Brent Hirose

Victoria Fringe Information

Tue, 24 Aug 10 02:35:05 -0400

Greetings to any of you who may have found their way here from the Victoria Fringe! I'm super happy not only to be coming to your festival for the first time, but also to be bringing two fantastic (and very different!) shows to your stages.

Unequal Harvest is an examination of the global food crisis through eight characters, showing how the issues surrounding our eating lifestyles extend around the world.

When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack is a dark comedy set during the aftermath of a gigantic lizard attack on a small city. The stories of the survivors paint the picture of their world and explore the extent to which they are ready for the Lizards inevitable return.

If you're looking for information about either production, there are links to the side, as well as media packages which are linked here:

Unequal Harvest

When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack

Aqua Books Heads Up

Tue, 24 Aug 10 02:08:29 -0400

You may have noticed that When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack has re-appeared as a current project, along with Unequal Harvest. Well, there are two reasons for that, the first of which being that both shows are heading to the Victoria Fringe Festival- A post about that is coming shortly. The second reason is that both shows will be coming to Winnipeg for separate one-night stands at Aqua Books.

Fringe goers will know Aqua Books as a new BYOV in recent years, the home of this year's production of T.J. Dawe's Tired Cliches performed by the always excellent Alex Eddington, among others. Followers of my work would also know it as the performance space for Habitat. And of course, Winnipeg of all stripes know the space as a fine used bookstore and home of the Eat! Bistro which is a fantastic little joint if I do say so myself.

So, for those of you too lazy to check out the individual links:

Unequal Harvest will be playing on September 29th at 7:30.

When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack will be playing on October 6th at 7:30.

I would also be remiss if I didn't point out that there are other shows in this series: Padre X (Aug 27th, 7pm), Above the Empress of China (Aug 31st, 7:30pm) and Theatre by the River's own One Good Marriage (Sept 22nd, 7:30pm) starring the wonderful Matthew Tenbruggencate and Mel Marginet. And I don't just say that because they are the ADs.

All of these shows are playing at Aqua Books (274 Garry St.). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through Aqua Books at 943-7555. Aqua Books is also on the web at www.aquabooks.ca

Demo Reel

Tue, 24 Aug 10 01:37:46 -0400

I've got a second, longer one in the works including a bunch of my voice over work, but here's my quick little demo reel. I'm pretty proud of it all things considered.

Fringe Ahoy!

Thu, 08 Jul 10 20:37:54 -0400

Ho there all you Fringe goers! Welcome the the site: If you're here now I'm assuming you've come to check out information on my latest Fringe play, When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack, opening soon at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival. If so, you're in luck!

WHEN THE KILLER MUTANT LIZARDS ATTACK

A new play by Brent Hirose

Eventually the inevitable happened- The Killer Mutant Lizards Attacked, destroyed the city and mysteriously disappeared. Now, follow the stories of the survivors, as they ask themselves: How? Why? And will they return?

When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack is the latest one man show from Brent Hirose and Stupid Gumball Dispenser productions, who have brought the previous Fringe hits Jesus Christ, I'm Sorry, Life in a Box, and Identity.com to the stage.

For a high-resolution media image, please click here. (Photo Credit: Adrienne Huard)

The press release for When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack can be found here.

For more information on this, or any of Brent's other projects, please check out the links on the right hand side of the page. Cheers!

The Fringe Approaches

Mon, 14 Jun 10 16:56:01 -0400

Well, time has played it's cruel trick of coming up faster than expected, and soon we will be in the midst of the Winnipeg Fringe Festival- I'll be participating in two shows: When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack, a new one man show that I've written, along with The Weirdest One in the World, a children's musical by Cory Wojick and Angus Kohm. I'll post more info soon, but first, more re-writes! Yikes.

Project: The Weirdest One In The World

Mon, 14 Jun 10 16:51:07 -0400

Do you ever feel that you’re the weirdest one? Martin sure does. That’s why he takes a trip to NORMAL - a village somewhere between here and there and not of this world. It turns out NORMAL is not exactly what it’s cracked up to be. A new original musical about being yourself, liking to be yourself, and being anything but normal.

