Kelly Cameron - Page 7

The 15th Anniversary of the Canadian cast of RENT is upon us, and alums from the original production are getting together with Sheridan College students for a very special concert to raise money for Fife House and honour the spirit of the show. Thom Allison, currently a judge on CBC's Over the Rainbow, has recently been added to the growing list of alum coming back for this one special night. He spoke to BWW about the message of RENT and how it's changed for him over the years, as well as how it applies to the young girls vying for the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

Designing 007 opened this Friday at the TIFF Lightbox in Toronto after a successful run in London, England. The exhibit celebrates the last 50 years of James Bond films with a collection of props, costumes, designs and concept mock-ups from all 23 movies (and many props from the highly anticipated Skyfall). BWW is thrilled to be able to bring our readers photos of all the Bond goodies.

On October 29th members of the original Canadian Cast of RENT will join together with Sheridan College students to perform a special 15th Anniversary tribute to Jonathan Larson's musical and raise money for Fife House. BWW is speaking with the alum about what RENT has meant to them and about the special evening. Today we're speaking with Jenifer Aubry, currently on stage in Toronto with Cirque du Soleil, about her time in RENT and what it meant to her.

On October 29th members of the original Canadian Cast of RENT will join together with Sheridan College students to perform a special 15th Anniversary tribute to Jonathan Larson's musical and raise money for Fife House. BWW is speaking with the alum about what RENT has meant to them and about the special evening. Today we're speaking with Dominique Roy, a swing in the original Canadian production and one of the Mimi's on Broadway. Dominique talks to us about the message of love that RENT taught her, and how she holds it true to her today.

On October 29th members of the original Canadian Cast of RENT will join together with Sheridan College students to perform a special 15th Anniversary tribute to Jonathan Larson's musical and raise money for Fife House. BWW is speaking with the alum about what RENT has meant to them and about the special evening. First up is Chad Richardson, who played Mark with the Canadian company and on Broadway. Chad talks about the meaning of the show and how he has applied it to day to day life, about his RENT baby with Cristina Fadale and his hope for future generations of RENT stars.

Studio 180 Theatre kicks off their 10th Season with a remount of their 2011 smash-hit production of The Normal Heart. Directed by Joel Greenberg, the play tells the story of a group of friends in NYC during the early stages of the HIV/AIDS crisis who try and speak out against the ignorance and suppression coming from doctors, politicians and the press. Martin Happer joins last year's cast in the role of Bruce Niles, and he spoke to BWW about being the 'new kid on the block' and about why this show is so important today.

La Cage Aux Folles is ending a year long direct from Broadway tour in Toronto, where it plays The Royal Alexandra Theatre for the next six weeks. Starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber, the show tells the story of a manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub and his cross-dressing lover/lead entertainer. The two stars sat down to talk to BWW about life on the road, switching roles, the message behind the show and how 'gay walks'.

Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare is the first offering from Theatre 20, a brand new Canadian theatre company with a goal to foster the development of new Canadian musicals. Written by Winnipeg playwright Joseph Aragon, the show tells the true story of the West Port murders in Edinburgh in 1829. With a solid cast and some great original music, the show is a brave first choice for Theatre 20.

Theatre 20's much anticipated first production opened last night at The Panasonic Theatre in Toronto. Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare, is something unique and rare: a new Canadian musical. Written by Joseph Aragon, the show was a hit at The Winnipeg Fringe where Theatre 20 Artistic Director Adam Brazier picked it up and decided to use it for Theatre 20's inaugural show. The result is a dark and twisted musical that showcases the incredibly talented triple threats our country is so rightly proud of. BWW is thrilled to bring readers photos from the production.

The 1st National Tour of Sister Act opened at the Ed Mirvish Theatre last week to an audience that included local critics, nuns and even some would-be Dorothys. The show, featuring original music by Alan Menken, is based on the popular 1992 movie of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg. This new production is a fun treat for the whole family, with memorable tunes and some stand-out performances.

The Toronto Symphony's 2012-2013 Pops Season kicks off this week with Some Enchanted Evening, the first show of newly appointed Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke's new season. The evening pays tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, and joining Steven are Ashley Brown, Aaron Lazar and Jonathan Estabrooks. Originally from Canada, Jonathan took a few minutes to talk to BWW about his journey so far, and about why young people should come check this show out.

Last week The Star leaked news that David Mirvish woudl be demolishing The Princess of Wales to build condominiums with architect Frank Gehry. The theatre community was stunned, and many people are left wondering what this means for Toronto. Perhaps the real reason we should be angry however, is not because we're losing a theatre, but rather because of what this decision says about our commercial theatre industry as a whole. Toronto deserves better, and we have to choose not to settle for anything less than the very best.

Queen for a Day had its world premiere Friday night at The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, with a stellar cast including America's Favourite Dad Alan Thicke in the role of Jack Bailey. The show examines the popular American reality show Queen for a Day, which gave everyday housewives the chance to appear on national television and vie to have a wish granted if they became 'Queen for a Day'. Thicke and the rest of the cast are the stand-outs of this particular production, which still needs to correct some clunky dialogue and overly predictable plot lines but shows some real promise down the road.

Tony and Emmy Award Winner Andrea Martin is back in Toronto this week, lending her unique blend of comedy and vocal talent to the eight girls vying to become Dorothy in Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz. BWW was on hand to capture pictures of the girls spending some time with Andrea in the rehearsal hall.

Tony and Emmy Award Winner Andrea Martin visited the set of CBC's Over the Rainbow today to mentor the eight girls still in the competition vying for the lead role of Dorothy. After rehearsals, she spoke with BWW about how you can't teach humour, how improv and theatre is good for self-confidence and about her upcoming role as a hip granny in Diane Paulus' Pippin.

Sam Sniderman, founder of the infamous Sam the Record Man music store chains, has passed away at the age of 92. Much loved citizen of Toronto and music aficionado, Sam was appreciated by many for his contribution to the arts and culture scene across Canada by promoting Canadian music. His Toronto store's trademark sign, with two flashing records, was a landmark in the city for many years. The stores are all gone now, and with the passing of Sam, we are seeing the end of an era.

Tap Dogs returns to Toronto tonight for a limited engagement at The Royal Alexandra Theatre. Two Canadians are in the current cast, including swing MacKenzie Greenwell who took some time to talk with BWW about the challenges associated with this daring and dangerous production, as well as why this is a show you can see many times and have a different experience each time.

Tony and Emmy Award Winner Kristin Chenoweth visited Toronto today to coach and mentor the nine girls currently vying for the role of Dorothy on the CBC reality TV show Over the Rainbow. The Broadway superstar sat down to talk with BWW about her advice for the girls, her recent injury, embracing being different and why she hopes Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber will create a great role for a forty-something short blonde girl!

Toronto and to all of Canada in their living rooms. Featuring Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, the show is a nation-wide search to cast Dorothy in the new Mirvish Production of The Wizard of Oz. Joining Lord Lloyd Webber on the search are judges Arlene Philips, Thom Allison and Louise Pitre and host Daryn Jones. BWW was on hand for the first show to bring readers all the excitement as these girls battle it out for a chance to don the ruby slippers and become a star.

Cody Scott Lancaster is living a theatre geek's dream, making his Broadway debut as Franz in Rock of Ages and calling the Big Apple his new home. He was part of the original Canadian Cast of Rock of Ages before being transported to the Broadway company, and recently he spent the day with BWW explaining what an average day is like in the life of a Canuck on the Great White Way.