Grinder's Grumblings

Greetings from Grinder Productions! On behalf of Julie and myself I want to wish all of you all the best this holiday season, and to say thank-you for all that you have done to help us make Grinder Productions such a glowing success over the past year. We've come a very long way, with 16 productions in 2008, over four venues. The next year promises to bring even more productions, with new and exciting challenges, including our newest division, Hopeless Romantics. I hope you'll join us again in 2009, be it onstage, backstage or in the audience. Thanks again, and Happy Holidays, Eric Goudie Creative and Executive Director Grinder Productions

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this show a success! We played to one of the largest total audiences Grinder has enjoyed in a run at the Grand in quite a while, and that was due to the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew, who went above and beyond both onstage and off, and ensured that busy schedules, a fridgid rehearsal hall, no production budget and chronic casting maladies didn't get the show off-track. Everyone worked hard to get the word out about the show, sell tickets, and they were well-rewarded for their efforts. On behalf of myself and the world's greatest fiance, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you everyone.

Just a quick reminder - you can get Gift Certificates and Grinder Cards directly from me, and books and plays at our online storefront on lulu.com. Also, I'll be offering up Acting Lessons in the new year to anyone who's interested, as well as teaching an improv course at the Elora Centre for the Arts. Give the gift of Grinder this Christmas, and let someone else know how great it to dare to be different!

Just a quick note to let you know that Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, opens this evening at 8pm at the Fergus Grand Theatre, and runs Friday and Saturday at 8pm, with a 2pm Saturday matinee. Tickets are $15 adult, and $5 for children, and are available by calling the Fergus Grand Theatre box office at 519-787-1981. This is a show the entire family can enjoy, so come one, come all and take in a little bit of holiday magic.

Never let it be said the Canadian Theatre business is as backwards as the Canadian Telecommunications business! After many days of wrangling with the powers that be Grinder Productions is now connected to the outside world once again. We're now comfortably ensconced in the tiny 19th century farmhouse on the property, and it is from here that I will endure the painfully slow speed of dial-up to bring you most of my posts from now on (sorry, the vblogging is going to have to wait until they get DSL out here). While I've been offline the company has been very, very active, getting ready for Hans Brinker, our holiday family production. Tickets are moving quite well for this show, but please, please do try to make it out to see it at some point this weekend if you are able. The cast and crew have really worked hard on this one, and we've gained a lot of fresh faces to the company that I hope we can work with again on future shows. On top of that, the show itself is a lot of f...

I've been reading Benjamin Johnson's What's the Deal with being an actor? posts over on the Theatre is Territory blog, where he tries to give professional English-speaking thespians some tips on taking their chances on the Tokyo theatre scene. He is quick to point out the "culture shock" that us over-coddled Westerners should brace ourselves for, and there's definitely a twinge or two of dismay in his voice when he talks about some of the working conditions over there, and how ordinary Japanese, for the most part, simply seem to sit there and take it. He takes particular issue with the "the culture of unfair business practices towards artists (and employees in general)" and that particular phrase was enough to toast my cookies (as the world's greatest fiance is so fond of saying). As my Grade 8 French teacher, an immigrant who had escaped the poverty and political oppression of his native Haiti, was so fond of saying to us - Who said life was ...

Just a quick note to say thank-you to everyone who came out to help us with this year's Santa Claus Parades, and a big thank-you to everyone who came out hear Poverty Anonymous at the Elora Centre for the Arts this past weekend. Every little bit truly helps!

The Grinder Card – A Great Gift Idea for the Theatre Lover on Your List! The Grinder Card is a perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for person on your list, and for anyone who simply loves live theatre. It works just like a season ticket, but instead of being tied to a specific venue or series of shows it is tied only to the person holding the card. The $100 card is good for ten admissions to any Grinder show, in any venue, at any time. You only come to the shows you want, when you want, where you want. Come alone and use one admission, or bring a date and use two, it’s up to you. The Grinder Card. It’s fast, easy and it never expires. Available by phone at 519-780-7593 or via e-mail at grinder@grinderproductions.org. Gift Certificates – Yes, we still do gift certificates! Available for a pair of tickets (or more) to a show, event or season these start as low as $30. Available by phone at 519-780-7593 or via e-mail at grinder@grinderproductions.org. Scripts and Books – Grinder main...

