NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA CENTRE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
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Attention artists, activists, youth, community care keepers, leaders, and future leaders! We are very excited to introduce Theatre and Cross Creativity - April 8 and 9, 2022 - a two-day event that will bring us together to collaboratively imagine a new community theatre project. Let’s listen, play, share, and brainstorm the possibilities!
On Friday, April 8, at 7:30, join us at the Orillia Opera House for a Wine and Cheese with our incoming guests. You’ll meet Marcia Johnson and hear about her journey as an actor and playwright.
There is much to tell – Johnson is recognized by Now Magazine as one of the top 10 stage artists for 2021! Enjoy a reading from her critically acclaimed Serving Elizabeth, which you may have seen at the 2021 Stratford Festival. The play addresses this moment of extreme racial tension and was created in response to the popular television series “The Crown.”
You’ll also meet Simon Malbogat, co-founder and Artistic Director of Mixed Company Theatre. Malbogat has facilitated hundreds of workshops for youths and adults in Europe, South America, U.S.A., and Canada. He’s a Forum Theatre expert with 1,000 presentations to his credit and he’s coming to our community to share his expertise as an artist who has used his creativity to fight for civic justice.
Finally, don’t miss Desire Leverenz, founder of The Orange Girls and a passionate artist who finds joy in disrupting western artistic traditions in an attempt to decolonize herself, her art, and the communities where she works. Leverenz tells us that she’ll “never wash the Treaty 6 soil from beneath her feet.” She’s committed to blurring a lot of lines in her stage practice and she’s excited to share her story as one of this land's most vibrant young makers.
During a community youth workshop, Leverenz will ask, what if we could imagine a perfect utopia? What does it look like? What does it take to get there? Young people are invited to explore their creativity, imagination, and weirdness through games, writing, music, improv, and more. Seven participants will be chosen for a paid position as a youth consultant at our community discussion!
On Saturday, April 9, come back to the Orillia Opera House for a day of hands-on fun. We’ll have morning snacks and a community meet and greet in the Green Room from 10 - 11 a.m. If you have an interest in the performing arts and are between the ages of 10 and 99, join a dynamic Forum Theatre workshop facilitated by Simon Malbogat from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The workshop promises an afternoon of playing and experimenting. Together, we will consider multiple community ideas and perspectives through a process of creating and analyzing images made by you – the participants!
We hope you’ll stick around after the workshop, or pop into the theatre for refreshments and a community dialogue from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. We're excited to plan a new community theatre project focused on the most central topics in our local area – and we would like your input!
To register or to make a donation in support, please visit our website here.
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