Last week was one of the highlights of my tenure at Acting Up Stage. Not only did I get to see our co-production (with Factory Theatre) of Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata play to packed audiences in Calgary and Edmonton, but I also got to spend some time in three Canadian cities, meeting with their arts leaders and getting a sense of their artistic landscape. Here are some notes from the road: More

Amiel Gladstone, founder of Victoria’s Theatre SKAM and renowned playwright and director, is a true visionary in staging works which combine music, storytelling and movement. Naturally, he was the perfect fit to pioneer Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata, which will be touring to Edmonton and Alberta in the winter. In interviewing him, we discovered that Amiel has quite the encyclopedia of musical theatre knowledge under his belt, and this is what he had to share with us:

What musical’s score will you always remember?

I love the music in She Loves Me. It’s so catchy and romantic. It feels like pure musical theatre magic, you know? Delightful and so fun.
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Introducing Monica Dottor, a true triple threat herself! When not seen across Toronto stages, Monica is a spectacular choreographer with a real understanding of stage physicality and movement. Monica has been nominated for six (!) Dora awards, including one for her choreography on Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata which she will be working again when we launch our first national tour in the winter. Here’s what makes Monica’s musical theatre gears click.

What musical will you always remember for its choreography?

Definitely West Side Story. Jerome Robbins is one of my choreographic heros. His quirky sense of timing and musicality make him a master of choreographic ingenuity and originality and his choreography has stood the test of time in my opinion. I can watch it again and again and still be as awe inspired as the very first time I watched it.

You’re on a desert island and you can only bring on cast recording. What do you choose?

Jesus Christ Superstar. Because it makes me want to dance.

What musical will you always remember for its score?

Sweeney Todd. The intricate and clever composition of the score is pretty incredible.

What movie would you love to see musicalized?

That’s easy. Goodfellas. It’s my all time favourite movie. I’ve seen it a hundred times. Imagine it being a musical? Dream come true.

What musical will you always remember for its book/virtuosic acting?

Into the Woods. Again, it is so cleverly written. The way Sondheim blended all of the fairy tales and managed to create an intriguing story of his own was very impressive to me as a young girl and I still feel the same way.

What is your dream role that you’ll never get to play?

In a musical - Gypsy. In a play - Nina in The Seagull. Is it too late? I’m still hoping. 😉

You can catch Monica’s choreography in A Craigslist Cantata when it hits the road in January.

Eric Morin is a Toronto based actor and performer who’s long list of credits includes Altar Boyz, Ross Petty’s The Wizard of Oz and Canadian Stage’s recent A Misdummer Night’s Dream. Most excitingly, Eric will be be playing Whizzer in our upcoming production of Falsettos. In today’s Triple Threat we chat Island songs and probably the best guiltiest pleasure anyone has mentioned yet! More

Acting Up Stage and Factory Theatre are proud to partner with Jennifer Walls and her SINGular Sensation band in hosting an evening of Craigslist-inspired cabaret performances immediately following the performance of Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata on February 13, 2013 (at approximately 9:45 p.m.) Featuring songs and stories around the theme of Missed Connections, A Craigslist Cabaret will feature Toronto’s most exciting cabaret artists including:

• The winners of A Craigslist Cabaret Contest (see below)!
• Jay Davis (Angelwalk’s I Love You Because…)
• Sarah Gibbons (Acting Up Stage’s upcoming Falsettos)
• Alexis Gordon (Victoria Playhouse’s Godspell)
• Michael Hughes (Mickey & Judy)
• Ryan G Hinds (Cabaret Diva)
• Kelly Holiff (Acting Up Stage’s Tapestries)
• L.A. Lopes (breathe.feel.love’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
• Adrian Marchuk (Dancap’s Jersey Boys) More