Through The Tulips is in full bloom
Branch Out Theatre presenting at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival
From July 6 to July 17 at Factory Studio Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street
Branch Out Theatre will share Through The Tulips, a play about self-discovery and inter-generational friendship. Written and directed by
Naomi Tessler and starring David Simor and Shel Goldstein with Lauren MacKinlay, Mandy E. MacLean and Mike
Vitorovich, the Toronto Fringe festival will mark the first full production of the play.
Initially written in 2008 for a playwriting course at New York University, Through The Tulips received an Honourable
Mention from the 2008 New Works of Merit Playwrighting Contest.
The story focuses on Noam and Celia, who meet serendipitously in a tulip garden in Toronto. Though Noam thinks his supernatural abilities are made possible through the tulips, Celia’s grandmotherly encouragement and Yiddish witticisms guide Noam to understand the full extent of his gifts.
Through The Tulips has granted cast members a unique opportunity to learn some Yiddish and experience the joys of having a ‘bubby’-a Jewish Grandmother.
The cast has been hand selected based on their extensive acting experience and exceptional talent. Shel Goldstein has played principal roles in the films Adoration and Enemies, A Love Story and her television credits include Queer As Folk, The Newsroom and Common Ground. Goldstein has also appeared on stage as Mother Courage in Mother Courage & Electra in Clytemnestra.
David Simor’s stage credits include Hortensio in The Taming of the Shrew with Humber River Shakespeare Company, Mr. Hopper in Lady Windemere’s Fan with Alumnae Theatre and film credits include principal roles in Wilfurd and Night Out.
Through The Tulips will warm your heart and intrigue your spirit. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch this hilarious and touching new masterpiece by Naomi Tessler. Advanced tickets are available at www.fringetoronto.com or just $10 at the door (cash only).
Naomi Tessler, M.A. is the founder and artistic director of Branch Out Theatre. A graduate of the Masters of Arts program in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from New York University, Naomi has been working with communities globally for 8 years, using theatre to inspire positive change. She currently works in Toronto, facilitating empowering workshops through Branch Out Theatre Workshops, writing, directing and performing. Through The Tulips marks Branch Out Theatre’s first production and Naomi’s first full production of her written work in Toronto.
Written & Directed by: Naomi Tessler
Starring: David Simor and Shel Goldstein with Lauren MacKinlay,
Mandy E. MacLean and Mike Vitorovich
Lighting Design and Stage Managed by: Victoria Wang
Performances:
Wednesday, July 6, 2011-7:00pm
Saturday, July 9, 2011-2:00pm
Sunday, July 10, 2011-11:00pm
Wednesday, July 13, 2011-9:45pm
Friday, July 15, 2011-12:15pm
Saturday, July 16, 2011-8:45pm
Sunday, July 17, 2011-1:00pm
Keeping
Toronto
Safe
from
its
Own
Citizens
Since
2010
Join
host
Stéphan
Harpère
on
a
journey
through
the
G20
the
way
it
should
have
been
seen
and
in
a
way
that
Youtube
never
could
show.
Based
on
lived
experiences
from
inside
the
Eastern
Ave.
detention
centre,
The
Cage
follows
a
group
of
women
as
they
struggle
to
come
to
terms
with
themselves,
each
other
and
WTF
in
general.
Presented
with
the
proud
support
of
several
nameless
corporations!
Meet
the
cops!
Meet
the
detainees!
Meet
your
Freedom’s
Match!
The
Cage
is
a
new
work
developed
by
the
Voices
On
The
Wind
ensemble.
Building
on
a
script
by
Dr
Valarie
Zawilski
,
professor
of
Sociology,
who
was
detained
at
the
G20
protests,
the
performance
utilizes
a
satirical
cabaret
structure
while
simultaneously
allowing
the
narrative
‘”inside
the
cage”
to
unfold.
The
creative
ensemble
is
lead
by
Janina
Kowalski
(Double
or
Nothing,
Monkeyman
Productions)
and
Jiv
Parasram
(Ali
&
Ali:
The
Deportation
Hearings,
NeWorld/Cahoots/Factory
Theatre).
The
two
began
collaborating
on
Pandemic
Theatre’s
“My
Gaza
‘Tis
of
Thee”
praised
by
award
winning
playwright
and
former
Artistic
Director
of
Cahoots
Theatre
Guillermo
Verdecchia
as
“…one
of
the
most
theatrically
adventurous
pieces
I
have
seen
in
a
long
time
in
Toronto.”
The
Cage
will
take
the
stage
barely
a
year
after
the
G20
descended
upon
Toronto,
and
days
after
the
announcement
will
be
made
about
which
of
the
class
action
suits
will
go
forward.
Revel
in
post-‐Canada
Day
bliss
and
come
see
a
show
which
is
the
most
accurate
retelling
of
the
insanity
that
was
the
summer
of
2010.
Add
to
listings
immediately:
Voices on the Wind
in
association
with
The
Toronto
Fringe
Festival
presents
The Cage
written
by
Dr.
Valarie
Zawilski
&
The
Ensemble
directed
by
Janina
Kowalski
&
Jiv
Parasram
featuring
Janina
Kowalski,
En
Lai
Mah,
Emily
Derr,
Graham
Isador,
Joy
Lee,
Maarika
Pinkney,
Madmaro,
Will
MacGregor,
Jiv
Parasram
Stage
Management
by
Mona
Elayyan
lighting
design
by
Lizz
Armstrong
Opens
July
7th
2011
runs
to
July
17th
2011
George
Ignatieff
Theatre
15
Devonshire
Place
Toronto,
ON
Performances:
July
7,
6:30
pm
July
8,
10:30
pm
July
11,
4:30
pm
July
13,
400
pm
July
14,
11:30pm
July
15,
7:00
pm
July
17,
1:45
pm
Media
members
please
note
that
there
is
absolutely
no
latecomer
seating.
Ticket
Prices:
$10,
$11
in
advance
Tickets:
Can
be
purchased
on-‐line
at
http://fringetix.ca/
or
at
the
box
office
1
h
before
the
show.
Fantastic work with Through the Tulips. I thought it was an excellent performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. I always commend a show that focuses on death and is able to leave the audience with a feeling of happiness rather than sadness. A truly wonderful production.
Can someone please put me in touch with the writers and producers of this play? Thanks, Marty
Hi Marty, I have no contact info, we’re just a publication that reports on theatre. Perhaps you cld try contacting the Toronto Fringe Festival.