An Artist Contemplates.

I had to share two piece of amazing-ness. The first is that we have a new member on a team named NICK CARPENTER. Nick is coming in town from MONTREAL to be our musical director. WOOP WOOP WOOPEE!!!!!! Nick is someone I worked with way back when I was in theatre school, and he also does work with Sarah and he is just generally, um, A GENIUS. So, one more genius added the our list.

Here is a PIC of Andrew and Nick at their first ever meeting in the world. They are going to be working together to help translate the BRILLIANT music for the BRILLIANT CHOIR.

Also. Here is an email I got from one of our choir members, Irena Kagansky. She has a copy of the play that I gave her to listen to. This was her unbelievable response:

Michael:

I could not help writing to you.

To come at the 'songs' for The Book of Judith from a level of
inexperience is eye-openning. This play tells the story
of what so many of us have felt, seen and heard;
and now others can hear it come to life!

I really have no words Michael...because this is beyond words...I want
to sing it, say it...right along with you...;0)
How different in context is the upcoming version of The Book of Judith going to be?

I am listening to the play now, and I can't help crying!
This project is so amazing, that, I am that much more honored to be a part of it!!
I am excited and moved to the core. Furthermore, as a writer, artist and theatre lover
I understand the tremendous value of the words, art and thought of this play.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

****

PRETTY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this is Michael again)

And, I leave you off, just for fun, of my new favourite picture of me and Sarah.

THE POSTER.

Ladies and Gentleman, behold the official poster for THE BOOK OF JUDITH

The Perfect Play

TWO WORDS: CHOIR REHEARSAL!!!!!!!

That's right. Today was our second choir rehearsal, and, as promised, here are some PHOTOS. WHAT? DID YOU THINK I WAS JOKING PEOPLE? WE HAVE A CHOIR!!!!!!

Here is ANDREW working with the Crusaders!




Sarah in the background, looking pensive and smart like always. Kimwun and Gwen focussing hard on the amazing music!


Erin (Andrew's wife. sorry ladies) in the back, with Wanda and Irena looking on.


Jeff and Kazume having a bit too much fun. COME ON GUYS, STAY FOCUSSED! (ha ha)


From Left to Right: Frank, Caleb, Jeff, Kazume, Erin, Wanda, Irena, Gwen's arms and legs, Kimwun' forearms. There were ten of us in total.




I took this "video" today of me singing during choir rehearsal. The video didn't work out, but the song did. Press play to hear a short clip of me singing THE PERFECT PLAY written by the perfect composer, Andrew Penner.

And, if you want to now WATCH me singing this, click below!

Overall, today was a very special day. Everyone is very excited. The night was capped off with Sarah and I going to SONIC BOOM to hear Andrew and his band, The Sunparlour Players, blow the socks off a room full of hipsters (and me and Sarah. but we are hip too, okay?!!!)

Poster coming SOON. Rehearsals starting SOON. Everything starting SOON. OH MY.

xomichael

Theatre Centre and CHOIR Rehearsal

This is me entering the Theatre Centre Party (thanks Becky Johnson for this fun pic!)

Some of you may have seen me at the Theatre Centre Party doing a small little bit from the play. It was only a short little piece, and although I was SUPER nervous, I think it ended up going fairly well, and people felt excited to hear more. I sang a short excerpt from one of the wonderful songs by Andrew.

WHAT A FANTASTIC PARTY.

It is a real honour to be the next big show for The Theatre Centre.

ALSO,

WE HAVE BEGUN SOME CHOIR REHEARSALS!

I wanted to take some video, and maybe I will, but I don't want to freak anybody out! I will DEFINITELY try to take some photos though so I can post them on here. I couldn't stay for the entire last rehearsal but from what I heard it was AMAZING! We had about 9 people there who are going to be singing in the choir, and MORE ARE COMING! Its been such a fantastic response. People are SUPER EXCITED to be in the choir, and everyone loves the music.

OH! THE POSTER IS COMING SOOOOOOOON.

And one last thing. I thought this was hilarious. A few years ago I was in a Bruce Willis movie called LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN and I found this picture online when I was googling myself. Hilarious, don't you think?



SEE YOU SOON

XOXOXO MICHAEL

IT CONTINUES!!!!

Well la dee da da da!

