Irene G.

Monologues for teens and youth @ Toronto Public Libary

April 4, 2011 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

Are you a teen with an audition?  Are you a teacher needing monologue ideas for young student actors? It can be tough finding monologues for teens but the Performing Arts Department at the Toronto Reference Library can help.  Here are a few suggestions:   Actor's choice: Monologues for teens: Features both modern and historical pieces  […]

Audition script for “Yellow Face” by David Hwang – now available to read at the Toronto Reference Library

December 1, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

The play "Yellow Face" by the award-winning American playwright David Henry Hwang is on audition for Hart House Theatre.  The script is now available to read at the Performing Arts Desk on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library. Auditions will be held on December 1st and 2nd, 2010, at Hart House. Callbacks are […]

Moliere’s comic masterpiece “The Misanthrope” at Toronto Public Library

November 27, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

Join us for a free discussion of Molière's greatest comedy, "The Misanthrope", with Andrew Lamb, Director of Education and Outreach at Tarragon Theatre. The talk takes place on Monday, November 29, 7-8 p.m. in the Beeton Auditorium at the Toronto Reference Library. The new adaptation of this classic work is by British playwright Martin Crimp, […]

Native Drum, Songs and Dance @ Toronto Reference Library, Wednesday, Nov 3, 2pm

November 1, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

Join us for a free dancing, singing and drumming performance by the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto on Wednesday, November 3, 2-3pm in the Beeton Auditorium of the Toronto Reference Library. Discussion will follow about the drum and the songs heard during the presentation and about the importance of culture and language preservation for Indigenous […]

Death of a Salesman @ Toronto Public Library

October 30, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

Join us for a free lecture on the play "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller. Paula Wing, Associate Artist, Soulpepper Theatre Company will discuss this award-winning work on Monday, November 1, 7-8 pm in the Beeton Auditorium at the Toronto Reference Library. This new production of Death of a Salesman, directed by Albert Schultz […]

The music of Richard Wagner

April 17, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (1)

In my last blog post I looked at books about the Wagner family, Wagnerian Opera and Bayreuth. In this post I want to look at some of the audio-visual material the Library has on this subject. The following DVDs are of the controversial 1976 centennial staging of the complete Ring Cycle, directed by Patrice Chereau […]

Music Scores + Auditions = Rock of Ages Musical

April 7, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (1)

The Toronto Star published an article by Richard Ouzounian yesterday on the upcoming musical Rock of Ages (April 6, 2010 Section E p1,5). Did you know that many performers who auditioned for Rock of Ages used the extensive collection of scores, CDs and monologues at the Performing Arts Department of the Toronto Reference Library?  Did […]

Wolfgang Wagner and Bayreuth

April 1, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

Wolfgang Wagner , grandson of composer Richard Wagner, died March 21 2010 aged 90.  For over 40 years he was the sole director of the Bayreuth Festival, Germany's premier opera festival. Focussing on the operatic works ofhis grandfather Wolfgang successfully managed the re-branding of Wagnerian opera, the Wagner family and Bayreuth after the close ties […]

Stella Adler & Acting Methods and Yiddish Theatre

March 23, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

It may be my imagination but when I saw Jack McFarland's acting teacher Zandra Zoggin for first time on Will and Grace my thoughts went to Stella Adler.  The mannerisms, the voice, the body language – were the writers doing an homage to the great Stella Adler ?  Was the McFarland Method a sly jab at the Method […]

The Stanislavski System and Method Acting

January 21, 2010 | Irene G. | Comments (0)

It's ironic how Constantin Stanislavski, likely the most influential 20th century acting teacher, was forced to hide his chosen profession from his wealthy family due to the shame associated with actors and the theatre in 19th century Tsarist Russia.   Stanislavski (1833-1938) lived during an exceptionally turbulent period of  Russian history. It was also a time of great technological change including the introduction […]