The 2008 Rolling Stock Prairie Theatre Tour

THEATRE IN THE RAW TAKES A BIG RAW STEP WITH...

2010-04-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

THE ROLLING STOCK PRAIRIE THEATRE TOUR

Presenting, live on stage, three original Canadian one-act plays which take a comedic look at relevant issues (such as food, aging, encroachment, consumerism and the environment) in a light-hearted and absurdly funny way that’s good for the whole family.

ACROSS FOUR PROVINCES AND THROUGH SIX CITIES:
Vancouver, Regina, Winnepeg, Saskatoon, Calgary & Edmonton
(See the full Schedule here>>)

FEATURING
You Are What You Eat, by Patrick Foley (Vancouver, BC)
To the Queen, by Larry Trask (Nipawin, SK)
A Hot Box, by Jay Hamburger (Vancouver, BC)
Find out about all the plays here>>

STARRING
Roger Howie, Maria Lakes, zi paris, and Serge Saika in various roles, as well as vocalist and composer Michelle A. Richard, who will be presenting Blues Dans La Nuit – a beautiful selection of traditional French-Canadian, jazz, and original songs, in both French and English.

Watch an interview with Jay Hamburger and Serge Saika talking about the shows here!

Tickets $17 or $14 Student/Senior (Except May 21, which will be admission by donation)
AT THE DOOR
All shows at 8PM (Except Sunday June 8, which will be a 2PM Matinee)

“Theatre In the Raw’s timing couldn’t be better...relevant...got people thinking...” Globe and Mail
“Performances so genuine that there is a real sense of sadness mixed with the laughs.” The Vancouver Sun
“Theatre In the Raw...rises to the occasion...has notable successes…” The Georgia Straight
“An award-winning production...understanding of issues...emotionally charged...” Kamloops Daily News

For further inquiry, please write to sergesavoy@gmail.com or phone (604) 708-5448

PLUS!
Go to our web site for more info about us
http://www.theatreintheraw.ca

PLUS!!
Play-writing Workshops

Day 14

2008-06-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

Calgary was probably one of the more memorable stops on the journey. It was fraught with challenges.
First off, when we got to Epcor Centre and the Motel, a performance space at the notorious One Yellow Rabbit theatre Company to discover that a heavy metal band had booked the big theatre across the hall for a concert on the same night!
We were quite worried that we'd be drowned out, but all told, it wasn't a big problem.
As a matter of fact, one of the patrons actually said that they were too engrossed in the plays to notice the noise!
The venue manager felt bad about the mix up and did his best to smooth things out. He gave us the night for free and let us add a second performance on Sunday without charging us extra.

Day 11

2008-06-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

Had a great last show at the Northern Light Theatre in Edmonton then decided to go out on the town to celebrate.
Roger had already scoped out a blues bar on Whyte Avenue, "Blues on Whyte". As it happened, another Vancouverite, Russell Jackson and his band (which included the legendary Selwyn Cooper - former player for BB King) were playing.

Roger introduced Russell to Michelle and she had a chance to get on stage for a couple of numbers! A great time was had by all! Watch the video below:

Despite getting back to the university close to 3am we managed to be on the road to Calgary at a respectable hour.

Photo Gallery Added

2008-06-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Check out our new photo gallery with promotional pics from some of our shows. Find the link at the top right hand column of the blog.

All pics have hi-res versions when clicked.

http://rollingstockprairietheatre.blogspot.com/search/label/photo

Photo Gallery

2008-06-06T11:01:00.001-07:00

Click on the picture for a high -resolution version.
All photos by Peter Valentine.

Interview on CJCR FM Saskatoon

2008-06-05T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a portion of the interview we did at CJCR studios with Brian Cochrane.

Day 9

2008-06-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

Internet connections have been somewhat spotty along the road, which accounts for the lack of entries here. That and a hectic schedule which has taken us from Winnipeg to Saskatoon in short time.
Our favorite venue in the "Peg" had to be the Ragppicker's Art Emporium, which is a second-hand clothing store/book store/costume rental store/performance space.

The cast sets up at the the Ragpickers.

Despite the somewhat primitave technical facilities, the cast (and Jay especially) were drooling over the place. The space had a real "speakeasy" feel to it, and Kirsten, the owner made us feel completely at home.

