Bleeding Heart Theatre Presents A DOG AT FEAST by Michelle Deines

From the company that brought you last year's fringe hit The Fighting Season comes a workshop production of Michelle Deines' new play A Dog at A Feast. Three theatre professionals: a jaded critic, a depressed artistic director, and a star actor collide in this snappy dark comedy that examines the relationship between art and criticism. Directed by Bleeding HeArt Theatre's award winning Artistic Director Evan Frayne, Assistant Directed bySusie Coodin starring Alison Kelly, Barbara Tomasic, and Lisa Goebel. Playing Sep 9 - 8pm, Sep 10 - 5:45pm, Sep 11 - 3pm, Sep 12 - 10:45pm, Sep 14 - 8pm, Sep 15 - 6pm, Sep 16 - 10:45pm, Sep 17 - 1pm at Carousel Theatre, 1411 Cartwright Street. For tickets ($14) visit vancouverfringe.com

Vancouver, BC - This dark comedy about the nature of criticism is a surefire fringe hit. Diane is a jaded arts critic who glories in writing bloodthirsty reviews for the shows she thinks are sub-standard-which are most of them. Maya is an up-and-coming starlet who has been on a string of luck and therefore sees nothing but possibility. Janet is a veteran of the whole scene who has sees things exactly as they are, and is therefore thoroughly depressed. While Diane is preparing for her next big piece, Janet asks her to be involved in a new project that unwittingly forces Diane to face her biggest fear: a return to the public eye. A dark comedy, A Dog at a Feast examines the power of the fear of judgement, and how we are all our own worst critics.

Michelle Deines is an award-winning writer, producer, and director. Her plays include I am the Bastard Daughter of Engelbert Humpderdinck (Jessie Nomination), which The Vancouver Suncalled, "A lot of fun and with a poignancy that is well earned. Humperdinck should be proud!", and Ghosts in Baghdad (Jessie Nomination) which won the Special Merit Award in Theatre BC's 2013 Playwriting Competition. She is Co-Artistic Producer of Working Spark Theatre and holds and MFA in Creative Writing from UBC. Bleeding HeArt Theatre is an award winning artist run, project based company whose production of The Fighting Season won the 2015 Georgia Straight Critics Choice Award and the 2015 Culchivating the Fringe Award. Nominated for Jessies for his work as an actor and director, Evan Frayne is the founding artistic director of Bleeding HeArt Theatre. He has recently directed The Amish Project, The Fighting Season, The Foreigner, and Mother Teresa is Dead. A recipient of the Sam Payne Award for Most Promising Newcomer, Evan is currently in his final year of the MFA in Directing program at UBC.

"The Fighting Season is cause for celebration." | Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight. "Evan Frayne will be one to watch in the coming years." | Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents. "Deines weaves an intricate tale of intrigue and suspense, and blends in with a heart-breaking sense of humanity and desperation." | The Vancouverist

A Dog at at Feast is Written by Michelle Deines, Directed by Evan Frayne, Assistant Directed by Susie Coodin, Featuring Alison Kelly, Barbara Tomasic & Lisa Goebel, Production Design by Shelby Bushell, Composition & Sound Design by Julie Casselman, Stage Management by Megan Lai.