Halfway through a degree in Creative Advertising, Jason’s passion for theatre and the arts has been a source of inspiration for his creative process. As an enthusiast for musical theatre, Jason is thrilled to expand his horizons as a contributor for BroadwayWorld Toronto. Grateful for the opportunity, he cannot wait to further immerse himself in the remarkable theatre scene in Toronto!
Find Jason on Twitter at @jaarlos
The world premiere of Bobby Theodore's translation of THE JUST by Albert Camus is now playing at Soulpepper. Directed by Frank Cox-O'Connell, this new adaptation of the 1949 French play set in Russia, follows the paths of five socialist revolutionaries plotting terror attacks against the Grand Duke of Russia in the early 1900s. The ensemble cast led by Raquel Duffy (Dora) and Peter Fernandes (Voinov) also features Katherine Gauthier, Diego Matamoros, Gregory Prest and Brendan Wall.
Bobby Theodore's translation of the emotionally-driven Francois Archambault play, YOU WILL REMEMBER ME is now playing the Tarragon Theatre, in co-production with Studio 180 Theatre. Directed by Joel Greenberg, the stage drama follows the journey of a family dealing with the effects of dementia. Edouard, played by R.H. Thomson is a university professor whose ongoing struggle with the illness has a lasting impact on his family. Nancy Palk, Kimwun Perehinec, Mark McGrinder and Michela Cannon complete the ensemble cast of this moving
The next piece in Factory Theatre's Naked Season is Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef's acclaimed play, A LINE IN THE SAND. Nigel Shawn Williams directs this stripped down and intimate production about a tense and unconventional relationship between a Canadian soldier and a young Palestinian teenager during the Iraq War. Morgan David Jones stars as Canadian solider Mercer and newcomer Danny Ghantous as the young Sadiq. Dora Award-winner John Cleland rounds out the cast as the intimidating Colonel.
An unexpected knee injury had turned what was supposed to be TOROBAKA, a dynamic celebration of traditional kathak and flamenco dance performed by world-renowned dancers Israel Galvan and Akram Khan, into a different show. Due to Galvan's regrettable withdrawal from the production due to his injury, TOROBAKA was reimagined as TORO, a solo performance exclusive to Toronto audiences. This unexpected turn of events still astounds as Akram Khan commands the stage in this intense, bold and exhilarating marathon of dance.
The next piece in Factory Theatre's Naked Season is an emotionally-driven and stunning production of SALT-WATER MOON by David French. Directed by Ravi Jain, the production features a diverse cast of Kawa Ada and Mayko Nguyen as post-war lovers in the villages of Newfoundland. Ania Soul serves as the narrator of the story stitched together with live music from the talented Toronto singer-songwriter. This delicate Canadian classic is re-imagined for new audiences and brings forward the best showing of Factory's naked vision yet.
ONE NIGHT ONLY: THE GREATEST MUSICAL NEVER WRITTEN is a unique night at a theatre; a fully improvised two-act musical featuring an all-star cast and a five-piece orchestra. As the name suggests, every night the musical is different based on audience interaction that drives the story. Every performance features a different (hilarious) plot, characters, songs and choreography. It's the perfect marriage between musical theatre and improv comedy.
CHELSEA HOTEL: THE SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN is a celebration of the powerful and iconic anthems from Canadian music legend, Leonard Cohen. The production premiered in 2012 at Vancouver's Firehall Arts Centre and has since made stops across the country to critical acclaim. The Theatre 20 production is now being mounted with Theatre Passe Muraille to Toronto audiences.
The Edinburgh Festival hit and critically acclaimed BIGMOUTH has finally landed in Canada with its Canadian premiere at the Panasonic Theatre. Belgian actor Valentijn Dhaenens seamlessly weaves together iconic speeches from the past 2,500 years. BIGMOUTH illustrates the profound power of rhetoric and communication; how powerful speeches can influence history. From Pericles to George W. Bush, Dhaenens takes the audience on a powerful journey through time only using one thing - his mouth.