Great for kids, awesome for families.

Book by Cory Wojcik
Music and Lyrics by Angus Kohm
Directed by Cory Wojcik
Choreography by Laura Kolisnyk
Stage Manager Jane Buttner

Starring

Andre Gomes
Jessica Gomes
Brent Hirose
Laura Kolisnyk
Davide Montebruno
Stefanie Wiens

Performed at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

“Local playwright Cory Wojcik has hit the nail on the head this year with his musical comedy that celebrates being different. A really solid, well-rehearsed cast, including Winnipeg favorite Stephanie Wiens as a loopy Queen Normal, have no problem pulling off this well-written, beautifully told tale of a boy and a princess who both think the grass is greener on the other side until one villainous Prime Minister Sinister, played by Davide Montebruno, shows them both what the other side actually looks like.

Hats off to Angus Kohm for writing a fresh and funny musical score that, during the opening performance, had a packed audience of kids and adults alike singing along to the catchy lyrics "it's only weird until somebody says it's art.

****"
-CBC.ca

Habitat One Week Down

Mon, 03 May 10 02:13:44 -0400

Well, here we are- Habitat has opened and we're all ready one week out of our two week run. Highlights so far have been all over the place: A sold out opening night, a fantastic first talk-back with RAY, a great four star review in the Winnipeg Free Press and a second sell out for our Saturday night performance.

For those of you who haven't made it out to the show and have the opportunity, please check out the show- We open again on Wednesday and go again to Saturday. Tickets available at 943-7555.

No Budget, No Problem!

Sat, 10 Apr 10 14:09:55 -0400

So, I put up my first post in months, only to immediately have something new to post about: Specifically, the latest episode of The No Budget Show which just so happens to be featuring myself as the guest star, playing myself/a gameshow host/a female version of myself/satan. Good times.

I was also featured in the Christmas Episode back in 2007, which I believe was filmed almost half a year after this episode was shot, which means this particular performance goes back to the summer of 2007, making this baby over three years old. Yikes. I think my hair looks better now.

Project: Unequal Harvest

Thu, 08 Apr 10 23:13:48 -0400

"Gripping and heartbreaking in equal measure, an urgent and compassionate call to understand the real lives and people behind the appalling statistic of a billion people going hungry."

-Raj Patel, author of 'Stuffed and Starved'.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 2008, three non-profit organizations; The Canadian Foodgrains Bank, the Manitoba Food Charter and Winnipeg Harvest, resolved to draw attention to the Global Food Crisis by commissioning Winnipeg playwright Geoff Hughes to write and direct an original work. “Unequal Harvest” debuted before an enthusiastic Winnipeg audience on World Food Day, October 16.

Unequal Harvest was work-shopped into a two-person show with dramaturge by Ellen Peterson and The Manitoba Association of Playwrights. Now in 2010 the show is appearing in the Ottawa, Winnipeg and Victoria Fringe Theatre Festivals hoping to encourage debate around the topic of how to deal with the ever-growing numbers of undernourished people.

Performed by Kami Desilets and Geoff Hughes in Ottawa and Winnipeg, Brent Hirose will be assuming Mr. Hughes’ part for the run of the show in the Victoria Fringe Festival.

Venue 3 – Wood Hall, VCM (907 Pandora)

$11 regular /$9 student & senior • Advance $13/11

Thu Aug 26, 7:30
Sat Aug 28, 10:00
Sun Aug 29, 3:30
Mon Aug 30, 8:00
Fri Sep 3, 11:30 pm
Sat Sep 4, 4:00

Fringe Link

Belated but not Forgotten

Thu, 08 Apr 10 23:02:16 -0400

Well, it has been quite a bit of time since the last update, which, as usual, can be attributed to a busy schedule filled with all sorts of random crap.

The Neighbors workshop went fantastically, and I'm proud to announce that we'll be doing a reading of the show (with an updated script and score) at the Carol Shields Festival of New Works this May. Watch this space for more updates- It's sure to be a great show!

