BWW Exclusive: No Holds Barred Twitter Chat with Ride the Cylcone

Ride the Cyclone was a surprise smash hit as part of the 2010 Summerworks Festival, and since then has gone on to tour across Canada to sold-out houses and much critical praise. The show finally returns home to Toronto this week, where it will play at Theatre Passe Muraille until December 3rd.

Ride the Cyclone showcases a teenage chamber choir from Uranium City, Saskatchewan that dies in a roller coaster accident at a traveling fair. In a twist of fate, the choristers are given an opportunity to express themselves after their tragic death. This show brings that final recital to life.

The cast members who take this crazy, comical and somewhat dark journey are no strangers to quirky requests, so in the spirit of fun and welcoming the show back to Toronto, they've agreed to a "no holds barred" Twitter chat with BWW! To kick things off both Elliott Loran and Kelly Hudson sat down for a brief Q&A, and then on Tuesday November the 15th they will answer fan questions submitted via Twitter. Everyone involved (including myself) have agreed to approach this with a "truth or dare" mentality - so ask anything, and you will get an honest answer!***

Congrats on the success of Ride the Cyclone so far! How active a role has social media played in the promotion of the show?

EL: At first, social media played an almost nonexistent role in the promotion of Ride the Cyclone. We were mostly advertising through posters, flyers, e-mail lists, and word of mouth. We of course had Facebook, but that method of promotion is limited in that you're basically hitting up people who already know you and what you're trying to do. It's also important to note that we are going into our fourth year of developing and presenting the piece (out west Atomic Vaudeville has quite the following) and four years ago Twitter had not developed into the global platform it is today. It wasn't until this cross country tour that we really began using Twitter and social media to its full extent. Now I believe Twitter has been a huge part of the success of the show, drawing in a truly unique and diverse audience base.

KH: I think it's been pretty huge for us I. But you would have to ask all the "tweeter experts" about that! I'm really new to the game - I'm only just learning hashtags!

The show has had great success so far, with The Globe calling it "the most consistently enjoyable musical since The Drowsy Chaperone". What is it about the show that has helped it stand apart from the rest? And is the hope to eventually take it to Broadway?

EL: While I think that any developing musical dreams of one day ending up on Broadway, I can honestly say that the "B-word" has only been on our radar as of very recently. I remember when we first came to Toronto to present Ride the Cyclone at Summerworks in 2010. Back then, we had simply hoped that the Big Smoke wouldn't chew us up and spit us out! Summerworks was the definite game changer. It was absolutely thrilling to be able to play to packed houses and receive such an overwhelmingly positive response. It was a very proud moment when we returned home with our heads held high, having picked up both the NOW Magazine Audience Choice Award and the Summerworks Award for Best Production.

I think that people connected with the show so much and continue to connect with it because it's simple and it's honest. There's so much to relate to. Everyone has dreams and aspirations and that is the heart of Ride the Cyclone. This is also what makes it so funny! The comedy is delivered in full earnest, which cuts through the surface and lands in a much more rewarding way.

KH: We speak to the audience directly a lot and I think people appreciate that. So many times you go to a theatre and the fourth wall is clearly up. That bugs me as an audience member. How can you not acknowledge that I'm in the room and I'm experiencing this with you? That's why I love Jacob's writing, it really draws the audience in and almost makes them a part of the show and gives them the permission they need to enjoy themselves and to react. As for going to Broadway, I'm touching wood right now! Who knows, it could happen! I really want to take this sucker to Saskatchewan. But if it does go to the Great White Way I sure hope I get to continue on the ride.

You've had the opportunity to take this show to many cities across Canada, how have you found the audience reaction differs depending on where you are? Has one city been the stand-out in terms of enthusiasm and overall response to the show?

EL: We've had pretty consistent responses from our audiences across the country. Toronto definitely likes their dark humor, I'll say that much! The one thing that is particularly exciting to witness is the moment (and there's always that moment) when the audience really unifies and gets on board with the piece and with one another. There is almost this giving in to the show or an acceptance of the characters' circumstance. Essentially it's that they all are, together, about to witness something that is pretty out of the ordinary. When this happens and the audience gives themselves the permission to laugh, snort, slap their knees, hoot, holler, cry, drool and cheer...it's a really magical experience.

