The Problems You Want

Is there a term for that? A "good" problem? I'm curious. My year is off to a very good start. I've got work lined up for January/February with Evolution Theatre's Little Martyrs and it has been confirmed to me today that tickets are now on sale through the Arts Court Box Office - 613-564-7240 (Details about the show can be found under my Upcoming Appearance tab.)

I've also been requested for two general auditions in Toronto. After years of sending in packages without answer, I'm thrilled! (Though I'm quite sure this is partly due to my Equity status and partly to my use of a Toronto mailing address.) Since rehearsals for me don't really begin until this Saturday, I can attend one of them no problem. The other? Is at the same time as rehearsal next week. Did I mention that rehearsals are in Ottawa?

As actor's these are the kinds of problems we want: being too busy working at our craft to do more, no matter how much more we want to do.

Still, it sucks. This is not for work during the run of the show, this is for work this summer, so it's unfortunate that I can't even give it a shot. In these situations, all you can really do is shrug it off and keep going. This one was just not meant to be.

What You Waiting For?

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the DiGi60 Festival in Ottawa. A movie I appeared in was getting its premiere.   It's a good little film called Connecting by Randy Kelly and I'm proud to say that it even won an award in the acting category. With all these indy filmmakers in one room, it got me thinking: here I am in Toronto (well, at the moment I'm somewhere in the Quinte region between Kingston and Belleville, but you get the picture) waiting for something to happen. Again. Some more.  But if Beckett taught me anything it's that waiting for something usually leads to more waiting. And guys on leashes. Which technically I guess I'm ok with.

Anyway, where was I?  Oh yeah. Waiting.

Nearing the 11th Hour, I handed in my application to the Ottawa Fringe Festival. Whether I get in or not - lottery is tonight at the Raw Sugar Café - my Roller Derby show is a go!  The first draft is done (mostly), I've been applying to every grant available to me to get it off the ground and talking to potential choreographers and movement coaches.  I also found out that I was accepted into the "Fresh Meat" program with the Toronto Roller Derby League. I start training next year.  I'm really excited about that.

I'm also working on translating a one-act play from English into French.  I got permission from the playwright and I'm shopping it around for a potential future production.  I've been dying to work more in French, but I can't seem to get my foot in the door as a performer.  Again: fuck it. Why wait?

And then, of course, there's Evolution Theatre.  I've been teasing about a big announcement for a while now, but just bear with me a little longer.  Details should be finalized this week.

So, if you've got an idea or you just want to do something, just go ahead and do it.  There are plenty of inexpensive ways for you to do so in the arts.  Oh and if you're checking out the Ottawa Fringe lottery tonight, could you please text me the results?

Tell Me A Story

I got a real treat last Wednesday night.  I attended a dress rehearsal of New Theatre of Ottawa's production of Connor McPherson's St Nicholas at the Cube Gallery.  Since it was still a rehearsal, I was only one of two people in attendance and so it felt like the entire tale was directed entirely towards us, which I guess it was... All I ever really want when I go to the theatre is a good story and this show definitely has that going for it.  I love watching John Koensgen when he's passionate about the material he's working with.  And the simple staging in the Cube Gallery brings with it just the right amount of intimacy to create the perfect creep factor.

Yes, this is a show about vampires.  And theatre critics, which frankly can be just as scary.

As a quick aside, the monsters that haunted my dreams the most growing up were vampires.  I quickly got over that when Buffy, who was the same age I was at the time, showed me how to kick ass with a roundhouse and a quip. These days, the sparkly vampires have lost their bite (bad pun totally intended), but the simple use of candlelight and Koensgen subtle storytelling had me riveted to my seat.

With Hallowe'en quickly coming up, do yourself a favour and check it out before it's too late!

*******************************

And if that's not enough for you, how about a ghost story in an honest to goodness haunted house?

Ok, I'm not one hundred percent certain that Laurier House is haunted, but as the former home of a Prime Minister who held seances a few metres away from where the Turn of the Screw will be taking place, how could it not be?

I haven't seen this show, but they have a pretty website (seriously, check it out!) and the production includes some of the best talent Ottawa has to offer.  I am so confident in their abilities that I even helped "turn the screw" and you can too - click on that last link to see how you can make a donation.

Enjoy your Hallowe'en boys and girls! I'll be spending mine in the scary suburbs of Toronto - you know, the areas that got Rob Ford elected.  Spooky!

The Hustle and Bustle of an Artistic Ottawa

There's always something to see and do in Ottawa. Say what?

Yup, it's true.  Don't believe me?  Then look at what I've been up to and what I've still got going during this two week time frame that I am in town: last Friday, I saw the incredible Hamlet (solo) at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

Saturday night I was at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Finals where Ottawa took home first and second place (Teams Capital Slam & Urban Legends respectively).  Check out the very awesome Wizard of Love from Capital Slam:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGqWGRALbYs]

Tonight, I'm checking out the launch of the undercurrent festival at the Great Canadian Theatre Company followed by the Wrecking Ball: Acting Over Politics.

