Thomson's One Woman Show I, CLAUDIA Runs At Crow's 4/24-5/23

Young Centre for the Performing Arts presents the Crow's Theatre production of Kristen Thomson's critically acclaimed first play, I, Claudia, from April 24 - May 23.

This remarkable one-woman show, starring original creator Kristen Thomson, employs four astonishingly expressive masks to map the raw and beautiful interior life of a misfit adolescent. Claudia, age twelve and three-quarters, finds herself suffering from the triple afflictions of puberty, unpopularity, and her parents' divorce. Alternately poignantly sad and hilariously funny, I, Claudia casts a theatrical spell of rare power.

Celebrated actress and playwright Kristen Thomson - touted as "one of the most heart-stoppingly honest comedians in Toronto" by The Globe and Mail in her original turn in I, Claudia - reprises the title role in her 2001 playwriting debut from April 24 - May 23 at the Young Centre.

This multi-award-winning show received two Dora Mavor Moore awards for its sold-out premiere at Tarragon Theatre in 2001. The debut was heralded with rave reviews, with the National Post describing the piece as "hilariously funny, totally unexpected and unimpeachably true", and the Toronto Star characterizing the show as "blissfully funny, unexpectedly touching...a must see." I, Claudia has since become an award-winning film, which received two Gemini Awards, an ACTRA award, two Canadian Comedy Awards, and was named by the Toronto International Film Festival Group as "one of the 10 best films of 2004."

Originally developed by Tarragon Theatre, this Crow's Theatre production is directed by Chris Abraham and features set and costumes by Julie Fox, and lighting design by Jeff Logue.

Previewing April 24, 2009, I, Claudia opens April 30 and runs until May 23 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 55 Mill Street, Building 49, in the Distillery Historic District. Tickets range from $20 - $35 and are available by calling the Young Centre box office at 416.866.8666 or online at youngcentre.ca.

Since 1983, Crow's Theatre has grown from a small artist-run company to an industry-leading producer, known across Canada for its innovation and artistic rigour. They have solidified this reputation through their lasting commitment to new Canadian work and the artists who create it, producing several of the country¹s seminal works.

The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is an award-winning, multi-venue performing arts facility located in the Distillery Historic District. Anchored by Soulpepper Theatre Company's year round season and George Brown College's Theatre School, the Young Centre is a home for Toronto's leading artists and arts organizations across all performance disciplines. The Young Centre presents the very best in theatre, dance, music and spoken word in a state-of-the-art setting.