Volume 28 Issue 1 | September 20 - November 8, 2022

“Dance is poetry for the body.”
— Heidi Sander
through to renewal. “Dance is poetry for the body and I’m thrilled
to collaborate with Bonnie to create an experience that is a tribute to
both of our moms,” Sander told me. “Ben’s compositions have added
such a deep layer of expression to my words, and his arrangements are
fluid and impactful, opening up a doorway for movement.” In turn,
Bolt-Martin, writing for a mixed ensemble of great chamber players
(Liesel Deppe, flute, Andrew Chung, violin, Julia Seager-Scott, harp
and Graham Hargrove, percussion), praises the “powerfully visual
nature of Heidi’s writing,” while dancer Bonnie Jordan also celebrates
the new collaborative experiment saying, “I’ve always wanted to dance
to poetry. The way even one single movement to a phrase can speak so
loudly fills my soul.”
How We Live On has one live performance on October 2, in
Stratford, but will also stream live and for 48 hours following the
concert. For more details see innerchamber.ca/how-we-live-on
Fall for Dance
Dance is highlighted on the Toronto scene as well, with the increasingly
popular and always “accessible to everyone” annual celebratory
festival Fall for Dance North. Coming back to a mostly live performance
slate this year, there will still be cinematic and streaming elements for
those not yet comfortable with being in large crowds, elements that
will likely now always be a part of festivals having become so essential
in the restricting years of the pandemic. Highlighted is a new short
film by Canadian choreographer Michael Greyeyes – a shared world
premiere with Soundstreams – as part of the festival centrepiece presentation
ARISE: 2022 at Meridian Hall. ARISE will also showcase a
commission from visionary tap dancer, Dianne Montgomery, a traditional
Indigenous Hawaiian performance from Ka Leo O Laka/Ka
Hikina O Ka Lá, and the FFDN premiere of a monumental work by
increasingly prolific Indigenous Canadian choreographer Jera Wolfe
featuring 110 students from Canada’s National Ballet School.
For more information on all the festival events running from
September 17 to October 8, see ffdnorth.com
Under the Mirvish umbrella
In the world of the traditional musical there is no film more iconic
than Singin’ in the Rain. The stage version of the glorious Comden
and Green story of the coming of talkies to Hollywood is at last
making its North American debut at the Princess of Wales Theatre
under the Mirvish producing umbrella. This is a 2021 remounting of
the hit 2012 production by Jonathan Church of England’s Chichester
Theatre, that has already toured the UK, Ireland and Japan. Reviews
in England and elsewhere have been rapturous so, like many, my
hopes are high that the production will meet our high expectations.
September 23-October 23. mirvish.com.
Mirvish has also recently extended the run of Harry Potter and the
Cursed Child, a unique tour-de-force of technical and actual wizardry
that is anchored by a serious, and very contemporary coming of age
story, centred on the children of the heroes of the movie series: Harry,
Hermione, Ron and .. yes, Draco Malfoy. The production is astonishing
in its non-stop movement, and is anchored by a strong Canadian cast
featuring the wonderful Fiona Reid as Professor McGonagall and Sara
Farb as the new character Delphi. Whirling staircases, dementors and
intertwined storylines are woven together with clever choreography
and Imogen Heap’s perfect score. The run of Harry Potter has now
been extended into 2023. For more information see mirvish.com.
Whatever your music theatre tastes, from mainstream to
renegade, there are wonderful shows to see this fall in Toronto and
around Ontario.
Jennifer Parr is a Toronto-based director, dramaturge, fight
director and acting coach, brought up from a young age on a rich
mix of musicals, Shakespeare and new Canadian plays.
IN WITH THE NEW
Beyond Obligatory
Inclusion?
WENDALYN BARTLEY
As the new season of concerts gets underway in these
somewhat post-COVID days, some of the larger-scale
presenters have, with fingers crossed, announced
ambitious season lineups. As I looked through their listings,
a noteworthy trend was emerging: the regular programming
of contemporary works. Perhaps there’s been a shift away
from the token or obligatory inclusion of music by living
composers which would indicate that past events such as
the TSO’s New Creations Festivals, or several seasons of the
21C Festival have been successful in bringing in an eager
audience interested in listening to current ideas and styles.
GLIONNA MANSELL PRESENTS
A Music Series unlike any other
www.organixconcerts.ca
22
Lunch Time
Concerts
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Free-will Offering (suggested $20 Donation)
Kingsway Series Concerts
Matthew Larkin
TH
OCT. 5
All Saints Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor Street West - Toronto
TH
OCT. 12 Peter Nikiforuk
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic, 3055 Bloor Street West - Toronto
TH
OCT. 19 Aaron James
All Saints Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor Street West - Toronto
ND
NOV. 2 Zoe Kai Wai Lei
All Saints Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor Street West - Toronto
TH
NOV. 9 Ian Grundy
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic, 3055 Bloor Street West - Toronto
TH
NOV. 16 Sebastian Moreno
All Saints Anglican Church, 2850 Bloor Street West - Toronto
For Information: organixconcerts.ca
416-769-5224 Mobile Call/Text:416-571-3680
20 | September 20 - November 8, 2022 thewholenote.com