Tomorrow, A Flea in her Ear at The Gladstone. Wednesday, I'm checking out a preview of the vampire play St. Nicholas at Cube Gallery.  Thursday there's a free public lecture about the importance of arts and culture in enhancing the quality of life in the urban environment at the Canadian Museum of Nature. And finally on Friday, it's opening night of Romeo and Juliet at the National Arts Centre.

Though some of these events are one night only, many go on for a few weeks.  And this is just what I'm seeing.  I haven't included a myriad of other events happening in and around town.

Really, what's your excuse?

A Little Confession

I've never been to a live spoken word event before. Sure, I've seen videos online and that guy at the Olympics, but nothing live.  I don't know how that happened.  Every third blog post from Jessica Ruano or Nadine is about some spoken word thing or another, probably one they are participating in, and I always go see performances my friends are in.  And they talk about it with such passion that it sends shivers down my spine.  I know that kind of passion.

It should be right up my alley.

I used to write.  From my teenage years to early university, I wrote almost every day.  I filled notebooks with scribbles and poems, thoughts and ideas, heartache and heartbreak until every page was covered.  I always had pen and paper with me.  I preferred pencils but they always broke in my bag. And then I would take what I thought was good and meticulously edit and copy the "finished product" into my "clean" book; a pretty blue thing with golden sun, moon and stars on the cover.  It had a matching bookmark.

I have over half a dozen notebooks, which I recently rediscovered as I was moving out of my Ottawa home. But then I just stopped writing poetry.  Why? I don't know. Probably because I fell in love and was content.  Little passion comes out of contentment.

********************************************

Did you know Ottawa is home to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word champions: Capital Slam & Urban Legends. The festival is happening in Ottawa this year.  I was actually asked to cover some of it for Ottawa Tonite but work was running late last night and I wasn't able to make it on time.  I regret that, but you shouldn't.  Click on the CFSW website and find out what's still going on and where.  This logistically impressive festival (seriously, who organized this thing with all these venues? I'm very impressed if this is working out) runs until Saturday night.  Then click on the Ottawa Tonite link & read up on some of the awe-inspiring coverage of the festival.

I'm not sure I'm going to get to see anything at this point, but I really hope that one day, soon, I will learn to stop resisting and embrace the Slam.

What's My Name Again?

I hate labels. The literal ones are often itchy and pop out inappropriately (kudos to the person who created washing instructions printed on the inside of the garment).  The figurative ones just make life so restricting.

I've never been good at using labels because as much as I like to think I love the safety and security of the box (especially when it comes with cushy pillows and pie... mmm pie), the truth is I just don't completely fit into one.

Take relationships: There's friends and acquaintances and various family members. Fine. But then, are we dating? Friends with benefits? Boyfriend/girlfriend? Lovers? Partners? Married? What do those things even mean anymore? Are you gay or straight? Do you fall somewhere in the middle?  What the heck do you call that? Can't we just love each other?

Why do I have to call it anything?

Take jobs: I'm an actor, marketer, writer, event planner, producer, grant writer, translator, fundraiser and a million other things all rolled into one.  Try to fit all that onto a business card.  (Though the versatile Susan Murphy once told me she uses the all-encompassing term of "wizard" which I think is absolutely brilliant even though I don't feel it applies to me.)

Even those can be broken down some more.  Marketing includes media relations, communications, promotions & publicity, social media... I've even gotten the question: "What kind of actor are you?" - Film or theatre? Comedy or drama? And for cryin' out loud even those can get more precise: Shakespeare & classical work, physical theatre, mask, clown & dance... where does stilt walking fit in to all that?

These days, it's where do you live now?  Ottawa or Toronto?

Do I have to answer that question? Well, no, I guess I don't have to, but the issue lies more in, again, I don't know how to. Why do I have to live in one place? Can't these cities be like divorced parents and I get to spend every second weekend and most holidays with one or the other?

It's a faulty metaphor, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Can't I just get a whackload of cash in order to have the ability to keep and travel between these two locations?  Yes, that would be the ideal.

Dear Universe, let's get on that, shall we?

Peace, love and gratitude.

..........................................

Oh and if someone has a legitimate answer to the business card question, I am all ears!

Summer Theatre in Ottawa

I'm not back in town two days and my schedule is already packed with show after show that I want to go see. First up, A Company of Fools have been running wild in parks across town with A Midsummer Night's Dream.  That's until August 2nd.  Click the link for schedule information.

Today, Arts Court launches it's "Summer Fling" with Educating Rita until August 1st.  They have a bunch of other shows lined up as well: Satin Dolls (August 6 &7), the bilingual play Les Inséparables (August 10 -22), and Swimming in the Shallows (August 12-22).   The fling continues in other market venues as well - check out the link for full schedule and info.

The Glastone has got a musical, The Andrews Brothers, from July 22 to August 14, while Odyssey Theatre premieres They All Do It in Strathcona Park from July 29 to August 29.

