An excerpt from BlogTalkRadio.com:


Read the whole entry and listen to an interview with BJ Thomas.

Thomas performs Thursday, November 3 at 8PM. For last minute seats call 905-874-2800.

by Danny Harvey | Director
So...this blog is late for one very simple reason... time. Everything to do with theatre has to do with time. First of all, there is never enough time. We don’t ever seem to have enough rehearsal time, time with the band, time with choreography or time in the theatre before we open... not even close to enough time. Over the past 5 years that the Rose Theatre has been open, we have become time ninjas. We work around the clock..quite literally... to get the sound, lights and set into place.

We separate our rehearsal time into Music, Choreography and Blocking/Staging, We usually start with music. It's important that everyone know their songs and harmonies before we layer dance over them, if there is a dance number that is handled by our Choreographer, they shape the song with style and dance moves designed to convey the mood and story. Then I, as director, handle the blocking or staging, telling the story through planned movements on the stage. Every cross, turn, inflection,and accent is carefully discussed and considered. We lay all of these elements out, listen to each others ideas and then we repeat everything until it's second nature.

Timing also plays an important role in the storyline of Cabaret. This show is set in 1929 – 1930 Germany.  This is considered in all aspects of design. For example costumes are mostly vintage. Many of the set pieces are antiques or reproductions built by our production design team. Props are authentic, to the tiniest detail. Our actors consider the time frame for how they move, interact, and present the customs of the day. Cabaret is a history lesson.  Don't let that scare you though, it's by far the hottest history lesson you’re ever going to have. I love the feeling of this piece, its about the world losing its innocence and naivety.

Then there is the realistic timing of getting this show going. As our patrons arrive usually a half hour or so before curtain and enter to watch our show, it would appear that everything is effortless as cast and crew present the spoils of our labour. This is an illusion... Behind those curtains and walls there is a whispered organized chaos... all helmed by a genius with a clip board and a stop watch. The stage manager, half deity and half mental case, is the invisible puppet master. Every light change, every set piece, every entrance, every microphone turned on or off are all called by the stage manger in perfect time. If you ever meet someone in your life and find out they are a stage manager, buy them a beer... they deserve it.

Most of all, we create this work for one very simple reason, we want our audience to have an incredible time. That really is what this is all about... Theatre is not really as glamorous as we all thought it would be, but there is no better feeling than knowing you have truly moved an audience. Our reward is applause and knowing you have had an amazing time... because of course timing is everything.

Carpenters Michelle Inksetter and Stephen Nixon

Once we’ve decided on that, it’s time to create the playing space! The biggest Challenge on this show was to create a playing area that was large enough to incorporate the inside and outside of an old farm house while keeping the mood intimate for the actors and for the audience. This was achieved by creating a big contrast between both locations. The inside of the house is built on an elevated riser with solid cut away walls and a cut away roof that completely defines the living space. Once you step outside onto the porch, the cutaway porch railings push your eye towards Stage Left and UP which makes the sky drop and the tree seem to extended up past the ceiling of the theatre which (in theory) makes the outside space seem huge, but doesn’t affect the intimate feeling of the inside space.

Of course none of what is seen on the stage would ever happen without our amazing carpenters (Stephen Nixon and Michelle Inksetter) and our extremely talented scenic artists (Jaspal Birdi and Danielle Demeny).

Although there are challenges in designing a show in the studio space…they are challenges that make the job fun and interesting for everyone involved.

-Vaughn Davis

by Danny Harvey | Director
Summer Theatre Season 2011 | Rose Theatre Brampton
The first day of rehearsal is an interesting time. I always liken it to the first day of school. There are some actors you know, and who know each other and they catch up on what they have done since they last saw each other. Many actors discuss mutual friends and old friends tend to pick up where they left off. Then there are the actors who are new to the company or haven’t worked with anyone else in the room, they are usually more quiet and mostly observe. Its an interesting thing to watch someone whose job it is to be an extrovert be introverted and shy. If I want to push my school metaphor as a director I should fit in as the theatrical equivalent of the role of teacher, but I was always more comfortable as a class clown. As everyone arrives its generally very social and boisterous these creative people are very excited. I’m always a little nervous, a little anxiety keeps the work fresh and interesting. I like it.