On the way to Saskatchewan, we stopped off at Margaret Lawrence's childhood home in Neepawa, Manitoba, which has been lovingly restored. By the way none of the new movie was filmed in the town, and the angel they use is nothing like the real one.

Our next stop, Saskatoon, and the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company, was equally welcoming. In fact, the show at the Bannock Bistro there was our best attended yet.
Jay and I were looking for the Saskatoon Fringe office and stumbled across the studios of CJCR, Saskatoon's community radio station. More great people! The programming director Brian Cochrane, was nice enough to make room for us on his afternoon program, "Swing Shift". We had to rush back up to the University to grab Michelle and whip back down to the station before heading over to the theatre, which is in the city's West Side.

A one hundred year old moose head watched over us in the common area of the University of Saskatchewan. The campus was gorgeous!!

We left our digs at the University surprisingly early yesterday and spent the day on the road again headed for Edmonton.

On the road to Edmonton.

Day 5

2008-05-31T10:32:00.001-07:00

We had much of the day to acclimatize to Winnipeg and get our bearings.
We are very close to the Exchange district, which is similar to Yaletown, but with far more heritage buildings. Once called, the "Chicago of the North", many of the buildings were actually designed by Chicago architects. It is a popular place with film companies because it is easy to find locations that look like you've stepped back in time, no matter where you are.
The great thing is that many of them are being used by non-profits and artists because prices are still very reasonable. The picture below shows an example of a huge loft/warehouse space that rents for just $1200 a month and could easily hold a few hundred people. Amazing!

Jay and Michelle had a chance to get onto Winnipeg's CBC radio to do a quick blurb on the show.

Went into the theatre around 5:30pm. We've gotten very efficient at setting up and breaking down. Setting new records every night.
After the show some of us were anxious to see some of the Winnipeg nightlife. We'd heard of the Woodbine Hotel (which at one time was the longest bar in North America, but which has been cut in half). It has become a heavy drinking, black eye kind of place. We left after the woman behind the bar got into a knock-down drag-out fight with two other women.

Next stop was the Legion on Kent, where Zi dropped in on a bluegrass jam. Watch the video below.

The legion is over top of a long-defunct bar called the Cave, which really was a cave (more specifically, a tunnel under the street). It was famous for being a popular hangout of employees of the two newspapers the Winnipeg Free Press and the Winnipeg Tribune.

Article in Edmonton Vue

2008-05-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

We got a write up in Edmonton's Vue newspaper! Check it out here>>> http://www.vueweekly.com/article.php?id=8624

Day 4

2008-05-29T09:55:00.001-07:00

Another day of driving, this time from Regina to Winnipeg. More sweeping prairies. We had trouble with the stage flats in the wind leaving Regina and had to stop for about an hour to make the necessary adjustments.

Although it slowed us down, we did have a chance to take more pics of the local landscape, and even the local fauna:

This little prairie dog poked his head out for us. Did you know that these guys chirp like birds?

Zi took the opportunity to assail a tractor in a nearby field.
He had an interesting day: As we stopped to grab an ice cream, he struck up a conversation with another band of travelers. It turns out they were a members of a travelling sex show. who will pretty much do anything on stage if the price is right. They liked Zi and tried to recruit him. Oddly enough, they looked totally normal! It creeped us all out a little.

We hit Winnipeg early for a change and were able to see the place in daylight! The downtown hostel we are staying at was a far cry from the one at Canmore, or the university residences in Regina, and the above picture is far more flattering than the place really is. But it is close to both the theatre spaces.
It was nice to have a night off.

Interview with Maria Lakes

2008-05-29T09:43:00.001-07:00

Sorry, this video needs re-editing to meet YouTube requirements.

Day 3

2008-05-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

We had a relaxing day in Regina before the show. Everyone took the opportunity to get a bit of private time and prepare for the first show of the tour at the Globe Theatre.

The campus at the U of R was very quiet and peaceful. As a matter of fact, even Regina itself was quiet compared to the hustle and bustle of Vancouver. The quality of light gives everything the look of old Kodachrome shots from the sixties.

Zi's got a brand new bag!! He is a happy camper.

Our first show went off without a hitch. We played to an enthusiastic crowd at the Globe Theatre's Templeton Studio Cabaret. The cast and crew did a wonderful job of setting up and tearing down in record time.

