9 PARTS OF DESIRE

by Heather Raffo

May 19-23, 2010

A portrait of the extraordinary (and ordinary) lives of a whole cross-section of Iraqi women: a sexy painter, a radical communist, doctors, exiles, wives and lovers. This work delves into what it means to be a woman in the age-old war zone that is Iraq. An unusually timely meditation on the ancient, the modern and the feminine in a country overshadowed by war.

2010 Dora Award Nomination for Outstanding Ensemble!

• The Theatre Centre: 1087 Queen Street West, Toronto ON
• Directed by Kelly Straughan, Assistant Directed by Rosa Laborde
• Featuring: Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Christine Aubin-Khalifah, Toni Ellwand, Deborah Grover, Maryem Hassan Tollar, Lili Francks, Brittany Kay, Anusree Roy and Melissa-Jane Shaw.
• Set & Costume Designer: Robin Fisher and Lindsay Reliena Forde
• Lighting Designer: Michelle Ramsay
• Music Composition & Live Musician: Maryem Hassan Tollar

View the promotional video here.

Production Stills

All photo credits: Michelle Bailey, Nerdy Girl Designs

Anusree Roy as Amal

 Aviva Armour-Ostroff as Doctor

 Brittany Kay as Iraqi Girl

Toni Ellwand as Nana

 Lili Francks as Umm Ghada 

 Deborah Grover as Huda

 Christine Khalifah as Layal

Melissa-Jane Shaw as American

  Maryem Tollar as Mullaya

THE RED QUEEN EFFECT
Original Canadian Collective Creation
January 7-17, 2010

2010 Dora award nomination for Outstanding Costume Design for Michelle Bailey

Seventh Stage Theatre was selected to be part of The Next Stage Festival with their production of The Red Queen Effect, which ran at Factory Theatre Mainspace from January 7-17, 2010.

On one side of the looking glass: Crown Assets Corporate Fund. On the other: an absurd and grotesque game, where it takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place. Alice wants to get ahead, but what is she willing to do to get there?

Using ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’ as inspiration, The Red Queen Effect was collectively created through theatre interviews, improvisation, physical theatre and dance. The Red Queen Effect offers an opportunity to peer through the corporate looking glass at the gender power dynamics that exist in a world ruled by the bottom line.

“This one is guaranteed to blow your mind on a variety of levels… breezy pace and smart, sassy cast.” – Red Queen, The Toronto Star

“Excellent, stylistic direction from Kelly Straughan.” – Red Queen, Globe and Mail

“Straughan and ensemble have struck gold with an idea for a modern take on Lewis Caroll’s classic.” – Red Queen, Toronto Sun

“NNNN – This ensemble-crafted comic critique of corporate life… cleverly points out social contradictions.” – Red Queen, NOW Magazine

“Four stars! Seventh Stage’s highly inventive, large cast piece combines verbal and physical theatre to stunning effect.” – Red Queen, eye weekly

“Talented performers, stark visuals, fun dance elements, and clever, obfuscating dialogue.” – Red Queen, Torontoist.com

Directed by Kelly Straughan (CanStage, Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre) with script coordination by Rachel Blair (“Wake” 2008 Fringe New Play Contest Winner). The ensemble features actors Aurora Browne (Comedy Inc., Corner Gas, Canadian Comedy Awards), Nicholas Campbell (multi Gemini award winner, Da Vinci’s Inquest lead), Monica Dottor (San Francisco Critic’s Circle & Mecca Awards, Dora Nominations), Ted Hallett (Second City National Touring Company), Melissa Jane Shaw (Off-Broadway Netherlander Ent, Theatre Guargantua, NBC’s “This Is Howie Do It”), Dylan Scott Smith (CBC, Edinburgh Fringe, BBC, HBO).

VENUE: Factory Theatre, Mainspace, 125 Bathurst Street (at Adelaide)
TICKET PRICES: Matinees $12, Evening shows $15
BOX OFFICE: 416-966-1062 or 1-866-515-7799 or visit www.fringetoronto.com

WHALE MUSIC by Academy Award winner Anthony Minghella
Canadian Professional Premiere
April 26th – May 20th, 2007

Whale Music is a portrayal of the lives of a group of young women who come together for the duration of an unplanned pregnancy amongst them. What emerges is a touching and funny portrait of female bonding that transcends boundaries of age, class and education. Whale Music is a wonderful narrative-based exploration of the strength between and amongst women.

“What a beautiful sound six women opening their hearts can make!” (3.5 out of 4) – Toronto Star

“Directed with sensitivity and intelligence. The cast of six actresses is very fine.” – CBC Radio One

“Candid girl talk, gleeful chatter and heartfelt exchanges pervade.” – NOW Magazine

“Seventh Stage, run by young female artists, should take pride in the quality of its work.” – eye weekly

Director: Rosemary Dunsmore
Set and Costume Designer: Dana Osborne
Lighting Designer: Kimberley Purtell and Michelle Ramsay
Sound Designer: Cathy Nosaty
Assistant Director/’whale riders’ curator: Kelly Straughan

Cast: Mika Collins, Melissa-Jane Shaw, Rosa Laborde, Katherine East, Sascha Cole and featuring Jane Moffat

‘whale riders’
original multi-disciplinary new-works
April 26th – May 20th, 2007

A series of bonus performances by emerging female artists, curated by Artistic Director Kelly Straughan, opened each performance of Whale Music.

Caitlin Brubacher – Play Me a Friday Night

Sam Collard – Songs

Samantha Connolly, Lizz Witzke – Untitled

Shannon Currie – Hope of a Future

Diana Groenendijk, Suzanne Liska – We Could Care Less

Chala Hunter – They Say

Lina Nykwist – Para que no me Olvides

Marie France Forcier (choreographer), Nicole Rush, Danielle O’Reilley (dancers) – One Too

Susanna Fournier – WaterLogged

Julia Lederer – Boxed In

Tammy Moreau – Woman’s Work

Jean Parker – Where the Skinny Girls Are

Cara Spooner – The Yellow Wallpaper

Julie Skype, Andrea Ramolo – Mothers and Monsters

Martha Zimmerman (actor), Alyssa Wright (cellist) – Sarah’s Daughters

Lindsay Kochen – poetry display

Andrea Baker – art display

PAST THEATRE PROJECTS:

2008 – Burlesque Noir: A multi-disciplinary dance piece, with voyeur video coverage exploring the notion of burlesque and the image of woman.

2009 – 4×4 Festival: Invited to share an excerpt from their upcoming production The Red Queen Effect as part of Nightwood Theatre’s New Blood Cabaret.