Grief, Love, & Social Media: JCTC Brings Gen-Y Festival Hit to Jersey City

 

The latest installment of the Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) Vanity Series, a that takes a fresh look at how our digitized online world is changing how we relate to each other, opens this week.

Canuck Downunder, by Jessica Kazamel and directed by Joseph Hayward, received rave reviews and sold out audiences at the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) in August. At turns darkly comic and emotionally poignant, this autobiographical play follows Jess, a small town Canadian girl in her early twenties, living in New York City, who has just lost her older brother to substance abuse. She works through her grief with the help and hindrance of social media, where communication is instant, over-sharing epidemic and posts can last forever.

According to Kazamel, this deeply personal play is about how today's "tweet generation" has redefined the grieving process. "This piece means the world to our whole creative family," she said. "We are so grateful to have the opportunity to introduce Canuck Downunder to Jersey City. We hope this play will make you think twice before posting your next selfie."

Canuck Downunder, presented by JCTC, runs Wednesday October 26th to Saturday October 29th at Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Door open 7:00PM; Performance at 7:30PM. Tickets: $18 online, $20 at the door - For tickets visit http://www.jctcenter.org/events

JCTC presents thematic series using multiple forms of art - theater, film, dance, multimedia performances, readings and visual arts - to explore a topic global in scope and relevant to the community.

Olga Levina, Artistic Director, JCTC, saw Canuck Downunder and realized its fresh and original take on contemporary culture explored ideas related to the Vanity theme, which delves into issues of narcissism, celebrity and social media.

"What struck me the most about this play is it really looked at how even the most personal feelings, when they become public through social media, can lose their sincerity," said Levina. "This play explores issues our society faces today, especially the millennial generation. Some of the characters are very self-involved, but they are searching for authentic relationships and love. But can they find that online?"

Canuck Downunder debuted at the 20th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, to critical acclaim. NY Theatre Guide declared the play "profoundly relevant to this and future 21st-century generations."

The JCTC presentation will be the first production since Canuck Downunder caused such a rage among theater circles this Summer, barely two months ago.

After the loss of her brother Stephen Kazamel in 2012, Jessica turned to writing to aid in her grief, and by 2014, presented Canuck Downunder as a work in progress at The Tank to sold-out performances. Today's Fan critic Olivia Briggs called it "a powerful one-act play that attacks a very interesting and unexplored facet of our current culture." 

Tragically, soon after this show, the original cast of Canuck Downunder lost one of their members, Pedro Almeida to substance abuse. Canuck Downunder is dedicated to both Stephen Kazamel and Pedro Almeida.

Jessica Kazamel has recently been recognized for her "controversial" digital shorts on feminism and harassment (Loose Linda, Smile, Beautiful and Asking For It ).

Joseph Hayward is a British director based in New York and London. Recent directing credits include: Nightclub Cantata (Associate dir., The York Theatre Company) The Vampire's Last Bite (Iati Theatre), B.F.E (Brooklyn Rep). Assistant director: Cagney (Westside Theatre); Bikinis (Long Wharf Theatre), Arthur Ashe Kids' Day 2014, '15, '16 (Broadcast nationally on ABC), U.S. Open Opening Ceremonies 2014, '15, '16 (ESPN).

The cast includes Haley Sullivan in the lead role of Jess, as well as Cleo Handler (Hilary); Txai Frota (Trent); Anita Rosner (Mom); Vince Ryne (Dylan); BRandon Looney (Chris) and Alexander Hodge (Steve).

Jersey City Theater Center
Merseles Studios
339 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 795-5386

JCTC presents Canuck Downunder, Wednesday October 26; Thursday October 27, Friday October 28, Saturday October 29 at Merseles Studios, 339 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302. Door open 7:00PM; Performance at 7:30PM. Tickets: $18 online, $20 at the door - For tickets visit http://www.jctcenter.org/events

Canuck Downunder and Vanity are made possible through the generosity of Ben LoPiccolo Development Group, JCTC's Board of Directors, private donors and local Jersey City businesses.

 

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