For the cast, a big thrill was to have "To The Queen's" playwright, Larry Trask in attendance and to be able to spend time with him after the show. They grilled him about what he thought of their interpretation and about the evolution of the play itself.
Watch the video:

By the way, Larry will be joining us again when we return to Saskatchewan on June 2. A very interesting man.

Day 2

2008-05-27T08:26:00.000-07:00

Another full day of driving but far less eventful than Sunday. We left Canmore at about 9:30am, but didn't stop for breakfast until just after noon on the East side of Calgary. The weather in the morning was dull and foreboding, but by mid-afternoon and Medicine Hat, sun prevailed and the view was spectacular.

We had dinner in Swift Current, which is not much to look at when you enter, but turned out to be a quaint little town with a pleasant main street. Vancouver's Geoff Burner was playing at the Lyric Theatre. It's also the home of Saskatchewan's Premier, Brad Hall.

Swift Current, Saskatchewan
We rolled into Regina at about 11:30pm. We are on campus at the University of Regina. Great digs in an shared apartment with a communal kitchen dining area and then bedrooms and bathrooms off to either side.
The girls took one end and the boys bunked down in the other. Good times!

Day 1

2008-05-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

A long day from Vancouver to Canmore. We left later than planned (this is Theatre in the Raw, after all). Got to Burnaby and realized that the money belt was still at Jay's place.
Once back on the road again, we hit a major accident on the No. 1.

After an hour delay, we finally got to Hope by early afternoon.

Along the way we hit an avalanche and yet another accident at the Roger's Pass.

"I foresee delays..."

Dinner was at about 9pm at a fun little place called the Frontier Hotel, in Revelstoke. Some great views along the way, but by the time we hit the Rockies it was too dark to see anything.

Oh, yeah, we went through almost every weather condition known to man!
We were finally in Canmore at 3am Alberta time.

The Alpine Club hostel is beautiful and only $25 a night.

Morning came early with Serge waking the the whole place by singing Verdi in the shower. Up at 8am.

Interview with Michelle A. Richard

2008-05-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

News: PayPal Now Available For On-Line Purchases!

2008-05-17T01:10:00.000-07:00

The tickets (for both the shows and workshops) are now available live for purchase offthe website... there's a link off the home page tho' the actual page is...

http://www.theatreintheraw.ca/tickets.html

World Premiere - "You Are What You Eat" Preview

2008-05-15T14:13:00.000-07:00

This video features Roger Howie, Serge Saika and Maria Lakes.

It was directed by Jay Hamburger, written by Patrick Foley, shot and edited by Michael Louw and Heather Smythe. Produced by Theatre In the Raw in cooperation with Steven R. Duncan & Associates.

News: Richard Announced As Laureate In Francophone Competition

2008-05-12T01:16:00.001-07:00

Our own Michelle A. Richard was recently awarded laureate for this year's Pacific En Chanson, an event that brought 6 francophone singer/songwriters from the Yukon and BC chosen to compete in Vancouver.
Judges included teachers, artists, industry professionals and press from Capilano College, CBC Radio-Canada, and other groups.
Pacific En Chanson is part of a network of Canadian francophone cultural association events and has been sponsored by the for Centre Culturel et Artistique Francophone de Colombie Britannique (BC Centre for Francphone Arts and Culture).
She will also perform in this year's francophone festival, later in July.

Check out Michelle's new blog at www.michelleamusic.blogspot.com.

Important Vancouver Date Change

2008-05-01T23:00:00.000-07:00

The dates for our run at the PAL Lodge in Vancouver (581 Cardero St.) have changed slightly.

We will now be performing there May 21, 22, 23, 24.

May 21 will be a Pay-What-Y0u Can preview night, so come on down and bring as many friends as you can!
Help send us off in style!!

We apologize for any inconvenience.
For complete tour details, check out the schedule.

Handy Subscription Form Added

2008-04-23T01:20:00.000-07:00

We've just added a subscription form to the website (or you can enter your email below) to subscribe to this blog and get all the news about the Rolling Stock Prairie Tour as it happens, including interviews, pictures and more.

