terraNOVA Collective & Really Sketchy Presents MONSTER 5/5-22

MONSTER is a revelatory theatrical experience which peels back the layers of humanity to reveal what's at the core of human experience. The multi-character format intertwines 16 diverse characters surrounding a vengeful, blood-curdling, torturous murder. MONSTER shatters the 4th wall, engages the audience and ultimately demands they confront their fundamental beliefs.

MONSTER will run May 5-22, 2010 as part of the 7th Annual soloNOVA Arts Festival at Performance Space 122 (150 1st Ave at 9th Street). Tickets ($20) may be purchased online at www.ps122.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

'Monster is Mr. MacIvor's suggestion that the dark side is as intrinsic to our natures as consciousness itself. It not only aspires to creeping you out, it also wants you to examiNe Your own voyeuristic impulse to keep staring after the ax falls." Peter Marks, The New York Times
"Avery Pearson is believable and frightening." Aaron Riccio, Show Showdown

The MONSTER Team:

A production team of celebrated and inspired artists has been assembled to create Monster in soloNOVA:

Daniel MacIvor (Playwright) was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1962. He is a stalwart of the Canadian theatre scene, having written and directed numerous award-winning productions including "See Bob Run", "Wild Abandon", "2-2-Tango", "This Is A Play", "The Soldier Dreams", "You Are Here", "How It Works" and "A Beautiful View". With long time collaborator Daniel Brooks, he created the solo performances "House", "Here Lies Henry", "Monster" and "Cul-de-sac". "His Greatness," won the Jessie Award after it premiered to great acclaim at Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre, and was a winner of the overall excellence award at the 2009 New York Fringe Festival. .Daniel's play "Never Swim Alone" won the award for overall excellence at the New York Fringe in 1998 and in 2002, he won a GLAAD Award and a Village Voice Obie Award for his play "In On It", which was presented at PS 122. His play "Marion Bridge" received its off-Broadway premiere in New York in October of 2005. His play A Beautiful View was featured in last year's Under the Radar Festival at New York's Public Theater. From 1987-2007, he was Artistic Director of da da kamera, a respected interNational Theatre touring company that has brought his work to Australia, Israel, Europe, the UK, and extensively throughout Canada and the US. As a filmmaker, Daniel's work includes the festival favorite shorts: "Wake Up Jerk off", "Margaret Atwood and the Problem With Canada", "Permission" and "Until I Hear From You", all of which he wrote and directed. He wrote and starred in the Genie award winning short film "The Fairy Who Didn't Want to be a Fairy Anymore", co-wrote and starred in "House" (based on his own play and directed by Laurie Lynd) and co-wrote and co-directed "Parade" (with Brad Fraser). Daniel's first feature film, "Past Perfect", premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, along with his screenplay adaptation of his play "Marion Bridge" (directed by Wiebke von Carolsfeld) which won the CITY TV Best First Feature Award. His second feature film, "Wilby Wonderful"premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2004 and went on to screen at festivals around the world, including the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain where it was in competition. Daniel co-wrote and starred in Amnon Buchbinder's "Whole New
Thing" for which Daniel won Best Screenplay and Best Performance by an Actor at the Atlantic Film Festival. As an actor, Daniel has appeared in his own films, Thom Fitzgerald's "Beefcake", on McKellar's CBC series "Twitch City", and Jeremy Podeswa's film "The Five Senses", for which he was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor. In 2010, Daniel's new play "Communion" will premiere at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto, and his new solo show "This is What Happens Next," with Daniel Brooks, will premiere at Canadian Stage Company. He recently finished a residency at the Playwrights Colony at the Banff Centre.

Steve Cook (Director) is currently working as a movement teacher with Stella Adler Studios where he has directed over 30 plays. Mr. Cook was a member of the Chicago Ballet and the Houston Ballet. He appeared on Broadway in Doonesbury. Mr. Cook has taught for National Shakespeare Conservatory and National Theatre of the Deaf. He has been on the Adler Faculty since 1995. Mr. Cook has directed over 30 plays.