I'm starting off this week with the most important news of all - Hans Brinker is going great! The cast are getting their lines memorised, the technical apsects are finally starting to come together, and best of all, wait for it... tickets are starting to sell! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to have a show that makes lots of advance sales. Even when it's just orders waiting in the drawer it's a great boost to the confidence and enthusiasm of the cast and crew (not to mention yours truly) to know that there are people out there who've made a choice to take time out of their lives to come and see the show that we are working so, so hard on. Thank-you to everyone who has purchased their tickets already. But if you haven't gotten the tickets yet, what are you waiting for! Why put up with the rush at the box office at ten minutes to curtain, when you can phone in your order to the box office at any time (the phone number is 519-787-1981). Walk-in hours at...

Audition Information As promised, January will bring another round of Open Auditions for the company. The next newsletter will have more comprehensive information on times and places (we’re still trying to confirm availability), but nonetheless I would like to toss out the information to you here and now so that you can begin to think about taking the plunge with us in 2009. These auditions are divided into several categories, based on age, past experience with Grinder Productions, and the sort of shows you are interested in auditioning for. General Auditions – These are open to newcomers to Grinder Productions of any age who have not auditioned for us before, or worked with us on a show. We will audition in age-divided groups of about ten people at a time, and these will be “cold-read” auditions – ie you will be given a monologue or partnered with someone else for a short scene and asked to deliver it. We’ll also play some theatre games to break the ice, and maybe an improvisation o...

Winter 1-Acts As many of you are likely aware, rehearsing in the wintertime presents a few challenges for us at Grinder. Without a year-round rehearsal facility it’s very difficult to put on large plays over the winter months. In response to that this January we’re going to put on several smaller “1-Act” plays that can be rehearsed in smaller locales and then brought together the week of the performance. One-act plays are unique shows unto themselves, and are often a chance for new actors or directors to sharpen their skills. It is a chance to bring some rarely-performed works to the stage, ones that we normally couldn’t consider for production. Things are still early, so watch for more coming soon.

I've had a just a few "issues" pulling this one together, but it is finally ready. It's changed quite a lot from what the format I originally set out to do - it's gone from a spiritual meeting to a Toni Robbins-type personal power tape: a one-act radio drama. What hasn't changed, though, is the substance of the piece. It's full of gentle satire and my very weird vocal characterisations, and will hopefully make us all a little more thankful for our relative financial good fortune, even in these difficult times. It runs this weekend at the Elora Centre for the Arts, admission is by donation, and the whole show should only last about 30 minutes, so it's a real "quickie." I hope to see you there!

Here's the December newsletter . Don't worry, this is the real deal this time - we've fixed the bug in website that was causing you to get the page with last month's newsletter on it. This month's edition is chock-full of information about shows near and far - and some audition information as well, so make sure you check it out!

Just a quick note to let you know that Hans Brinker is now well into rehearsals. The set is up, the actors are learning lines, and we're all looking forward to getting onstage in just a few short weeks. The director seems to have a good hold of things too... which is a welcome relief for me - I'm getting a much-needed break from the Director's chair while we tool up for the winter season. Also, if you're going to be coming to the Elora Santa Claus Parade tomorrow night watch for the Grinder float! The cast and crew will be there, handing out information on the show and spreading some Christmas cheer. Feel free to come out and join us!

I thought today I would give you some more information about the characters in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and what I am thinking of in terms of casting for them. If you or someone you know might be interested in getting involved in this show, please e-mail me at grinder@grinderproductions.org. The Athenians: These are the upper-class characters in the play. Theseus - The Duke of Athens, a middle-aged, battle-hardened warrior-ruler. Hippolyta - Theseus' bride, whom he fought in battle to win her over. She is a Queen of the "Amazons" - an all-female tribe of warriors. Egeus - Helena's father, a bit old-fashioned - either his daughter wed's the man of his choice or she is banished - or killed. Lysander - A young man of Athens Demetrius - A young man of Athens Helena - A young woman of Athens Hermia - A young woman of Athens Philostrate - Theseus' Master of the Revels, a civil servant responsible for gathering entertainment for the Duke's weddin...

