This is my first ever blog and I’m not too sure what to say. Since we’re approaching the end of the year I guess I’ll just babble a bit about what’s been going on. It’s been a bit of a banner season for me.
My new play For This Moment Alone premiered in March at Theatre Aquarius which was super-exciting. A wonderful cast and a tremendous reception from the audience made me very proud. It took a long time to write that piece–which is based on a true story–and I’m glad I stuck with it.
In the summer I directed the “newly envisioned “Anne of Green Gables at the Charlottetown Festival. For those who don’t know, this lovely Canadian musical had been running annually for the past 46 years–with the same set and costume designs.
For the first time since it premiered we “re-envisioned it” on many levels but without changing a note of the music or a word of the script. In essence we took it from the drop-show it was written to be and transformed the way we told the story, making it more –well, modern! A challenge for all but in the end a wonderful success. The costumes remained the same but the set was totally new–designed by Doug Paraschuk with video projections by Sean Neuenhuis and lighting by Leigh Ann Vardy. A great company of actors and a brand new Anne (Tess Benger) made the show a joy.
Meanwhile, in Quebec City, my show Discovering Elvis (A La Recherche d’Elvis) was getting a slap-up production at Theatre Beaumont-St. Michel.
Unfortunately I didn’t get to see it but the reviews are stunning and so are the little bits I see on You Tube –and, since it was such a hit– it extended! All very cool. The show is very popular in Quebec–it’s been produced there about 6 times now, in various cities including Montreal, and it also toured the province.
Back in Ontario, I was lucky enough to direct my play Who’s Under Where? (written with Doug Hughes) for Drayton Entertainment. It was, once again, a wild hit –which was great to see. The show is almost 20 years old now and I haven’t seen it in about 15 years, so getting to direct it again and watch it still work was very gratifying.
In September my screenplay (written with Mary Colin Chisholm) now titled ” A Belly Full” was optioned by Tall Order Films in L.A. Very exciting. Fingers crossed it will go the distance . As the year closes out, my juke-box show Poodle Skirts to Platform Shoes– will entertain the Christmas crowd at Theatre Aquarius. It too has a fabulous cast. How lucky can a girl get?
I guess that’s it for now. The first blog is done. See you soon!
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