Click on below images to enlarge.

So where I am going with this? Well, having just finished slotting in the shows at The Theatre Centre  (September 2010 – March 2011) and it is satisfying to see such variety in artists, art forms and performance: from horror puppetry to music with spaghetti.  And so, in the spirit of discovery, I’ve decided to launch a new season f.a.b package (f.a.b. – my initials) – that embraces risk and diversity. On top of all this, the season package saves you so much money.

So in brief… you buy a Theatre Centre f.a.b. package for just $50 to see 4 different shows (so that’s just $12.50 per show, which is ridiculously cheap). You can then choose all 4 shows, or you let me decide 1, 2, 3, or all 4 shows for you (that’s the unpredictable/discovery/risky bit). On top of that, you also receive an invitation to a mystery event taking place somewhere in the city chosen by me (this is the surprise part!).

So, join me in taking that little leap of faith into the unknown. Click here to read how it all works and what you need to do.

Now a little plug… in December, a new performance piece, 300 TAPES by Public Recordings. Developed in collaboration as part of our Residency Program, the three performers - Joe Cobden, Frank Cox-O’Connell and Brendan Gall – recorded on 100 tapes each the real life stories of their lives. These stories, along with incredible sound design and intricate choreography, are playfully relayed and bring into question how our memories and identity are warped by time, and by our own version of who we believe we are. For this show, we’re delighted to be partnering up with folks at Alberta Theatre Projects so that audiences in both Toronto and Calgary get to experience it.

Finally, I am very excited to announce the return of L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres, performing the MUSIC OF TOM WAITS. They made their Toronto debut earlier this year at the Music Gallery as part of Free Fall and they were simply fantastic. They create instruments out of every object imaginable and it sounds amazing. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to have seen it, then I honestly recommend that you don’t miss out again. (A friend who’d never heard of Tom Waits, still raves about it).

PURCHASE THE THEATRE CENTRE f.a.b. PACKAGE (just $50 for 4 shows - that’s $12.50 per ticket, saving you on average over 50% per ticket!) AND EXPERIENCE THE ECLECTIC, THE ALTERNATIVE, THE UNPREDICTABLE.

TELL ME MORE….
- The Theatre Centre is committed to diversity and risk in performance. The Theatre Centre f.a.b. Package is designed to celebrate these two themes by encouraging YOU to embrace the unknown and experience the wide range of work - from various disciplines - being created and presented by artists in Toronto.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
- YOU pay just $50 to see 4 shows in the September 2010 - March 2011 season (see list below). That’s $12.50 per ticket, saving you more than 50% per ticket (that’s a pretty amazing deal, right?)

- YOU choose 4 shows you’d like to see OR you let Franco A. Boni (f.a.b.), Artistic Director of The Theatre Centre, select 1, 2, 3, or all 4 for YOU.

- YOU will also receive an invite to a mystery cultural event taking place somewhere in the city. Chosen by Franco, this could be anything from a singing lesson to a tour of an artist’s studio.

Read Franco’s blog to find out more about his thoughts behind the package.

The Theatre Centre f.a.b. Package features the following new works (click on show titles for more info):

• THE BRUTES by Kate Hilliard (Sept 9-11, 2010)
• WATER by Sashar Zarif Dance Theatre  (Sept 23-26; Sept 29-Oct 2, 2010)
• IMPRINTS by Theatre Gargantua (Oct 12-17, 2010)
• MADHOUSE VARIATIONS by Eldritch Theatre (Oct 23-Nov 7, 2010)
• 300 TAPES by Public Recordings, co-produced by Public Recordings with Alberta Theatre Projects + The Theatre Centre (Dec 1-12, 2010)
• ASSASSINS by Birdland Theatre and Talk is Free Theatre  (Jan 6-23, 2011)
• WEESAGEECHAK BEGINS TO DANCE FESTIVAL XXIII by Native Earth (Jan 26-29, 2011)
• MUSIC OF TOM WAITS by L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres presented by The Theatre Centre (Mar 2-5, 2011)
• NOHAYQUIENSEPA (NoOneKnows) by Aluna Theatre (Mar 11- 27, 2011)

SO HOW DO I BOOK?
Just follow these 4 simple steps…

1. Call The Theatre Centre Box Office on 416-538-0988 (visa / mastercard). A $1 transaction fee will apply.
2. You can then select all or some of the shows you are interested in right there and then, or call back at any time convenient for you (please note: the earlier you select your shows the more likely you’ll get the dates you want).
3. If you would like Franco to select all or some of the shows for you, just inform the box office when purchasing the package and Franco will email YOU the show details and a number of dates to choose from.
4. Smile when you receive your ‘f.a.b.’ button!