Check out the rest of the blog at http://rollingstockprairietheatre.blogspot.com

Michelle A. Richard

2008-04-20T14:53:00.001-07:00

Versatile vocalist Michelle Richard has been receiving acclaim for her engaging and captivating performances of jazz, French, original, dance music, and musical theatre:

“A warm, magnetic, soulful performer with a voice of liquid gold.”
Ken Klonsky, Assistant Director, “Condemned” Musical Play

“You looked great! You were so professional and natural with the audience. I loved your singing.”
Wendy Havens, Shaw & Fearless TV

“A great singer. We’re happy to have her as a special guest! Her soulful voice and warm stage presence will always light up a crowd!”
Rob Montgomery, Yale Pub

Michelle has a Diploma in Contemporary Voice, and draws heavily from her French-Canadian roots to enhance her music with captivating French songs. Strong influences include Billie Holiday, Edith Butler, Sarah Vaughan, and Edith Piaf.
She has performed for venues such as Shaw TV’s Fearless TV, CBC Radio-Canada, CBC TV, Co-op Radio and CJSF 90.1 FM, Maillardville Francophone Society, St. Andrew’s Wesley, the Yale Pub, Aberdeen Centre, Vancouver City Hall, and the Black History Month Market and Festival. In February of this year, she co-starred in a sold out musical theatre play called “Condemned”, to raise awareness about homelessness. She was emcee and vocalist for East Vancouver’s first Fearless Festival on July 1/07, where she also performed some of the most popular R&B tunes. Michelle has appeared in other venues such as.
Upcoming spring/summer highlights include her first album, which will feature some of her own compositions, jazz standards, and lovely traditional songs in French and English. She recently won the Pacific En Chanson, a French-Canadian musical showcase event featuring artists from the Yukon, Alberta and BC, with the winner representing Western Canada in Quebec. Michelle is thrilled for the opportunity to join Theatre In the Raw’s Rolling Stock Prairie Tour.

Check out Michelle's great new blog: www.michelleamusic.blogspot.com.

Maria Lakes

2008-04-20T14:52:00.001-07:00

After some early endeavors into drama classes, film-extraing and community theatre, it was the birth of her daughter that acted as the true catalyst and inspiration for Maria’s further pursuit of her dreams, including theatre. Since 2001 Maria has acted in two mainstage productions and close to 10 productions of one-acts (including a few repeats of You Are What You Eat) for Theatre In the Raw. While she likes the change and challenge of every new role, her previous favourite roles include the nun Sister Fidelia in Medicine and the dominatrix Mean Marlene in Room for Rent, a true grassroots production written, acted, and produced by the participants in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside’s Carnegie Community Centre’s Theatre Workshop under the direction of Jay Hamburger. Maria also has previously been seen juggling and fire (poi) spinning in a few East Vancouver festivals and she enjoys occasional singing, dancing, guitar and piano playing. In addition she has taught improv drama classes to children in East Vancouver.

Zi Paris

2008-04-20T14:44:00.001-07:00

zi enjoys organic gelato, ice cream, and chocolate chip cookies. also, he likes back rubs. occasionally, when he gets around to it, he acts in plays, and finds this quite interesting. he likes playing music, too, particularly when people don't throw things at him.

Serge Saika

2008-04-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Until recently moving to Vancouver, Serge worked as an actor, musician, producer, director, and designer in and around London, Ontario. Favourite past stage roles include Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Undershaft in Major Barbara, and the Major-General in The Pirates of Penzance. The Rolling Stock tour marks Serge's fourth production with Theatre In the Raw.

Roger Howie

2008-04-20T14:36:00.001-07:00

Roger Howie first worked with Theatre In The Raw as running crew, during their production of 'Waiting for Godot in the 'late 20th century'. He later acted for 'TITR' in 'Monique's Interview', 'The Glace Bay Miner's Museum', 'The Inspector General', and several one-act festival's including the Vancouver Fringe.
Roger was involved with the Vancouver Carnegie Centre Theatre Group for most of its 5/6 year exixtence where Jay Hamburger was instructor/moderator.

Roger speaking on Theatre In The Raw:
"I am inspired by their mandate to produce largely local, or at least Canadian, original, socially-oriented material, often with comparatively inexperienced talent, offering many writers their first production, many crew and 'techies' their first taste of working behind-the-scenes, or (as in my case) a 're-start gig'.
Some of those who began with Theatre In The Raw have entred academic theatre programs and professional work in both stage and film.
Artistic Director Jay Hamburger is an almost tireless tour-de-force, pushing for support of original ideas.
Thanks to this inspirator, I had a piece of my own produced on Vancouver Co-op Radio and on Stage, starring three first nations actors which I am very honored by."