Today was a very exciting day. After a brief hiatus that took Andrew Penner to the recording studio to record the new Sunparlour Players Album, Sarah Stanley to Montreal to direct The AGE OF AROUSAL (great title) by Linda Griffiths, and me to focus on the SummerWorks Festival scripts and line-up, we have RE-CONVENED.

Today we sat in my living-room and we watch the recording of the reading that we did way-a-back-a-when, and it is still every bit as wonderful as we remembered it. The music is unbelievable, the play is fantastic, and for just a reading, I think I am doing a pretty bang-up job!

All plans are in place. We have a tent on hold that is going to be pitched on the FRONT LAWN AT CAMH (right next to the WORKMAN THEATRE). You'll see it going up on Sunday, May 10th. Can you believe it? I can't.

And once its up, we'll be in there, preparing the play.

More great updates to come. Sarah and I are meeting next week to do a bit more workshop and start putting this sucker up on its feet. Andrew is going back to work on filling out some of the music--and soon we start assembling the choir.

MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC.

Abilities!

Shalom!

Just wanted to share that we had an INCREDIBLE meeting with Abilities Canada (abilities.ca) about the show and they have agreed to post the blog on their website. They absolutely adored the idea for the show, and want to do whatever they can to bring my play and its message to as many people as possible. Judith Snow (yah!) will also have a blogged housed on the abilities website (and an article in their upcoming magazine! wowowowowow) so she can keep people filled in her on World Tour for Peace for Inclusion. Amazing! Check out Judith current blog: http://www.peaceforinclusion.blogspot.com/

The funniest part of the meeting with Abilities was when Eric Warner (our marketing and publicity guru) told me that I shouldn't chew gum in meetings. Hilarious. I was chewing my favourite gum (Cobalt blue) all throughout the meeting. Thanks Eric!!

We've almost got a LOCK on our tent, and the choir is coming together too. My excitement continues to build for my play. In the next few days I'm going to post an amazing little trailer video with some clips of Judith and me from the years past that I had been working with her. For those who don't know, I worked with Judith for about 4 years creating an incredible piece of theatre with her.

Here as an important video that I'd like to share with you. I made this video myself about a year or so ago to help with our grant proposals (all successful). Some of you may have already seen it, but if you haven't, here it is! And for those who may not also know, this was created back when we were called The Suck and Blow Collective (the good old days).

xox Michael

WORKSHOP COMPLETE!

Hi! We have just finished up a super-intense workshop for The Book of Judith. THREE WEEKS!!

PLEASE ENJOY THIS GREAT VIDEO THAT I MADE!




Don't forget about the choir! Being assembled as I write this. WOWOWOW.

This has truly been a blessed time for all involved, and I am thrilled and beyond excitement to share this play with all of you.

May 19 - 30. GET YOUR TICKETS! (I'm not sure how, but start bugging people at the theatre centre 416-534-9261)

The Beginning (MAKING A PLAY!)

Hello friends,

My name is Michael Rubenfeld.

Welcome to my blog.












This blog has been created primarily to fill you in on the upcoming production of my play, The Book of Judith, written by me, Michael Rubenfeld (w/Sarah Stanley) being performed in a TENT (!) on the ground of CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), May 19th-30th, 2008. The piece is a musical (all music composed by Andrew Penner of the Sunparlour Players!)

<------- THIS IS ANDREW (intense!)









The play is about a quadriplegic woman named Judith Snow and my experience creating theatre with her.

I met Judith about four years ago. After a very important first meeting, it was determined that together, we needed to create a piece of theatre. My play chronicles this remarkable journey, with music and celebration.

<--- JUDITH SNOW!!!!








All songs are sung by either myself or the 16 piece choir I have assembled.





The show is directed by the renowned, Sarah Stanely. For those of you who don't know her, GOOGLE HER. You won't be sorry.




<--- Sarah (awesome!)










Also joining us from ENGLAND is Alex Bulmer. For those of you who don't know, Alex once lived in Toronto, but moved to England, where she is currently working in theatre and television. She will be leading the choir, made up of members from the disability community and other guests. In fact, Alex, herself, is also blind.



<---- Alex! (cool!)






Please enjoy this first video, featuring me inviting you to my play.



And Also, here is a cool video of Andrew Penner working on one of the amazing songs for my play. Also in the video are Alex Bulmer, Sarah Stanley and Myself. Its a bit choppy because I filmed it on my computer.




Stay tuned for some other videos COMING SOON.

Also, please check out Judith Snow's Blog: http://www.peaceforinclusion.blogspot.com/