Avery Pearson (Performer) has 15 years of theatrical experience and can be seen regularly on the NYC stage, and in Film and Television. Mr. Pearson originated the title and lead role in Trav S.D.'s WILLY NILLY which received FringeNYC Encore Extension honors in the summer of 2009. In addition to his performance credits, Mr. Pearson has produced several theatrical events in NYC's Entertainment District - most recently producing his sketch comedy company, Really Sketchy, at Shetler Studios where they celebrated their One-Year Sketchiversary. He also produces film and is currently developing the stage-to-screen adaptation of THE HUNT FOR TREASURE by Fritz Brekeller. Mr. Pearson is a proficient piano and guitar player as well as a Musical Arranger and Composer. NYC Theatrical credits include: WILLY NILLY (Fringe Encore Series '09), KITSCH (Theater for the New City), LADY CRYPTOZOOLOGIST (Saturday Night Saloon at Vampire Cowboys), MONSTER (Red Room), GOODNIGHT, SISTER (by James Lapine, NY Playwrights Lab at Cherry Lane), DIVERSEY HARBOR (The Kraine), THE HUNT FOR TREASURE (Abingdon Theater), MINA (La Mama), MASS/PERSON (Manhattan Theatre Source). Film credits include: Habib Azir's feature ARMLESS (Sundance Official Selection '10), Tze Chun's feature CHILDREN OF INVENTION (Sundance Official Selection '09). Avery is co-founder and resident member of NYC-based sketch comedy group Really Sketchy and C Group Players. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from Concordia University (Montreal, PQ), is a member of The Bridge Theatre Company (NYC) and a Neighborhood Playhouse School of Acting graduate. Mr. Pearson was born in Toronto, Canada and resides in NYC

Robin Paterson's (Lighting Designer) international career spans more than 150 productions. Active in the creation of new works as a director, designer and producer, he has collaborated on more than 40 premieres. Recent designs include the New York premiere of FLYOVERS (78th Street Theatre Lab), featuring Michelle Pawk (Tony award-winner for HOLLYWOOD ARMS) and Richard Kind (THE PRODUCERS), and directed by Sandy Shinner (Associate Artistic Director of the Tony award-winning Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago); the American premiere of ANAIS NIN, ONE OF HER LIVES (Theatre Row), featuring Angela Christian (THE WOMAN IN WHITE, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE); PIZZA MAN, under the direction of Austin Pendleton (UNCLE VANYA, ORSON'S SHADOW); the premiere of VAMPIRE UNIVERSITY (Ohio Theatre) at the Obie award-winning Ice Factory Festival; the premiere of A New Television ARRIVES, FINALLY (Theatre 54), featuring Tom Pelphrey; THAT Dorothy Parker (SoHo Playhouse); the German tour of MOZART A MILANO, featuring Michael Maniaci (Metropolitan Opera); A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER, directed by Peter Hinton (Artistic Director of the National Arts Center of Canada); and ENDGAME, directed by Guy Sprung, at the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre. Based in New York, Robin's work has been featured in Berlin, Cairo, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and countless regional centers across North America. Since September 2006, Robin has been the Managing Artistic Director of SHETLER STUDIOS & THEATRES in New York.

Byron Laviolette (Theatrical Consultant) is a Canadian playwright, director, dramaturge and critic who has been involved in theatre making and production for the last 20 years. Highlights include the world première of Waiting for Gilgamesh: Scenes from Iraq; Theatre du Refuse's five star run of The Hunt For Treasure in the Toronto Fringe and its remount in N.Y.C in 2007 with English Rose Productions; Morro and Jasp do Puberty with U.N.I.T. Productions as well as the Canadian Premiere of Reefer Madness at the Hart House Theatre in 2006. Byron is currently completing a PhD degree in Theatre Studies at York University, working on a dissertation on Canadian Theatre History and his criticism can be read frequently in EYE WEEKLY.
Facebook Group: ‘Monster in soloNOVA'