a kid like jakevancouverfringe.com/pdfs/2020/a kid like jake press... · 2020-03-11 · mar 9, 2020...
TRANSCRIPT
Mar 9, 2020 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA CONTACT [email protected]
dream of passion productions presents the Canadian premiere of: A Kid Like Jake by Daniel Pearle
April 23-May 3rd at PAL Studio Theatre (581 Cardero St, Vancouver, BC) VANCOUVER, BC - Following the critically acclaimed, Jessie Award-Winning Ithaka (2016), and the nearly sold-out run of After (2014), dream of passion productions returns with A Kid Like Jake, a timely and touching comedy-drama about two parents' struggle to support their gender-expansive child in their present day reality of Brooklyn, New York. This Canadian
premiere will take place at PAL Studio Theatre running from April 23rd-May 3rd. ABOUT THE SHOW- A Kid Like Jake is the story of parents Alex (Stefania Indelicato) and Greg (Brent Hirose) and their 4-year-old son, Jake, as they enter into the private school admissions cycle. Observing Jake from an early age, their friend and admissions counsellor, Judy (Once Upon a Time’s Beverley Elliott), attempts to steer Alex and Greg in the direction of embracing Jake’s broader gender expression, which becomes increasingly highlighted during the competitive application process. A Kid Like Jake is a modern-day study of intimacy, parenthood and unconditional love. Directed by Fay Nass, artistic director of the frank theatre company, this play is a highly relevant and rarely seen story told through the eyes of the parents and extended community of a gender-expansive child. At a time when transgender rights are making headlines in the news, this play hopes to be a part of the explanation, education and relationship reconstruction between the queer community and their families.
ABOUT THE COMPANY- dream of passion productions is a Jessie Award-winning, actor-run company whose mission is to produce works that speak to the contemporary human condition. Based in Vancouver, BC, dream of passion productions is dedicated to bringing topical, challenging narratives to the forefront of conversation, enabling difficult and necessary discussions that encourage growth and acceptance, following a heart compass that is fearless in the face of adversity. A Kid Like Jake is the product of a 15-year friendship, and a desire to grow more in tune with a side of the queer community that is sometimes overlooked.
WORDS FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS "We were compelled to participate in this endeavour to support artistic risk-taking, incite creative collaboration and experimentation with the aim of harnessing the visceral power of the arts to inspire recognition, respect, and visibility of people who transgress gender and sexual norms."
- SD Holman, Artistic Director, Queer Arts Festival "Gender non-conformity is an issue that has gained a lot of traction since A Kid Like Jake debuted in 2013, but there's still a lot of work to do around normalization of gender identify [...] The play offers a great opportunity for people to examine their own biases and positions on the topic without being strident or prescriptive"
- Richard Wolfe, Artistic and Producing Director, Pi Theatre
POSSIBLE STORIES
● “Play Tackles Parents’ Struggle Supporting Gender-Expansive Child” ● “Once Upon a Time Star returns to Vancouver stage” ● “From bystander to ally - How this Canadian Premiere Came to the Vancouver Stage” ● “Artistic director of the frank theatre takes on passion project”
Mar 9, 2020 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA CONTACT [email protected]
FOR MORE INFORMATION, MEDIA CONTACT: MARK SUTHERLAND or STEFANIA INDELICATO - 604-313-2487
[email protected] OR https://www.dreamofpassionproductions.ca/ ABOUT THE ARTISTIC TEAM: FAY NASS – DIRECTOR Fay Nass is the Artistic Director of The Frank Theatre and the founder and Artistic Director of Aphotic Theatre. Fay has been working as a director, dramaturg, writer, curator, educator and consultant for the past 15 years in Vancouver. Her most recent credits include: co-directing Trans Script Part 1: The Women (produced by The Frank theatre & Zee Zee at Firehall Arts Centre), directing She Mami Wata & the Pussy WitcHunt (the Frank Theatre at PuSh Festival 2020), co-directing Straight White Men (ITSAZOO productions at Gateway Theatre), dramaturgy of Camera Obscura (Hungry Ghosts) (The Frank Theatre &QAF), directing and devising Diaspora: Queer immigrant and refugee stories (The Frank Theatre at QAF), cultural consultation and curation of residency programs with North Van Art and Culture office, curation and producing of Another Window Cabaret (Aphotic theatre and Neworld Theatre). Fay holds an MFA from Simon Fraser University and continues to explore notions of gender, sexuality and culture through research based practices.
