NEWS! “Tobacco Troubadour” goes on the road. Three shows over two days in the heartland of tobacco country: Fri July 3 at 8 pm and Sat July 4 at 3 pm and 8 pm, 2009 at the Backstage Capitol Theatre 93 King St., Delhi, Ontario, 519-582-7272. Click the thumbnail for a larger image.
Click here for a full-sized pdf of the Delhi poster. tobacco_troubadour_poster_delhi
Tobacco Troubadour is a musical play set in Ontario’s tobacco belt in the early 1960s. It begins as a concert by J.P. Riemens and the Barflies, a hot country rock and swing band from Hamilton. When J.P. starts to reminisce about his childhood on a tobacco farm, the actors of the Artword Ensemble bring his words to life. They enact a bitter-sweet love story about two young people – Paul and Emily – who grow up together working in tobacco. The story is based onJ.P.’s own experiences, both in the tobacco fields and on the road as a working musician. Read the rest of this entry »
Click to read Brian Morton’s review in View Magazine
Some highlights:
. . . all of them do excellent work giving balanced and committed performances playing multiple characters . . .
. . . the high point to me was [Tanis] MacArthur’s excellent performance as Emily . . . Read the rest of this entry »
Click here for a pdf of the program for the Hamilton run of Artword Theatre’s production of “Tobacco Troubadour”.
Artword Theatre’s fourth show in its 2008-2009 Hamilton season.
Tobacco Troubadour, a new play about growing up in tobacco country and its lively dance hall scene,
based on the songs of J.P. Riemens, with script and direction by Ronald Weihs, produced and designed by Judith Sandiford
Performed by the Artword Theatre Ensemble:
Paula Grove, Tanis MacArthur, Gordon Odegaard, Ryan Sero. (rehearsal photo right)
Music performed J.P. Riemens & The Barflies Read the rest of this entry »
Artword’s new show Tobacco Troubadour, tells the story of a musician in the making, as he grows up in tobacco country. The story weaves in and around a number of songs composed by JP Riemens.
The story is a rich and colourful history of strong-willed individuals with a great capacity for survival – survival with style, pride and a great sense of fun. They worked hard and played hard. The parties on a Saturday night are legendary. Read the rest of this entry »
The fourth show in Artword’s 2008-2009 season in Hamilton is Tobacco Troubadour, a new play based on the songs and stories of J.P. Riemens (of J.P.Riemens and The Barflies), about growing up in Ontario’s tobacco country and its lively dance hall scene. The other shows are: Sunamabeach, a new show by Charly Chiarelli, an irreverent look at Hamilton, March 25 to April 5. You Are What You Do, an original musical by Ronald Weihs celebrating the lives of working people, launched the season in October 2008 to rave reviews and remounted in December. Rascals and Numskulls (Feb 12 to 22, 2009), a now original work written and directed by Ronald Weihs, tells the thrlling adventures of Robert Land spy for the British in the American Revolution, friend of Mohawk leader Joseph Brant, United Empire Loyalist, first white settler in Hamilton, performed by the Artword Theatre Ensemble, with music by Gary Santucci.
Artword Theatre, the creative team of director Ronald Weihs and designer Judith Sandiford, has been producing original theatre since 1993. Until 2006, Weihs and Sandiford operated a facility (Artword Theatre and Artword Gallery) in downtown Toronto, when their theatre was closed to make way for a condo. After 12 years in downtown Toronto, Artword has pulled up stakes, moved to Hamilton and teamed up with Gary Santucci and Barbara Milne at The Pearl Company.
The Pearl Company is an arts and performance facility owned by guitarist and composer Gary Santucci and arts activist Barbara Milne, located at 16 Steven Street in the heart of the Landsdale neighbourhood of downtown Hamilton. Renovated in 2006, the facility has devoted two of its three floors to the arts. The Pearl Company has launched a number of arts initiatives, including the well-known Art Bus two Fridays a month, the Opus Mundi Festival, theatre workshops and productions, concerts and events and outdoor festivals. For more information about The Pearl Company, visit www.thepearlcompany.ca.
Ron Weihs, Artistic Director, and Judith Sandiford, Managing Director, welcome you to Artword Theatre's Hamilton season . Call Artword at 905-548-0341.
Email: artword@artword.net