Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Sweeps the General Theatre Division with 6 Dora Mavor Moore Awards For Waawaate Fobister’s Agokwe

Outstanding New Play:
Waawaate Fobister, Agokwe

Outstanding Production of a Play:
Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Agokwe

Outstanding Direction:
Ed Roy, Agokwe

Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principle Role:
Waawaate Fobister, Agokwe

Outstanding Costume Design:
Erika Iserhoff, Agokwe

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Kimberly Purtell, Agokwe

Photo of Waawaate Fobister by David Hawe & Photo Essay by Rick/Simon

GLOBE AND MAIL

TORONTO STAR

SEE J. KELLY NESTRUCK'S LIVE BLOG OF THE AWARDS

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre proudly launched its 2008-2009 Season with the world premiere of Agokwe, a new work from 23-year-old Ojibwe artist, Waawaate Fobister, from the Grassy Narrows First Nation. Agokwe explores unrequited love between teenage boys from neighbouring reserves. They meet briefly at a post hockey-tournament party where they bashfully confess their desire for each other. However youth, distance and isolation strive to pull the threads apart when tragedy intervenes.

Agokwe began as a short monologue, performed as part of Buddies’ 2005/06 PrideCab, a collectively created, youth-driven cabaret created over 12 weeks and performed as part of Buddies’ Cultural Pride Festivities. During the 2006/07 Season, Agokwe was further developed as part of Buddies’ Young Creators Unit, during which Fobister was teamed up with award-winning director Ed Roy. The world premiere of Agokwe marked the first time that one of Buddies’ mainstage presentations has been entirely developed through all stages of Buddies’ Queer Youth Arts Programme.

Buddies In Bad Times Theatre congratulates the remarkable team that made Agokwe happen, including Andy Moro (Set and Projection Design), Lyon Smith (Sound Design), Marc Nadjiwan (Original Music), Tracy Lynne Cann (Stage Manager), Aiden Nagle (Technician), Evalyn Parry (Young Creators’ Unit Director), Chy Ryan Spain (Youth Programme Coordinator) and the entire Buddies staff. Buddies is currently working toward a Canadian tour of Agokwe in 2010/11.

EVEN MORE REASON TO DONATE NOW AND HELP SUPPORT BUDDIES' QUEER YOUTH ARTS PROGRAMME

Congrats to everyone who won, including our friends at Crow's Theatre (Eternal Hydra, part of Buddies’ 08/09 Season) and Brendan Healy (director of The Silicone Diaries and Breakfast for Buddies' 09/10 Season), winner of the Pauline McGibbon Award!

And thanks to YOU – our loyal audience for all your support this season. We hope you’ll join us next year!

Press release (PDF) | More information

Buddies Announces Programming
for its 2009/10 Subscription Season

revolutionaries, innovators & provocateurs

Photo by David Hawe

The Creators of 2009/10: Nina Arsenault, Erika Hennebury, Sasha Van Bon Bon, Evalyn Parry, Anna Chatterton, Karin Randoja, Kitty Neptune, Nathalie Claude and Moynan King

Welcome to our 2009/2010 Season: an exceptional line-up of some of Canada’s most significant independent performers, award-winning artists and groundbreaking queer creators.

From the carnal drive that beckons us into less respectable houses of worship, to the irresistible, siren-calls luring us to the extremes of personal transformation, this season we set our sights on our appetites, fetishes, secret desires and darkest fears – evoking our humanity and inspiring reflection. Titillating, sophisticated and unnerving - this is a journey you will not want to miss.

This season, as we celebrate 30 years of innovative, provocative art, we reflect on three decades of heights conquered, storms weathered, bad times and good. We continue to question out identities, excavate meaning, and venture undaunted into the unknown - with humour and heart. This is the vibrant and dangerous territory in which we thrive and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Press release (PDF) | More information

2009/10 SEASON PASSES

BUDDIES’ SEASON PASS REDUX

09/10 Season Pass Redux.
Now 100% Flexible - Festivals Included - 20% Discount for Returning Passholders.
Get Yours Today

You asked for it – we listened! Thanks to your valuable feedback we’ve added exciting new features to our Season Passes. Buddies’ Passes are now 100% flexible! Admission to the Rhubarb (Week Pass) and Hysteria (Evening Pass) festivals are, once again, included.

Support Buddies proud theatrical tradition by ordering your very own Season Pass. As always, we offer Passholders reserved seating, and a truly unique array of shows to choose from:

• Neon Nightz
• Devouring Lions
• Hysteria: a festival of women
• The Silicone Diaries
• The Salon Automaton
• La Communion
• The Rhubarb Festival
• Breakfast
• Reconciliation
• An Untitled New Work

3-night pass $60 / 5-night pass $80 / 7-night pass $100

NEW THIS YEAR: STUDENT/YOUTH PASS

YOUR CHOICE! See any 3 shows in our 2009/10 Season or only $40! Buddies boasts one of the most youthful audience-bases in Canadian theatre and we’ve created this special Student/Youth Pass just for you. If you are under 25 or if you are a student, you can get in on this great offer.

Student / Youth (Under 25) Pass $40
*present your ID or student card to order your 3-night pass

Return as a Buddies’ Season Passholder
before June 30, 2009 and receive 20% off your 3, 5 or 7-night Pass. For more details feel free to call the box office at 416-975-8555.

More information and Season Pass form

SUPPORT OUR YOUNG BUDDIES

The Buddies Queer Youth Arts Programme provides young people with a safe place to find their voices, develop their creative skills and in the process, cultivate a sense of belonging. The programme culminates in the spring with PrideCab, a youth cabaret, where participants have the opportunity to develop their own material and perform it as part of Buddies’ annual Pride Festival. Without our Queer Youth Arts Programme, artists like Mark Shyzer (Fishbowl) and Waawaate Fobister (Agokwe) and may not have found a home on our stage.

Waawaate Fobister, by Nadja Kwandibens

This year we saw what an incredible impact our Youth Programme can have not only on the individual artist but also on Canadian Theatre as a whole.

Agokwe began as a short monologue, performed as part of Buddies’ 2005/06 PrideCab. During the 2006/07 Season, Agokwe was further developed as part of Buddies’ Young Creators Unit, during which Fobister was teamed up with award-winning director Ed Roy.
It went on to sweep the 2009 Dora Mavor Moore awards receiving six awards – more than any other show.

Please help Buddies’ continue to nurture the young talent in our community and make your donation today.

Here’s how you can help:

• MAIL YOUR DONATION: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander St. ON M4Y 1B4
• CALL IN YOUR DONATION: Box Office 416.975.8555 (Tue-Sat 12-5pm) Admin Office 416.975.9130 (Mon-Fri 10-5)
• DONATE ONLINE: www.artsexy.ca www.artsexy.ca/support_howtogive.cfm

For more information about the important role that you play as a supporter, please go to: www.artsexy.ca/support_individual.cfm