CrazyLady to Bring Two George F. Walker Premieres to Toronto

CrazyLady, a new Toronto-based theatre company co-founded by theatre artists Wes Berger, Sarah Murphy-Dyson (Co-Artistic Producers) and George F. Walker (Creative Consultant), will bring not one, but two George F. Walker premieres to Toronto!

CrazyLady proudly presents the Toronto premiere of Parents Night and the world premiere of The Bigger Issue, both by the award-winning George F. Walker, one of Canada's most prolific and internationally acclaimed playwrights. The two deeply humane but razor-sharp comedies will play in rep from April 23-May 17, 2015 (previews from April 21) at Theatre Passe Muraille's Mainspace. Tickets go on sale mid-January in the new year and will be available by calling the box office at 416-504-7529 or online at https://www.artsboxoffice.ca .

These plays are the first two in his newest cycle of plays, "The Classroom Plays," Mr. Walker's first since the iconic "Suburban Motel" series from 1997. Turning his incisive eye towards the crumbling education system, Walker finds a stimulating and important new arena for his ferocious and finely honed wit, and the unique and provocative trademark characters that he is known for. There will be at least four works in the series when completed, all set in classrooms - and all played out in real time.

The first in George F. Walker's new series, "The Classroom Plays," Parents Night is a scathing and hilarious look inside an elementary school classroom. John and Rosie, two parents from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds, arrive at their children's grade three classroom for parent's night to find over-worked educator Nicole no longer content to dole out platitudes. As the story erupts, secrets are revealed and what's left are three flawed but fully human individuals on the brink: a teacher, trying to do her best under impossible circumstances; a father, trying not to let his anger and pain consume his son; and a mother, hoping that her own mistakes don't spell the fate of her daughter. A funny, touching and truthful play for anyone who's ever been a teacher. Or had a teacher. Or had a parent. Or wanted another kind of parent.

The Toronto premiere of Parents Night features Sarah Murphy-Dyson (CrazyLady's world premiere of Parents Night in Hamilton, as well as the world premiere of Walker's The Ravine for Lyndesfarne Theatre Projects (LTP) in Niagara Falls, The Naked Ballerina for 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival where she earned 'Outstanding Performance' from Now Magazine, former Royal Winnipeg Ballet soloist who won Gemini Best Performance Award for The Tale of the Magic Flute (Bravo/CBC) as Nicole, Matthew Olver (CrazyLady's Parents Night in Hamilton, The Hound of the Baskervilles for Peterborough's Globus Theatre, TV shows Bomb Girls, This is Wonderland, Murdoch Mysteries) as John and Dana Puddicombe (CrazyLady's Parents Night in Hamilton, Gros Morne Theatre Festival, Magnetic North Theatre Festival, The Ravine for LTP, radio and TV includes Afghanada for CBC Radio and Republic of Doyle for CBC TV) as Rosie.

Next, Walker turns his formidable gaze towards the fragile ecosystem of a Junior High grade seven classroom in the second of "The Classroom Plays." The Bigger Issue stands at the volatile intersection of poverty, violence and mental health. Suzy is a young teacher under the watchful eye of Irene, a principal caught between the needs of the students and the demands of an out-of-touch administration. After a troubling incident with a student, they are forced to confront his parents, Maggie and Jack, who are trying to do the best for their son under extreme circumstances. As the story unfolds, the educators must question all the rules that define their existence as the family's survival hangs in the balance.

The world premiere of The Bigger Issue features all the same cast as Parents Night but with the addition of Julia Heximer (The Ravine for Niagara Falls' LTP; Andrew Dunlop's film, How To Get Away With It; studying with Toronto's Second City) who makes her Toronto debut in Parents Night.

Both plays are directed by Wes Berger (CrazyLady's premiere of Parents Night in Hamilton, The Naked Ballerina for 2010 Toronto Fringe Festival where he earned 'Outstanding Direction' nod from Now Magazine, The Beauty Queen of Leenane at Red Sandcastle Theatre, Criminal Genius for LTF in Niagara Falls).

George F. Walker wrote his first play, The Prince of Naples, in 1972. He went on to become one of Canada's most prolific and popular playwrights and is still one of Canada's most widely produced dramatists at home and internationally. Walker has written over 30 stage scripts and has written for television, radio and film. Television shows include This is Wonderland, The Line and Living in Your Car. His plays have been translated into French, German, Hebrew, Turkish, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese Hungarian, Danish, Italian and Czech. Mr. Walker has received nine Chalmers Awards, five Dora Awards, three Governor General's Awards (including a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award) and the Order of Canada. The Classroom Plays are Mr. Walker's first cycle since the prolific Suburban Motel series in 1997.

CrazyLady is delighted to introduce the first two Classroom Plays by George F. Walker to Toronto. The design team and ticket details will be announced in the new year.

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