Oh and if that's not enough for you, the areas around Ottawa are booming as well.  My old stomping ground, the Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg has got The Long Weekend until August 1st; Perth has a new Classic Theatre Festival that presents Blythe Spirit (also until August 1st) and The Voice of the Turtle (August 6-29); and in Prescott The St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival runs two shows: Macbeth & the Trouble on Dibble Street from now until August 14.

With so much going on, you can be sure that I will see you at the theatre!

Danger, Will Robinson!

My brain exploded this morning. The June theatre overload (overdose?) has finally caught up to me. Last night, quite sober and lucid, though tired, I went to bed knowing that I had my regular Tuesday staff meeting at the GCTC at 9:30 a.m. I went to bed at 1 a.m. and woke up at 8 a.m. for a reasonable 7 hours of sleep. Somehow, I looked at my clock this morning and felt very pleased with myself that I didn't have anything to do until I had to leave for Morrisburg at noon for my SUNDAY matinee. I rolled over and went back to sleep.

Today is not Sunday, is it?

At 9:30, I got out of bed in a big "oh shit!" panic. How the heck did I think it was Sunday? Trying to get through my morning routine, I stumbled and often re-did actions I had already done. My billet was a little worried and so I decided going in to work was probably not the best idea in my frame of mind. I sat around outside for a few minutes, cleaned the filth off my balcony windows, took the car for gas and then headed down to the Fringe Courtyard for another lunchtime artist event.

The coffee from Bridgehead did me some good. I still feel a bit foggy, but it's settled a bit more. I think all I need now is rest and reading through a few blogs, I can see I'm not the only one.

While this unfortunately means I won't be fringing tonight and possibly tomorrow, I really need to just take care of myself right now (and finish my Ignite the Fringe presentation for Friday).

To my fellow Marathon Fringers out there, be safe and well. I'll see you in a few days.

Ignite the Hype

If someone had told me ten years ago that I could have a successful career as a marketing professional, I would have laughed in their face. These days, however, it seems to make perfect sense. As part of the Ottawa Fringe Festival's Lunchtime Artist Series, I've been asked to participate in the Ignite the Fringe event on Friday June 25th at noon.

My topic is on "Branding the Artist" - though I'm not going to spoil it all here because I'd love for you to join us in the Fringe Courtyard (or "Beer Tent" as I sometimes hear it's called), I am going to tell you that my mind has been wandering towards promotion, buzz and hype lately.

On Friday night, I had the privilege of seeing the Shadows opening night. This show came with a lot of hype. Amazing professional production team, award-winning actresses, incredible promotional material, and a curiosity factor around this being the writer's first solo produced play. Fortunately, it beautifully lived up, in my mind, to all of that. I was incredibly moved by this piece to the point where I just needed to be alone for a little bit afterwards to decompress (My apologies to anyone whom I may have been rude to and ignored while running away from the venue. I just wanted to settle for a moment before the craziness that is the beer tent.) I also know that I am adding to the hype just by writing this, but if you can get tickets to this show (it's been selling out!), go and see it. It's fucking awesome.

I've also been thinking a lot about my own hype lately. I mean, I'm "nancykenny". I've been somewhat taking it as a joke around the beer tent, but part of me wonders how much weight that actually carries.

Tonight, I will be doing my one and only performance at the Ottawa Fringe Festival in Jayson McDonald's The Last Goddamned Performance Piece at 11pm in Venue 5 - Studio Leonard-Beaulne. The marketer (and ego hungry individual) in me worries that I won't live up to the hype and the only people in attendance will be the director, the performer I'm billeting, and that guy who stalks me on Facebook (OMG! What if my stalker DOESN't come?). It is after all a late show and tomorrow is a work day.

Realistically, I know there will be more people than that. And my artist is simply thrilled to be performing this beautiful play, no matter how many people see it.

There is no way to control who will or will not come, no matter how good your promotion is, which is such a weird situation to be in. However, though the marketer can build up the hype, the only thing the artist can do is the best job she can. My artist is now taking over and she doesn't care about the hype.

So, if you come and see my show tonight, I will do my very best to be present, truthful, and entertaining for your viewing pleasure.

I hope to see you there!

The Highs... and the Lows

I saw my first Ottawa Fringe Festival show last night: Art DeXo. I chose it at random from the program. I figured since it came from out-of-town (heck out of the country), they could probably use the attendance for an 11 pm slot on the opening night of the festival. I was right. There were only ten people in the audience of this 100+ seat theatre. A quick glance around at the 10 and I knew two were billets, two were Fringe staff and the people with notepads where probably media. All in all, I'd be surprised if more than 2 people paid to see that show. So, these four dancers who came in from New York probably made $20 last night... $10 if those two used the 2 for 1 deal. It breaks my fucking heart.

This is a dance show. The extent of my dance experience comes from gyrating in front of my mirror as I get ready to go out, bopping along to tunes in the car and watching So You Think You Can Dance. Basically, I don't feel qualified to review this show because, frankly, I didn't understand it.