As a cast and crew we all settle around the table and then do a design presentation where our resident set designer Vaughn Davis comes in and talks through the set design to give everyone an idea of the space we work in. Design presentation is followed by introductions where the actors say their names and who they are playing. We discuss concept for the show, working styles, do a little paper work then the excitement really begins...

Directing a musical is an incredible job. All the steps leading up the first day, reading scripts, ordering the performance rights, hiring our music director (Rosalind Mills) and choreographer(M.J. Shaw) hundreds of auditions, callbacks, endless negotiating with agents, budgeting etc… The first read… well the first read is where I finally get to hear what this show is going to become. I must say; I am ridiculously excited. Cabaret is in my opinion a perfect show, for those who love a good story with a lot of emotion and highs and lows…we have you covered, for those of you who love big production numbers and song and dance… we have that too.

Cabaret is a masterpiece of theatre. The coolest part of my job is just beginning. Creating this world and telling this story is overwhelming at times, How do I correctly convey the emotion to our audience, how do I keep the patrons engaged? how do we get all these set pieces on and off? How do I push the envelope of risqué and not end up appearing crass? These plus a thousand more questions are what I will be asked by my cast, artistic team crew and myself.

The weight of responsibility is shared by all of us, a group of strangers becoming a creative family for the next 5 weeks or so. We get to take some words off a page and breathe life into it. We create music, visual poetry that exists only for an instant on the stage. Live theatre has that magic to it. A unique experience that only a few of us get to have. Even in long runs of shows, night after night no two moments are completely identical… that is what keeps bringing me back .

As the first day of rehearsal closes as usual my mantra is…”I hope I don’t screw this up”

A Chorus Line opens at the Rose Theatre on Friday, July 22 and runs for 8 performances until July 30.  In this video, Kent Sheridan talks about his portrayal of Zach, the director/choreographer and shares his "big break" story.

“God I Hope I Get It. I Hope I Get It.”…One of the many lines in the show A Chorus Line that are all too familiar to the life of a performer. It’s an ongoing battle, constantly fighting for the next job/show. The story of A Chorus Line is close to home in more ways than one. The cattle calls, the rejections, the injuries and the gossip and rumors takes its toll on us. Despite the up hill climb somehow we find our way to the top every now and then and still manage to pay rent on time…occasionally.


Its always a treat to perform in A Chorus Line because its one of those shows as an artist where you can relate to almost every character or understand where they are coming from. The last two weeks of rehearsals have reminded me of how intense and precise this show is and the dedication and focus it requires. Between singing the right notes and lyrics all the while remembering and performing the right dance steps - it’s not enough to just be a great dancer or a great singer or a great actor, you have to do it all. You can’t hide in the ensemble - everyone stands out in this show and that’s what makes it so special. The book, the music and the choreography of A Chorus Line complement each other quite brilliantly.

Julia plays the role of Cassie Ferguson in the Rose Summer Theatre Season's production of A Chorus Line, on stage at the Rose Theatre Brampton July 22 - 30. 

Sweeney in The War Show (2010)

Just days away from the opening of The 39 Steps and this place is buzzing with excitement! There are only 4 actors in the play but they’re portraying 100 characters! How is this done? With economy, efficiency and a huge dose of humour. One of the actors splitting himself into many personalities is Sweeney MacArthur. I won’t call Sweeney a veteran actor (although he is), rather a “seasoned actor”. Did you catch him in “Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day" (2009)? Or maybe you recognized his voice in “Gotta Catch Santa Claus” (2008) with William Shatner playing the big man himself? Back to The 39 Steps - I asked him what it was like playing so many different people? “I'm a bit scattered anyways! I think most actors have secret multiple personalities inside them. The tricky part is varying up things with accents, the way you move your body, etc, to make them different and interesting.” Then I point out that he’s play three old ladies as well. “I think I'm a pretty woman, but the rest of the cast seems to disagree.” Well, I promise we’ll let you know Sweeney.