I'm also pleased to announce that I will be participating in a show at this years Kids Fringe, The Weirdest One In The World with book by Cory Wojcik and music by Angus Kohm. That's all in the early stages, but I'm super pumped about the project and cast and as per usual I'll be posting more info as it comes available. Along with When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack, the Winnipeg Fringe will be tons of fun.

I'm also confirmed to perform at the Victoria Fringe this year, although not with my own show but rather as a replacement performer in Peacemeal Productions' show Unequal Harvest, a two hander by Geoff Hughes discussing the politics and inequality of the global food production system. I'll be joining my friend Kami Desilets, taking over for Hughes and while it sucks that he can't do that leg of their tour, I am pumped to be a part of this awesome project. Yay!

There is also a certain commercial I've been featured in that has been playing again over the past little while: You can check it out over here.

However, the biggest news of the moment is the fact that Theatre by the Rivers latest show is set to open at the end of this month:

HABITAT
by Judith Thompson
Opening April 29th!

For more details, check out the link in the projects bar. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming Projects!

Mon, 25 Jan 10 17:44:17 -0500

As promised, new projects have been added to the site, all of which I'm quite excited about. Theatre by the River is gearing up for its production of Judith Thompson's Habitat, which promises to be a fantastic show. Further down the line, my new one man show When the Killer Mutant Lizards Attack is set for the Winnipeg fringe, with possible shows in Saskatoon, Edmonton and Victoria depending on my luck with BYOVs and waiting lists. Fingers crossed!

However, the big news right now is the upcoming (This Wednesday!) workshop production of the brand new original musical Neighbours, being produced by White Rabbit Productions. This workshop has been going on all through the month of January and all the performers are delighted to be a part of it. Personally, I've really had a blast working with the cast and creative staff- White Rabbit producer Jeff Kohut, dramaturge Carson Nattrass and writers Criag Cassils and Robin Richardson.

The workshop is taking place this Wednesday, 7pm at the Park Theatre. Tickets are $10 and it promises to be a fantastic night of entertainment. Hope to see you there!

Project: When The Killer Mutant Lizards Attack

Tue, 19 Jan 10 22:20:12 -0500

Eventually the inevitable happened: the Killer Mutant Lizards attacked, decimated the city and mysteriously disappeared. The survivors resume their lives, but must ask: Why? How? And will they return?

A new one man dark comedy by Brent Hirose.

Originally performed at the 2010 Winnipeg Fringe Festival.

****1/2 stars – Filipino Journal

“Well-written and aptly acted… B+” Uptown Magazine

“Sharp and clever, and Hirose hits it just right” Winnipeg Free Press

“sharp writing, deep thinking, and first-rate acting” CBC.ca

Now set to play at the 2010 Victoria Fringe Festival

Venue 4 – St Andrew’s School Gym (1002 Pandora)

All Seats/Door $11 • Advance $13

Sat Aug 28, 5:00
Sun Aug 29, 10:00
Wed Sept 1, 9:30
Fri Sept 3, 6:00
Sun Sept 5, 7:15

Fringe Link

The show will also be re-mounted for a one-night performance in Winnipeg at Aqua Books (274 Garry Street) for the Best of Fest holdover series, October 6^th at 7:30.

Project: Habitat

Tue, 19 Jan 10 22:19:46 -0500

Habitat

by Judith Thompson, directed by Arne MacPherson

April 29 - May 8, 2010
Aqua Books - 274 Garry Street

Life is good for the residents of Mapleview Lanes ... until Lewis Chance buys a house on their street to open a group home for troubled adolescents.

Two worlds collide in Judith Thompson's disturbing look at our modern "not in my backyard" politics.

Uptown Magazine

A-

Theatre by the River offers up a thoughtful production of Judith Thompson's Habitat

In this beautifully written and thoughtfully crafted production, Canadian playwright Judith Thompson and local company Theatre by the River consider a basic yet important element of our lives: our home. Following the struggle to establish a youth group home in a rich Toronto neighbourhood, Habitat shines a light onto the lives, for better and worse, of those on both sides of the contentious issue.

