Canadian Rep to Premiere English Debut of PACAMAMBO Today

Canadian Rep Theatre kicks off the new year with the English-language premiere of Pacamambo by Quebec's award-winning Wajdi Mouawad, translated by Shelley Tepperman, and directed by Canadian Rep Artistic Director Ken Gass. This emotionally powerful and lyrical work opens today, January 21 and runs through February 2 (previewing from January 18) at The Citadel in Regent Park. Tickets range from $15-$36 with special pricing for families and students, and are available by calling 416-504-7529 or by visiting www.canadianrep.ca.

Pacamambo, premiered in French in Montreal in 2000. Conceived as a play for children about death, it is a life-affirming and magical theatre experience for audiences of all ages. It tells the story of Julie, a young girl teetering between denial and rage, who disappeared for 23 days until discovered in her grandmother's apartment basement storage locker with her dog, Growl, and the badly decomposing body of her grandmother.

Director Ken Gass has assembled an outstanding artistic team for this exceptional work. As he says in his own words, "I have been passionate about this play for years and am thrilled to finally produce it. Pacamambo is an enchanting theatrical experience for audiences from 9 to 99 - a truly remarkable achievement."

Starring in the ensemble is Kyra Harper (Soulpepper Theatre's Farther West, Factory Theatre's The Rez Sisters) as Julie's grandmother, Marie Marie; Amy Keating (Associate Artist of Outside the March where she performed in Passion Play and Mr. Marmalade) as the fiercely determined Julie; Michele Polak (Theatre Gargantua's The Sacrifice Zone, Tout Comme Elle for Necessary Angel/Luminato) as Julie's dog, Growl; and Karen Robinson (Obsidian Theatre/Factory's The Gravitation Pull of Bernice Trimble, Crow's Theatre's Eternal Hydra) as the psychiatrist who tries to unravel the mystery. Set design is by Marian Wihak, costume design by Jung-Hye Kim, lighting design by Rebecca Picherack and original music and sound design created by Wayne Kelso. Michaela Washburn is the assistant director and the stage manager is Diane Konkin.

Quebec-based actor/playwright/director Wajdi Mouawad is one of the most widely produced playwrights in Canada and France. An Officer of the Order of Canada and Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Mouawad was born in Lebanon in 1968, and came to Montreal from Paris at the age of nine. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in 1991. Winner of the Governor General's Award (Littoral), Quebec Critic's Circle Award (Willy Protagoras), Nestroy Award (Incendies) and Le Masque (Don Quixote), his other plays include Alphonse, Rêves, Seuls and Forêts. His play Incendies was adapted into a film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, which was nominated for an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film. He has been the Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre (French Theatre) and the Théâtre de Quat'Sous.

Ken Gass is the founding artistic director of Canadian Rep Theatre and Factory Theatre (1970-79; 1996-2012). Gass has directed numerous notable productions including The Rez Sisters by Tomson Highway; Belle by Florence Gibson (Best Director Award, Ottawa); The Leisure Society by Francois Archambault (Dora Award, Outstanding Direction); Apple by Verne Thiessen; The Tiger of Malaya by Hiro Kanagawa; A Short History of Night by John Mighton; fareWel by Ian Ross and several acclaimed revivals of plays by George F. Walker including Better Living, Escape From Happiness, Beyond Mozambique and Tough! Gass is the winner of the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts, The George Luscombe Award for theatre mentoring, The Toronto Theatre Critics' Award for contribution to Toronto Theatre, The Toronto Arts Award and is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Ticket Award.

Canadian Rep Theatre presents the English-language premiere of Pacamambo by Wajdi Mouawad, translated by Shelley Tepperman directed by Ken Gass starring Kyra Harper, Amy Keating, Michelle Polak, Karen Robinson set design by Marian Wihak, costume design by Jung-Hye Kim, lighting design by Rebecca Picherack, original music & sound design by Wayne Keslo.

Opens Tuesday, January 21 to February 2, 2014 (previews from January 18) The Citadel, 304 Parliament St. (south of Dundas St. E.), Toronto Wednesday-Saturday (except for opening night) at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm with a Saturday 2:30pm matinee on Feb 1, 2014.

Tickets range from $24-$36 (discounts for students, youth, seniors, families and arts workers) with previews $15 and Sunday matinees PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN. Tickets are available by calling the Arts Box Office at 416-504-7529 or visiting www.canadianrep.ca.

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