THE BERLIN BLUES to Play the Blyth Festival This Summer

The Berlin Blues, written by award-winning playwright Drew Hayden Taylor, is a slap-down, drag 'em out cultural appropriation comedy of the highest (and lowest) order.

Two German developers arrive unannounced on the sleepy, fictional Otter Lake reserve. They have with them international investors, $164 million dollars, and blueprints for a "Native Theme Park," complete with bumper canoes, an international longhouse of pancakes, and a giant laser dream catcher. What ensues is a hilarious, laugh-a-minute riot, as some members of the community try to shut down the development, while others leap in with both feet.

Reserve your seats by calling the Box Office at 519.523.9300, Toll Free 1.877.862.5984 or online at blythfestival.com.

The Berlin Blues features long-time Festival favourites Catherine Fitch, Tony Munch, and Nicole Joy-Fraser who was last seen at Blyth as Bridezilla Mandy in 2014's Stag and Doe. Making their debuts on the Blyth stage are multifaceted performing artist Nyla Carpentier, veteran actor from the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation on Manitoulin Island Jonathan Fisher, and Port Elgin's own James Dallas Smith.

Playwright Drew Hayden Taylor is an award winning playwright, journalist, novelist and filmmaker. Born and raised on the Curve Lake First Nation, he has done practically everything from performing Stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C. to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native Theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. The author of 30 books, his most recent is the play Crees in the Caribbean.

Director Brad Fraser is an award winning writer/director/host who has worked extensively in various media. Credits include plays; Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Poor Super Man, True Love Lies, Kill Me Now, and others produced worldwide, film; Love and Human Remains, writer and Leaving Metropolis, writer director, and television; Queer as Folk, writer, story editor and associate producer and Jawbreaker which he hosted for two seasons on Out TV. He has written a number of projects for radio, CBC and BBC, as well as regular columns and stories for Xtra, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star and others. He has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards and has just finished his Masters degree in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto. Brad's most recent play Kill Me Now was nominated for a Governor General's Award in 2016.

Megan Alfano is the choreographer for the show tunes composed by David Archibald. The creative team for The Berlin Blues is Kelly Wolf, set and costume designer, Louise Guinand, lighting designer, and Verne Good, sound designer. Sandy Plunkett is the Stage Manager and Laura Baxter is the Assistant Stage Manager.

IF YOU GO:

THE BERLIN BLUES | July 5 - August 19

Written by Drew Hayden Taylor

Directed by Brad Fraser

TICKETS: $39 preferred | $35 regular | $15 youth | (Previews: $17 adults | $15 youth)

BOX OFFICE: 519.523.9300 | Toll Free: 1.877.862.5984 | Online: www.blythfestival.com

DATES OF NOTE:

July 5 - Preview at 8pm

July 6 - Preview at 8pm

July 7 - Opening Night at 8pm

July 27 - An informal question and answer "Talk Back" with cast members follows the 2pm matinee

August 19 - Closing performance at 8pm

COUNTRY SUPPERS: Selected Fridays and Saturdays - Enjoy a home-cooked meal served at a local venue at 6:15pm. Tickets are $19 each and may be booked by calling the Blyth Festival Box Office.

The Blyth Festival is a professional theatre that enriches the lives of its audience by producing and developing plays that give voice to both the region and the country. The theatre produces a repertory summer season of exclusively Canadian theatre, with an emphasis on new work. Blyth Centre for the Arts, including the Blyth Festival, was founded in 1975.

Photo Credit: Terry Manzo