Nightwood Offers Toronto Premiere of 'BEAR WITH ME' 1/7

Nightwood Theatre is thrilled to present the Toronto premiere of Bear With Me, written by Diane Flacks and directed by Kelly Thornton.

Based on her laugh-out-loud book, this wickedly funny stage production is a straight-up, rollicking account of Diane Flacks' reluctant flight into the secret and insane world of motherhood. Bear With Me hits Toronto in January 2009 after wildly successful tours at the Grand Theatre (London) and the Magnetic North Theatre (National Arts Centre, Ottawa).

Bear With Me is by women, for women - though the fellas will be in stitches, too. Conceived for all thoseveteran moms and moms-to-be, this raucous celebration is for every woman who, at one time in her life aftergiving birth, will utter the crowning words, "...did I poo?"

In this 85 minute show, Flacks' dishes her own experiences - including coping with a ballooning sci-fi body,the dominant JMG (technical term: Jewish Mother Gene), rampant libido-suppressing hormones, Mamabrain, a vegetarian's craving for liver (served rare) and, of course, the REAL "Ring of Fire"!

Kelly Thornton is an award-winning director and dramaturg. Since 2001, she has been the Artistic Director of Nightwood Theatre. Selected credits include Wild Dogs (Nightwood), So Many Doors (Magnetic North Theatre Festival/ Sour Brides /Yukon Arts Centre), Mathilde (Nightwood), The Comedy of Errors for The Canadian Stage Company's Dream in High Park, The Danish Play (Nightwood, Aveny-Teatret, Denmark, Magnetic North and the National Arts Centre) and This Hotel (Theatre Passe Muraille/Planet 88- six Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations including Outstanding Direction). Other credits include the world premiere of China Doll (Nightwood, Governor General's Award Finalist), Peep Show (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), Finding Regina (Theatre Passe Muraille /Globe Theatre) and The Dumb Waiter (SummerWorks). In 2003 she was honoured with the prestigious Pauline McGibbon Award for her outstanding work as a Director and most recently, Kelly was recognized for her commitment to training and mentorship of young women in theperforming arts by being named a 2008 YWCA Woman of Distinction.

Bear With Me Details

DATES: January 7 to January 24, 2009

LOCATION: Berkeley Street Theatre, Upstairs, 26 Berkeley Street

SHOW TIMES: Monday to Saturday at 8:00 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m.

TICKETS: Single tickets: $20 - $42, Mondays: PWYC, Previews: $25

Tickets are available in advance by calling 416-368-3110 or online at www.totix.ca or nightwoodtheatre.net