I've been a little inattentive to the goings-on of the "theatrosphere" lately, so I've missed this big brouhaha that is apparently going on among theatre bloggers. I guess we're talking so much about the practical side of putting on plays (business models, rehearsal techniques, etc) that the people who are focused on the content of theatre are feeling left out. "The play's the thing" after all, isn't it? For my two cents worth, I don't think you can separate form and content in theatre. One of the things I noticed many years ago when I was an over-worked, under-paid, borderline-slave of a Production Assistant, was that the conditions of production became the production. If we had to spend all night working onstage for four days straight then the show looked like crap. If we were able to go home and get a good night's sleep it meant that things were going well enough that the show generally looked pretty good. The harder you have to ...

I'm happy to report that both of our final shows in 2008 are now into rehearsal/preparations, and the company is still in strong enough financial shape that we can now begin to look ahead just a little be to the start of 2009. Now January is one of the most difficult months of the year to put on plays - the weather is terrible, it's hard to get out to rehearsals and shows, people have usually had enough "social time" over the holidays and are staying at home, and money is at its tightest as the holiday bills come in. So usually there isn't much going on in theatres at this time of year: it's often the time to re-group, do some maintenance, and get caught up on chores, and perhaps even take some badly-needed vacation in a sunnier climate. At Grinder we don't quite have the luxury of a week in Bora Bora (not that the thought hasn't crossed my mind), and we will have programming January, as well as programming in February and March, so as to ensure tha...

I know you're likely getting sick of seeing Hans Brinker posts - don't despair! There are other things going on at the company, and we will have more to tell you about them next week. But we lost a couple of actors at the last second and are still looking for some cast members for this show. If you or someone you know might be interested, please have them e-mail grinder@grinderproductions.org or call 519-780-7593 ASAP. This show is open-ended enough that we can take either boys or girls in their teenage years, and possibly a couple of adults as well. Please pass this along to anyone you know who might be able to help us out. Thanks!

Dutch Christmas Classic at the Fergus Grand Theatre For Immediate Release Grinder Productions is pleased to present Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, a Christmas show for the entire family, December 18th, 19th and 20th at the Fergus Grand Theatre. This classic Dutch Christmas story is known to many, about a poor but noble family, a deep secret, and an incredible act of kindness, but for those who aren’t familiar with the events this story the play will serve as a wonderful introduction. Written in a light-hearted, easy-to-understand manner, this show is perfect for children and families. Its large cast of performers young and old features some of the best and brightest at Grinder Productions, as well as some new faces coming to our stage for the first time ever. Grinder Productions Creative and Executive Director Eric Goudie is very happy to see this show coming together this Holiday season. “When I first chose the show, the economy was doing fine,” he says. “Since then, things ha...

Just thought everyone might like to look at my burgeoning portfolio on Helium. I know I've referenced individual articles in the past, and I'll be putting as much time and effort into writing more articles in the days and weeks ahead (so as to have my efforts rewarded with lunch money), so I encourage you to check out my thoughts on such riveting titles as: Why it is important to introduce children to theatre The Best Elizabethan Plays and Playwrights Technical Theatre Appreciation or other non-theatre titles such as... Home Electricity 101 Why training in trades might be better than colleges for most Small Business Ownership: Trials and Joys That, plus a few titles I've written for surrounding political topics (that are actually in the "marketplace" on the site and are in consideration for wider publication) makes up my current portfolio, but I'm still very early in this new process and will be adding more articles every day. Click here for the link. Thank...

I apologize for not posting this yesterday - I was "kickin' it old school" and working offline. The following was written over a cup of coffee, surrounded by madness, just like in the old days before I could afford a laptop: I've finished an article recently at Helium.com about "Discouraging Trends in today's Theatre." ( click here for the link ) I encourage you to read the article, but if you've been in this business for any length of time at all you can probably come up with your own laundry list of complaints about the state of the theatre business as easily as I did. There's so much we don't have to be proud of. Like George Bush's America, theatre is a waning superpower, but without the mixed-race messiah. I ended my article asking why we, as a community, were simplly lamenting the situation, instead of actually doing something about it. So why aren't we? Why are we letting things get so far away rom us that Time Magazine c...

Hans Brinker Those of you who have been around Grinder for a while may be familiar with the “Christmas curse.” Every year since the company’s inception we have chosen to bring our patrons some holiday programming. But every year Fate has gotten in the way. Let’s not let that happen again this year! Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates, is the stage adaptation of the classic Dutch children’s Christmas story. It has all the excitement and high drama you would expect of any Christmas story, with a moral heart and beautiful story woven in. It is the perfect holiday entertainment for the entire family, and with our children’s price of $5 remaining intact it’s still an economical choice in these difficult times. The show will go up December 18th, 19th and 20th at the Fergus Grand Theatre. We are still looking for a few boys ages 13 to 16 to help us out with this show. If you or anyone you know of would fill the bill, please have them get in touch with us at grinder@grinderproductions.or...