The 39 Steps runs Friday, July 8 to Saturday, July 30 in the Rose Theatre Studio Two, but the first three performances are SOLD OUT! For more information and to order your tickets visit www.rosetheatre.ca or call 905-874-2800.

Written by Gabriella Currie.

We are starting another week of rehearsals and Robert Woodcock (director) has had such a clear vision of The 39 Steps from the very beginning that it has really given all of us, as actors, much freedom to explore our characters within the parameters of the script.

This is one of those wonderful shows that you get to be really challenged as an actor because you get the opportunity to play so many different characters. In my case I am playing three women who all have very distinct personalities, not to mention accents (one German, one Scottish and the last British).

Erin (with Sweeney MacArthur) in a promotional shot for 7 Stories (2010)

Rehearsals have be an absolute joy since day one. Here we are well into the process and Sweeney, Scott and Mark are continuously making me laugh as their characters grow leaps and bounds every day. It was at the end of last week Geoff Nantes (sound designer) came in and added the sound cues to the show. Which, in this show in particular, have proven to be the icing on the cake. From telephone rings to train whistles the sound has really added so much detail to the scenes and will be such an asset this week as we start to do full runs of the show.

My favourite sound cue, although I am a little biased, will be my seven week old daughter's stage debut....so you will have to listen for it. This is my first show since she was born and I have to say that working with such a creative and inspiring group of people during the day and coming home to a beautiful little baby makes me feel like I have it all. I am very blessed indeed.

The 39 Steps runs Friday, July 8 to Saturday, July 30 in the Rose Theatre Studio Two. For more information and to order your tickets visit www.rosetheatre.ca or call 905-874-2800.

 Two plus weeks into rehearsals for the fabulous choice for this summer's Rose studio lineup, The 39 Steps. I honestly can't remember the last time I was involved in a project that was so intrinsically and delightfully creative in nature. So much of the way the piece is presented is left open to the ingenuity of not only the creative team and cast, but also the stage management crew, set builders, and props masters. Certainly the show presented at the Rose will be unlike any other production of The 39 Steps anywhere else. Each production, though sharing certain universal concepts, will have several completely unique moments and sequences, limited only by the imaginations of each unique collection of creative minds.

Scott performing with Jaden Carmichael in Scrooge! (2009)

Director Rob Woodcock had clearly put in countless hours of pre-work and research before the first day of rehearsals, as he had ready for us on day one not only a clear and firm vision of how we were going to stage the show effectively in the somewhat restrictive studio space, but many of the set pieces and props already built and available for we actors to use! Before the first week was finished we also had many of our costume pieces already on-site down at the rehearsal hall on Orenda Rd.

One of the challenges (and greatest delights) for me personally working on The 39 Steps, is the opportunity to play multiple characters. The show is based on the classic Hitchcock movie of course, and one of the stageplay's devices (and hopefully great sources of entertainment) is the fact that Mark is playing the main character of the film and the 3 remaining actors (Erin, Sweeney, and myself) play all the rest of the characters in the film!!!

It is a true test of my skills and repertoire as I am responsible for creating 14 clearly defined and unique characters. Many changes are in rapid-fire style (sometimes for comic effect) requiring a quick and seamless transition into a different costume, age, physicality, and accent in moments!

Thank goodness Sweeney (who is also a professional and well-reknowned accent coach) is around to help....

Look for another update from me soon....it's time for me to get back to committing my lines to memory :)

Scott C

We’re very passionate about theatre! And we know you are too so we’re determined to let you know what’s happening this summer in our studio theatre and on the main stage. We’re serving up 2 great plays and 2 great musicals. All the stuff that happens around each production will be fodder for your curiosity. Our producers, technicians, directors, actors, wardrobe people, set designers, choreographers - well pretty much every person who’s involved in production – will share their thoughts, ideas and creations with you. We’re going to blog, vlog and otherwise flog ourselves for you. Check us out anytime at www.rosetheatre.ca/

Don't miss 'That Canadian Guy' Glen Foster at the Rose Theatre Brampton on April 15 at 8PM!