Raine (Megan Herkert) is a teenage girl living in Toronto whose mother has died and whose father lives outside the city with a hated other woman. Raine has nowhere to go and much anger to contend with, and ends up one of the new home’s inhabitants. There, she becomes friends with Sparkle (Brent Hirose), a troubled 18-year old man-child who is seemingly incapable of telling the truth of his life, even to those he holds dear.

Lewis (Matt TenBruggencate) is the one person on the side of these lost souls, determined to make them a home in a beautiful neighbourhood. Largely driven by tragic events in his past, Lewis refuses to give up the fight for these children, who, as he says, we have all failed.

Margaret (Carolyn Gray) is an aging neighbour of the new group home, herself nursing the wounds of her own tragedyy. She bonds with Raine yet remains terrified of the group home and its inhabitants. Janet (Lisa Nelson), is Margaret’s daughter, a lawyer whose liberal values compel her to give lip service to the right for the group home to exist, but who ultimately leads the fight against it.

The lives of all of these characters are carefully woven together by Thompson, who draws from their most elemental feelings and relationships — the love of mothers and children, family, and their own sense of place and belonging — to create complex and fascinating people who are terribly fallible. But in their own faults and confusion, we discover their true humanity

In a wonderfully inventive stage — a triple-set tableau spanning the length of the room — Theatre by the River offers Thompson’s work a fitting home of its own: simple, yet surprisingly effective.

The cast is also up to task for this often harrowing work. Herkert is mesmerizing as Raine, embodying all of the anger, confusion and pain of a young girl who is ultimately transformed by the events of her life. The rest of the cast is equally strong and affecting as all of these souls are thrown together to bash out their own confusion. And although the play’s length threatens to drag it down occasionally, the actors never waver in their commitment to it.

Thompson has anchored Habitat in breath, our most basic human element. This comes as no surprise in a work which unlocks the key to our most basic human need. In Thompson’s hands, the journey home may not always be easy or comfortable, but it is essential.

- Barb Stewart

Winnipeg Free Press

4 STARS

Habitat skilfully unpacks family baggage

Habitat opens with the sound of a woman's laboured, raspy breathing

It's a death rattle. This mother in her 40s is about to expire from cancer.

Her 16-year-old daughter, Raine (Megan Herkert), just wants to get her hands on Mom's bank card so she can buy some jeans. "I don't even have anything to wear to your funeral," gripes the appallingly selfish teen.

The kid ditches her mom with "See you when I see you." The play asks, with compassion for every viewpoint, why it's so difficult for us to "see" -- that is, understand, value and accept.

The next time we meet Raine, she's been placed in a group home for troubled teens that's just opened on Maple View Lanes, an exclusive street populated by wealthy professionals.

Kudos to the small but discerning company Theatre by the River for mounting the first local production of this layered, thoughtful 2001 work by Toronto dramatist Judith Thompson (The Crackwalker, White Biting Dog).

The five-actor Habitat opened Thursday in the intimate upstairs space at Aqua Books. It's presented in blackout scenes effectively connected by moody cello interludes played by Natanielle Felicitas.

The fringe-like venue is far from ideal in terms of sightlines. But director Arne MacPherson makes skilful use of the long, shallow performing space so our imaginations fill in two homes and a park, as well as unseen characters.

Habitat is built around the battle between a social worker who is passionately determined to give neglected teens a family-like home, and intolerant, change-resistant neighbours who fear crime and lowered property values.

But on a more profound level, it's about family, especially the primal, complex relationships between mothers and children -- lifelong dances of adoration, criticism, contempt, disappointment, guilt, care-giving and misunderstanding.

Thompson, a mother of five, has penned dialogues and monologues that are stunningly honest about mother-child psychology.