Poverty Anonymous Somewhat ironically, we are a company in financial distress that has a play coming up about being in financial distress. This show is a presentation of several individual stories, none of them true but all of them plausible, by people who are at a “poverty anonymous” meeting, where the format is similar to any other “anonymous” meeting. June, the plucky, determined moderator, is steadfast in her belief that poverty is a crime, and that only through showing these poor, unfortunate souls the errors of their ways can she make them productive, prosperous members of society once again. Little does she realize, however, that just maybe the “criminals” that have come out to this particular meeting have a thing or two to show her… This is a light-hearted, very satirical look at how the rich and poor get along. I’ve at a ringside seat to this for several years now to this subtle farce, so I thought it would be interesting to bring it to the stage. But, we need your help… ...

Here, as promised, is all the information you'll need to register for the 8 week course I'll be co-facilitating this winter at the Elora Centre for the Arts. It's going to be a fast, fun, funny experience, and one you don't need any special skills or training to be good at - just an open mind and your imagination. I really would love to see you there. Click here to go to the ECFTA Website for more information. Improv Group Ages 16 & up Mondays, January 19 – March 9 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. $60 Member / $75 Non-member An eight week course that can change your life! You don’t have to be funny to take part in this group, nor do you need to have experience in acting. A willingness to think outside of the box would be a great asset! You will enjoy 8 weeks of theatre games, team building exercises and trust exercises, as well as, situational and improvised games and activities, all within a relaxed and supportive environment. Please wear comfortable clothing & shoes –...

Good Monday morning to you all, You may have noticed that over the past couple of weeks things have been a bit choppy here on the blog, and those of you who have any insights into my personal life will know why. The past two weeks have been filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows for me and for the company. I'll spare you all the sordid details, such as they are, but suffice it to say that I've been a bit of a mess this past little while, and it has shown itself here and in other places. I am now in the process of cobbling things back together, and you, gentle reader, are only one of a great many people I would like to apologize to, and to thank for putting up with me over the past couple of weeks. We have a lot of work ahead of us here at Grinder. Just like last year, we've had some pretty un-spectacular box office returns this fall, and we are once again in some pretty dire financial straights. So, in an attempt to improve the bottom line I have retur...

Just a quick note today to let you know that next week we will be launching our extensive holiday season promotional and goodwill campaigns. Please see next Thursday's posting for all the details. I want the next six weeks to be a very special time for our company and its membership, a chance for us to share with others the very best of what makes Grinder Productions what it is - you and your talents. Season's Greetings from Grinder Productions

Come on down to the grand and check out this important show! See info here.

I'm teaching a class this winter! The Elora Centre for the Arts is offering a class in Improv that will begin in January and run for 8 weeks, concluding with a small performance. We'll cover all the basics of improv, through games, trust exercises and other activities. Please check out the ECA website for all the details.

In case you hadn't heard, the economy has gone to pot. The stock market is in shambles, unemployment is rising, credit is "crunched" and the world appears headed for a significant recession. A few of the darkest prophets of death are almost ready to utter the d-word. No, not deficit: depression. It won't be long before we begin to hear more and more people make comparisons between the 1930's and the present calamities. Perhaps these claims are overstated or perhaps they are justified - I don't claim to have the head for figures necessary to say with any certainty just how bad the coming months and possibly years will be. I do know that through all the doom and gloom there will continue to be live theatre. Wherever you can find "two planks and a passion" you will find theatre. So don't despair theatre lovers - the sets may be a little shabbier, the plays a little more obsucre and the venues a little more rudimentary (maybe next summer will se...

Get your copy of the November Newsletter right here , folks. Enjoy!

Just a quick reminder that you too can own copies of the original scripts that have been produced at Grinder Productions over the years. Just click here to go to our storefront at Lulu.com, where you can purchase both downloadable and paperback versions of such works as Home Farm, Muzzle Blast, and All My Sins Remembered, as well as our newest addition - Farmer's Daughters. It's also the place where you'll find Tech Theatre 101, a comprehensive technical manual for production managers and anyone else charged with the task of making incredible theatre on incredulous budgets. As time goes by I'll add more and more scripts to the store, including some that we have never produced at Grinder, but are great shows nonetheless. Just one more way we make theatre that dares to be different.

