I can’t remember much before I hit ten years of age, but this memory has stuck.

I have an older sister. Her name is Nicoletta, Niki to her friends, but mostly I call her Ni. She is seven years older than me. She got me to do the dumbest shit when I was growing up. I’m sure we all have similar stories. She was a big Bay City Rollers fan. I remember vividly sitting in front of our TV in the basement taking pictures of the band playing a live tv concert. She took her fanaticism one step further one Saturday afternoon (would have been more poetic if it was a ‘Saturday Night’) and gathered a few of her friends to air band a Bay City Rollers concert in our garage. I was forced to play the drummer. She invited the neighbours. Some came. The whole thing was ridiculous.

Your brother. Remember? is the latest work by Obie Award winning American performer Zachary Oberzan. “The work splices home videos, Hollywood film footage, and live performance. As kids in Maine, Zachary and his older brother Gator loved making parodies of films, most notably Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Kickboxer, and the notorious cult film Faces of Death. Then twenty years passed. Zack returned to his childhood home to re-create these films, shot for shot, as precisely as possible–but now seen through a twenty-year lens of emotional and physical wear and tear.”

I was fortunate to see Rambo Solo, an earlier work by Zachary, at the FTA in Montreal in 2009. The work was a brilliant retelling of the First Blood story. To understand his intensity as a performer, you have to watch this trailer where Zachary plays all the characters in the Rambo movie from his Manhattan apartment.

Please join us at the Theatre Centre from January 26-28 for the performance.

Franco

P.S.

I wish I had videotaped that Bay City Rollers concert!

Posted: January 10th, 2012 under Franco's Blog, January 2012 Newsletter, Theatre Centre Blog.
Comments: none

On November 28, the City Manager presented the 2012 Operating Budget to the City’s Budget Committee. The proposed budget recommends a 10% cut to arts grants. If passed, Toronto Arts Council’s grants budget will be reduced by just over $1 million.

This reduction will be very difficult for Toronto’s arts community. Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, along with many arts organizations and associations are working hard to prevent this recommendation from passing.

As one of the Toronto Arts Council funded organizations we would like to reach out to our volunteers, donors, audiences and supporters to ask you to join the voices opposing cuts to Toronto’s arts funding.

Here is what you can do: call, email or write your City Councillors to ask them to protect arts funding (City Council contact information here). Any little bit will help attract attention to the matter.

For more information and updates check out Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts Advocacy page.

Posted: December 1st, 2011 under Franco's Blog, Stop the Cuts, Theatre Centre Blog.
Comments: none

Hello everyone! Just wanted to pass on a quick message to invite all of you Equity members in good standing to an exceedingly important regional meeting on this Sunday, November 20th, 7 p.m. – at Theatre Direct, Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie Street.

On the night’s agenda will be three issues that will impact you directly as an Equity Member: Insurance Survey Report, Independent Theatre Review Report, and Dues Referendum discussion (plus additional yelling and screaming). There has never been a more important meeting to attend with regard to all three of these issues. I really need your support on the night. Feel free to forward this to any Equity members in good standing that you know. (And don’t forget to bring your Equity card!)

All my love and thanks,

Franco

Posted: November 17th, 2011 under Franco's Blog, Theatre Centre Blog.
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Aside from battling with the flu last week, I was honored to take part in an amazing conference that brought together scientists, cultural producers and some genius thinkers to imagine collaborative art projects that bring awareness to global warming – Cape Farewell. Heard some inspiring talks including: Alanna Mitchell, a freelance journalist and authour of Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis; Tom Rand, an author, speaker and entrepreneur working at MaRS here in Toronto and former Toronto Mayor David Miller.

David Miller gave a great talk about the role that he and other Mayors across Canada played in introducing climate change projects and programs. In particular, he spoke about Transit City, a plan that was going to add 120km of new light rail to Toronto’s transit system. Most of the new rail was going to serve dense and economically challenged neighbourhoods in the city. The current Toronto City Council of course canceled Transit City; it was one of the very first things to be cut.

I’m not moved to tears very often, but David Miller told a great story about a woman who on average spent 2.5 hours traveling on public transit every day to get to her job, to pick up her daughter from daycare and then to travel to her second job. It was emotional to hear this story because it reminded me of my own. I grew up in areas now known as priority neighbourhoods – up until Grade 3 I lived in the Jane/Finch neighbourhood, and later I moved to Rexdale. As a family we all relied on public transit – I didn’t get a car when I turned ‘16’ – in fact, I still don’t have a driver’s license.

I was happy to participate in the discussion this weekend, and I’m positive that good things will come as a result of my being there. As a cultural producer (I would say facilitator in my case) I was reminded – by an artist in the room (Mel Chin) – that it is our responsibility to ensure that ‘ideas’ are allowed to survive and to prepare our audience for absorption (listen).