Margaret (Carolyn Gray) is an elderly widow on the street. Her daughter Janet (Lisa Nelson) is raising her own kids a few doors away. There's all sorts of baggage here, with Margaret disapproving of Janet's feminism and law career, and Janet agreeing to lead a lawsuit against the group home to win her "mummy's" approval. Meanwhile, Margaret and the angry Raine form a surrogate mom-daughter bond.

In a powerful, taboo-smashing monologue that would probably only be written by a female playwright, Janet confesses that as her children became pre-teens, she began to dislike them.

Over at the group home, gay social worker Lewis (Matt TenBruggencate) makes phone calls to his own mom and reveals in a wrenching monologue the long-ago incident that compels him to nurture unwanted kids.

Sparkle (Brent Hirose), a morally hollow teen, is the sad example of the damage that results from a lack of a primary bond.

Thompson includes a few heavy-handed political speeches and overdoes her attempt to make Maple View Lanes a microcosm for human-rights issues, unwisely drawing analogies to Nazi Germany

But each character emerges as a rounded, flawed human being. The actors rise to the work's challenge. TenBruggencate is the standout, giving the social worker a chipper exterior and a haunted, aching, rage-filled interior.

Thompson's poetic images are rich and rewarding, particularly the use of breathing as a sustained metaphor.

As worried parents we check on our babies' breathing; as adult children we keep vigil as our mothers breathe into life's final passage.

The play circles back to place Raine at her mom's bedside once again. The journey is well worth taking.

- Alison Mayes

CBC Information Radio

I did get to see the show on the weekend, and highly recommend it. Top-notch performances from the five-person cast; taught direction from Arne MacPherson; and a script that dances between dark humour, heart-breaking tragedy, and probing social commentary. It's a very impressive production of a superb piece of theatre - as entertaining as it is provocative.

- Joff Schmidt

Project: Neighbours (Workshop)

Tue, 19 Jan 10 22:19:20 -0500

Neighbours is a story of fun. A story of community. A story of familiarity. And now it’s your turn to visit the neighbourhood!

See the staged reading of neighbours, the remarkable original musical by Manitobans Craig Cassils and Robin Richardson when White Rabbit Productions produces a workshop presentation of the show on January 27 at the Park Theatre.

Join boy-next-door Michael, his little sister Monica and the rest of their neighbourhood gang as they welcome and learn to accommodate Jill, the new girl in town.

There’s Michael’s best friend Jason – who is more interested in ants than playtime – and playground tormentor Ronald, always flanked by the always ambitious and game-loving Perry. Then there’s Queen Margie and her princesses Judith Ann and Helen Louise, who are determined to make the neighbourhood bow down to their rule.

But where does Jill fit in? Where do any of them fit in?

Take a glimpse into their neighbourhood and watch them learn about tolerance, friendship and family. Maybe even learn a thing or two about your own neighbourhood – all through the magic and wonder of a powerful, insightful script and catchy, fun original music!

Starring:
Wes Rambo - Michael
Stephanie Sy - Jill
Mallory Schellenberg - Monica
Nelson Bettencourt - Jason
Brent Hirose - Ronald
Connie Manfredi - Margie
Felicia Perron - Judith Ann
Robyn Pooley - Helen Louise
Sheldon Atts - Perry

Creative Team:
Craig Cassils - Composer, Co-Writer
Robin Richardson - Co-Writer
Carson Nattrass - Dramaturge, Co-Director
Jeffrey Kohut - Co-Director, Project Manager
Cary Denby - Band Leader, Pianist
James Reynolds - Drums
Rafael Reyes - Bass/guitars

________________________________________________________

This staged reading of neighbours, an original Canadian family musical by Craig Cassils and Robin Richardson, is the result of a two week workshop facilitated by acclaimed Actor/Director/Writer Carson Nattrass.

This step marks the latest in White Rabbit's 3 year journey towards producing the musical in full in September of 2010.

Projects Online

Mon, 14 Dec 09 19:12:17 -0500

I've been working on getting some more content up for the site, along with several writing projects, all of which have taken a considerable ammount of time. Sadly, it's going to take some more time still so until then this page will remain lamentably out of date. In the mean time however, I do have several links to work that I've done that is now availible on the internet for the enjoyment of all.

