Ben's Pen / January 2009

What can you say about Sam Shepard? Recent news aside, the man's a legend. Academy Award-nominated actor, Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright and lifelong partner to Jessica Lange. In the business we refer to that as "not bad." The Segal Centre is truly proud to be partnering with Canada's National Arts Centre (Ottawa) in bringing to life Buried Child, Shepard's Pulitzer Prize winning play. This striking commentary on the American Dream is timely to say the least. During the run of the production we will be meeting a half hour before curtain for intimate discussions about the play. These discussions will be held in association with The Argyle Institute of Human Relations. Do call us for more information about the play and these pre-show talks.

In the meantime, there's some great reading in our Buried Child "e-guide"



Artistic Director of the NAC's English Theatre, Peter Hinton - also the play's director - provides insight to the production in a video you can access on our website by clicking here

I keep fish in the office to pretend like I have pets.

The other day I hear noise coming from the bowl. Glancing over I notice one of the fish rapping its tail against the glass to get my attention. I bite, go over.

Figuring they’re hungry I start to feed. “Hey, watch where you’re dropping that stuff,” the little black one says. “I’m not hungry, I just have something on my mind.”

The fish surely knows something I don’t, so I put the food away and decide to hear him out.

“My head’s spinning, it’s like I’m living my life in a fishbowl." he said. "You’ve got these kids running around here all the time singing, expressing themselves, letting their voices be heard. I wanna do what they’re doing. Get me a little boat or something in the flotational variety so I can sing out like Babs."

"Yes doctor, that's correct," I said into my phone. "The fish thinks he’s Barbara Streisand. "What’s that? I should let him explore his deepest show tune?"

“I’m not crazy boss, I just want to be part of what’s happening now," the fish said, frontal fins dangling over the edge of the bowl, all cool-like. "Lemme explore my creativity, learn how to really express myself and make a more meaningful contribution to society through my art.”

So, I gave him the number he could call (514) 739-7944 and the page on our website he could visit for more detailed information.

The Winter 09 session at the Academy is now open. Check it out.

To read more about "the arts & us," click here

Haven't seen one of these round here in a while: FAMILY DAY AT THE SEGAL.

In advance of our Winter '09 session, The Academy's promoting itself to one and all on Sunday January 25th, 10am to 12pm.  Interactive activities for the whole family;  music, video, circus, theatre, cinema.

Get this, up and coming Montreal star-kids Sam I Am will perform, demonstrating live and in person what being part of Rock Band classes is all about at The Academy.

Can't argue with free refreshments and a raffle too.
 
My colleague Gisèle Rucker, Director of The Academy, can be reached for question answering and more detailed info:  514-739-2301 ext 8321 grucker@segalcentre.org

And as I wrote above, you can learn much more about the courses being offered at The Academy by checking it out here

Ah, yes. 'Tis the season. Back to work, holiday credit card heartache and commencement of the doomed-to-failure-by-week's-end new year's resolution. Fear not people, SideMart - one of the Segal Centre's resident companies - is back in the Studio with The Mark of All Genius. As part of this play's development, the company will be having pay what you can nights on Jan 20, 22 and 24 as well as talk backs after every show. Check 'em out, they never fail to entertain.


SideMart Theatrical Grocery

I’m sure you all will agree that few things in life are finer than a hot cup of joe and having what to stare at while sipping. Okay, tea? Maybe hot cocoa more your thing? No problemo. The Lounge at the Segal Centre’s turning into a mighty fine place to hang out and we've got you covered on all drinking fronts. Great beans and plenty to stare at; word has it that’s what Ernest said to F. Scott one night on the rue du bac. Check it out.


Homage to Canada by Esti Mayer

If you're like me you've no doubt wondered at one point or another in your life how Irving, the the cantor's son from the Lower East Side, came to write a tune for Bing, from Tacoma by way of the Mayflower, and how "White Christmas" would then go on to become the biggest selling song of all time. Sure you have. Or who hasn't stood in the shower wondering how anyone could come up with a lyric like  "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it" and still have the song performred in every jazz joint over 75 years later? Popular music sure had some beginning and if you're the least bit curious about the story of popular music don't miss John Gilbert's course "Who Wrote That Song?" here at the Academy starting February 10th. Some would say it's "the tops."

Click here to read more on the "Great American Songbook."

Barry Flatman as "Big Daddy" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

"The most talked about performance of the year." That's how Neil Boyce, in the Montreal Mirror's year in review issue, described Barry Flatman's performance as "Big Daddy" in our production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. For those of us who saw it I think it only emphasized what we already know: When a great performance jumps off the stage in that wonderful, intimate space that is the Segal Theatre, few things can compare. 

It truly was a great performance, a great production. If you didn't see it, take a moment to check out are brand new Behind the Scenes of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof video, where we sat down with Director, Greg Kramer; Costume Designer, James Lavoie; and Set Designer John C. Dinning to talk about the show. Let us know what you think!

So there I was, stack of names collected from last month's Icebreaker contest in hand, saying to myself,  "who better to make sure the contest was above board and legit than our good friends over at KPMG and Ernst & Young?" And just as I was dialing the phone the Dow lost another 500 points. I hung up, likely they'll be otherwise predisposed for a while. I figured the next best thing would be to give a shout over to the gang at Loto Quebec to see if they weren't too busy. Turns out, they were available. Fabulous. They told me to come up with a decent amount of names to make it worth their while and to put them in a massive tumbler in Loto Quebec headquarters. They'd take it from there. So, to paraphrase Woody Allen, I had no problem coming up with the names they required, but got a hernia schlepping a massive tumbler over to Loto Quebec. All kidding aside, I thank all of you for taking the time to participate in our Icebreaker contest. Now, without further ado: Congratulations to Mr. Richard Lachapelle and Ms. Susan Bates. You've each won yourselves a Bodyfit 260 merino sweater from Icebreaker! Thanks to Rejean Rousy and the gang down at the Icebreaker store on Guy and Sherbrooke for being our first partner. Go check 'em out, they know how to keep us staying green and warm. Stay tuned for more contests in upcoming editions of Ben's Pen!!