Theresa Rebeck's ambitious comedy, SEMINAR tells the story of four young writers who learn that sometimes the truth hurts after they hire Leonard, a famous novelist to mentor them for a 10-week master class. Rebeck is best known as the creator of the beloved television series Smash, and previous theatre works that include Dead Accounts and Mauritius.
The second piece of Factory Theatre's Naked Season is Leon Aureus' BANANA BOYS, directed by Factory's artistic director Nina Lee Aquino. The ambitiously funny adaptation of the Terry Woo novel follows the lives of five Asian Canadians as they try to fit into the subculture of Canadian multiculturalism. This refreshing production is snappy, witty and treats audiences to a range of emotions.
If you're unfamiliar with The Coal Mine, venture off to Toronto's east-end for the best of indie theatre. Though their permanent space is currently under renovation, the new independent theatre company, entering their second season, shines in their temporary space in the heart of the Danforth. Described as an Off-Off-Broadway experience, The Coal Mine plays to 80 seats a night - this intimate, high-quality and raw theatrical experience is unlike any other.
The Coal Mine Theatre's kicks off its second season with the Canadian premiere of Jez Butterworth's THE RIVER, directed by Ted Dykstra. The production stars David Ferry as The Man, Jane Spidell as The Woman, and Dani Kind as The Other. Before performances begin on November 1, we spoke with star David Ferry.
Nina Lee Aquino, Artistic Director of the Factory Theatre describes their 2015/2016 Naked Season as 'pure theatrical encounters between the audience, the actor, the text, and the empty space that we all temporarily share'. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be reimagined, stripped down retelling of gritty Canadian plays, turned out to be a lacklustre and dull night at the theatre.
Another piece in Soulpepper's fall season is the sophomore production from Dora-Award winning playwright Pamela Mala Sinha.
The latest revival of THE PLAY'S THE THING is another take at the Soulpepper favourite. Based on P.G. Wodehouse's adaptation of the 1926 classic, The Play at the Castle, and directed by Laszlo Marton who also took a stab at this production in both 1999 and 2003, you are sure in for a treat.
CLICK BAIT & SWITCH, the latest mainstage revue at The Second City is a downright hilarious take of the ridiculousness of the current digital age we live in. Set against a backdrop of typical Internet click bait headlines, the cast of top-notch comedians perform sketch performances that are sure to choke up a laugh. The quirky memes and absurd content that fill the Internet are just a launching pad for this hilarious night of comedy.
Adapted from a scene of Euripides' Medea, the Tapestry Opera's latest production of M'DEA UNDONE brings the myth and tragedy of this classic story to modern times. The opera takes place in the twenty-first century as Jason, a former army captain, begins a new political career and begins to distance himself from his wife M'dea and son Chase. A complicated and powerful piece, themes of love, revenge, and jealousy are explored. Librettist Marjorie Chan and Composer John Harris compliment each other perfectly in this stunning new work.
Theatre Smash and fu-GEN Theatre Company present the world premiere of Julia Cho's DURANGO - a complex and character-driven piece that tells the story of a Korean-American family who's lives change after a family road trip to Durango, Colarado.
What do you get you put two clowns in an office with a water cooler and a bag of Cheetos? Absolute. Perfection. Morro and Jasp's latest production, 9-5 created and performed by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee in their signature roles is a 'high-quality', laugh out loud night at the Factory Theatre.
Soulpepper's latest production of BEDROOM FARCE by Alan Ayckbourn is a laugh out loud performance. Centered around dysfunctional couple Trevor and Susannah, played by Ron Pederson and Amy Matysio, the comedy weaves together the hilarious night of four very different marriages - with all the chaos happening in the bedroom. Problems of intimacy, a ruined dinner party and the question of whether to eat sardines on toast in bed all add up to create a ridiculously funny jumble of commotion.
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