First things first, there is Space Knights, a pilot that I recorded a few minor character voices for. This week it is online at thedetour.ca, where Teletoon viewers can vote on their favorite shows out of ten pilots. If enough people vote, it will get made into a series, so check it out!

Then there is the latest (and last) episode of the first "season" of Radio Free Krakow- This episode takes place directly after the first episode, where I was featured off screen. Now, you get to actually see myself and my lovely opposite Laura Olafson. Check out Lifeforce TV for the episode!

Then we have an older one: My special guest appearance on the holiday show for The TV Fun Clubs No Budget Show. The next episode due out is my guest appearance, although it probably won't be finished for a while. In the meantime, you get this.

So there you have it. Check out those links and hopefully the next time you check out this site there will be plenty more to see!

Updates

Wed, 09 Dec 09 19:26:16 -0500

They're coming, and sooner rather than later. Thanks for patience!

Keeping Busy!

Wed, 23 Sep 09 01:08:26 -0400

Well, it has been a while now since I've posted here. I've had quite a few things keeping me busy since returning from Edmonton. Along with the whole getting-my-life-back-in-order thing, I've been lucky enough to have plenty of small gigs thrown my way. I did a reading of a fantastic play "Next Fall" for Manitoba Theatre Center, surrounded by many great local actors. daCapo have been kind enough to throw various voice acting gigs my way, and now I have a reading coming up for FemFest- The info is all posted over in the projects sidebar.

Quick aside: in case you're interested, my drunk driving commecial can still be found over yonder.

Project: 2009 Fem Fest: One Night Stand

Wed, 23 Sep 09 00:55:38 -0400

Sarasvàti Productions and FemFest present

ONE NIGHT STAND
Experience the future of local theatre

Instant gratification, immediate feedback. Selected readings from new works in progress by Manitoban playwrights. A chance to experience the future of local theatre.

Plays by:

Loretta Basiuk — Payoff
Muriel Hogue — Scar Tissue
Anita Lebeau — Coats
Anne Nesbitt — Grey Owl Pilgrim of the Wild
Talia Pura — Confessions of an Art School Model, too

Featuring: Dorothy Carroll, Donna Fletcher, Ti Hallas, Brent Hirose, Talia Pura and Martin Wilson

Tuesday, September 29 at 8:30 pm
Tickets $10

CANWEST CENTRE FOR THEATRE AND FILM

(AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG, 400 COLONY STREET)
www.sarasvati.ca
204.586.2236

Project: Life in a Box

Sun, 14 Jun 09 23:03:16 -0400

Geoffrey, a misanthropic office clerk, becomes obsessed with the story of Brian, a young boy raised in a sealed chamber, safe from the hostile world outside. Manic reporters, renegade cops and self-absorbed siblings collide as Geoffrey’s pursuit threatens to unravel his own life.

A brand new one-man show from Brent Hirose, directed by Matthew Tenbruggencate.

The show was originally performed at the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival and was very well recieved both critically and commercially. Media responses include:

“Hirose is a gifted and compelling actor” – CBC Manitoba
“an unconventional and exceptional drama… Hirose is a dynamic performer” – Uptown Magazine
"Four Stars!" - Hot103

The show then played at the 2009 Edmonton Fringe Festival and received more great reviews.

“a touching and funny play all about what happens when the stories we've created won't stay on the page. ****” – Vue Magazine

All in all, a fantastic run! Thanks to all who saw it!

Project: Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare

Sun, 14 Jun 09 22:38:32 -0400

Up the close and down the stair,
A but-and-ben with Burke and Hare.
Burke’s the butcher,
Hare’s the thief,
Knox the boy who buys the beef.

