Posted by Wayves volunteer 15/07/2013
QUEER ACTS Line-up Full of Talented Emerging Artists
By Adam Reid, Queer Acts
Halifax, NS – Queer Acts, Halifax Pride’s LGBTQ theatre festival, returns this summer from Thursday, July 18th to Sunday, July 21st with five productions for diverse audiences. This years’ festival offers Country Song, an ode to country music by Lee-Anne Poole; Litmus Road, a conspiracy theory drama by Evan Brown; Jet Legs, a stand-up and sketch comedy variety show, and two pieces from young playwrights exploring female sexuality in heteronormative societies, titled Graceful Rebellions and Seventeen.
Gracing this year’s unmissable pink Queer Acts poster are the stars of Jet Legs, Krista Davis, Margot Durling, and Megan McDowell. This threesome are working on a new production that will blend stand-up, sketch, improvisation, and interviews. Known for a variety of comedic special events at The Company House, these talented women are guaranteed to bring the funny to their late night show and Queer Acts is proud to make such talented local artists the face of this year’s festival.
Queer Acts is also thrilled to announce the debut of the Queer Youth Creations Program. With the goal of fostering the production of new work and the development of LGBTQ artists, the Queer Youth Creations Program will present two shows by queer youth back-to-back, one based in Halifax and the other in Toronto. Last Fall, Queer Acts invited local youth playwright, Aisha Sommer Zaman, to write a new piece for the festival. Aisha was paired with Jennifer Overton, an actor, writer, director, and former acting teacher at Dalhousie University, who has been mentoring Aisha during the months long writing process.
Aisha’s show, Seventeen, will be presented as a double-bill with Graceful Rebellions from Toronto based artist Shaista Latif. Shaista developed Graceful Rebellions as part of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre’s Young Creators Unit. The Young Creators Unit annually pairs four young artists with directors/ mentors to assist in the development of new solo-pieces. Following their presentation in February at the Rhubarb Festival in Toronto, one show, Graceful Rebellions, was selected to take part in Queer Acts. Somewhat coincidentally, both Graceful Rebellions and Seventeen explore issues relating to female sexuality in heteronormative societies, and will offer wonderful counterpoints to each other as they are presented during our four day festival.
Litmus Road, By Evan Brown: In a perfect suburb, there is a perfect street. On the perfect street there is a perfect house, and in the perfect house are the most perfect newlyweds. Their world is unfettered from the uncomfortable questions about who works outside the home. Who washes the dishes? Mows the lawn? Wears the tie or the heel? Who fucks and who gets fucked? And now everything is going to change. Again. Cast: Hugo Dann, Ian Kenny,Kim Parkhill, Ashley Marie Pike, & GaRRy Williams. Thursday - Sunday, 7:30pm
Country Song: a queer ballad Written and performed by Lee-Anne Poole Award winning playwright and arts producer, Lee-Anne Poole writes a love letter to country music and the good ol’ boys that come with it. From sharing some of her own stabs at the genre to stories of her father, Lee-Anne conquers her fears and re-imagines who she could be. Thursday - Sunday, 9:00pm
Jet Legs By Krista Davis, Margot Durling, and Megan McDowell Three extrafab jetsetters are ready for takeoff, but they have an empty seat that’s got to be filled. The screening process may be rigorous, but they're determined to find the perfect fit for their peculiar flight team. Join the Cabin Crew for a hilarious late-night flight as they test the jet legs of a different guest each evening. Thursday - Saturday, 10:30pm
Queer Youth Creations The Queer Youth Creations program presents two shows back-to-back by emerging artists from Halifax and Toronto, both exploring the ways female sexuality and identity impact their characters’ lives. Seventeen By Aisha Sommer Zaman (Halifax) Seventeen is a fresh, funny piece about the confusing and awkward lives of three teenage girls. It challenges media, the influence we allow it to have on our lives, and the expectation for girls to be thin, sexy, and straight. Graceful Rebellions By Shaista Latif (Toronto) Graceful Rebellions is about the lives of three Afghan women who search for grace in times of despair. Each suffer for moments both divine and destructive, and all have much to lose. Love, death, and faith are challenged as each woman searches for a place to call home. Thursday - Sunday, 6:00pm
Queer Bodies as Source: Free Workshop with evalyn parry This workshop by Toronto-based creator, performer, and director evalyn parry, is open to emerging and established artists; anyone looking to inject their practice with some new inspiration or kick-start a project. The workshop will explore ways to generate new material for the stage and how to bypass linear thinking in the formative phases of creation. This participatory workshop will explore connections between the body and text, and how to use movement as a source for narrative. Space is limited and participants are asked to email QueerActs@gmail.com to register. Saturday, 10:00am - 1:00pm
The festival runs from Thursday, July 18th to Sunday, July 21st, with performances every evening. Tickets are now on sale via halifaxpride.eventbrite.com, with links from the QUEER ACTS Facebook page and HalifaxPride.com. Tickets will also be available at the door, depending on availability.
$12 Regular, $10 Student, Seniors, Underwaged Festival Pass - $35 Regular HalifaxPride.com for tickets and info.