I have so many questions about it still: Was I suppose to look for a narrative or should I have taken each individual piece on it's own merit? Why did they choose this weird music? Why did some pieces include vocabulary, but some didn't? Why was there so much neon? Talking with some of the others who saw it last night, I realized I wasn't the only one who was confused.

The best bit of the show was this incredible dance solo by the blond in the gray dress (a dress which I actually covet). Again, I don't know what was going on, but I liked that part.

The great thing about Fringe though is that I can get exposed to stuff that I normally wouldn't go out to see. I wish Art DeXo all the best with the rest of their run and I hope they have a lovely time in Ottawa.

Not Missing Out

Following up on my list of shows that I don't want to miss at the Ottawa Fringe Festival this year, I wanted to add a few comments. First of all, you may have noticed a heavy number of local productions. This is not because I think any less of the touring shows. I hope to see lots of local work in Ottawa because that's pretty much the only way I would ever get to see it. I'll be at the Toronto, Calgary and possible Edmonton Fringes this summer and so will most of the touring performers. I'll get to see those shows on the road, if I haven't already. Stay tuned in the coming months for what I hope to see at those festivals as well.

Also, as I go through my Fringe availability schedule, one show has actually stood out in the "must-see" category that I had not previously added to the list. It's called Heroes Past & Present. This is another local show in BYOV #7 - The Ottawa Public Library (I think this venue is a first for the festival - someone correct me if I'm wrong). It's a cute little amphitheatre.

I don't know the people involved with this production, which surprises me. It has puppets, which also intrigues me, but that's not the only reason I'm going to check it out. No. The reason this show is now on my radar has to do with the times it goes up. The show has 11 a.m. performances!

I have no idea if he or she will get a crowd, but that time slot is absolutely perfect for me! With my crazy schedule and unwavering need to "see everything" day times are the best!

With the Ottawa Fringe on a continuous growth spurt, will we be moving towards more day possibilities like the rest of the country? Or is this city just too much of a government town to care?

Nancy’s MUST SEE List at the 2010 Ottawa Fringe

The Ottawa Fringe Festival is less than a week away and the excitement on the interwebs is absolutely palpable! But with 60 shows in 16 different venues, what in the world should you see? Well, my typical response would be "everything" but I know that's just not possible for everyone. So, as a courtesy to anyone looking for insight on what they should check out, I bring you, once again (my most popular blog post of the past year), Nancy's MUST SEE List at the Ottawa Fringe.

I won't be able to see as much as I'd like to this year, but here's some stuff I definitely don't want to miss:

First up, of course, my ONE NIGHT ONLY appearance in The Last Goddamned Performance Piece. Tickets are on sale NOW The show takes place in what is probably the smallest venues at the Fringe. I really don't know what my draw factor is, but you may want to buy your ticket in advance by clicking the big bold NOW in order to avoid disappointment. That said, if you miss my performance, you can still catch the show, with a great script by Jayson McDonald, with a different actress, the lovely Celine Fillion.

Also, the same company that is producing TLGDPP is also remounting Daniel MacIvor's Wild Abandon with Zach Counsil giving an awesome solo performance. If you missed it last year, be sure to check it out this time around.

Throughout the festival, I will be hosting Fringe performer Sharon Nowlan of Burlesque Unzipped. I met Sharon this year when I was in London for The Big Comedy Go-To. She is an incredibly talented lady and the show was directed by Paul Hutcheson, so you know this is going to be good!

Now, in no particular order, on with the rest of my list:

Shadows Written by the award-winning Margo MacDonald and featuring MacDonald and the always delightful Sarah Finn, this is one of those who's who pieces of Ottawa theatre that has the potential to be another Blood on the Moon. Plus the publicity photos from Andrew Alexander are just so smoking hot that I can't help but put one up here. A really great example on how an image can sell a show.

The Sterling Lynch Triple Bill And I thought I was busy... Sterling Lynch will be a hard guy to miss at the Ottawa Fringe. He's performing in G-Men Defective & Deliver'd from Nowhere and wrote Prisoner's Dilemna. I think you kind of HAVE to see at least one of them, if not all three (which also include the talents of some awesome people like Ray Besherah, Tim Ginley, Wayne Current, and my not-so-secret Fringe crush Nadine Thornhill.)

The Beer Tent: Reflux Obviously, the title of this piece is a play on my own blog title. Therefore, I'm just going to go ahead and think this show is about me, which makes it a good enough reason for anyone to see it. Oh! And because they are tricky (or possibly drunk), though called "The Beer Tent" the show is actually taking place in the basement of the Royal Oak on Laurier and not the actual Fringe Beer Tent.

Here's a promo for the show that talks about me some more:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2239MNbCGA]

Six: at Home I absolutely love site-specific theatre and this one takes place in Laurier House. It was also created by many of the fine folks in the Ottawa Stilt Union. There will be no stilts in this piece, though I'm still very much looking forward to it.

