Tag Archives: Soulpepper

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

Writer, actor: Ins Choi remastered

Ins_Card

In our conversation we trace the roots of “Kim’s Convenience” from a short sketch to a play the New York Times’s Jesse Green reviewed favourably adding: “The actors were crying. I cried, too. This was not just the magic of the fine performances, particularly Mr. Lee’s, under the direction of Weyni Mengesha. It was also my belated recognition that the story was, in part, my own.”

“Kim’s Convenience” had its debut performance at the Bathurst St. Theatre in Toronto during the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival.

As a former Fringe Festival performer myself, the fact that “Kim’s Convenience” has gone on to such great success is inspiring, and I really hope that this interview will inspire you too.

“Kim’s Convenience” follows in the footsteps of Fringe shows including “Life After,” “Da Kink in My Hair,” “Machomer,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and others that have gone onto great things.

We talk about the time in his life when Ins gave up a job with security, benefits and a housing allowance, everything that would have set him up for a traditional life, but it wasn’t a job in the Arts which Ins knew he needed to truly enjoy life.

We also talk about his time onstage, acting at The Stratford Festival and his time backstage where he wrote Kim’s Convenience.

If you’re a regular listener to the podcast you know I have a 10 year old son and I’m always curious about how family influences the creative voice, so Ins and I start out by talking about his Father who was a pastor and the impact that had on Ins when he was young.

Show Notes
Soulpepper
Toronto Fringe
fu-GEN Asian Canadian theatre Company
The Stratford Festival
Kim’s Convenience at CBC TV

Kim’s Convenience in New Yourk
Pershing Square Signature Center
480 W 42nd St.
Midtown West
Final performance Friday, July 14, 7:30 pm
Click here for tickets

David Ben: Magician, author, creative consultant

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Podcast with David Ben

David ben, the conjuror, david ben interview, magicana
David Ben is a Canadian stage magician, sleight of hand artist, author, magic historian, creative consultant and former tax lawyer.

David was educated at the University of Toronto (BA), the University of Western Ontario (LLB), and the London School of Economics (LLM).

We talk about his decision to leave his law practice to practice magic.

David is the rare magician who, like Ricky Jay or Teller, of the duo “Penn and Teller,” has an innovative approach to magic that at once respects the historic traditions of magic but pushes the art form forward.

David’s stage show “The Conjuror,” had its world premiere at the Shaw Festival in 1996. The show had outstanding box office and critical reviews and has been mounted several time since then.
His path to success was never easy, and he talks candidly about the time he seriously considered quitting the Arts because of the financial strain it put on his young family.

If you saw “Possible Worlds” during the 2015 Stratford Festival season, you saw David’s magic integrated into the show thanks to director Mitchell Cushman.

Show Notes

DavidBen.com
David Ben on Twitter
Magicana – an arts organization dedicated to the study, exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art.
Video of David going through some of the posters donated to Montreal’s Mccord musem from La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso
David’s new new interpretation of the seminal book “The Experts At the Card Table”
Bob Farmer’s book “The Bamo Ten Card Deal Dossier”
Teller on Twitter
Penn & Teller