Web Projects

January 20th, 2012 at 4:03 am EST - permalink

Just a quick heads up here, since it's been a little while. I've been keeping busy the past little while, working on several writing projects and whatnot, but I've also got a few things that you, yes YOU, can check out right now.

The first one is my new webcomic, Bored At Work Comics, which I'm currently posting on tumblr. The setup is not ideal, but it's really easy to load out, so check it out.

I've also been posting the remaining Horrible Friends Podcasts, also on tumblr. They're pretty weird, but good fun if you can deal with the generally shitty audio quality. My next podcast project will avoid this, I swear!

Finally, I've started working on an e-novel, which I'm posting at my seldom updated writing blog, And Then He Tried To Write. The first chapter of David and Delilah, "Meetings", should be up now. Enjoy!

 

Going Ape

December 21st, 2011 at 3:40 am EST - permalink

Normally this space is used for theatre and film gigs, but I have been active as a writer over the past years beyond the various plays that I've talked about here. I'm part of a writer's group (albeit at a distance since moving to Vancouver) called The Sparkling Warewolves, I've got a couple of manuscripts in various stages of completion and there are a couple of articles I've been working on that will hopefully see the light of day on a couple of my favorite websites, Hardcore Gaming 101 and Cracked.com.

I've been working as a freelance writer on and off for years now, so it is with great delight that I can report having worked recently for a great young tech company here in Vancouver, A Thinking Ape. The guys at ATA are responsible for some very popular and successful iPhone apps, including Kingdoms at War, Future Combat, Gangs at War and Party in my Dorm. I just finished a freelance contract doing a whole bunch of writing for Party in my Dorm, and I think it will really kick the game up a notch and help things kick into the next level. This won't be my last work with ATA (if I have anything to say about it!) so watch this space for more. There is some exciting stuff coming down the line, and I'm working hard to be a part of it!

I'm also excited to be a part of the upcoming winter session of Instant Theater's conservatory program. This is a three month improv performance workshop that I'm incredible excited to be participating in. Alistair Cook, who runs the Instant Theatre, is a fantastic teacher (I checked out one of his classes back in November) and I'm a big fan of the work he does there. Since it's been a while since I got to throw down with The Horrible Friends, it will be very nice to keep my chops up and work with the improv scene on this side of the country.

Finally, on a much sadder note, I'd like to take this time to note the passing of Ken Peter, the executive producer of Winnipeg musical theatre mainstay Rainbow Stage. Ken has been a huge pary of Rainbow, and the Winnipeg theatre community at large for decades and his loss is something that wiill be felt all over the artistic community. I had the oppertunity to know Ken through my years of auditioning for Rainbow, the two shows (The King and I and Miss Saigon) that I performed with them and through the comraderie of the Winnipeg theatre community. He will be missed, and we are poorer for the lack of him. Rest in peace.

 

Changes & Updates, Coast Edition

November 9th, 2011 at 7:19 pm EST - permalink

So it's been a while since the last update, but not for lack of activity. A few things to make note of, then back to work for me!

First of all, after much deliberation, I'm finally retiring Stupid Gumball Dispenser Productions. SGD has been my production company name since 2005 and has served me well over the past six years, taking my productions to New York, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Victoria, Ottawa, Saskatoon and Vancouver. Over the years the name has built up a bit of a following and my Fringe friends recognize it as my company. However, the name, while memorable, has been problematic for a while and sadly is not befit for grand applications and the like, so with regrets, the name has been retired.

In it's place, I'm proud to introduce Seismic Shift Productions, which will be my new production company name- With luck, Seismic Shift will be bringing Winnipeg my latest show next summer and re-mounting The Suckerpunch for the Calgary and Edmonton Fringe festivals. So, out with the old, in with the new and here's to a bright future!

I've also been very busy getting into the acting scene in Vancouver- I just recently finished shooting a student film Confinement and have just been cast in Restaurant, both parth of the Emily Carr Film Program. It's been busy!

 

Fringe Postmortem

October 3rd, 2011 at 4:33 pm EDT - permalink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a few weeks now, but the Vancouver Fringe has come and gone and with it comes the end of the 2011 Fringe Tour. The reason I've been behind in mentioning this is that I have been very busy, finishing my re-location from Winnipeg to Vancouver. I'm finally set up now, in my new home, with all my gear unpacked and organized and now I have a little bit of time to reflect on the end of the tour.

