Category Archives: Journal

World Theatre Day 2014 on the fly…

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It’s still the official day where I currently am. Toronto. I haven’t seen any theatre. Any “official” theatre.

But.

I’ve been part of a lot of real live theatre. I’ve been traveling, trying to get to Eastern Canada. And, there has just been a monster storm, making it very challenging to reach my little  Prince Edward Island. Image

Did I mention I was in Toronto? Yup. In a hotel, graciously given to us by West Jet for the night, along with food vouchers (we really are fortunate in this wintery country).

So. No plays. No theatre. No musicals. No live performances.

No.That’s not true.

My taxi drive to the airport would have been way less interesting if… Continue reading World Theatre Day 2014 on the fly… →

Electricity, EEK! & Edmonton…

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Take two.

I happily finished my blog post for Dusty Shoes minutes ago, in a café, links, pictures and all. Then it disappeared. And, I forgot to save it to word.

Never again. (Of course, it was my most brilliant post! Ha!)

Time constraints now force me to summarize.

Made it to Edmonton safely via Suzie, my Suzuki, after a harrowing last four hours of torrential rain, black highways, low beams, and a massive electrical storm that had me… Continue reading Electricity, EEK! & Edmonton… →

Resting is over, dear Thespian!

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Indeed!

I had my time “off” between the two Fringes and now I’m gearing up for the Mammoth Edmonton Fringe Festival that launches with a Fringe Parade on the eve of August 15th! My first show is the day after at 2:45pm on Friday the 16th.

My “break time” felt odd. I felt slightly lost, I admit. Prior to the Regina Fringe… Continue reading Resting is over, dear Thespian! →

Regina… wrapped!

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A little overdue, this post.

But, I did take a well needed week off  of “computering” and the show. We took a leisurely time driving back from Regina to Vancouver. Had a few fun stops along the way. Rodeos, resting, re-uniting with family and friends, breathing in mountain air, picking cherries, eating el fresco, and coming back with fruit with which to make jam!

IMG_7781MdmR.on Prairies

Yes… we did it! And, our last show at 1:30 on Sunday was a rewarding standing ovation. To have a standing ovation for … Continue reading Regina… wrapped! →

Reviews do help… get bums in seats!

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Dusty Shoes had a nice review today from Sabrina Cataldo, a Regina Fringe Festival reviewer.

Thought I’d share it with you:

“A mini-review of DUSTY SHOES by Fringe social media liaison Sabrina Cataldo:

Dusty Shoes is a hidden gem of this year’s fringe. The colourful and outlandish Madame Rouge interacts with the audience and draws us in from the very beginning with her humour and larger-than-life presence. We soon learn that this buffoon character is the “inner voice from a past life” of Trilby Jeeves, a woman who must come to terms with… Continue reading Reviews do help… get bums in seats! →

Ice broken, Stage Stomped… and Opened!

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It is already day two of the Regina Fringe Festival and I can hardly believe we opened last night. Dusty Shoes….is…. open! We had our “World Premiere” to an intimate, eager, fun audience last night. And, they liked it. Whew. In fact, they loved it.

Fringe tickets

How was I feeling? Before the show, I was a mix of calm, excitement, disbelief, worry, shallow breaths, deeper breaths, and eventually, a feeling of “just go tell them the story”. And, that is what I focused on.

Was the critic anywhere near me, trying to deke me out? Oh yes… Continue reading Ice broken, Stage Stomped… and Opened! →

Technical time…. ack!

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Quick update on today’s adventure – the technical rehearsal with people who have never seen the show, one who has read the script and heard the sound cues, and one who hasn’t one clue about the show, but is ready to dive in.

Mix in a newbie producer, moi, a newbie roadie, who didn’t know he was going to be a roadie, my guy, and a theatre full of more lights than I thought I was going to have, some wonky wood and you have an interesting time ahead.

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I am taking notes and will share those with you later. All I can say is the simpler the better, the more prepped you are the better, and drink water.  (And, warm up before dancing the Charleston in motorcycle boots… ouch!)

We had three hours to set up, do sound and lighting cues, and figure out… Continue reading Technical time…. ack! →

Zooming on… leaping ahead!

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“Best laid plans of mice and men…” Daily, I wanted to blog  my process of creating and producing a one woman show, my show, Dusty Shoes. Well, it’s hard to do that. Every inch of my time has been devoted to getting this piece up and running.

And…

Believe it or not, we open THIS week at the Regina Fringe Festival. I will back track in my process as it’s been incredibly fascinating, and involved. I have learned so much.

But not now.

Now, I should be in bed, getting rest before I catch my plane, early tomorrow morning for Regina. But, I wanted to post something, anything, that marked this occasion.

I’m excited, nervous, calm, wired, tired, deliriously happy, and in awe that my project is actually happening, actually coming to fruition. I had a taste of what the fruits of my labour will be at my dress rehearsal before about 20 people last Thursday evening at the Presentation House Theatre. The results were beyond my expectations.

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On that note…. I will see you in Regina, in a cafe, no doubt, when I finally have some time to write more. Bon voyage!!

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Happy Canada Day!

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Happy Canada Day to all fellow Canadians!! The sun is shining and summer has riZ! (and Happy Day to all who are NOT Canadian… you are today!)

Canadian shoeSThings are a brewin’ for our Dusty Shoes Fundraiser on Tuesday evening at the Shark Club in Vancouver. Hope you can make it! Tickets are 10.00$ and all proceeds go to supporting the Dusty Shoe’s team. Vive les arts that make you think, and laugh!

Dust off your favourite, funkiest shoes, bring a pair to donate to our charity shoe drive, and be prepared to see some bouffons, and a very special unveiling of Madame Rouge, Trilby’s bouffon, with her sister musical bouffons…. Shhh… it’s a surprise!

An update blog post soon to follow! (whew… rehearsals are going well.. )

Writer, Producer… finally, the actor

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Currently, I could call every blog post “Juggling” as that is my chronic state. I’ve never had so many interesting tasks to do, simultaneously, in my life. Want to test your focus, stamina (ack! sleep!), domestic control, and your creativity? Write, produce, and act in a one person show.

Recently, the producer in me starting to hustle the writer in me as the actor in me started to knock on the writer’s door every day, demanding the script. The actor has been pacing around, anxious to get rehearsing as she could see time ticking. I don’t blame her.

Finally, the script was passed from my left to my right hand … Continue reading Writer, Producer… finally, the actor →