I haven't been linking you to as much stuff as I was before (shady copyright laws, and after all, isn't this blog supposed to be where I spout witticisms?), but some people in the theatrosphere (blogosphere of theatre blogs, for the uninitiated) seem to think this guy has a point. Do you think so? Personally, I think he's oversimplifying things a bit - it's not just about making art or making money, and there are several ways that the creative process can be monetized. Nonetheless, it's given me some food for thought. Check it out here .

I have a confession to make. I was at a show (the title of which shall remain anonymous) a little while ago, and when I was there I did something that I've never done before - I went home at intermission. Yes, that's right, I did the rudest, most inconiderate thing you can do when you come to a show. It may look like a victimless crime (you've already bought your ticket, and really, who's going to notice one empty seat after intermission), but the fact that you can insult the production without the production even knowing about it is, in my estimation, one of the most cowardly, uncouth insults you can hurl at a given show. It means that you've formed an opinion of the show without even giving it a chance to play out (who knows, maybe the second act was much better than the first), and since there's little time to count how many seats are still full after intermission the producers of the show will likely never realize that you were disappointed enough to lea...

Check this out, click here . Very, very cool indeed. It seems they have discovered Shakespeare's original playhouse. Not the more famous Globe Theatre, but the original building, simply called the "Theatre," Thus establishing the name "theatre" as a place to put on plays (the word itself is from the Greek, Theatron , which simply means "seeing place." Now, if only they could un-earth a copy of the Mauritanian King Juba's multi-volume history of Greco-Roman theatre that would be something spectacular indeed!

It's not a Grinder show, but we're helping out on it! An important show for Remembrance Day. Check it out. http://www.eloracommunitytheatre.com/Season/Lucky.html

Well, I'm back. It was a very long week, with two shows in production simultaneously. I'm proud to say that we came through both shows relatively hassle-free: kudos to all the people working on both shows who put in the time, effort and professionalism required to make these two events happen. While neither The Innocents nor A Bench in the Sun played to packed houses I'm happy to report that the combined box office returns of these shows means that Grinder will continue to live to bring another show to the stage. I'll have more to say on our upcoming shows in the days and weeks ahead, so stay tuned - the Grinder odyssey continues - and there's something even bigger coming around the corner...

I won't have a chance to get online to post next week because things are so busy, so I thought I should let you know now what's coming up: A Bench in the Sun: October 23rd, 24th and 25th at 8pm, 2pm matinee October 25th. Elora Centre for the Arts Tickets available by calling 519-780-7593, or clicking on the "Buy Tickets" link here on the blog. The Innocents: October 23rd, 24th and 25th at 8pm, 2pm matinee October 25th. Fergus Grand Theatre Tickets available by calling the box office at 519-787-1981. Note that both shows go up at the exact same times! That's why I'll be too busy to write blog posts. I hope to see you at both - but how can I be in two places at once!

I'm used to melancholy. I have no problem admitting that my life has been more failure than success, and that my early years were a very uneven time in my life - the usual joys of childhood coupled with inexplicable despair. I'm sure that were I child today I'd be quickly jacked up on ritalin or whatever other quick-fix pharmaceutical they are throwing at whatever I might have. In any case, if I did suffer from any ailment (a good chance of it - apparently over 70% of people working in the arts have a diagnosable mental condition - go figure) then I was left to suffer through it as best I could. Hence, I got used to melancholy. Fast-forward to adulthood (whatever that is) and suddenly I find that I can move beyond the things that made me unhappy when I was younger. Indeed, I have accomplished much: an education, published works, a career (albeit not a lucrative one as of yet), and I wake up every morning with no one to answer to save for my audience. All that, and the...

For Immediate Release The Grinder Productions/Stage 4 season at the Elora Centre for the Arts is back for another year, this time with a delightful romantic comedy about falling in love and aging gracefully—or something like it. A Bench in the Sun opens October 23rd at the Centre, and runs to October 25th. It features two “grumpy old men” Burt and Harold, living at Valley View Gardens, a retirement home with “No valley, no view, and a lousy garden.” Burt is the loveable curmudgeon, quiet, moody, dressed in pajamas, and happy to be simply left alone to read his newspaper. Harold, on the other hand, is flamboyant, impeccably dressed and can’t go a minute without doing or saying something to get Burt’s goat. The two men both have a history behind them, something in their past that they have to get cleared up, but neither one of them is quite ready to confront the other just yet. Luckily, into the picture comes Adrienne, a once very famous actress, now retired, but still very attractiv...