Roger has been involved in some form of artistic endeavour most of his life; figure skating, dancing, writing, performance poetry, music, stand-up comedy and acting. In Vancouver he has performed with/in Vancouver Folk Festival, Richmond Children's Festival, Brave New Playrights, Punchline's, Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club, Citifest, Stage 43 Theatre Society, Midnight Run Productions, Dancing on the Edge, Theatre In The Raw.

A Hot Box

2008-04-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

by Jay Hamburger (Vancouver, BC)

A real live, genuine, arrested, tree-hugger is putting the final touches on an art exhibit in her gallery. However, her work is interrupted by some unexpected knocking at her door. She doesn't want to answer – after all, anything could be behind a knock – but the knocks keep knocking...

TO THE QUEEN

2008-04-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

by Larry Trask (Nipawin, SK)

Two elderly gentlemen meet in the park for their regular chess game – the last of the fall season. As they play, they are told to move on by a park worker and by the police. The demands of an out-door hockey rink conflict with the old gaffers' chess game. Who will prevail?

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

2008-04-19T19:56:00.000-07:00

by Patrick Foley (Vancouver, BC)

One man’s table in a local cafeteria is another man’s established territory.

Two bachelors – one young, one young at heart – compete for the attention of the pretty waitress and the right to sit at the table of their choice. Feathers are ruffled as these two Toms battle it out.

Photo by Peter Valentine

Watch the preview here >>>

Complete Tour Schedule

2008-04-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

All shows start at 8pm (except June 8 which is a 2pm matinée)
Tickets $17 or $14 Student/Senior
Buy tickets here:
http://www.theatreintheraw.ca/tickets.html

VANCOUVER – May 21 (Preview - Pay-What-You-Can!), 22, 23, 24 – PAL Theatre – 581 Cardero
REGINA – May 27 – Templeton Studio Cabaret (Globe Theatre) – 1801 Scarth St
WINNIPEG – May 29, 30 – Colin Jackson Studio (Prairie Theatre Exchange) – 393 Portage Ave
WINNIPEG - May 31 – Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium – 216 McDermot Ave
SASKATOON – June 2 – Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company – 228-20th St West
EDMONTON – June 4, 5, 6 – The Third Space (Northern Light Theatre) – 11516 103rd St
CALGARY – June 7, 8 – Motel (One Yellow Rabbit) – 225 8th Ave S. E. (Epcor Centre)

Buy tickets here:
http://www.theatreintheraw.ca/tickets.html

Play-writing Workshops

2008-04-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Our Artistic Director, Jay Hamburger, will be hosting play-writing workshops. He will be sharing his knowledge of, expertise on, and years of accumulated wisdom regarding successful theatrical writing techniques. Jay's experience includes decades of playwriting, acting, directing, and producing for the theatre both in Canada and the United States. Jay is also an expert instructor, and has taught nearly all aspects of theatre in both countries to children, adults and seniors. He has worked extensively with First Nations artists in BC, wrote some of the song lyrics for the blockbuster musical Godspell, and has had a number of his original scripts produced both in Vancouver, BC, and in New York City, NY. Jay has also written both poetry and newspaper articles for various small presses. The play-writing workshops will get right into the very nature of what makes for good, engaging drama, by drawing on real life experiences that bring forth conflict and motivation. Embark on an exciting, hands-on, and informative three hour journey that will prove inspirational for future play work. Jay has a knack for drawing forth – and getting down on paper – those scenes that live in the back of the mind of every shy and inexperienced writer. Please bring three pages of original dialogue to be read, discussed, and critiqued.

WINNIPEG – May 30, 31 – Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium – 216 McDermot Ave SASKATOON – June 2 – Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company – 228-20th St West EDMONTON – June 5, 6 – The Third Space (Northern Light Theatre) – 11516 103rd St
Cost $40
All workshops will run from 1PM to 4PM
For registration or further inquiry, please e-mail sergesavoy@gmail.com or phone (604) 708-5448

Join Our Facebook Group

2008-04-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

We're on Facebook. To see more details and confirm this group invitation, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=901870150&k=Z5LY22TRT2WM51EEUBX2W4

Everyone can join Facebook. To register, go to:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=901870150&k=Z5LY22TRT2WM51EEUBX2W4&r

Interview with Serge Saika and Jay Hamburger

2008-04-17T10:31:00.000-07:00