2. What was the best day of your life?

The best day of my life would have to be the day that my daughter was born. I tell her all the time that my favourite thing to do is anything that we can do together. Last year we went to wonderland and it was the first year that she was tall enough to make the cut for the big rides. We went on The Behemoth together and she loved it. Afterwards we shared an ice cream cookie sandwhich that was almost as big as her head. That was a great day too.


3. Who was your celebrity crush when you were young?

My biggest celebrity crush was hands down, no contest, Raquel Welch. I forced myself to sit through some pretty bad movies just to see her sometimes. Case in point, "! Million BC" She's over 60 now and still looks pretty good. Some of my other crushes included Renee Russo, Sharon Stone and Theresa Russel. What can I say, I like the bad girls!


4. What video do you find yourself watching over and over on YouTube?

I loved "United Breaks Guitars" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo So do ten million plus other people. Lately, I have watched "Guilty Dog" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ISzf2pryI a few times. I'm also a big fan of "The Onion News" videos. They're usually very funny, and some like, "The Money Hole" are absolutely hysterical http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnX-D4kkPOQ  Of course, I have a good collection of my own videos available on YouTube as well. Go to www.youtube.com/thatcanadianguyclips

Leisa Way stars in Rhinestone Cowgirl: A Tribute to Dolly Parton, April 20 at the Rose Theatre Brampton!

by Gabriella Currie

Director Rob Woodcock, Sweeney & Erin

This week I sat in at a first reading of the play, The 39 Steps. First impressions are very important. I wish you could have been there. You couldn’t help but be affected by the palpable excitement in the room. The actors straggle in – coffees in hand (gotta have that life-giving-first-of-the-day coffee) laughing and chatting, exchanging news and light stories.


Then director Rob Woodcock gets things going. Brief introductions and the reading begins.

Wait – before we continue…..what the heck is…. um…. are, The 39 Steps? (take notes, there’ll be a quiz).



1. A book written by John Buchan in 1915?
2. A 1939 Radio play with Orson Welles?
3. A 1943 Radio play with Glenn Ford?
4. A 1992 BBC radio adaptation?
5. A 1935 black and white film adaptation directed by Alfred Hitchcock?
6. A 1959 colour film starring Kenneth More?
7. A 1978 film starring Robert Powell?
8. A comic theatrical adaptation (British farce) by Patrick Barlow which opened in London in 2006?
9. A 2008 book of interactive fiction adapted by Penguin Books called The 21 Steps?
10. 39 stairs at Broadstairs running from the garden to the beach?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes - all of the above.

We’re here for the reading of the play, The 39 Steps, adapted by Patrick Barlow into a British Farce, which will be presented at the Rose Studio Theatre in July. Of course, the provenance of all these versions is the book written by John Buchan first published in 1915.

Who is, I’m sorry, was… John Buchan? (He died in 1940 when he fell and his is head in Rideau Hall.)

This is where I digress a little.

John Buchan was a Scottish novelist and British politician who was appointed as Governor General of Canada in 1935. He loved titles and honours:

• His Excellency the Right Honourable Sir John Buchan, Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield, Companion of the Order of Companions of Honour, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Militia and Naval and Air Forces of Canada,

Mark (Llewellyn) starts the read and the words come alive. Then Scott (Carmichael) then Sweeney (MacArther) – back and forth and around the table – so many accents - fast, witty, funny.

I’m starting to wonder how the stage will be set……trying to translate these words into action – so far just in my head.

How will it look when the creative hands – and minds - work their magic? We’re laughing now – you’ll laugh later, I know. I’m reminded how funny British Farce is… how much I love it.