Mixing Boal: Kitchen of the Oppressed The theatre nerd in me actually quite enjoyed Pirate Jenny's Interactive Circus from last year and so I'm willing to give this one a shot as well. I'm curious to know if food will be served during the performance...

Though I don't know as much about the touring performances coming to town, here's a few pieces that I would like to put in the "pretty much a sure thing" category:

Archy and Mehitabel Saw this one in Winnipeg last year. Jeff Culbert is an amazing performer. I'd also like to point out that the show was directed by Jayson McDonald who wrote the TLGDPP that I am appearing in. Fair warning though: this is a very intelligent show. I don't recommend seeing it if you've already had a few beers because you will need to focus. Cactus: The Seduction... Jonno Katz is back again and never disappoints. The Sputniks I've never seen this show but I've heard absolutely amazing things about it and Elison Zasko from people on the Fringe Festival Circuit. I really really really want to see it.

Well, there you have it. Without counting my own show (and by combining Sterling into one entity), you've got 10 shows that you should check out at the Ottawa Fringe Festival this year. Now go get your Frequent Fringer Card, make your schedule and get ready to go!

Countdown to Fringe: 6 days

My First Fringe

Picture it: Sicily Ottawa 2002 A young and naive theatre student by the name of Nancy Kenny answers an audition notice posted on a bulletin board (where audition notices went long before this thing called the "internet" existed) in her Theatre department at school.

The show: Tuesdays and Sundays by Daniel Arnold and Medina Hahn

(Little did I know at the time that this was a huge hit on the Fringe Festival Circuit back then. Heck, I didn't even know what a Fringe Festival Circuit was. I just wanted to be in a play outside of school. The director of our production saw it done somewhere out west and got the rights for it in Ottawa. I believe that this was the only Fringe Festival that wasn't done with the original creating team.)

The show is rehearsed over a few weeks and put on in the Alumni Auditorium at the University of Ottawa (which is no longer a Fringe venue at this point in time).

Attendance? Is terrible in this 300 seat auditorium. One midnight show pulls in only 4 people for this cast of 2. (Fortunately, the next Executive Producer of the Fringe, the awesome Kevin Waghorn will later make some very beneficial changes, including cordoning off a section of the theatre so everyone sits in one clump and abolishing midnight performances. But, until then, shitballs for us.)

The company also only gets 5 performances instead of the usual 6 since Nancy Kenny's scene partner had to attend a wedding in Windsor at the end of the week.

However, the reviews are incredible and rave about the performances of the two young students from the University of Ottawa Theatre Department. Nancy Kenny has fun, discovers something called the "Beer Tent" and makes friends with lots of performers from out of town. She also meets a bearded man with a big laugh who tells her really nice things about the show and has been an avid follower of her career and a dear friend ever since.

Somehow, the show wins the coveted Best of Venue prize and gets an additional performance on the closing night of the festival. The director had rented risers for the performance and had returned them by that point thinking the run of the show was done. Milk crates and planks were used to replace them.

(I still remember sitting backstage, 15 minutes to showtime on a Sunday night, wondering where the heck my partner was as, upon hearing the news we had an extra show, he guaranteed he'd be back from the wedding on time. I also remember how relieved I felt when he ran in, out of breath, with less than 5 minutes to spare.)

No money was made by anyone, but the director bought her actors a beer and an Ottawa Fringe Festival hat. The run NOW officially over, everyone really went their separate ways. Nancy Kenny ends up at the Beer Tent and sits around for the closing festivities. As awards are handed out, she is shocked to hear her and her partner's names called out in the "Outstanding Performance" category.

Nancy Kenny starts to think this "Fringe Festival" thing is not bad. Not bad at all.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Airport Security Opens Tonight!

A few months ago I had the pleasure of participating in a film shoot for Airport Security with Gruppo Rubato. Now, the videos were in anticipation of the play which opens tonight. They consisted of scenes that were cut from the play but still were worthy of being seen (and used as one of the best marketing tools I've seen for the theatre in a long time).

I've included the video with myself in it at the end of this post.

In the meantime, be sure not to miss the play!

************* Airport Security, the newest play from Ottawa’s Gruppo Rubato opens tonight at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre Studio Theatre. Can’t wait that long? Visit our website, www.rubato.ca, to catch our 4-part short film, Airport Security, before we open!

Following the stories of five passengers as they navigate their way through a busy airport, Airport Security poses the question: does increased airport security make us safer, or just make us feel safer? Playing on our insecurities and overconfidence in a system destined to both convolute and demystify air travel, from shuttles to baggage carousels, departures to arrivals, Airport Security scans Canada’s growing obsession with “security”.

Written and directed by Patrick Gauthier (Winner of the 2010 Council for the Arts in Ottawa’s RBC Emerging Artist Award; Rideau Award – Emerging Artist nominee; and director of the multiple award-winning production Countries Shaped Like Stars), the cast features Ottawa actors Simon Bradshaw, Kris Joseph, Catriona Leger, Tania Levy, and Kate Smith.

