Why Not Theatre to Celebrate Emerging and Indie Artists with RISER Project 2017

Why Not Theatre presents RISER Project 2017, a collaborative producing model for local emerging and indie artists, April 17-May 13 at The Theatre Centre. RISER Project 2017, featuring the world premieres of four new Canadian plays; The Draupadi Project, Pearle Harbour's Chautauqua, El Retorno/I Return and Two Birds One Stone, is being presented as part of Why Not Theatre's 10th anniversary season.

The fourth edition of the RISER Project begins with Sharada Eswar's The Draupadi Project, a half-history, half-mythology, wholly-magical reimagining of the ancient Indian epic, "The Mahabharata". In this contemporary retelling, the spirit of Draupadi, an important feminist icon in the tale, is channeled through the character of a 19-year old girl confined in a cell, wrestling with the voices in her head and grappling with the status of women in today's society. Karin Randoja directs The Draupadi Project which features the playwright, storyteller and musician Sharada Eswar.

Chautauqua is a place, a movement, and a mindset. American World-Wartime gAl Pearle Harbour, Toronto's most cerebral drag queen, is literally pitching her tent in The Theatre Centre for Pearle Harbour's Chautauqua, a show that's part revival, part cabaret, part drag and part salvation. Created and performed by Justin Miller, accompanied by Steven Conway, Pearle Harbour's Chautauqua is directed by Byron LaViolette. "In our Chautauqua tent, we come together because we're falling apart." #liveyourtruth

Playwright and director Marilo Nuñez presents El Retorno/I Return, a search for answers to childhood questions when, for one year, her family was part of The Return Plan - the return to Chile to help fight against the brutality of the Pinochet dictatorship. Utilizing verbatim interviews and fractured memories, El Retorno is a personal and political journey into the heart of Latin America. Augusto Bitter, Ximena Huizi, Anita La Selva, Sofia Rodriguez and Francisco Trujillo star in El Retorno.

Rimah Jabr and Natasha Greenblatt first met in Toronto. Rimah was born a Palestinian Muslim. Natasha was born a Canadian Jew. Is this just an ordinary meeting between two women or has some force conspired through time and across continents to bring them together? Two Birds One Stone is a fictional documentary that investigates the two artists unknown shared history, discovering truth isn't always better than fiction.

Each RISER Project also brings together a community of senior leadership to support the new work, mentor the participating artists, and collaborate for future productions. The 2017 RISER partners are Necessary Angel, Modern Times Stage Company, Nightwood Theatre, The Theatre Centre and fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre Company.

The RISER Project is one of Why Not's many initiatives to accelerate the creative process of fellow theatre artists, in this case, by providing a shared resource opportunity and mentorship through physical production.

Past RISER productions include: from 2014 Ahuri Theatre's Dora Award-nominated Ralph + Lina which toured internationally; from 2015 Quote Unquote Collective's Dora Award-winning Mouthpiece which has also toured and was presented by Nightwood Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; and from 2016, the Dora Award-nominated A Theatrical MiXtape, presented by MotionLive Collective in association with It's A Freedom Thing and Newface Entertainment, being presented as part of the 2017/18 season at Tarragon Theatre.

IF YOU GO:

Why Not Theatre presents
RISER Project 2017

The Draupadi Project
Written by Sharada Eswar
April 17-26, 2017 • Opening Night Tuesday, April 18 @ 7pm

Pearle Harbour's Chautauqua
Written by Justin Miller and Sandra Balcovske
April 19-26, 2017 • Opening Night Thursday, April 20 @ 9:30pm

Two Birds One Stone
Written by Natasha Greenblatt and Rimah Jabr
May 3-13, 2017 • Opening Night Thursday, May 4 @ 7pm

El Retorno/I Return
Written by Marilo Nuñez
May 5-13, 2017 • Opening Night Saturday, May 6 @ 7pm

Performances run Tuesday-Saturday at 7pm and 9:30pm
BMO Incubator, The Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen Street West
Tickets $15 each show • $20 for any two shows in RISER
To purchase tickets call 416.538.0988 or visit tickets.theatrecentre.org
For more information riserproject.org
FB/theatrewhynot | @theatrewhynot #RISER17

Founded in 2007, Why Not Theatre is a Toronto-based theatre company with an international scope. Under founding Artistic Director Ravi Jain and Artistic Producers Owais Lightwala and Kelly Read, Why Not has established a reputation as a company synonymous with inventive, experimental, cross-cultural collaborations resulting in shows featuring new Canadian writing, company-devised and site specific shows alongside revitalized interpretations of classics. In recent years, the company has also become known for its presentation of international productions and workshops from diverse cultures and artistic practices, along with support for the development of local emerging artists and companies.

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