BUT WHAT ABOUT MY MYSTERY TREAT?
- During Sept 2010–March 2011, you will be sent e-invitations to a variety of events. You simply RSVP to which one you’d like to attend.

ARE THERE ANY TERMS AND CONDITIONS?
Yes, just a few….

- Each The Theatre Centre f.a.b. Package entitles you to 1 ticket for 4 different shows during Sept 2010-March 2011.

- You can purchase an unlimited number of f.a.b. Packages - subject to availability.

- Performances are subject to availability. So the earlier you book, the more likely you’ll get the date you want (and if you’ve left it up to Franco to select a show, don’t worry, he’ll get on the case and select a date/show as soon as possible!)

- The following restrictions apply to f.a.b bookers:
For ASSASSINS you can only book for the following dates: Thursday January 6, 8pm; Saturday January 8, 2pm; Sunday January 9, 2pm.
For WATER you can only book for the following dates: Sunday September 26, 2.30pm, Wednesday September 29, 8pm, Thursday 30 September, 8pm.

On Sunday July 18, the City of Toronto was generous enough to allow us access to our future home at 1115 Queen Street West.  This former Carnegie library (currently being used as Public Health offices) will be retrofitted to become The Theatre Centre’s new long-term home and a unique community arts hub.

Tours were given by our Board and staff to some of our major supporters and donors with featured insight from architect Phil Goldsmith who created the blueprints for the repurposing of this historic building.

Thank you to all of those who came out to support us on the 18th and we look forward to having more tours of the Carnegie to raise awareness for our Capital Campaign.

Check out photos of our future home on flickr.
Check out a great feature on the Live With Arts website from that day: www.livewithculture.ca.
Check our website to read more about the move and capital campaign.
For more information please call 416-534-9261

My first reaction was to congratulate Michael and SummerWorks on the awesome coverage. The Sun, as I recall, has never once covered the Festival in its 25years. I honestly believed the whole situation was going to blow over, but with the PMO’s office involvement the plot thickened – at least now we know what the Prime Minister reads.

I saw Homegrown last night and it wasn’t as hard hitting as the tabloids led me to believe. I respected the writer’s desire to tell her story, and to open a door to this politically charged event, but it didn’t hold together for me. I wonder if theatre is the best vehicle for this story. The scenes that worked best for me were the conversations between the writer and the prisoner. The ‘tough’ police officer scenes and ‘domestic’ scenes were less effective.

The show did make me think about how we treat the people who have the least amount of power in our society. Recently, the Conservative party decided to close all the Jail Farms, a program started fifty years ago. Public Safety Minister Vic  Toews recently said that the jails weren’t “productive”.  Thinking only about the quantitative is so shortsighted. Besides, the Kingston jail farm was actually profitable.

Check out this website and if you feel moved, sign the petition.
http://www.saveourfarms.ca/about.html

This week till August 8 at Withrow Park (South of the Danforth between Logan and Carlaw, Closest TTC stop: Chester)  enjoy an enchanting evening of dance.  Bring your own chair and blankets and settle down to enjoy five exciting dance pieces as the sun sets.

Opening Band: Noubâng
Host: Ryan Egan

Featuring exciting works from:

* AKA Dance (Amy Hampton and Keiko Ninomiya)
* Tribal Crackling Wind (Peter Chin)
* Dora Alexander (Christophe Brochard, Luke Garwood, and Alex Grant)
* Julia Aplin
* I Rock With the ONE.

Band starts at 7pm, Dance starts at 7:30pm
Pay-What-You-Can
More info - http://www.duskdances.ca/2010Season_withrow.html 

Running along the two kilometer strip - between Bathurst Street and Gladstone Avenue - are over 300 galleries, design houses, unique shops, restaurants and boutique hotels.

Every first Thursday of the month many of the business stay open late - click here to find out more.

