Happy World Theatre Day eve!
Tomorrow Today is World Theatre Day! Started in 1961, WTD is celebrated annually on March 27 Today each year by the international theatre community.
Here in Ottawa, A Company of Fools has been running the Ottawa Theatre Challenge on WTD since 2001. The challenge is simple: participating companies are given 48 hours to create an original work of theatre, in the hopes of bringing home the coveted RUBBER CHICKEN AWARD. And lest they think about cheating, these new works must be based on three mystery inspiration items revealed to the participants on March 25.
Speaking of the participants, the 2014 Ottawa Theatre Challenge companies are:
A Company of Fools
Black Sheep Theatre
Crush Improv
Dead Unicorn Ink
Grimprov
The Gladstone
OYP – OOPS
Parry Riposte Productions
Suzart Productions
Thunk Theatre
Traced Theatre
Vacant House Theatre
Vintage Stock
The National Arts Centre’s Andy Lunney will read the Canadian Theatre Address, written by New Brunswick playwright Mélanie Léger, and Company of Fools Artistic Director Scott Florence will be reading the International Address, written by South African playwright and director Brett Bailey.
Besides being a great time, the Ottawa Theatre Challenge is also a fundraiser, with this year’s proceeds going to the Actor’s Fund of Canada (a very worthy cause). The fun starts at 7:00 pm, and the event is being held at the National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage. I can’t think of a better way to spend World Theatre Day.
See you there!
