<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">The Graduate Centre for Study of Drama, University of Toronto, is hosting Halifax's Zuppa Theatre Company as its Artists-in-Residence this semester, and we're excited to be offering they're latest production to Toronto and area audiences. Having just concluded a successful run at Halifax's Neptune Theatre (which commissioned the project), the company opens _Poor Boy_ at the Drama Centre's Glen Morris Studio Theatre this Thursday, March 19, for a 4 show run. We hope that any of you within commuting distance will take advantage of this chance to see one of the East Coast's theatrical wonders. <div><br></div><div>The production press release follows.<br><div><br></div><div>Bruce</div><div><br></div><div>***</div><div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Zuppa Theatre
Company’s<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"><i>Poor Boy<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">“A glorious
crash of pop style and melancholy beauty unfurling beneath a vinyl sky, <i>Poor
</i></span><span lang="EN-CA"><i><br>
</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"><i>Boy</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"> is a new benchmark for Zuppa, but
every show is—ten years in, this peerless company <br>
is as innovative, as inspirational and as breathtaking as when it began.”<br>
-Tara Thorne, <i>CBC Radio<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">"[a]
highly atmospheric and theatrical production<br>
full of brilliant and startling visual imagery ... and rich, melancholic
music."<br>
-Elissa Barnard, <i>The Chronicle Herald</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">The Graduate
Centre for Study of Drama is pleased to present Zuppa Theatre Company’s <i>Poor
Boy</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">, playing at the Studio
Theatre from March 19<sup>th</sup> to 22<sup>nd</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Pop sensation
Sherman Oakes has lost his lover, experimental art rock diva Ella Savant.
Wallowing in despair, he sets off on a pilgrimage to the hotel in which she
died with the music of an uncompleted album rattling in his head. He is pursued
by a persistent manager, determined to see his superstar return to the top of the
charts. Sherman nosedives into self-delusion and self-destruction but, in his
comically absurd and desperately tragic plummet, the people he meets and the
people who follow him won't let him forget the life is trying to escape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Hailed by <i>The
Coast</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"> as “Halifax’s
most inventive theatre company,” Zuppa Theatre is back with a free adaptation
of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. <i>Poor Boy </i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">takes Zuppa’s signature experiments with music
and theatre to the next level to create what is best described as a “pop music
fantasia.” Developed collaboratively, in stages, over an 18-month period, the
play features Zuppa’s ground-breaking approach to performance and the talents
of its ensemble members, who act, sing, play instruments, and engage in
impressive physical stage work. This limited engagement at the Studio Theatre
comes on the heels of a successful run at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Boldly
original and always entertaining, <i>Poor Boy</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"> showcases the artistry of one of Canada’s most
innovative physical theatre companies. <i>Poor Boy</i></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica"> is directed by Alex McLean with original music
by Jason MacIsaac and David Christensen, dramaturgy by Bruce Barton, costume
design by Leesa Hamilton and lighting design by Louisa Adamson. The ensemble
cast features Claire Gallant, Susan Leblanc-Crawford, Stewart Legere, Kathryn
McCormack and Ben Stone.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">March 19<sup>th</sup>
to 22<sup>nd</sup> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Thu to Sat,
8pm, Sun at 2pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">Studio
Theatre<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family:Helvetica">4 Glen
Morris Street <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 align="left" style="text-align:left;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-weight: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Tickets: $20/$15 seniors/$10 students</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></h2>
<h2 align="left" style="text-align:left"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-weight: normal; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Box Office: 416-978-7986 or at the door</span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style=""><a href="http://www.graddrama.utoronto.ca/">http://www.graddrama.utoronto.ca/</a>
or <a href="http://www.zuppatheatre.com/">http://www.zuppatheatre.com</a> <br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<br style="mso-special-character:line-break">
<o:p></o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style=""><i>For
interview requests or any other information please contact:<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN-CA" style="">Michelle
MacArthur @ 416-978-7986 or reply to this email<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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