It's a bit of a stretch to make it through the week these days. You see, the world's greatest girlfriend works a fair distance away, so the only time I really get to see her is on the weekends. We tend to charge each other's batteries, and I'm always feeling pretty good by Sunday night. But then she's gone for another 5 days, our contact reduced to strictly professional (rehearsals) or just a brief phone call, so as not to use up too many minutes on the cell phone. Usually by Friday I'm not a pretty sight. It's had an effect on the company operations too - I find I now tend to be at my most productive earlier in the week, and after about noon on Wednesday (which it is as I write this) I don't find I come up with anything particularly profound, and I'm better served by tackling the more mind-numbing aspects of this job (re-arranging the office drawing is likely next on the list). This has been one of those phone call only weeks. It reminded me o...

I found this posting on the Theatre Ideas blog out of the US. A must-read for anyone who thinks that the only reason to be in theatre is to become a famous star. Politically, it's a little too far to the left for me, but still, please check it out - this is a much more reasonable, rational post than some of the other diatribes I've been reading lately. http://theatreideas.blogspot.com/2008/09/teaching-alternatives.html

Grinder Productions is assisting with the Elora Community Theatre production of Dr. Norman Craig's You're Lucky if You're Killed this November at the Fergus Grand Theatre. On Saturday, October 18th at 1pm we are have a set building and painting day at the barn. I would love to have as many Grinder people as possible out to this event, as well as several ECT people from the cast, as this is a great opportunity for members of each group (and some people are members of both groups) to get together, get their hands dirty and build a cool set for a very important community project. No experience necessary of course, but if you have power tools feel free to bring them along. There'll be plenty to do, don't be shy. Saturday, October 18th. At the barn. 1pm. E-mail grinder@grinderproductions.org for more info if necessary.

There's days I wish I were wealthy enough to play the stock market. These are not those days. No matter where you look, there's more and more doom and gloom about our immediate collective financial future. Now I'm not a financial expert, and I don't know exactly how bad things are going to get, or what outcomes we can expect from a prolonged recession. I do know that we have a business to run, one that is, at least on the surface, particularly at risk of falling through the cracks of a crumbling economy. I thought it would be a good idea to let all of you know that we do have a plan for ensuring Grinder Productions can weather the financial storm, and to tell you a bit about the strategies we are undertaking to ensure we continue down our path. Our plan consists of many things that we have already been working on. We'll continue to look for ways to reduce the number of male roles in our shows, so as to capitalize on the substantially larger talent pool of women...

There's an election going on in Canada right now, in case you hadn't heard (I don't know how its possible not to see it, but I guess some people miss it). Somehow, in an odd twist of events, the arts community (and its funding) is on the political radar this time around. All I want to do is to make sure that you are aware that funding for arts and culture is a significant component of this election, and I want you to examine for yourself the policies proposed by the various parties. Each party has different views and ideas, and this election represents a choice for those of us involved in all levels of the creative industry, about not just what we will receive in the way government support in the months and years ahead, but also the exact framework that such support will be delivered in. It is not now, and has never been, my perogative to use this blog as a forum for political discourse. If I want to espouse a political viewpoint, I'll start a political blog. So I...

Some years ago I read a review of a one woman show, the name of which long escaped me, about a ballet dancer and the incredible physical toll a career on pointe took on her body. Act 1 featured the writer/performer in her tutu, and her tales of a life in ballet seemed genuine enough. In Act 2, however, the costume was removed, and the audience was confronted with the naked form of a woman who had given her life to her art, and was able to see, in horrific, graphic detail, the scarring, the deformities, the anorexia and many of the other quite disturbing health problems this particular form of dance can give rise to. (I don't know whether or not this particular ballerina's experience is the exception or the rule, so please don't colour your view of the ballet based on my admittedly limited experience with it - perhaps the sort of issues that were allowed to develop twenty years ago are no longer tolerated today) Theatre is much like that poor dancer. She is old (older tha...

Come and see Art. Elora Centre for the Arts. Just come. You'll love it. It's Art.