Set design is by John Doucet; Costume and Prop Design by Sarah Waghorn; Lighting Design by Pierre Ducharme; Sound Design by Kris Joseph; and Original Music by Ann Walton. Production dramaturgy is by Emily Pearlman.

Tickets are $25 ($20 for students), with a $15 preview performance on Thursday, June 3, and a Pay-What-You-Can matinee on Sunday, June 6 at 2:30 pm.

Tickets: $25 ($20 students) Box Office: 613.236.5196

Friday, June 4 7:30 pm (Opening Night!)

Saturday, June 5 7:30 pm (Social Media Night: Facebook Friends and Twitter Followers get in for $15 – at the door only)

Sunday, June 6 2:30 pm (Pay-What-You-Can Performance)

Tuesday, June 8 7:30 pm

Wednesday, June 9 7:30 pm (Talkback Performance)

Thursday, June 10 7:30 pm

Friday, June 11 7:30 pm

Saturday, June 12 7:30 pm

Airport Security, Ep 1: Passenger Protect from Kris Joseph on Vimeo.

Wouldn't Miss It For the World

I love June. It's my favorite time of year. It marks the beginning of Summer Camp Fringe Festival season. This week, the Ottawa Fringe Festival launched it's new season and I couldn't be more excited! You can read up on some of the wonderful new developments in store all over the web, but I'll also make a point of commenting about it here over the next few days. Also, stay tuned for my 2010 list of Must-See Shows at this year's festival. It was my most popular blog post last year and I'll be putting one out soon as I now have my hands on the program.

...

"But Nancy, aren't you in Morrisburg appearing in a show at the Upper Canada Playhouse from June 10th to July 4th? How will you get to enjoy the Fringe since it runs from June 17th to 27th?"

Really, people, I'm Nancy Kenny. Do you think I'm going to let a little thing like "time" and "space" prevent me from doing something?

I've performed in every single Ottawa Fringe Festival since 2002. I'm not going to miss out on it now.

I'm going on tour with a Fringe show this summer. We'll be in Calgary and, hopefully, Edmonton. The show is actually taking place in Ottawa as well, but since I am performing out of town another lovely lady will be taking on my role... that is... mostly.

The show is called the Last Godamned Performance Piece. It was written by the amazing Jayson McDonald and is going up in Venue 5 - Studio Leonard-Beaulne.

As I do not want to arrive in Calgary without having ever performed in front of an audience, I will be appearing for ONE NIGHT ONLY in one of the performances of this show.

That's right, ladies and gents, Nancy Kenny will be appearing at the Ottawa Fringe Festival (in an actual show instead of just the beer tent) on Sunday, June 20th at 11 p.m. in the Studio. Mark your calendars now!

Also, I'm very honoured to have been asked to participate in one of the of the amazing lunchtime artist series. This pay-what-you-can event will take place on June 25th at noon.

And of course, my insanity does not end there. Though it will be impossible for me to beat my record viewing of 35 shows from last year, with so much going on, you can be sure I'm going to try and squeeze as much as I can into a limited time-frame.

See you in the Beer Tent (both the real one and the show!)

It's Been A While...

... since my last blog post. 9 days. That's a while for me. I just haven't been in a good head and body space lately. I've talked about show withdrawal twice before. With the Fools show now closed, it hit me so much harder and longer than before that I figured it couldn't possibly be at the root of the issue. But looking back, I think it may very well have been. When you go from playing all day, everyday to sitting in an office, no matter how great that office job might be, you're going to get blue.

I got more than blue though. Only recently did someone point out that I was being downright nasty to myself. Not cool. Since then, I've been making a lot of positive changes and feeling better.

I'm trying to eat better and I've gotten back into my running routine.

I've also started rehearsals for the Calgary Fringe (with a potential stopover in Edmonton) and I'm excited to be starting rehearsals in Morrisburg on Tuesday for The Amorous Ambassador at the Upper Canada Playhouse.

My show in Morrisburg runs from June 10th to July 4th and we do 8 performances a week (Tues to Sat night & matiness on Wed, Sat & Sun). For those of you who know your Fringe dates, you realize that this means I am not doing a show at the Ottawa Fringe, nor will I be able to beat last year's record viewing of 35 shows (while using an additional 6 time slots to perform in one of my own) throughout the festival.

However, don't count me down and out just yet. I'll be billeting someone and plan on being at the beer tent every night after the show.

Oh... and you may want to keep Sunday, June 20th at 11 pm free for a specific Ottawa Fringe Festival show. Just saying. More details on that soon!

2009 Les Prix Rideau Awards Results!

Being a publicist has it's perks. You've read it here first! Third Annual Prix Rideau Awards Winners Announced!