Sweeney again – another accent and another hilarious voice. It reminds me of Bluebottle from The Goon Show – that wonderful British radio comedy programme which ran from 1951 to 1960.

I’m enjoying myself and suddenly the last word is spoken……

…….till next time.

Aion Clarke gets ready to share his soulful voice at the Rose Theatre on March 3.

1. Who’s a regular on your I-Pod?
Regulars on my iPod include Kings Of Leon, Kanye West, Coldplay, Marvin Gaye and Rick Ross.. I know it’s a strange combination but I love all great music in any genre.

2. What’s in your fridge?
Leftovers from last night dinner so, rice and black-eyed peas, bbq ribs, and stew chicken. YEAH *smiley face*

3. What was the best day of your life?
This past weekend I sang the National Anthem at the NBA All Star Saturday Night at the Staple Centre in LA!! I’m a huge basketball lover so that was a big deal. I will say that I know better days are already on my schedule *wink*



Aaliyah

 4. Who was your celebrity crush when you were young?
I had so many, but for sure my number one was Aaliyah Dana Haughton God rest her soul. I can speak for a lot of guys my age and say one of my goals was to marry her when I got older. She will always be loved and missed.

5. What video do you find yourself watching over and over on YouTube?
I find this collage of interviews by Will Smith very real and inspiring. I watch this one a whole lot!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSK_Likqv24

An interview by Richard Ouzounian - printed in Odeum Magazine, March 2011

“It’s going to be the same, only different.”


Those are the words Gino Vannelli uses to describe his March 11 concert at The Rose Theatre and they should come as a relief to his long-time fans, but also as a welcome bit of excitement to concert-goers who might not yet have sampled the Vannelli magic, but are always eager to try something new.

The 58 year-old, Montreal-born artist has been a major player on the pop music scene for 38 years, but he’s not content to simply rest on his laurels and show up singing the tunes like “I Just Wanna Stop” and “Wheels of Life” that made him famous decades ago.

“Look, I’ll level with you,” Vannelli says on the phone from his studio in between recording sessions, “I know that recording artists have to live or die on the hits that put them where they are now. And over the years, when I’d get tired of singing certain songs, people would give me hell for it.

“So what was I going to do? I had to be true to myself, but I didn’t want to disappoint my fans.”

And Vannelli came up with a novel solution that seems designed to make everyone happy.

“I sat back and took stock of everything I’d done over the years and asked myself how I would sing these songs now if I were recording them for the first time.”

In some cases, that meant Vannelli was going way back into the 1970s and that created a whole new technological playing field for him.

“Every time I’d hear a recording of mine from the early days, I’d think ‘Damn, we could make it sound so much better if we recorded it today!’ and I don’t mean just cleaning up the tracks or sweetening the accompaniment.

“No, I’m talking about using the recording technology of 2011 from the very start. Making a whole new record, a whole new sound.”

And once Vannelli opened up that door, he found that he wanted to reinvestigate the very songs themselves.

“I sat down at the piano and man, I tore those songs apart. The melody, the chords, even some of the lyrics. I revaluated the textures of the numbers, looked at the particular mind-set that had created them, everything.”

The end result, The Best and Beyond, was released last October to positive response and Vannelli has been pleased the way it’s been working out on many levels.

“It’s really working for everybody,” he enthuses. “The people who hear the songs are glad to be hearing them again, but with something new added. My musicians are excited because they’re all part of a sound that they helped create. Let’s be honest; you can’t get a great band to just imitate the riffs of 35 years ago and I don’t want to tour with anything less than a great band.

“But most importantly, I’m feeling more fulfilled as well. When I was asked to write some new liner notes, I found myself opening up and tapping into feelings I had either never known or never acknowledged. I wound up writing a whole biographical riff called Stardust in the Sand that tells a lot about me.”

Vannelli tries to explain the whole process of change that occurred in his music by looking at one of his biggest hits, “The Wheels of Life”.