KH: The great thing is that it's been so different everywhere. For example, I'm finding the Toronto audience is really digging the few political jokes in Ocean's number. Whereas when we were in Whitehorse they really connected with the whole ‘small dying town' theme. When we did the opening number in Uranium I really felt a drop with the audience. They understood it and we had them. They were on our side. Whitehorse was absolutely amazing! The whole town really adopted us and made us one of their own.

Those that know me know I'm a total and complete wuss, but in the spirit of honesty I will admit that the graphics for your show kinda scare me and make me want to stay away! That blonde chick? A tad creepy! So what would you say to scaredy-cats like me to encourage them to come and see the production?

EL: Well, I'd say that although Jane Doe possesses a certain haunting quality, her intention is never to have you leaping from your seat. It may help to remind yourself that this is a dark comedy and not a horror/thriller. The character in question, who is the only unidentifiable member of the choir (as she was beheaded in the accident and no one in the choir seems to remember who she is), serves as a painful and constant reminder to all the children that they are in fact dead. What makes Jane Doe such a tragic case is that she wants nothing more than to be like the other children. Throughout the show, she struggles with lack of identity. So in many ways, you can't help but sympathize with her.

KH: Ah yes, the creepy girl! Sarah Jane Peltzer or "Scara" as we like to call her. As Elliot said, she serves as a reminder to us that we are dead. She's a bit spooky but if you really watch her throughout the show she is actually quite funny. Again, that's the beauty of Jacob's writing - he takes something so tragic and scary and puts a hilarious twist on it.

Were you an early adopter of Twitter or did you see it as more of a necessary evil?

EL: I wasn't an enthusiast at first, but I've been on Twitter for quite some time now. My mother had been after me for years to join this thing called ‘Twitter.' She described it as a way to connect to broader audiences. My mother has always been very up to date with current online trends. Some leave lasting impressions while others disappear into obscurity. I was sure that Twitter would be the latter.

At first I took it as a glorified Facebook status update, occasionally updating my current projects and describing my recent activities. I would go on about once a month and think to myself "now my 50 followers know what I'm doing next!" It wasn't until much later (and after many long-winded conversations with my mother) that I learned how to properly use it. Now it all makes sense. She explained to me that Twitter is a dialogue, or more plainly a conversation. Much like one you would have around the dinner table, only you have a few million house guests. As much as you are pumping out information, you must be taking it in and responding to it as well.

KH: I was a very late adopter of Twitter, I mostly use it to follow some of my favourite comedians. It's always a great pick me up in my day to see what fine folks like Sarah Silverman and Stephen Colbert have to say. Right now I mostly use it to let people know that I've just had a hot dog or an awesome nap. It seems a necessary evil but I like it. When we performed Ride the Cyclone in Vancouver we were trending...that was pretty cool!

As for the Twitter chat, will it be truly no-holds barred? Will you answer anything the digital world throws at you?

EL: I don't know about Kelly or the rest of the gang (who will no doubt chime in), but I say bring it on!

KH: Anyone who knows me knows I'm a no holds barred kinda gal so bring it on!

Finally, in the spirit of fairness I will let you each ask me on Twitter question to kick off the chat. Anything you want to know from Toronto's scaredy-cat theatre nerd?

EL: Since I have agreed to a no-holds barred dialogue upon request, I'm throwing you a curve ball to kick it off! (Tried to go for a sports analogy, but I think it's safe to say that it pretty much fell flat. Oh well! That's why I leave the writing up to Jacob.)

Question: If you could go on a date ( A real date! The kind where you order fancy drinks and gaze longingly into each other's eyes) with one Canadian Artistic Director, who would it be? And why?

KH: When are you coming to the show? And can we have an adult beverage after?

When and Where?

Ride the Cyclone

Theatre Passe Muraille

Opening Night Nov 14th and runs until December 3rd at Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace

Tuesday-Saturday at 7:30pm
Saturday Matinee at 2pm

Tickets range from $30 -$35 with Saturday Matinee Pay-What-You-Can tickets.

Tickets available in person at the box office, by phone at 416-504-7529 or online at www.passemuraille.on.ca

*** BWW's Kelly Cameron will answer the questions the cast delivered to her during the Twitter chat.  She can be found at @broadwaybabyto.  Elliott Loran is @elliottloran and Kelly Hudson is @kellysmhudson.  Joining them are fellow cast members Sarah Jane Pelzer @sarahjanepelzer and Kholby Wardell @Kholby Follow them and @RidetheCyclone and use hashtag #askthecyclone on Tuesday November 15th from 2PM-3PM to get your questions answered!

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