Newsletter now available on website. Get it here .

Yesterday I told you about the Innocents, our Hallowe'en show at the Fergus Grand Theatre. For those of you who may not be interested in the frightening prospects of a ghost story, we have another show about some people who aren't dead just quite yet. It's A Bench in the Sun, a play about three seniors living in a retirement home. There's Burt, the curmudgeonly accountant with no regard to fashion who's got a score to settle... with Harold, the dandy-ish "man-about-town" who can barely stand but still comes out of his room every morning looking to impress. In between them comes Adrienne, the former actress, very famous and instantly irresistible to both of the men. Thus a battle for her affection ensues, and alongside it the fate of their lives at the home is played out, when it is revealed that their home is about to be sold to a developer and the residents shipped off somewhere else. A Bench in the Sun is a charming, funny play that will keep audienc...

Just in time for Hallowe'en, we've got an old-fashioned ghost story for you, about a lovely young governess, Miss Giddens, who comes to a country estate in the late 1800's to see to the instruction of two precocious children. With their parents dead, their guardian uncle off in the city and quite uninterested, the children have both come under the influence of two despicable members of the household - one the former governess, the other the former butler. Both of the children have been touched by this evil they do not understand, and it makes them act out in mysterious, terrifying ways. Though both the governess and the butler are dead long before the play begins, their spirits continue to haunt the house, and possess the children. It is up to Miss Giddens to free them of this terror (for no one else will dare), and save their immortal souls. Based on The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James this play features many a good fright, and a plot that will keep you guessing until...

I know I've already posted this - but I still need some actors - get in touch with me if you are interested! In my ongoing quest for profitability, I've decided to write a play about poverty. I have inserted it into our fall season, as the December show at the Elora Centre for the Arts, rather than the royalties project we had originally penciled in there. The show is called Poverty Anonymous, and its set up just like any other "anonymous" meeting, except the people you will meet there are all guilty of the crime of poverty. Led by their wealthy, tenacious, ex-poor-person moderator June, this motley crew of losers, low-lifes, and ne'er do wells tries to put their pasts behind them, and assert once and for all the PA motto: “There is no greater force on Heaven or on Earth than the Almighty Dollar.” Join them, as they recite the Poverty Anonymous pledge before every meeting: I am broke, and that’s not ‘oke, Being a bum is very dumb, I am a jerk until I go to work,...

Yesterday I referenced Rebecca Coleman's postings on The Next Stage Blog. Today I thought I would give you the link to the first posting in the series, so you could check it out for yourself (just click on the title of this posting). It's some interesting reading, and if you're as concerned as I am about putting butts in seats (and that's paying butts, not freebies, corporate give-aways or any other cop-outs) then I think you will find it invaluable.

I've been thinking about how things are different in theatre now. It plays directly into my "Naked Theatre" concept (no, I haven't forgotten it, I'm just letting it stew around for a while until I arrive at a more succinct definition), and I'm thinking today that nowhere is the new reality more evident than in marketing. I've been reading with great interest Rebecca Coleman's blog over at The Next Stage about marketing theatre. It's some good stuff, but it's a little scary too - I'm already actually doing most of that stuff, and it's still no guarantee that the people are going to come out. Her main point, though, that you have to have something about you that makes you unique, is, I think the touchstone of the entire argument. You can argue about the semantics of your Facebook prescence all you want (I have) but it ultimately is no more than just good sense to do all the things you should do - and that's all. It's not th...

I'm pleased to announce that the Fergus Grand Theatre is in the midst of a transformation to the 21st century. After years of quiet diplomacy, the powers that be have seen fit to allow the theatre its own internet connection. (Leafs fans, you can start planning the Stanley Cup parade now - Hell HAS frozen over!) This, in turn, has paved the way for the introduction of a new, more comprehensive box office and theatre management system, one that will provide users groups like Grinder Productions with a whole host of new resources. First and foremost, the new system will allow users the freedom to pay by any method they choose - we can now process debit cards and credit cards. It also means that we can now take a payment over the phone when someone calls in to make a reservation - no more unpaid no-shows. This system is fully web-based, so patrons can browse shows and purchase tickets online from the Fergus Grand Theatre website (or through the Grinder site - we'll be linking...

