SummerWorks Theatre & Arts Festival Announces 2009 Line-Up

SummerWorks Theatre Festival proudly announces an extraordinary line-up for August 2009. The 19th instalment of Canada’s largest juried theatre festival offers up 41 productions, 9 concerts, 3 walking tours, workshops of plays-in-development, and a host of free events. The Festival kicks off August 6th and runs to August 16th, 2009 at various theatres and venues throughout Toronto. SummerWorks is home to Toronto’s cutting-edge independent theatre. It prides itself on producing work that represents Canada’s thriving cultural aesthetic. “This year’s line-up pushes more boundaries than ever,” comments Artistic Producer, Michael Rubenfeld. He adds,  “We’re really pleased that SummerWorks continues to be a key component towards the development of this country’s theatrical culture.  Our work is challenging, compelling and diverse.“ Theatrical highlights include: The Nick Drake Project by Matthew Heiti. A play with music inspired by the works of late singer/songwriter Nick Drake. Apricots by Misha Shulman, an absurdist story of a Palestinian family forced to cut down their apricot trees to make way for an Israeli sewage system. Montparnasse by Erin Shields and Maev Beaty. An erotic submersion into the world of artist models in Paris in the 1920s.  Ecce Homo 2008’s Pastor Phelps Project returns with The Ecstasy of Mother Theresa, a political Brechtian cabaret. Internationally renowned Irish composer Jennifer Walshe brings XXX Live Nude Girls, an opera for Barbie dolls. Three of Toronto’s top theatre producers (Brendan Gall, Geoffrey Pounsett and Christopher Stanton) bring Red Machine, the first of a series of short plays created by their newly formed theatre company The Room. Dora Award winner d’bi young brings benu and renowned visual artist Daniel Barrow will also present work. Performance Gallery highlights include: Sperm Bank: Two Jews in Search of a Sperm Donor - Shira Leuchter and Julie Tepperman set up camp to interview sperm donors as the audience votes on their favourite. Laurel MacDonald’s VideoVoce, performs an opera accompanied by abstract video. NOISE COMPLAINTS/The Dance Party has Kaleb Robertson and Ame Henderson teaching a room full of people dance moves to music only heard through the choreographer’s headphones.  For the second year, The Gladstone Hotel will host the SummerWorks Performance Gallery – a curated pay-what-you-can event featuring 5-8 minute performances every night of the festival. Musical highlights include: Matthew Barber, Miracle Fortress, Think About Life, Karkwa, Bob Wiseman, Great Bloomers, Claire Jenkins, Germans and The D’Urbervilles. In its inaugural year SummerWalks is inspired by the Jane’s Walk, where the neighbourhoods that helped shape the Festival will be toured and explored.                                                                ---30--- For full Festival line-up and more info visit www.summerworks.ca MEDIA CONTACT:  Daniela Syrovy, ClutchPR – daniela@clutchpr.com NEW THIS YEAR: Media Accreditation Application Open to All Media Please visit http://www.summerworks.ca/2009/media-accreditation.php to fill out your application and ClutchPR will be in touch with your confirmation and further details.


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As the largest juried festival in Canada featuring predominantly New Canadian plays, SummerWorks looks to program a festival that uniquely reflects Toronto and Canada’s cultural zeitgeist.

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