Performance Spring Festival at Factory April

Toronto, ON ’Äì Wednesday, March 3, 2010... Factory Theatre’Äôs Performance Spring, April 1 ’Äì 25, is a festival of groundbreaking works for Toronto from the national scene. Sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group, the festival lineup features three major productions and diverse new works: Where the Blood Mixes and A Fabulous Disaster in the Mainspace Theatre; this time in the Studio Theatre; and, CrossCurrents in the Studio Theatre. Artistic Director Ken Gass says, ’ÄúThe lineup brings together some of Canada’Äôs most extraordinary playwrights and theatre artists in a festival format. I’Äôm particularly pleased to welcome Kevin Loring’Äôs Where The Blood Mixes back to the Factory after its all too brief showing during LuminaTO two years ago. This is a play that speaks from the heart to a burning issue and I sincerely hope it will continue to spark the vital conversations necessary to help heal the wounds of our shared past.’Äù For behind-the-scenes perspectives by the artists involved, see http://performancespring.blogspot.com; for ticket information, visit www.factorytheatre.ca or call (416) 504-9971.

Where the Blood Mixes plays for 11 performances only, April 7 ’Äì 18. This show is produced by the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company and The Belfry Theatre in association with The Savage Society and presented by Factory Theatre and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Governor General Award-winning playwright Kevin Loring, born in Lytton, British Columbia, writes about a survivor of the residential school system, suddenly reuniting with his daughter after two decades, and together they confront the pain of the past. Set during the salmon run where the Fraser and Thompson Rivers meet, Where the Blood Mixes offers an irreverent, funny and brutally honest look into the heart of a people. In 2008, Loring’Äôs debut play was the hit of the LuminaTO Festival in Toronto and the Magnetic North in Vancouver, and is currently playing at the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. Directed by Glynis Leyshon, the show stars Ben Cardinal as Mooch, Kim Harvey as Christine, Margo Kane as June, Billy Merasty as Floyd, and Tom McBeath as George. Lighting design is by Itai Erdal, set design is by Robert Lewis, projection design is by Jamie Nesbitt, and costume design is by Patricia Smith. Visual art in the production is by Carl Stromquist, and the music is composed and played by Jason Burnstick. Where the Blood Mixes was co-developed by the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company; LuminaTO Festival of Arts & Creativity; The Savage Society; and Western Canada Theatre (Kamloops). The piece, originally titled The Ballad of Floyd, was part of Factory Theatre’Äôs CrossCurrents 2004.

A Fabulous Disaster, written and performed by Denise Clarke and produced by One Yellow Rabbit Performance Theatre of Calgary, plays April 20 ’Äì 24. Gass says, ’ÄúDenise Clarke’Äôs much loved Sign Language was a highlight of Performance Spring 2007, and I am very happy to have this Canadian dance-theatre icon back with her solo show, A Fabulous Disaster.’Äù This is a fast-paced, highly entertaining dance-theatre work that follows a recently jilted woman stranded in a forest during a wildfire, battling to save the animals, herself and her broken heart. Poignant and elegant, A Fabulous Disaster bounces through the themes of love, jealousy and belonging and is a unique theatrical event that everyone and their pets can relate to.

Single tickets for Where the Blood Mixes, and A Fabulous Disaster, are $25 Tuesday ’Äì Thursday, 8 p.m., and $35 Friday ’Äì Saturday, 8 p.m.; $10 limited RUSH Tickets are available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (7 p.m. lineup and 7:50 p.m. purchase).

adelheid’Äôs this time, choreographed by Factory Dance-Artist-in-Residence Heidi Strauss, plays April 1 ’Äì 4 and 8 ’Äì 10, 8 p.m. (tickets are $22 adult and $18 for student/senior/CADA members), and April 11, 2 p.m. (tickets are P-W-Y-C or $25 in advance). this time is a new contemporary dance work loosely based on Light, a wordless one-act play by Ken Gass (1970). Dancers Brendan Wyatt (Toronto) and Justine Chambers (Vancouver) are caught in an unstable environment with a mounting tension that challenges them and their relationship, driving them to unexpected forms of escape and freedom. The environment is created by composer John Mark Sherlock, sound and video designer Jeremy Mimnagh and lighting designer Rebecca Picherack. Gass comments, ’ÄúStrauss’Äô as it is world premiere in last year’Äôs Performance Spring Festival received billing in NOW Magazine’Äôs Top 10 Dance Shows of 2009. I’Äôm excited to see the birth of this time, her new work.’Äù

CrossCurrents is curated by Factory Theatre Dramaturge Iris Turcott, and runs throughout April. The dynamic new play development festival of brave and raw works represents the great artistic and cultural diversity of Canadian theatre creators and playwrights. In addition to readings, there are symposiums and other public events. CrossCurrents 2010 features an impressive roster of artists including Byron Abalos, Nina Lee Aquino, Charlotte Corbeil Coleman, Meegwun Fairbrother, Jani Lauzon, Amy Lee Lavoie, Daniel MacIvor, ahdri zhina mandiela, Adam Pettle, Joseph Jomo Pierre, Michele Riml and Pamela Sinha. Factory is also hosting new work by bcurrent, Cahoots Theatre Company, fu-GEN Asian-Canadian Theatre Company, Native Earth Performing Arts and Obsidian Theatre Company as part of CrossCurrents. Admission is by donation ($10 suggested minimum).

Closing the season is the revival of George F. Walker’Äôs outrageous comedy, Featuring Loretta, directed by Ken Gass (May 1 ’Äì June 27), Factory Mainspace Theatre, and a Gala Event celebrating Factory Theatre’Äôs 40^th Birthday scheduled for May 10, 2010.