Play Play 1.0 Archive 2022-2024

Play Play: The Show

Hope in Hot Times - July 28, 2024

A clown physical theatre revue for weary people trying so hard. Themes of survival, connection, affordability, approval, gender, being seen, climate, war, and hope.

Sunday July 28th at Sweet Action Theatre, 180 Shaw St Toronto
6pm Show followed by Reception. Opening turns by Shanda Bezic, Trevor Copp, Scotty Kim.

Starring: Nash, Angelic, Adam, Chantal, Miranda, Kendra, Monica, Sue and special guest opening acts.

Directed by Janice Jo Lee

tickets

Creation Lab Spring 2024

Applications Closed

Play Play Creation Lab Spring 2024. Directed by Janice Jo Lee. May 6-June 3, 2024.  
Sweet Action Theatre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St #106

Lab 1 Mon May 6: 7-10pm (3h)
Lab 2 Sun May 12: 6-9pm (3h)
Lab 3 Mon May 20: 7-10pm (3h)
Lab 4 Sun May 26  6-9pm (3h)
Lab 5 Mon May 27: 7-10pm (3h)
Lab 6 June 2: 6-9pm (3h) =18 hours
Mon June 3: 7-10pm SHOW

This lab will have a strong focus on satire and bouffon.

In this creation lab, performers will co-create physical theatre vignettes in solos and as an ensemble. Play Play’s artistic method is based on the actor as clown and creator. The Clown: following your joy and pleasure, connection to your true spirit, being connected to your audience, commitment and complicity. The Creator: using our body as our instrument, our lives as our story archive from which we draw inspiration. Performers will be pushed to explore at the edges of their practice. Performers will improvise, use their bodies, their voices, write their own text, and create movement choreography. As an ensemble, we will experiment, stretch, and flop and arrive at listening and trust, where we move as one.

As storytellers, we will put up a mirror to our times, explore the beauty, absurdity and hypocrisy we are living through. We will create a show connected by theme, with scenes both stupidly profound and visually stunning.

Registration is limited to 10 performers at a sliding scale of $100-250. Payment plans available. Performers who are racialized and/or 2SLGBTQI+ are encouraged to register. Attendance is mandatory to stay in the Lab. We encourage artists who are taking theatre seriously (not recreationally) to attend.

What is Play Play?

Workshops for performers to play, stretch, flop, learn and grow

Play Play is a workshop series where we train live performers of all experience levels to be well-rounded in a wide variety of skills. We envision a theatre and clown community that is artistically interesting, politically relevant and invested in audience connection. We foster a community of diverse performers who are treated equitably. We aim to offer financially accessible professional training where artists feel they belong to a community.

Play Play started in September 2022 by Janice Jo Lee and Oliver Georgiou with a vision to offer a variety of performance training based in clown and improvisation. We brought in guest teachers and covered an array of topics such as: physical theatre, Viewpoints, voice, contact improv, melodrama, artist statements, and more.

In Spring 2023 Janice Jo Lee directed the first Creation Lab. The vision was to create theatre that matters in the world, using clown and physical theatre as a foundation. Ten performers created an ensemble and devised scenes together drawing from their skills and life experience. The Lab culminated in a final show which had movement, monologue, physical theatre storytelling, comedy and poetry. 

Two more Creation Labs ran in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 culminating in our shows The Heartcracker (Dec 2023) and Hope in Hot Times (July 2024).

We encourage people of all abilities and backgrounds to join Play Play. Folks who are 2SLGBTQI+, racialized, or have different physical abilities are especially encouraged to attend. Contact Janice if you have any questions.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY
Sweet Action Theatre has 3 HEPA filters and air conditioning. Performers may choose to wear a mask for the entire duration. Performers are asked to self-screen and stay home if feeling ill.

Sweet Action is a wheelchair accessible venue. Performers with access needs are invited to participate and contact Janice in advance.

