This weekend is the closing weekend of Elegies: A Song Cycle, and we will be so sad to see this one go. So, as one last tribute to the amazing William Finn, today’s throwback is brought to your courtesy of Sara-Jeanne Hosie, or one of the “lesbians-from-next-door” from last year’s Falsettos. Like Elegies, Falsettos elegantly straddled the comic and the heartfelt, and featured some killer performers singing some incredible music.
Sarah Gibbons, Sara-Jeanne Hosie in Falsettos (2013). Photography: Joanna Akyol
When I look at this photograph I am flooded with wonderful memories. The kind of memories that you hope to make in your theatre career. I see this photo of Dr. Charlotte and my wonderful love interest, Cordelia, and I am reminded firstly of what an inspiring, and safe rehearsal process we had. Robert, Reza, Tim, Mitchell and the whole Acting Up Stage Team welcomed their artists with open arms. It was a rehearsal process where we were invited to try anything, to fail, and to try something else… the BEST kind.
This photo brings back the first Skype call back I have ever experienced in my life… haha. Reza and Robert giving me direction through a computer monitor, so wonderfully bizarre and ultimately TOTALLY worth pushing my couch out of the way and hiring my friend Caitlin to play piano for:) This photo brings back the memory of playing a role that is only in the second act. This gifted me with being able to listen to act one, in awe, as my fellow cast mates threw their guts on the stage. This photo brings back the feeling that no singer ever takes a good photo when singing their heart out. Right? Yes. This photo brings back the unbelievable amount of crackers and food I consumed playing opposite a chef.
But mostly, this photo brings up the feeling that this piece, Falsettos, written by William Finn (who came to see it! side note-amazing), was and IS so important. Important to the people who have lost their loved ones to HIV. Important to the people brave enough to stand up and say who they are no matter what it costs them. Important to the children of gay parents in their journey of understanding and acceptance. And finally, important to those doctors who were there in the beginning, fighting to be heard by colleagues who didn’t care about the gay community. Those Doctors desperate to find answers and a cure for this mysterious disease. This is who I am in this picture, Dr.Charlotte, singing “Something Bad is Happening”. Truly honoured to have been given the chance to pay homage to those brave Doctors and to tell this story with such an amazing group of artists.
You know what happens tomorrow? We have our first preview for our reimagined revival of Elegies: A Song Cycle, our hit 2007 production by William Finn. And, in the spirit of good ol’ Bill, here’s Stephen Patterson on last year’s Falsettos - a show and cast that we miss dearly. Like Elegies, Falsettos was full of humour and pathos, wit and wisdom and extraordinary performances and direction. Most importantly, though, how could we ever forget Eric Morin’s short shorts?
The first emotion this picture brings up is total laughter!!! I remember the day I saw Eric in those TINY shorts and how we all enjoyed the 80’s look of them! Choreographing this scene was a bit tricky as we were set on making sure the “game” made sense. Tim French [our choreographer] was our racquetball guru! What also comes flooding back when I look at this, is how much I adored this show. Roberts vision was so beautiful and yet he was generous enough to help us discover our collective vision. To me this show will always be at the top of the list as one of the best theatre experiences I have ever had. From cast to crew, it was amazing. Thanks Acting Up Stage for taking risks and doing such important and professional work.
As we wind down our production of Falsettos, take a trip with us through William Finn’s Songbook every Friday.
As we bid a fond adieu to Falsettos this weekend, and start looking forward to our 10th Year Anniversary Season, we’d love for you to watch this very special American Theatre Wing special with guests William Finn, and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, composers of Once On This Island!
If you only have a couple a minutes to spare, here’s an edited version of the composers themselves performing “Your Daddy’s Son” and “(I’d Rather Be) Sailing”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlHq3WkO2yU
And if you’ve got an hour to spare, here’s the whole interview, including the formidable Adam Guettel (who wrote The Light in the Piazza)
Just a few days left of Falsettosand I have survived my first major foray juggling being a parent and a producer. It wasn’t easy though.
In the past, everyone in my life knew that production time was going to be intense. I have to work long hours and give up all of my evenings and weekends to be at the theatre. But this year, for the first time, there were two little people who didn’t necessarily understand that. More
When I look at this photograph I am flooded with wonderful memories. The kind of memories that you hope to make in your theatre career. I see this photo of Dr. Charlotte and my wonderful love interest, Cordelia, and I am reminded firstly of what an inspiring, and safe rehearsal process we had. Robert, Reza, Tim, Mitchell and the whole Acting Up Stage Team welcomed their artists with open arms. It was a rehearsal process where we were invited to try anything, to fail, and to try something else… the BEST kind.