Despite the setbacks to the Transit City plan, David Miller was hopeful that it could be saved. Inspirational! My personal responsibility – keep the idea and discussion alive. As part of Free Fall’12, The Theatre Centre’s biannual festival of new work (to be announced soon!), we are hoping to present a piece that will be a part of this discussion.

Posted: November 15th, 2011 under Franco's Blog, November 2011 Newsletter.
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The following is an excerpt from Henrik Ibsen on the Necessity of Producing Norwegian Drama by John Palmer. First produced as part of The Works Festival at Factory Theatre in 1976. I believe the play – but this passage in particular – holds enormous relevance to the situation we find ourselves in today. The person speaking this dialogue is Henrik Ibsen. He is addressing a room full of Norwegian drama artists and enthusiasts.

“I realize that in speaking here tonight I am to some extent preaching to the converted. I think the time has come to review exactly what has been accomplished in the interest of what has yet to be done. I should respectfully like to point out that what you have established to this date is a small number of small institutions producing Norwegian drama on a tiny island in Norway. It will not do. It is not enough. If you think that this great enterprise has been solidly secured you are under an illusion and you had better think again. If you believe that you may work quietly in your little huts without being affected by those in the palaces across this nation then you are naïve. Is anyone that naïve? If you cannot see that what you have established in five or ten years can be easily swept away in less than half that time, then look out your windows: while you have been snuggling comfortably, the laurels of you past have withered and throughout the land retrenchment is the order of the day. And what do we see, as a lackadaisical farewell is bid to the eleventh hour? Bickering among you as to who is big and who is small: that is nonsense: you are all small. Who is best? Who is cleverest? Who will grab the most scraps left by those who control the real resources in this country? It is lugubrious to consider a hierarchy among slaves. And yet none of you have surfaced without sacrifice, without fight. What on earth could lead you to believe you can get any further in any other way? Some of you have told me that you simply wish to work and be left alone, that you are artists and not politicians. Your sentiments are as irrelevant to the real situation as those of the critics are to your work.
…
We have embarked on nothing less than a fight for our own culture. We must fight or become feathers in the wind.

Posted: July 7th, 2011 under Franco's Blog.
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I’m writing this on the eve of Remembrance Day – a day I used to observe with more vigilance as a kid in school. We would stand in silence for one minute and pay respect.

Why one minute? It seems too insignificant.

The other day I met with one my closest friends, John. He observes Remembrance Day by wearing a poppy on his lapel. Every year he affectionately says to me, “a lot of young people died so that you can sit here and have a latte you idiot”. I nod in agreement.

Two years ago, Ravi Jain held an event at The Theatre Centre to commemorate The Winter Soldier Investigation and the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War. http://www.theatrecentre.org/showdetails_archive.php?id=20. I’m ashamed to say that we haven’t had a follow up event.

I think it’s time we did.

Canada is scheduled to pull out of Afghanistan in 2011. Now the Harper government is considering staying in longer. Let’s talk about this. Does someone want to organize an event that brings us together to talk about this?

Email me at franco@theatrecentre.org

Posted: November 10th, 2010 under Franco's Blog.
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Like it or not, Rob Ford has emerged as the new leader for Toronto.
I was born and raised in Toronto and to be honest, it’s unrecognizable to me this morning. How did ‘the most multicultural city’ in Canada end up here? There’s a lot of speculation, and with good reason, that the arts will be cut. When political leaders say that the arts are not a priority and should be cut, what I hear is, ‘I’m not interested in anyone’s point of view but my own and perhaps those few close friends who are part of my inner circle’.

The role of the artist is to help others understand the world from a different perspective. To be closed to hearing a different viewpoint is a huge worry for me. It’s especially concerning if you are a leader.

This quote is from a lecture that Christopher Hitchens gave at UofT a number of years ago that I believe is apt for today, ‘the morning after’.

“It is not just the right of the person who speaks to be heard it is the right of everyone in the audience to listen and to hear. Every time you silence somebody you make yourself a prisoner of your action because you deny yourself the right to hear something.” Christopher Hitchens

Later next month, I’m going to hear Christopher Hitchens and Tony Blair debate at Roy Thompson Hall: “Be it resolved religion is a force for good inthe world”. (THANK YOU RAVI). http://munkdebates.com/home.aspx

Posted: October 26th, 2010 under Franco's Blog.
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For those who know me, you will know that I like the feeling of discovery and the element of surprise. I love finding that hidden gem – be that a book or candy store that I’ve never noticed before, a new (quieter) route to work or a shortcut on my computer. Most of all, I enjoy coming across new artists, new art forms, new work. To me, the experience of jumping into the unknown – taking a risk – is not only a fun way to live but also fundamental to creation and development. This also means that my role at The Theatre Centre – an organization, which supports risk and diversity – is a great fit for me.