Robbing graves for medical science is backbreaking work. So why dig up corpses when you can create your own? A brand new musical by Joseph Aragon.

www.whiterabbitproductions.ca

This show played at the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, winning Best of Fest for the venue, the Canwest Center for Performing Arts. It also won Joseph Aragon his second Harry Rintoul award. The cast was as follows:

Derek Leenhouts	as	William HARE

Murray Farnell	as	William BURKE

Heather Jordan	as	MARGARET Hare

Felicia Perron	as	HELEN McDougal

Brent Hirose	as	THOMAS Warton Jones

Bob "perkins" Hopkins	as	Sir William RAE

Mitch Krohn	as	Dr. Robert KNOX

Simone Pamplin	as	MRS. LAWRIE

Kami Desilets	as	JANET Brown

Dorothy Carroll	as	MARY Paterson

Andrea Houssin	as	ABIGAIL Simpson

Joshua Bouchard	as	JAMIE Wilson

Sheldon Atts	as	William FERGUSSON

Bernie Pastorin	as	Chief Constable BLACKWOOD

Keri-Lee Smith &	as	CHORUS
Dexter Barcellano	as	CHORUS

Crew

Sharon Bajer	-	Director

Joseph Aragon	-	Writer and Composer

Simon Miron	-	Assistant Director

Julian Vanderput	-	Musical Director

Jeff Kohut	-	Project Manager

Ken Perchuk	-	Technical Director

Kathryn Ball	-	Stage Manager

Ray Padua	-	Production Assistants
Annette Kohut
Alana Penner

Julie Horbal	-	Media

Ryan Schultz	-	Digital Media

Project: Saint Joan

Mon, 18 Aug 08 00:34:29 -0400

SAINT JOAN

by Bernard Shaw

Directed by Debbie Patterson

June 18-20, 24-27
8PM
June 20 & 27
2PM

Theatre de la Chapelle
825 St. Joseph St
St. Boniface

Who was Joan of Arc?
Warrior or temptress?
Strategist or schizophrenic?
Hero or fanatic?

A political thriller exploring the relativity of truth and the temptation of idealism.

Tickets are $10

Seating is limited, reservations strongly suggested

Call 943-9573 or e-mail theatrebytheriver@gmail.com to secure your seat

By Donation performances: June 18th (opening night) & June 20 (matinée)

Project: Billy Bishop Goes To War

Fri, 01 Aug 08 18:46:07 -0400

Billy Bishop Goes to War

Written and Composed by John Gray with Eric Peterson
Directed by Rod Beifuss
Starring Brent Hirose and Patrick Keenan

Our young, Owen Sound boy must "fight! fight! fight!" for King and Country in the dog fights of World War One. Kill the enemy at all costs because that's what he's trying to do too! The madness of war meets the music of vaudeville in the crown jewel of Canadian theatre.

This show was performed from Oct 29th to November 14th at the Ellice Cafe and Theatre to great reviews in Uptown Magazine and the Uniter-

Uptown

"B+

Anchored by the pleasantly capable performance of Brent Hirose, Theatre by the River's production of Billy Bishop Goes to War is a puzzling pleasure.

Billy Bishop... is the kind of play one expects to be relegated to community theatre revues or seniors' homes. Chronicling the story of the Canadian World War I pilot hero, it's a quaint musical that could easily dismissed as old-fashioned nostalgia with little to offer audiences in the 21st century.

In some ways, this may be true. While Billy's story itself is classic - ne'er-do-well young man finds meaning in fighting the war and becomes a hero in the process - its execution is sometimes belaboured and trite. No matter the talents of wonderful local musician Patrick Keenan, whose perfectly coifed hair and moustache could have him walking straight out of a Jeeves and Wooster caper, the musical component of the show is sometimes just plain exasperating. Although there are some genuinely fun musical moments such as the rousing Empire Soire, the music tends to make the show a bit too cloying, despite its serious subject matter.

And while, by the end of the first act, you were wishing writers John Gray and Eric Peterson (now most famous for playing Oscar on Corner Gas) weren't so enamoured with including one more bloody song, the second act pulls up its socks (not to mention the pace) once Billy becomes a high-flying ace.