Winners have been announced for Ottawa's 3rd annual Prix Rideau Awards, which celebrate achievement in English and French professional theatre in Ottawa-Gatineau. The awards were presented during a celebration at L’École secondaire De La Salle on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

The winners for English-language productions are:

Outstanding Performance – Female Patricia Fagan, The Syringa Tree, Great Canadian Theatre Company Outstanding Performance – Male Paul Rainville, The Drawer Boy, Great Canadian Theatre Company

Outstanding Lighting Design Jock Munro, The Syringa Tree, Great Canadian Theatre Company

Outstanding Set Design Ivo Valentik, A Midwinter's Dream Tale, A Company of Fools/Gladstone Productions

Outstanding Costume Design Louise Hayden, A Midwinter's Dream Tale, A Company of Fools/Gladstone Productions Outstanding Stage Management / Technical Award Donna Bourgeault, A View from the Bridge, Ottawa Chamber Theatre

Outstanding Fringe Production Countries Shaped Like Stars, Mi Casa

Outstanding Director Lise Ann Johnson, The Syringa Tree, Great Canadian Theatre Company

Emerging Artist Award Emily Pearlman, Creator/Actor/Writer of Countries Shaped Like Stars, Mi Casa

Outstanding Adaptation A Midwinter's Dream Tale, A Company of Fools/Gladstone Productions

Outstanding New Creation Countries Shaped Like Stars, Mi Casa

Outstanding Production The Syringa Tree, Great Canadian Theatre Company

The winners for French-language productions are:

Interprétation féminine de l'année Geneviève Couture, L'honnête homme/un one woman show, Poésie électrique Interprétation masculine de l'année Pierre Antoine Lafon Simard, L'Illusion comique, Théâtre la Catapulte

Conception de l'année Guillaume Houët-Brisebois, Éclairages, L'honnête homme/un one woman show, Poésie électrique

Artiste en émergence Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez , Interprétation, Le bout du monde, Le Théâtre du Trillium

Prix technique / de la regie Lindsay Tremblay, Le Projet Rideau, Théâtre la Catapulte

Mise en scène de l'année Marc Lemyre, L'honnête homme/un one woman show, Poésie électrique

Adaptation de l'année Cyrano Tag, Compagnie Vox Théâtre

Nouvelle création de l'année L'honnête homme/un one woman show, Poésie électrique

Production de l'année L'honnête homme/un one woman show, Poésie électrique

Les Prix Rideau Awards celebrate achievement in professional theatre in the region of Ottawa-Gatineau. The peer-juried awards program was initiated in 2006 as a result of discussion at an open meeting of the regional Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. This year for the first time, Les Prix Rideau Awards goes fully bilingual, with a full slate of awards being presented for both English and French-language productions.

For the calendar year 2009, 40 English and 11 French professional theatre productions were juried by two teams of local arts professionals (14 English and 8 French). Nominations were submitted by secret ballot and tallied by local accountants, Chong Pelot and Marcil-Lavallée. Complete details on award definitions, terms and criteria are available at www.rideauawards.ca

Have You Got Your Tickets Yet?

The 2010-2011 Great Canadian Theatre Season is launched and it's latest production, Facts, is open and running.  All I'm really going to say about it all is that the new season looks exciting (buy your subscription before April 30th to save on the HST!) and Facts is well-worth seeing (remember, Rush Tickets go on sale as of noon the day of the performance!). Though I'm still working on a video from the launch (I hate you, Windows Movie Maker!), I'm now almost entirely consumed with thoughts of the Rideau Awards.  I've been doing a constant follow-up with media, getting a press release ready, and worrying about what to wear.  This is after all THE Ottawa theatre event of the year.  You've got your ticket, right?

On top of moderating English media communications and live tweeting throughout the event (follow along with the #rideauawards hashtag - conversation is currently about what to wear - I'm going to be very disappointed if @SterlingLynch doesn't follow through on his assless chaps outfit), I will also be appearing with Sanitas Playback Theatre.  Normally, I would be performing with the group, however with my focus split that night, we've come to a different arrangement, albeit one that I find fits better with this year's co-lingual awards mandate.

The theatre company and I have decided that I will be co-conducting the event with Artistic Director Brie Barker and acting as a French translator throughout our segments.  It is silly to assume that all francophones in attendance are fluently bilingual.  In addition, many anglophones do not speak French and would require the interpretation.  It will be nice to finally showcase what we've been doing for the past few months and I think Playback will add an interesting touch to the awards.  I'm really excited to be introducing this "new" form of theatre to my peers.

I can't wait to see you there, but before then, the question on everyone's mind really is: what will you be wearing?

Where To Get That Play

You're taking a scene study class and you need to find the play your scene is taken from.  The library doesn't seem to have it and neither does Chapters.  So what do you do? I've been collecting plays and building up my own personal library for years, ever since I took my first Theatre History course in University and had to purchase 10 different plays for class.   I truly believe it's important to build a good collection if you want to work in the theatre.  I regularly make the rounds of used bookstores and get what might be of interest to me.  Last year, season announcements were made all over Ottawa.  I went straight to my bookshelf and realized I was only missing a few texts.  This meant I could instantly consult the character breakdowns, see which shows I may be suitable for and send a message to the various artistic directors expressing my interest.  And the plays I didn't have?  I quickly ordered.