PLAY PLAY COLLECTIVE 2024
Janice Jo Lee - Artistic Director
Adam Mohammed - Associate Producer and Graphic Designer
Angelic Goldsky - Artistic Associate
Kendra Ward - Artistic Associate
 

Email Janice

Play Play: The Show 2

THE HEARTCRACKER. A Ballet.
PLAY PLAY: The Show 2

Mon Dec 11, 2023. Doors 8:15pm. Show 8:30-9:30pm. Reception to follow.

How do you take off your armour?
The final show for the Play Play Creation Lab Fall 2023.  A one act physical theatre and clown performance. Themes of division, loss of innocence, and love.
The Ensemble: 
Fatma Ozbek, Kendra Ward, Angelic, Chantal Bassous, Adam Mohammed, Magdalena Borkowski, Jennifer McKinley, Srutika Sabu, Michael Higginson, Sue Carroll, Gibum Dante Lim

Directed by Janice Jo Lee and Stephanie Carpanini
Co-Producers/Volunteers: Adam Mohammed, Josh Bonnici

Tickets $15/25

ACCESSIBILITY:
- 3 HEPA filters
- Masks recommended
- Wheelchair accessible space (Please note in purchase to reserve a spot)
- Seats are padded folding chairs on risers. 
- Male/Female washrooms on 1st floor, Single stall washroom on 3rd floor
- Elevator
- Free street parking

Drop In Workshops, Fall 2023

Sept 11, 8-10PM: CLOWN AND PHYSICAL THEATRE with Janice Jo Lee
 Find your pleasure, follow your joy, listen and move as an ensemble 

Sept 18, 8-10PM: MELODRAMA with Stephanie Carpanini
Exploring the qualities and extremes of emotions through play 

Sept 25, 8-10PM: FANTASY AND DREAMSCAPES with Stephanie Carpanini
Favouring the image before the word. How to work cinematically on stage.  

Oct 2, 8-10PM: BOUFFON with Janice Jo Lee
The Art of Mockery and Satire. The Beauty of The Blasphemy. Make fun of someone to their face and have them love it.

There is no pre-registration. Entry is $15 or Pay What You Can at the door, via cash or card.

Play Play Creation Lab

Fall 2023

Sweet Action Theatre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St #106, Wheelchair accessible 
Creation lab: 8 creation workshops, 1 performance. 

In this creation lab, performers will co-create physical theatre vignettes in solos and as an ensemble. Play Play’s artistic method is based on the actor as clown and creator. The Clown: following your joy and pleasure, connection to your true spirit, being connected to your audience, commitment and complicity. The Creator: using our body as our instrument, our lives as our story archive from which we draw inspiration. Performers will be pushed to explore at the edges of their practice. Performers will improvise, use their bodies, their voices, write their own text, learn blocking and movement choreography. As an ensemble, we will experiment, stretch, and flop and arrive at listening and trust, where we move as one. 

As storytellers, we will put up a mirror to our times, explore the beauty, absurdity and hypocrisy we are living through. We will create a show connected by theme, with scenes both stupidly profound and visually stunning. 

SCHEDULE:
Oct 9, 8-10pm 
Oct 16, 8-10pm 
Oct 23, 8-10pm 
Oct 30, 8-10pm *Note time change
Nov 6, 8-10pm  *Note time change
Nov 13, 6-8pm  *Note time
Nov 20, 6-8pm 
Nov 27, 6-8pm 
Dec 4 Show 8pm, Actors called 6-10pm 
Dec 11 Potluck 7pm

REGISTRATION is closed.

Registration is limited to 10 performers at a sliding scale of $115-150. A few registration spots are reserved for Pay What You Can / Financial accessibility. Contact Janice regarding these spots or if you prefer to pay via E-Transfer, or in installments. 5 additional spots will always remain available for Drop-In performers at $15/Pay What You Can. Drop in performers are invited to be in the final show if they are prepared. Performers who are racialized and/or 2SLGBTQI+ are encouraged to register.