In my ongoing quest for profitability, I've decided to write a play about poverty. I have inserted it into our fall season, as the December show at the Elora Centre for the Arts, rather than the royalties project we had originally penciled in there. The show is called Poverty Anonymous, and it's set up just like any other "anonymous" meeting, except the people you will meet there are all guilty of the crime of poverty. Led by their wealthy, tenacious, ex-poor-person moderator, June, this motley crew of losers, low-lifes, and ne'er do wells tries to put their pasts behind them, and assert once and for all the PA motto: “There is no greater force on Heaven or on Earth than the Almighty Dollar.” Join them, as they recite the Poverty Anonymous pledge before every meeting: The PA pledge: I am broke, and that’s not ‘oke, Being a bum is very dumb, I am a jerk until I go to work, But cash in hand will make me grand. I'm looking for some women to help me out in this ...

Take a look at this folks: I've linked to this blog before, and while I don't agree with everything they say here (and I sometimes find the bickering a bit childish) they are making a good case for the need for intellingent thought and debate about the future of the performing arts in general and theatre in particular. I think they're right about one thing, at least: something big is coming, we just don't know what it is yet. Theatre Ideas: Divine Fury

Yesterday I mused at length about the deplorable state of Canadian Theatre since 9/11. I don't know that it is totally deplorable, or that it can't recover, all I know is that I'm not comfortable with things the way they are, and I can't afford to sit around and wait for things to change. So am I going to go and work in a bank? No! Like the title line of this blog says, we're smashing all the rules, so somebody hand me my sledgehammer. The first rule that has to go: Name recognition counts for something. This summer I can only think of one couple who came out to see one of our shows because they had heard of the playwright, and only one other couple who came out to see one of our shows because they had heard of the play. Samuel French, in their infinite wisdom, see fit to charge a premium on plays by Neil Simon, simply because, as a well-known name, he should draw more people. Well, he didn't, and we pushed that show just as hard, if not harder, than all t...

Though this post won't be released until September 16th (with any luck that will be the day you read it, unless the guys at blogger are asleep at the switch), I am writing it on September 11th. Not exactly the cheeriest day of the year, I know, but it is a date that punctuates pretty much every facet of our lives today. So too with theatre. Jerry Wasserman, editor of the "Modern Canadian Plays" anthology (4th edition), unwittingly hints at the perils that were about to hit the national theatre scene as his work went to press. In his introduction to the second volume of the work he devotes one of the concluding paragraphs to a lament about the collapse of the theatre publishing industry in Canada, and ends on this prophetic note: "As I write this in the early spring of 2001, the situation is desperate but, as always, hopeful." (I hope Wasserman will forgive me for not making a correct bibligraphic citation here - I was asleep for that class!) A year or two lat...

Am Really Trying Aren't Ready To Announce Reasoning Today Are Ruminating, Thou?

Just thought I'd post the link today to the Fergus Grand Theatre website, since not a lot of people even know it exists. There's upcoming Grinder information on there, as well as other upcoming news and events. Get it here , and add it to your bookmarks.

I'm a little stumped for material today... it seems that the well of inspiration has temporarily run dry, due no doubt to the long, hot summer. So in abscence of a posting, I'd like to pose a question to all of you, and see if you can help me out. Here goes: What was the last play you attended, and most importantly, why did you go to that particular play? Just wondering....

I'd like to send out a big Thank-you to the cast and crew of Laugh-in, our production this past weekend at the Fergus Grand. It was so nice to kick off our fall season with such a wonderful ensemble, who all worked very hard to bring this evening of madness we laughingly called Laugh-in to the stage. Thanks guys. And if you missed that show, don't depair! We have more shows coming up throughout the fall and winter and spring, at the Grand and at the Elora Centre for the Arts. Stay tuned to the blog for all the latest news!

We're rolling out something new here at Grinder Productions, something that I hope you will enjoy. It's the Grinder Card. The Grinder Card is our way of saying thanks to our most devoted fans. It works just like a season subscription, but rather than being tied to a specific series of shows, it is good for admission to any Grinder show, in any venue, at any time. $100 will get you a card that is good for ten admissions to Grinder events. That means you essentially have ten tickets, at ten dollars each, for any Grinder shows you may wish to attend. You can come alone and just use one admission, or come as a couple and use two. Or bring a friend, or two friends, it doesn't matter. The card is simply a way for you to gain ten admittances to any Grinder Productions shows you like. To get your card please call 519-780-7593, or e-mail grinder@grinderproductions.org.