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By ELISSA BARNARD Arts Reporter | Theatre Review (28-FEB-10)

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Metamorphic Theatre Presents five minutes to curtain

Halifax, NS – Metamorphic Theatre presents the original play five minutes to curtain, written by Ann Foster and Sam Madore, directed by Sam Madore and starring Amy Reitsma. The play runs from February 26 and 27 at The Music Room in Halifax and February 28 at Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Centre in Truro. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door with proceeds benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society. To reserve tickets, call at (902) 489-4851 in Halifax, (902) 890-9108 in Truro or email info@metamorphic.ca.

“Ann and I wrote this play as a short piece years ago with the intention of expanding the story,” said Sam Madore, co-writer and director. “We're happy that we kept working on the script and have the opportunity to present it today in partnership the Canadian Cancer Society. The partnership is a perfect fit with the spirit of the play.”

five minutes to curtain is about the journey of a young woman diagnosed with leukemia… Rather than focusing on the illness and hospital visits, her story revolves around her everyday experiences – with her disease as the backdrop and her life as the spotlight. five minutes to curtain features musical performances by Amy Lee with stage manager Lynn Redmond lighting and sound technician Greg Wagner.

Showtimes for five minutes to curtain:

February 26 and 27 – 7:30 pm, $15 advance, $20 at the door (matinée on February 27 at 4:00 pm), The Music Room, 6181 Lady Hammond Road, Halifax

February 28 – 8:00 pm, $15 advance, $20 at the door, Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Centre, 437 Prince Street, Truro

Metamorphic Theatre was founded in 2005 as a labour of love among fellow Neptune Theatre School graduates. Their goal: to put their training to good use. As a result, the artistic mandate of Metamorphic Theatre is to translate the human experience onto the stage while promoting local works and talent. Currently led by co-founder and performer Samantha Madore and performer Amy Reitsma, a Queen’s University music graduate, Metamorphic Theatre continues to look for projects that audiences can relate to. Since the beginning, Metamorphic Theatre has produced four plays, including a successful Nova Scotian tour of Daniel MacIvor’s influential play Marion Bridge. Based on the Halifax performances, Metamorphic Theatre won “Best Play” in The Coast’s 2006 Best of Halifax readers’ survey.

five minutes to curtain is made possible with the generous support of Quartz Sponsor TD Canada Trust.


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DaPoPo and Metamorphic Remount So… What About Love? After Successful Fringe Run

Halifax, NS – DaPoPo Theatre and Metamorphic Theatre are remounting their original cabaret So… What About Love? after a successful run at the Atlantic Fringe Festival in September 2009. The cabaret has been newly revamped and will run February 11-14 at The Sound Market Café, with the February 14 show benefiting Until the Violence Stops as part of the V-Day campaign. Tickets are $10, $20 for February 14, and are available by emailing reservations@dapopo.org, calling 209-3473 or 420-1395, or in person at Outside the Lines Bookstore, 6265 Quinpool Road.

“We’re so happy to be able to present the ‘new and improved’ So… What About Love?” said Amy Reitsma, co-writer and performer. “The original production was rushed as it was a last-minute replacement for a musical we were about to present but had run into rights issues. Although rushed, it was so rewarding in the end and it was extremely well received.”

This heartbreaking song-cycle musical features original material about people in modern relationships and what/how those situations make you do/feel. It maps a journey from first love, breakup, adult romantic life and loss – connections shared with parents, partners, one-night stands and also audience members.

Showtimes for So… What About Love? at The Sound Market Studio Café, 6208 Quinpool Road:

Thursday, February 11 – 7:30 pm, $10
Friday, February 12 – 7:30 pm, $10
Saturday, February 13 – 3:00 pm, $10
Sunday, February 14 – 7:30 pm, $20. Proceeds from this show will go to Until the Violence Stops, which raises money and awareness to end violence against women and girls both locally and globally.

So… What About Love? is written, performed and directed by Andrew Chandler, Garry Williams and Amy Reitsma, with production and creative assistance by Kim Parkhill and arranger and accompanist Holly Arsenault.

About DaPoPo Theatre:
DaPoPo was founded in 2004. The group is now run by its core members Eric Benson, Kim Parkhill and Garry Williams. Since its inception, DaPoPo has produced several artistically daring shows including: Four Actors in Search of a Nation (2004); The Modern World (2005) by Stephen Cloutier; R.U.R. (2005); Der Reigen [The Sex Play] (2006); 13 Ways of Looking at a Madman (2006); Apocalypse 2006; Café DaPoPo; and Sunday in the Park with George in co-production with Saint Mary's Art Gallery (2007). They have retained an "open door policy" for emerging and pre-professional artists, while working with professional directors, designers and performers. They are committed to making theatre accessible to the wider Halifax audience, as well as nationally and internationally. For more information on DaPoPo Theatre, visit www.dapopo.org.

About Metamorphic Theatre:
Metamorphic Theatre was founded in 2005 as a labour of love among fellow Neptune Theatre School graduates. Their goal: to put their training to good use. As a result, the artistic mandate of Metamorphic Theatre is to translate the human experience onto the stage while promoting local works and talent. Currently led by co-founder and performer Samantha Madore and performer Amy Reitsma, a Queen’s University music graduate, Metamorphic Theatre continues to look for projects that audiences can relate to. Since the beginning, Metamorphic Theatre has produced four plays, including a successful Nova Scotian tour of Daniel MacIvor’s influential play Marion Bridge. Based on the Halifax performances, Metamorphic Theatre won “Best Play” in The Coast’s 2006 Best of Halifax readers’ survey.

About Until the Violence Stops:
March 23 & 24 V-Day Halifax Community Campaign will present a Benefit Performance of the Vagina Monologues at Neptune's Studio Theatre. Proceeds will go to organizations in Halifax helping to end violence against women and girls. For more information on V-Day's Community Campaign, go to www.vday.org or www.halifaxvday.ca.

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