“You know, I first started writing that song when I was 18 years old. Man, I blush at that now. I didn’t know what life was back then, or what kind of wheels I was going to start turning around in. But I learned pretty soon.

“And when I recorded the version that everyone knows, I was 26.

When Vannelli sat down with the song a few years ago to re-examine it, “I tried it as a folk number, an R&B tune, everything. Then I just asked myself ‘What is this about, Gino?’ And I got the answer. It’s about the fleetingness of everything in life, the sensation of things running away.”

There seems to be a bit of sadness in Vannelli as he speaks, but he explains it.

“Yeah, I’m a romantic and there’s a pain to romanticism, but there’s a welcome pain because it stirs your soul.

“It helps you feel things and without feelings, believe me, life means nothing.”

Urban Jazz Songstress Kellylee Evans

1. Who’s a regular on your I-Pod?
An artist out of France named Ben L'oncle Soul. His voice is a cross between John Legend and Cee-Lo over class Motown sounds. All sung in French. When I first started listening to him, I had no idea what he was saying. But I kept working on it and listening and translating his lyrics. He's amazing. And the live show is wonderful. One of the best I have seen ever.

2. What’s in your fridge?
Berries. My kids are berry fiends. I could spend hours making an intricate meal, and my youngest two will still take one look at the meal and ask for berries. We buy the big containers from Costco and they can finish those in one sitting. We should just start growing our own berries at home, hydroponically, but I'm afraid the high hydro bill would have the police convinced we were growing something else.

Kellylee Evans Online:
www.KellyleeEvans.com
www.myspace.com/KellyleeEvans
www.Twitter.com/KellyleeEvans

Marisa McIntyre of
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

1. Who's a regular on your I-Pod?

Sweeney MacArthur of
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

1. What YouTube Video could you watch again and again?
I am addicted to watching the many videos of "Big Cat Rescue". They're an organization that rescue cats from the circus and small badly operated zoo's etc. Here is one of my favourites showing how they celebrate Halloween:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcT4paZfflg




2. Did you have a celebrity crush when you were young?
Growing up we only had 3 TV stations. The BBC would go off at around 11pm and then they would put up a test pattern. I've included the picture(right) of the girl. Well, from the age of 2 I think I wanted to marry her...or the clown....well now I'm just confused!

3. What happened on the best day of your life?
Well at the risk of making people throw up I'd have to say my wedding day, but I believe that will change in April with the birth of my first child. I know, sickeningly sweet...I'm getting a cavity just
writing this!

Denise Fennell of
Late Nite Catechism

Steve Solski

Toronto is famed for its cosmopolitanism, its passion for the arts, and its mosaic approach to embracing literally hundreds of diverse ethnicities; making it an obvious and exciting host to act as a bridge between Indian and world cultures. Recognizing, however, the strength of the South Asian population to the north-west of their city, Toronto has honored the Rose Theatre and the City of Brampton (along with Mississauga and Markham) with an invite to co-host the pre-awards festivities and world-wide telecast of events.

The Rose and the City are largely active in the IIFA Buzz Fest; hosting events from June 13-21 leading up to the three-day awards extravaganza in downtown Toronto. Our aim is to create a vibrant, inspiring, and anticipation building celebration of South Asian music, cinema, food and culture.

The IIFA Awards are not only a chance for the GTA to celebrate and explore the aesthetics and values of a public geographically distant to our own. They are also a reflection and confirmation of our city’s, our province’s, and our country’s growing ties with the incredible Republic of India. Geographically we are far; in company we are ever closer. Having already garnered the attention, support and enthusiasm of the Premier of Ontario as well as the municipal, cultural, and economic powerhouses of the GTA, I can already assure you this event will be of great significance to our local and global identity.

I couldn’t be more excited to welcome the celebrated industry of Indian cinema to Toronto and onwards to Brampton. I hope you will join me in representing our city as a destination worthy of their motto: “One People. One World.”

Steve Solski is the Manager of Arts Culture & Theatres for the City of Brampton