So where I am going with this? Well, having just finished slotting in the shows at The Theatre Centre (September 2010 – March 2011) and it is satisfying to see such variety in artists, art forms and performance: from horror puppetry to music with spaghetti. And so, in the spirit of discovery, I’ve decided to launch a new season f.a.b package (f.a.b. – my initials) – that embraces risk and diversity. On top of all this, the season package saves you so much money.

So in brief… you buy a Theatre Centre f.a.b. package for just $50 to see 4 different shows (so that’s just $12.50 per show, which is ridiculously cheap). You can then choose all 4 shows, or you let me decide 1, 2, 3, or all 4 shows for you (that’s the unpredictable/discovery/risky bit). On top of that, you also receive an invitation to a mystery event taking place somewhere in the city chosen by me (this is the surprise part!).

So, join me in taking that little leap of faith into the unknown. Click here to read how it all works and what you need to do.

Now a little plug… in December, a new performance piece, 300 TAPES by Public Recordings. Developed in collaboration as part of our Residency Program, the three performers – Joe Cobden, Frank Cox-O’Connell and Brendan Gall – recorded on 100 tapes each the real life stories of their lives. These stories, along with incredible sound design and intricate choreography, are playfully relayed and bring into question how our memories and identity are warped by time, and by our own version of who we believe we are. For this show, we’re delighted to be partnering up with folks at Alberta Theatre Projects so that audiences in both Toronto and Calgary get to experience it.

Finally, I am very excited to announce the return of L’Orchestre d’Hommes-Orchestres, performing the MUSIC OF TOM WAITS. They made their Toronto debut earlier this year at the Music Gallery as part of Free Fall and they were simply fantastic. They create instruments out of every object imaginable and it sounds amazing. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to have seen it, then I honestly recommend that you don’t miss out again. (A friend who’d never heard of Tom Waits, still raves about it).

Posted: August 19th, 2010 under Franco's Blog, The Theatre Centre f.a.b. Package.
Comments: 1

There’s been a lot of talk about the SummerWorks article that appeared on the front cover of Toronto’s gossip tabloid The Sun last week.

My first reaction was to congratulate Michael and SummerWorks on the awesome coverage. The Sun, as I recall, has never once covered the Festival in its 25years. I honestly believed the whole situation was going to blow over, but with the PMO’s office involvement the plot thickened – at least now we know what the Prime Minister reads.

I saw Homegrown last night and it wasn’t as hard hitting as the tabloids led me to believe. I respected the writer’s desire to tell her story, and to open a door to this politically charged event, but it didn’t hold together for me. I wonder if theatre is the best vehicle for this story. The scenes that worked best for me were the conversations between the writer and the prisoner. The ‘tough’ police officer scenes and ‘domestic’ scenes were less effective.

The show did make me think about how we treat the people who have the least amount of power in our society. Recently, the Conservative party decided to close all the Jail Farms, a program started fifty years ago. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews recently said that the jails weren’t “productive”. Thinking only about the quantitative is so shortsighted. Besides, the Kingston jail farm was actually profitable.

Check out this website and if you feel moved, sign the petition.
http://www.saveourfarms.ca/about.html

Posted: August 13th, 2010 under Franco's Blog.
Comments: none

Just went through the SummerWorks guide today and am excited about the work and the programming. Michael and his team have transformed it.

It’s hard to believe that SummerWorks turns twenty this year. I look forward to the Festival every year. There was a time when I would see forty shows in 10 days…but that doesn’t seem humanly possible for me anymore.

Below are some of the shows that I will check out

If anyone wants to join me I have a free ticket on offer. Be my guest at the show. We can have a coffee or snack afterwards to talk about the show. Just email me at franco@theatrecentre.org and let me know which show you’re keen on seeing.

I Was Barbie @ Passe Muraille Backspace
Thursday, August 5th @ 4pm

Countries Shaped Like Stars @ The Theatre Centre
Monday, August 9th @ 5pm

The Hanging of Francoise Laurent @ Passe Muraille Backspace
Monday, August 9 @ 10pm

The Return of Corporal Mazenet @ The Theatre Centre
Tuesday, August 10th @ 7:30pm

Homegrown @ Passe Muraille Mainspace
Tuesday, August 10th @ 10:30pm

Post Eden @ Passe Muraille Mainspace
Wednesday, August 11th @ 10:30pm

Check out the online full program – click here.

P.S.

Showing in the Cafe at the front of The Theatre Centre:
IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE TOGETHER by Chris Dupuis
August 6, 7-9pm, August 7, 7-9pm, August 12, 7-9pm ,August 13, 7-9pm, August 14, 7-9pm
The performance lasts approximately 15 minutes per person. Audiences should email chris@chrisdupuis.com to schedule at time and date. PWYC.

Posted: July 30th, 2010 under Franco's Blog.
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