First of all, Vancouver was a great time: I managed to sell out several shows and continued to get great reviews: Kathleen Oliver from The Georgia Straight said “Hirose gives his characters richly detailed material... delivers it all with charm and virtuosity”. All in all, it was a great festival, especially for my first shot at a brand new city and I'm excited to do it again.

And so ends my tour- I just finished filing away all my paperwork so everything is pretty fresh in my mind. June 16th-September 18th- That's 92 days on tour, five cities, 52 shows performed in (including The Suckerpunch, Can't Get Started, The Horrible Friends World Tour and one off performances in The Canuck Cabaret, Spin the Rascal, The Ottawa Cabaret, Spoof Night and Mr Kinski's Cabaret Of Bullshit) and a whopping 125 shows seen- And that doesn't include shows I saw multiple times like The Birdmann, The Animal Show, The Progressive Polygamists, Things That Never Happen and more... although it does include the THREE seperate productions of Noah Casey's Playing for Advantage. I saw/was in an average of two shows per day and that includes the days spent traveling, a two week break between Ottawa and Winnipeg and another two weeks in Europe: That's a whole lot of theatre!

I didn't print programs for most of my tour, so many people have gone without proper, formal thanks, so I'll take this opportunity to do so. The Suckerpunch was my most successful creation to date and I owe that to many, many people: These are some of them.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the creation process of this show- Arne, Ray, Heather and Charlene, who were around and a great influence in the early days, writing while on tour this winter. My usual crew of writing and theatre helpers: Cory Wreggitt in particular for his constant good advice and for being a strong wall to bounce ideas off of. But also Erinn, matt, Mel, Dora, Derek, Firby, Seb and all the rest I'm forgetting. 

Theatre by the River for helping foster my growth as an artist and providing a playground for my work. The Manitoba Association of Playwrights for being a great source of inspiration and for all the help on the previous shows upon which this play was built. Also, a huge thanks to the teaching staff and participants in the 2011 National Voice Intensive who helped break me down and build me back up, in the process drastically changing and improving my process in creating and performing the play. Robyn Thomas gets extra kudos for very valuable feedback and encouragement when I didn't think the play was going to ever get off the ground.

To my billets and family, who have given me incredible support and a place to lie my head at the end of the day: This couldn't happen without you, nor would I want to do it. Mom, Dad,  Uncle Zero, Mel & Matt, Dennis, Tyler, Ruth & Matt, Robin & Diane: You gave me a base of operations from which I could concentrate on making my show the best it could be. My techs were also instrumental in making my show as good as it was, so many thanks to Vincent, Andrew, Guifre, Steve & Graeme: I walked in with a script and some CDs and you made my show work. (Also Libid and Arlo! Karen! My many house managers and volunteers whose names have been lost to time & beer! You guys rule too!)

And lastly, my touring friends & fellow performers. Holy crap, you guys were and are a constant source of inspiration and I love you all. Mikaela, Nancy, Katie, Rob, Sharon, Paul, Jay, Ryan, Peter, Chris, Andrew S, Blue, Jayson, Amy J, Amy W, Anne, Rose, Ben, Bremner, Hope, Jodi, Mike, Dave, Emmelia, Pippa Nathan, Charlie, Jen J,   Darren, John, Jem, Rob, Cameryn, Andrew W, Andrew B, Jer, Chelsea, Ingrid, Shane, Trent, Alyssa, Jen, Barry, Sam, Tom, - I'm randomly naming people off the top of my head, and I'm missing tons: You are all awesome and made this fun in the good times and the bad. Crap, I'm going to miss you all tons until we meet again. Let's make it soon, okay!

 

The Vancouver Fringe

September 8th, 2011 at 5:45 am EDT - permalink

THE SUCKERPUNCH IS COMING TO VANCOUVER - 

★★★★★ (Uptown Magazine, Planet S) 
★★★★ (Winnipeg Free Press, Saskatoon Star Pheonix)
Vancouver Fringe Media Release
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Media Image 2

 

And so here we are, the final festival of the 2011 Fringe tour, the Vancouver Fringe!

Victoria was a fantastic time, as expected, and much fun was had by all. On top of that, The Suckerpunch continued to get great reviews:

Monday Magazine raved: "One word for The Suckerpunch: Wow." and recommended that "Do yourself a favor and go see this show"

Culture Vulture Victoria reviewed every show in the festival! Of The Suckerpunch, they said "Funny, touching and sharp, The Suckerpunch will catch you off guard."

Blogger BloodyUnderrated gave the show a rave review as well and included it in his top five shows of the festival. High praise indeed!

The show opens September 8th, 8:30pm!

 
 

 

 
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