There are too many great places to mention, so here are a just a few of our personal favourite haunts:

Cinnamon Girls: every day this cute cafe serves up some fantastic special dishes. And, since they post these up on the website each day, you can start daydreaming about what you’re going to eat for lunch as soon as you get in to work (you find Franco in there pretty much every weekday).
Ravis Soups: who knew a bowl of soup could taste so good? They do nice wraps too.
MOCCA: a beautiful gallery hosting interesting exhibitions, lectures, opportunities to meet the artists - all for FREE!
The Workroom: have you ever wanted to make your own sock monkey, quilt, tie or simply learn the sewing basics? This fantastic shop runs different courses throughout the year.
The Drake: we’ve mentioned them many a time, but they really do keep delivering an eclectic line-up of events. This month they’re offering free pancakes, $5 film screenings (I went last month and enjoyed The Goonies, a bottle of beer, a bowl of sloopy joe and a bag of popcorn, all for a fiver!), PWYW yoga classes… the list goes on.
The Gladstone: we’ve also mentioned these guys before, but we’ll do it again. We love their Harvest Wednesdays, regular art exhibitions (checkout Room 212), their life drawing classes and Bluegrass Sundays.
Woolfitts Art Shop: it’s pretty amazing how long I could spend in this shop simply starring at all the pretty coloured paints!
Poppies: forgotten someone’s birthday, forgotten an anniversary? This cute florist has helped us get out of a few tight scraps!

The Midway - an interactive carnival of booths and services
On the Theatre Centre Balcony, December 18+19, 2010
Curated by Becky Johnson

For our 2010 show, City of Craft is launching a new initiative; the balcony of our main venue (The Theatre Centre) will be converted into a wild midway of craft-based, artful, conceptual, weird and/or unique interactive booths.

To give you an idea of what we are looking for, past interactive programs at City of Craft have included a love letter service, unflattering portraits, payed opinions, plaster nose casting, a silhouette photo booth and more. Of course, these are other people’s projects. What can you dream up?

How it works:

* Ideal booths are limited to a ground footprint of 4′ square and can be no more than 7′ tall. If you have another plan, let us know, but this size seems like the best fit.
* Applicants are responsible for the construction and transportation of their booths to and from the venue
*  Booths can be as simple as a card table or as complex as you can imagine. Clearly, wildness excites us, though.
* Booths are payed for by donation (ie. The artist will pay City of Craft whatever they think the booth was worth) if sales are limited only to the service offered.
* You may charge as you like for your service.
*  If you also wish to sell your own premade art and/or objects, booth spaces will cost a flat $60 for the two days. That’s a pretty good deal.
*  It is best if services and activities proposed are legal.

More information and a submission form can be found here - http://www.cityofcraft.com/2010/cityofcraft/midway/call.html

Information on other installation and exhibition programming and calls can be found here - http://www.cityofcraft.com/2010/cityofcraft/installations.html

And our vendor call is still open here - http://www.cityofcraft.com/2010/cityofcraft/apply.html

It’s hard to believe that SummerWorks turns twenty this year. I look forward to the Festival every year. There was a time when I would see forty shows in 10 days…but that doesn’t seem humanly possible for me anymore.

Below are some of the shows that I will check out

If anyone wants to join me I have a free ticket on offer. Be my guest at the show. We can have a coffee or snack afterwards to talk about the show.  Just email me at franco@theatrecentre.org and let me know which show you’re keen on seeing.

I Was Barbie @ Passe Muraille Backspace
Thursday, August 5th @ 4pm

Countries Shaped Like Stars @ The Theatre Centre
Monday, August 9th @ 5pm

The Hanging of Francoise Laurent @ Passe Muraille Backspace
Monday, August 9 @ 10pm

The Return of Corporal Mazenet @ The Theatre Centre
Tuesday, August 10th @ 7:30pm

Homegrown @ Passe Muraille Mainspace
Tuesday, August 10th @ 10:30pm

Post Eden @ Passe Muraille Mainspace
Wednesday, August 11th @ 10:30pm

Check out the online full program - click here. 

P.S.

Showing in the Cafe at the front of The Theatre Centre:
IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE TOGETHER by Chris Dupuis
August 6, 7-9pm, August 7, 7-9pm, August 12, 7-9pm ,August 13, 7-9pm, August 14, 7-9pm
The performance lasts approximately 15 minutes per person. Audiences should email chris@chrisdupuis.com to schedule at time and date.  PWYC.