But what if it's a modern text or something a little more obscure?  What then?

You can always try Theatrebooks in Toronto or BizBooks in Vancouver.  They both offer an excellent selection and if they don't have the title you are looking for, they might be able to order it for you.

Unfortunately (and I hate to go all big business here), it can take forever to get something if they have to order it for you and, if you do a little price shopping, it's often cheaper to go through Chapters or Amazon for more common pieces.  Still, a great option.  I always make a stop at Theatrebooks when I'm in Toronto.

Which brings me to this little gem of advice: Skip the middle man and order the play yourself.

First, find out who the publisher is.  In most cases, it's probably Samuel French, the Dramatist Play Service, Pioneer Drama, or Broadway Publishing for most American titles.  It's fairly cheap too.  A play purchased through Samuel French will generally cost you about $7.50 US plus shipping.  Order multiple titles to save on shipping.

For Canadian works, try Playwrights Canada Press or Centre des auteurs dramatiques (for French work - though they might know where to find the published English translation).

If the text has yet to be published or is out of print (it can happen), then find out which theatre may have had the first official production or, better yet, contact the playwright or the playwright's agent directly.  (Yes, you CAN do that!)

If you have any other tips or suggestions on where to find a play, please feel free to mention it in the comments section.

Good luck and happy reading!

Can You Keep A Secret?

Apparently, some people think a girl with a blog and an unhealthy addiction to her iPhone social media programs is the best person to entrust with the most TOP SECRET news in Ottawa Theatredom. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, somewhere among the hanging out on movies sets (with Cuba Gooding Jr!), working at the Great Canadian Theatre Company (season launch on Monday!), learning to rap Shakespeare, making women feel beautiful, discovering hidden abilities to translate small documents from English to French, watching some "bloody" good theatre (check out a solid production of Blood Relations at the University of Ottawa before it closes this weekend, as well as the musical Blood Brothers at The Gladstone), working on my own theatre company's project, performing improv with some lovely ladies, and training for a 5K race; somewhere among all that, I became the new anglophone publicist for the upcoming Les Prix Rideau Awards.

(Of course, all of this must have happened after I discovered that necklace from Harry Potter that allows Hermione to attend to classes at the same time, because there is nothing short of wizardry to explain how I manage to do all this stuff...)

After learning that Über Publicist, Crystal Parsons would be leaving the wonderful world of theatre promotion for the civil service, I was approached by the awards committee to see if I could fill her sexy shoes.

My first answer, of course, was no. Re: see above schedule & need for a clone/develop magical powers.

However, after much discussion, I eventually said yes for the following reasons:

• The workload isn't as excessive as I first anticipated.  There is no need for me to translate documents for these bilingual awards, since there already is a francophone publicist, and I'd be doing a lot of stuff from a social media perspective that I'm doing already.
• This could all wait until I was done my stand-in gig.
• Being able to say that I'm the publicist for Ottawa's professional theatre awards is a pretty big deal and adds another notch of legitimacy to my marketing belt.
• With the GCTC holding a whopping 16 nominations, I can make a lot of what I'll be doing relevant to the day job.
• I think the awards are important and I want to support them in some way.  This is more than just a big party where people dress up to watch somebody get an award.  By recognizing the contribution of theatre professionals in the community, we are raising awareness of our work and acknowledging that there is a a place what we do here in town.  My dream? That one day, when I tell someone I am a professional actor, they will not ask me when I will be moving to Montreal or Toronto because it will simply be common knowledge that such a scene exists here as well.

All that to say that I will now be only one of three people to know the award winner's identities before they are revealed on April 18th because I need to have the press release handy for media as soon as the ceremony is over.  (Note to self: find dress that coordinates well with handcuffs and a briefcase *insert your own joke here*)  And this confidentiality agreement I signed says that no amount of bribing can make me reveal the secrets before then.

But have no fear!  You too may know the results as soon as they become available.  Tickets are on sale now!  Details below (this also reminds me that I will be performing in my first public Sanitas Playback Theatre show that night as well... where the heck is my clone?):

The 3rd Annual Les Prix Rideau Awards celebration is taking place at De La Salle High School (501 Old St Patrick Road, Ottawa) on Sunday, April 18, 2010.  The first-ever fully bilingual awards ceremony will be cohosted by CBC Ottawa’s Alan Neal and not-from-CBC-Ottawa's Annie Lefebvre, with theatrical reflections by Sanitas Playback Theatre and music by DJ AL Connors.

Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased through the Nouvelle Scène box office:

• online at nouvellescene.com
• by telephone at 613-241-2727 ext 1
• in person at 333 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa

Les Prix Rideau Awards III -- Sunday, April 18, 2010 De La Salle High School, 501 Old St Patrick Road, Ottawa Doors open at 6:30 PM; presentation begins at 7:30 PM - Tickets: $25