Tag Archives: Playwrights

Mark Crawford: Playwright, Actor



Mark Crawford is a playwright and actor.

His play “The Birds and the Bees,” which premiered in 2016 at the Blyth Festival and quickly became one of the most-produced Canadian plays of the decade, is now on stage at the Huron Country Playhouse II, running until Sept. 1, 2018.

In our interview we discuss the inspiration for writing the play and how working with actors in the rehearsals helped him “find the funny.”

Crawford, who grew up on a farm in Glencoe, ON. says that he didn’t watch much television in his youth, but has many fond memories of attending theatre at the Huron Country Playhouse.

As well as sharing the secrets behind his writing process, Crawford acknowledges the impact of production budgets on his artistic process.

He shares one of the best ever audition stories that changed his life but not in the way you’d think.

We discuss how he created his first play and the very first time he did a table read with actors.

Follow Mark on Twitter: @markjdcrawford

SHOWNOTES
Mark’s literary agent: Marquis Literary:
Ontraio Arts Council – Grants
Podcast with Nora McLellan
Mark’s other plays currently on stage:
“Bed and Breakfast” at Soulpepper until September 2.
“The New Canadian Curling Club” has been extended at the Blyth Festival, Sept. 18 – 21

Listen to Other Episodes

Murray Foster: musician, songwriter


Murray is best known for his work as bassist in the Canadian bands Moxy Früvous and Great Big Sea. In 2014, he directed the Independent Film, “The Cocksure Lads Movie” which is now being developed into a musical “Chelsea Sunrise” with the Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College.

You’ll hear how he wrote the songs for the play and why he never received the investment he was offered when he appeared on the TV show “Dragon’s Den.”

SHOW NOTES
Murray’s Website: http://www.murrayfoster.ca/
Chelsea Sunrise at the Canadian Music Theatre Project at Sheridan College.
Murray on Twitter
Murray on Facebook

“The Secret Life of The American Musical” on Amazon.


Writer, Comedian: Joanne O’Sullivan

Joanne O'Sullivan (1)

Joanne’s written for the hit TV shows “This Hour has Twenty Two Minutes” and the “Baroness Von Sketch Show.”

Joanne has performed stand-up comedy across the country, she’s also done storytelling at the Stratford Festival’s “Late Night with Lucy Peacock cabarets,” and improvisation for four seasons of “Sin City,” Toronto’s popular live, improvised soap opera.

Plus she’s had a hit Fringe Festival show and is about to debut her new show “She Grew Funny” at the Toronto Fringe.

We talk about parenthood and the impact having a daughter had on her career. Prior to writing her latest show Joanne took a course to help with her writing, something she never imaged herself doing at this point in her career, but as you’ll hear it really helped kick start the process that led to her second Fringe Festival show.

SHOW NOTES
Joanne’s Show “She Grew Funny“.
The crowd funding site.
Joanne O’Sullivan on Twitter.
Tracey Erin Smith Soul O Theatre.
Albert Howell on Twitter.