrfg is just finishing a hugely successful Edmonton and Vancouver run, and the audiences want more! Critically acclaimed as a must see show, we invite you to attend our hold-over run here in Vancouver.

***** 5 STARS- Vue Weekly
***** 5 STARS- CJSR Radio

“Playful and touching. McKenzie is an ebullient performer, (It) left this crusty old critic in tears, nggrfg is for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.” Colin Thomas, Georgia Straight

“McKenzie turns ugliness into a thing of heart-wrenching beauty. This show comes straight from his heart and it will warm the cockles of yours.” Jo Ledingham, The Vancouver Courier

“McKenzie bares his soul, digging so deeply that he uncovers a sparkling autobiographical gem. McKenzie's absolute commitment to his material and ample gifts as an actor creates so palpable a presence that this show leaves you feeling exhilarated.” Peter Bernie, The Vancouver Sun

Opening October 21, 22, 23 9:00
October 24 4:00 & 9:00
October 25 4:00
October 28, 29, 30 9:00
October 31 4:00 & 9:00
All 4pm matinees are pay-what-you-can.
Regular Tickets $14.00-$16.00
The Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova St. Vancouver, BC
Ticket Information: (604)689-0926
Smallbrownpackages.com, media contact: denis.denman@gmail.com

-end-

Peter Boychuk, Associate Artist, NEW PLAYS HE'S PRODUCING

2008-10-10T12:31:00.001-07:00

Hello friends,Just a reminder that this week is your only chance to see our doublebill of my two plays, FORTUNATE SON and CHAINMAIL BIKINI. They play atthe Havana Theatre (1212 Commercial Drive) Oct. 8-11 8pm nightly. Tohear me talk about the plays, visit this link:http://vanstage.wordpress.com/2008/10/07/fortunate-son-and-chainmail-bikini/To purchase tickets, call 778-999-6176 or fire me an email. To findout more, visit our website at http://www.rollingstocktheatre.com.Hope to see you all there!Peter Boychuk--FORTUNATE SONWinner of the Stanley Mills Purchase Prize, an Honourable Mention atthe National Playwriting Competition, and the award for Best of theFest at the 2007 ACToberfest Theatre Festival in Kelowna, BC,Fortunate Son is set right after the State funeral for Pierre ElliotTrudeau in Montreal, and tells the story of how his son Justin gave aspeech and inherited a nation. Stage veterans Michael Armstrong andDrew Staniland will be reprising the roles that earned them an awardfor Best Acting at ACToberfest.CHAINMAIL BIKINIIt's a week before opening at Tim's gaming store and his investor isthreatening to bail, his bathroom is flooding, and his best friend hasdenounced him in the local paper. And that's just the stuff he knowsabout in this funny, touching play about life, religion, andtwenty-sided dice. Chainmail Bikini was first presented at the 2007Calgary Fringe Festival, where it received four stars by the CalgaryHerald. Stephen Hunt described it as "well-written" and "thoughtful" -"Boychuk has a nice way of weaving his deadpan wit into a pot that'sbrimming with social issues." The play will receive its Vancouverdebut with an all-new cast of young Vancouver actors.Both plays are at the Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Dr., Oct. 8-118pm nightly.Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and can bereserved by calling 778-999-6176. For more information, visitwww.rollingstocktheatre.com., or email Peter directly atpeter@rollingstocktheatre

Thomas At Mile Zero INFO Release, APRIL, 28TH, 2008

2008-04-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thomas At Mile Zero Plays as Rehearsed Workshop Production at the DSST UBC

UBC MFA Theatre/Creative Writing Graduate 2007, Donnard MacKenzie is co-directing and producing his full length play Thomas At Mile Zero at the Dorothy Somerset Studio Theatre May 9th and May 10th. MacKenzie says, “This is a rare opportunity to produce a full length large cast play of your own, and I’m very grateful to Theatre at UBC for assisting Origins Theatre Projects in this project.”

Thomas At Mile Zero is a coming of age tale set in 1982. The play is a funny westcoast drama about a young man dealing with the death of his father, and his own sense of belief in the face of an uncertain world. Audiences will enjoy the lyrical language and Irish lilt and verve. Not to mention a smattering of Irish Catholic guilt, family drama, a cross-Canada roadtrip, and the haunting wale of the banshee and kindred otherworld surprises.

Thomas At Mile Zero is presented as a professional WORK-IN-PROGRESS preview production within the Small Scale Theatre Agreement of Canadian Actor’s Equity Association. Actors may carry scripts and moments are still in process. The design elements are a suggestion for the purposes of this presentation. The play features an excellent cast, including Theatre at UBC Graduates Olivia Rameau and Kevin Kraussler, as well as James Chen (Sound Design), Ben Faegin (Lighting Associate/House Tech), Phil Shulze (Lighting), and Breanne Jackson, (Scenic Painting/Stage Management). The cast includes featured player Michael Eisner as Thomas who recently starred in CBC’s The English Man’s Boy; Luke Camilleri (Poster Boys); and seasoned pros MacKenzie Gray (Black Rider); Dolores Drake (Shirley Valentine, 13 Hands);and Ken Camroux Taylor (Various film credits); and Stephen Aberlee (Old Goriot) is the Production Dramaturg.

THOMAS AT MILE ZERO
A PROFESSIONAL PREVIEW PRODUCTION
Dorothy Somerset Studio Theatre, UBC
Preview Rehearsal May 8th at 8pm
MAY 9TH, MAY 10TH, 8PM
plus ONE ADDITIONAL SHOW MAY 10TH AT 2PM
3 SHOWS ONLY! LIMITED SEATS!
Admission by Donation, Partial Proceeds to PAL
6361 University Boulevard (off of NW Marine Dr.), or a short walk from the main bus loop, 1 block west of the bookstore
RESERVE NOW/For information: visit originstheatreprojects.ca.
or leave a message at 604-608-7422
LOCATION MAP LINK: http://www.maps.ubc.ca/PROD/search_results.php

Thomas At Mile Zero, Cast

2008-04-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce the cast for our preview production: Michael Eisner; Luke Camelleri; MacKenzie Gray; Ken Camroux Taylor; Dolores Drake;Olivia Rameau; Kevin Kraussler.

More details to follow.

TAMZ PREVIEW PRODUCTION, 3 SHOWS ONLY

2008-04-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

The company is hard at work for a Preview Production of our Thomas At Mile Zero.
Our previously announced full production run has been post-poned due to funding and venue considerations.

We are pleased to see the play receive this special preview at the Dorothy Somerset Studio Theatre at UBC, May 9th 8pm, May 10th 2pm, and May 10th 8pm. There will also be some open rehearsals during the week for selected guests. If you'd like to attend, please send us a voice mail, 604-608-7422. Be part of the audience for the world premiere in preview.

The preview presentations are all by donation, with proceeds going to benefit the Gordon Armstrong Playwrights Rent Award, and PAL Vancouver.

Please watch here for cast bios, play synopsis and other exciting info.

Details Soon

2008-03-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Casting for Thomas At Mile Zero is almost complete. Watch for an announcement here soon.
One member of our directing team is currently acting in a staged reading this week at the Firehall Arts Centre.

2008-03-15T23:40:00.000-07:00

Origins Theatre Projects is currently in production for our new full length play Thomas At Mile Zero. Please watch here for more details.

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2005-10-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

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