On Saturday, November 24th, we had yet another successful $2 Clothing Sale to raise money for the Paprika Festival! In the weeks leading up to the event, participants and staff of the festival, Youth Advisory Board members, and anyone else who wanted to help out ran around the city collecting clothing and piling it all up at the Clothing Sale Headquarters. Helpful friends of friends left garbage bags full of goodies on the porch and bit by bit, a mountain of goodwill in garbage bags grew.
My name is Katherine and I am a theatre artist. I recently started working for Paprika as a co-facilitator for the Creator's Unit, only a year after moving to my new home, Toronto. I have lived in many Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton. I have, in equal measure, both loved and despised all the cities I have lived in, much like many of my romantic relationships (too much info?) but have broken up with with them for the cooler, older, dreamy-er Toronto. And I gotta say, so far things between me and this city are going really well. My parents have visited and they approve, which is great. And I think Toronto just really loves me for me. Toronto is not embarrassed to be seen with me. Ever. There is never a time when it's all, “sorry, but I'm busy. I need to be alone". I really think we're ready to commit to a long term relationship. But as an actor and a writer, I need to know my city will be there for me, inspiring, challenging and supporting me in my work.
10/28/12: 14 days until our first Training Day, when all participants will gather for the first time. We will have discussions, panels, workshops, and mad games of Simon Says. Until then, the Executive bides its time, preparing for the coming influx of young-artist energy and talent. Until then, we wait...and we plan.
I feel energized and old at the same time. Energized by the talent, drive, and enthusiasm of so many young artists. And old when I realize I’m a decade older than them. But I just want to be their friend because they’re so cool.
So, although the festival has been going for a couple of days now already, Instructions for Use is still finishing up rehearsals. Our tech day is Tuesday, and our shows are Wednesday and Saturday, so we still have time to finish up before going onstage. We did our first complete run with props, costumes, and transitions just over a week ago, and have been doing them since. So I feel like we're in a pretty good place with the show.
Woohoo! We’ve spent most of this season working with our incredible Web and Graphic Designer Ted to redevelop our website and make it even more user-friendly, more interactive, and generally more useful. The best part about it is that we’re going to be able to update it regularly from now on, meaning it will always be a great source of info for all things Paprika. I guess the other awesome part about it is that it’s finished just in time for this year’s Festival — March 18-26 at the Tarragon Studios. Tickets are now available by calling the Tarragon Box Office or heading to tickets.tarragontheatre.com.