With its exploration of heroism, colonialism and the horrors of war, Billy Bishop... touches on timeless topics that its one-person format manages ably, and Brent Hirose is pleasingly adaptable, playing 17 different roles in the show, including a sweet Everyman touch as Billy. The resonance of the themes explains why we still find the show on the stage today, and Peterson and Gray have captured an important piece of Canadian history that could otherwise easily fall into the hazy mists of the forgotten.

Despite its sometimes painful devices (the full-circle moment when Billy and his son head to World War II is awfully obvious, even if it is true-to-life), there is something to the down-home Canadian earnestness of the show that just can't be denied. It may be difficult to draw parallels to modern life in the play's old-fashioned-ness, but that does not make the story irrelevant.

And, much like the release of Passchendaele, renewing interest in the horrifying conditions of World War I, a time in which men were sent off into the mud and muck on horseback, should not be dismissed as quaint entertainment - nor should the dream of a young man to fly above it all.

Billy Bishop Goes to War is an entertainingly honest and heartfelt chapter in the Canadian theatre cannon, despite its limitations.
— Barb Stewart"

The Uniter
"Four Stars out of Five

A Haunting and Poignant Portrayal

For another week and a half, local history buffs and avid theatre-goers alike can enjoy the opportunity to see one of Canada's landmark plays performed at Ellice Cafe and Theatre.

Billy Bishop Goes to War tells the World War I flying ace's story as he enlists, goes overseas to fight and eventually returns home.

Likely Canada's greatest hero of the Great War, Billy Bishop was matchless in the skies. He was decorated with medals and served as an inspiration to all on the side of the allies. His journey was one of incredible triumph, of overcoming countless odds and crushing adversity, albeit not without its share of controversy.

His legend continues to live on through the play, and so it is fitting that the show runs through Remembrance Day. Some part satire, some part realism, and completely tragic, the tale of Billy Bishop shouldn't be forgotten anytime soon.

Featuring Brent Hirose as the lead and 17 other characters, Billy Bishop Goes to War is an astounding one-man show sure to have a successful run. Hirose and pianist Patrick Keenan make a remarkable team on stage.

Presented by Theatre by the River, the play's opening performance was an absolute smash. From the soliloquies, to the music and vocals, and even the lighting, everything was brilliantly spot-on.

Hardly a minute into the opening number, I already had goose bumps. Hirose's portrayal of Bishop is haunting and poignant, which is to say nothing of his excellent abilities to master multiple characters. Everything about the play did justice to its weighted history.

Take a classic work of Canadian drama, drawn upon the experiences of one prodigious Canadian war hero, and put it together with the extraordinary talents of Hirose and others, and it all makes for one exceptional theatre-going experience. Billy Bishop Goes to War is undoubtedly a must-see for the Winnipeg theatre community this fall.

- Jennifer Pawluk The Uniter (Nov 6, 2008)"

Project: Paper Jack

Tue, 08 Jul 08 18:38:02 -0400

Hidden at the base of the mountains lies a tiny village that harbors a fantastic secret. But now a young girls love threatens to reveal the mystery of Paper Jack...

Written by: Shawn Kowalke

This show premiered at the 2008 Winnipeg Fringe Festival with the following cast and crew:

Directed by: Brent Hirose

Featuring:
Sheldon Atts
Matt Brault
Kami Desilets
Shawn Kowalke
Derek Leenhouts
Raymond Padua
Chelsea Rankin
Keri-Lee Smith

Produced by: Todd Tichon
Music by: Joseph Aragon
Stage Managed by: Kathryn Ball

Project: Identity.com

Fri, 27 Jun 08 18:16:53 -0400

Michael is a twenty something stuck in a dead end job with no romance on the horizon. Emily is his estranged former best friend, still trying to find the right job and the right guy. Identity.com is the latest social networking website, promising to show its members "who they are, on the net!". Michael needs to remake his life, and he thinks he's found just the right tools...

From the writer of Jesus Christ, I'm Sorry (Best of Fest '06), One Last Thing and The History of Theatre comes this funny, sexy and outrageous comedy that examines friendship, love, dating and the digital world.

Written by Brent Hirose