STEFANIA INDELICATO – PRODUCER, ACTOR Stefania Indelicato is an award-winning, BC-born actor who was awarded the Broadway World Theatre Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Drama for her performance as “Roberta” in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, directed by Jay Brazeau (2019). Indelicato is also the artistic director of dream of passion productions which she founded in 2013. She is a graduate of Theatre and Arts & Culture from the University of Toronto, and of Victoria Motion Picture School’s Acting for the Screen Program. Selected theatre credits include: Corleone: The Shakespearean Godfather (Classic Chic, Pacific Theatre), Ithaka (Excavation Theatre, dream of passion productions), White Hot (Kindred Entertainment). Selected Film credits include: The 100, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Loudermilk, Unspeakable, The Murders, A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Lucifer.
BEVERLEY ELLIOTT – ACTOR Beverley’s career has spanned 37 years with over 350 film, tv and theatre credits to her name. She wrote and toured her one woman show SINK OR SWIM, which won ‘Pick of the Fringe’, had sold out shows at the Blyth Festival, and won ‘Best Musical’ at the Solo Festival in NYC. She loved playing Florence Foster Jenkins in GLORIOUS at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, touring with MOM’S THE WORD for 6 years, and telling her ‘Yellow Dress’ story on the Moth Radio Hour on Public Radio in the USA. Film credits include several Hallmark films, 7 years as ‘Granny’ on Once Upon A Time, Nancy Drew, and Unforgiven to name a few. Beverley is an active singer songwriter and recording artist. She is thrilled to be playing the role of Dolly in HELLO DOLLY at TUTS this summer. Being a part of this production of A KID LIKE JAKE is truly an honour.
BRENT HIROSE – ACTOR Brent Hirose is an actor, director, writer, voice over artist and improvisor based out of Vancouver, BC. Originally hailing from the prairies, he is a founding member of Winnipeg's Theatre by the River, and is currently a member of Vancouver's Instant Theatre, where he served as co-artistic director from 2016-2019. He is a collaborator and performer of Universal
Mar 9, 2020 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA CONTACT [email protected]
Limited's Japanese Problem, which won the Georgia Straight Critic's Choice Award at the 2017 Jessie Awards. Theatre credits include: Berlin: The Last Cabaret (City Opera Vancouver), The Tragic Comedy of Macbeth (Literary Larceny), Fireflies (Killjoy Theatre), Sleeping Beauty Dreams (Presentation House Theatre), Hamelin (Axis Theatre), A Few Good Men (MTC, Citadel) and Billy Bishop Goes to War (Theatre by the River).
LINDSAY NELSON – ACTOR Lindsay is an actor, producer, and administrator based out of Vancouver. Originally trained in musical theatre, she recently went to England to get her Masters in Classical Acting from LAMDA. Lindsay has spent the last three seasons as a member of Ensemble Theatre Company, appearing in A Prayer for Owen Meany, In the Next Room, and Dark Road. She also spent two seasons with Shakespeare Canada, touring schools all over western Canada. Most recently, Lindsay appeared in a staged reading of Age of Arousal with Peninsula Productions.
A Kid Like Jake | April 23-26 & Apr 28-May 3 | Performances nightly @ 8:00pm (2pm Matinees April 26, May 3 - Preview April 22) | estimated 75 min - no intermission | PAL Studio Theatre, 581 Cardero Street in Coal Harbour, Vancouver, BC
Box Office: theatrewire.com Media Contact: Mark Sutherland, Stefania Indelicato 604.313.2487 [email protected]
SPONSORS:
COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
Photo Credit: ANDY SCHEFFLER