Itching for Change

I've officially been staying in Ottawa since the last week of November. Although in December I took a quick day trip to Toronto and, eventually, got to spend 3 days in Moncton at home with my family for the holidays, this is the longest I have been in any one location in almost a year. It's been good, necessary actually. My body crashed and burned by the end of November and I needed the time to rest and recuperate. It's also been very nice to enjoy the little things, like having clothes in a closet instead of a suitcase and cooking my own meals.

But I'm anxious to get going now. This Ottawa winter has been particularly brutal and I just can't take it anymore. Years ago, my doctor told me I had Seasonal Affective Disorder. I was once on anti-depressants but I didn't like it. The past few winters, however, had been very mild and a healthy dose of vitamin D was all I needed to cope, but this? Ottawa, this is just too much. No matter what Rick Mercer has to say about it:

I've got 2 more performances of Pop Fiction coming up and the very next morning I fly out to Vancouver. I'll be working with my documentary partners and recording more material for the trailer while I'm out there. Then I'll hop right back to Ottawa before heading out on my first vacation in ages.

I. Can't. Wait.

Pop Fiction

Aliens are coming, but shhhhhhh! Don't tell anyone. Let me back up a bit.

Last October-November, when I knew all my work contracts were over and was in a bit of a "what do I do now" spiral, I got a lovely offer to work with a French production company in Ottawa called Groupe des deux. G2 is neat because they do that thing all artists should probably do more of: they take their time. I think this is pretty normal behaviour in the French theatre community, but I so rarely see it in English. G2 can take up to a few years to develop a new work from the initial idea phase, through a series of workshops and labs, all the way up to the production itself.

Which brings me back to Pop Fiction.

Pop Fiction is a whole new concept that brings together fiction and pop in order to foster communication between people. The show, through phenomenal means, dives deep into the communication problems of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Pop Fiction, as it ponders grave and touching topics, nevertheless finds a way to make you laugh from the beginning to the end!

FYI, that right there? Is just a hoax! What I can’t tell you is that this is in fact the first contact with a species from outer space... but sshh...  don't tell anyone or, we could all be in danger... 

Yup. Aliens.

I came in late into the process for Pop Fiction, but let me tell you, I have seen these aliens with my own eyes and it is one of the most spectacular sights I have ever witnessed on any indie Ottawa theatre stage. I would show you photos, but the government confiscated my phone... Chances are they may delete this message now that I've posted it so you need to act quick if you want to be in on what is sure to be a global phenomenon! Tickets are $15 in advance through Eventbrite, but $20 at the door.

"But Nancy," I hear you say (and why are you yelling at your computer?) "didn't you just say the play was in French? I don't understand French."

Worry pas ta tête, mon ami.

This is actually a co-lingual production. Yes, after all this time wanting to work with a French theatre company, I am speaking English... sort of... again, I can't spoil anything, you just kind of have to be there. If you have a very basic understanding of French, you will be able to follow along and, trust me, the visuals will be worth it. Oh and if my presence isn't enough for you, the English contingent is also represented by the incredibly talented, multi-Rideau award nominated, Michelle LeBlanc, and the whole thing is co-director by the wonderful Natalie Joy Quesnel.

So, get your tickets, bring your headphones, or use the ones provided for you by the theatre (yup, you'll be using headphones... I'd tell you more, but if I did the government would shut down the internet...) and get your butt down to Arts Court for an experience you're not likely to forget.

Pop Fiction runs from January 22 to February 1st (Wed to Sat) at 8 p.m. at Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave., Ottawa.

New Year, Same Story, New Beginnings

Wow! 2014! You're looking pretty amazing if I do say so myself.

And what is looking to be so amazing about 2014, you ask? EVERYTHING!

Let's start at the beginning, shall we? Today I'm back into rehearsals for Pop Fiction. A wicked new work in both French and English that is sure to impress. I can't say much more than that for now, but stay tuned for future blog posts. The show runs from January 22nd to February 1st at the Arts Court Theatre Studio.

I've also just launched the new website for Roller Derby Saved My Soul. It's still a work in progress, so feedback is appreciated, but I am super proud to finally have that little gem out there in the world. And speaking of RDSMS, in 2014 I will be taking on my biggest tour to date: 8 cities, possibly more, from Orlando to Vancouver from May to September. And and and if THAT wasn't enough, I will be creating a documentary of the tour. Again, more on that in another post, but I am thrilled to announce that, yes this documentary is happening!

Are you excited yet?

But wait, there's more!

I have a birthday this year. I know, I know, I have one every year, but this is a bit of a landmark one, one of the last landmarks for a while: my Jesus year. I never do anything special for my birthday. I never really bothered, but this year the timing is just too perfect to ignore. My birthday is in May, a mere week or two before I head out to the Orlando Fringe. So, to everyone in Ottawa (Yes, everyone! Someone call the mayor!) you are invited to one heck of a party where, for one night only, you will get to see the newest version of Roller Derby Saved My Soul - I'm taking new sound design, new choreography, new set - and then we will party like I'm turning 33. More details to come, but think of this as your official save the date for May 3rd. All proceeds will go to help finance the tour and the aforementioned documentary.

I did say there would probably be more than 8 cities to this tour. I guess that makes 9.

Oh and for those of you who remember Dolores, well that one is still on the table too. I'm still in talks for venues & festivals, so keep an eye out for that. We will also be going into pre-production for a film based on my translation of the script.

I'm excited. I'm very excited, but I know I have to be careful and pace myself. I've spent the past month working from home. I love it. I absolutely do. But I've noticed how easy it is for me to just sit at my computer doing work and not taking a break since I don't have to go anywhere. This is how burnout begins. I suffered one towards the end of 2013 and I definitely don't want to go through that again. Having staff is going to help, but going on vacation in February is probably going to help more. I'm going to Thailand and for the first time since... ever, I'm going to be off the grid for a whole three weeks. No work. No thinking about work. Just taking care of myself.

And when it comes to 2014, this is just the stuff I know about. I wonder what other surprises and adventures are in store for me? Let's find out together, shall we?

What's Next? Back to Ottawa

About a week ago, over coffee with a friend, I mentioned how great it was to know what I was going to be doing with my summer, but that I had no clue what I would be doing for the next couple of months. No sooner stated that I arrived home to the following Facebook message from a friend and colleague: "Hey, are you still in Ottawa?" Me: "Kind of." (Which isn't a lie as I no longer have a home base and, let's be honest, did I ever really leave Ottawa?)

Turns out my friend had lost an actor for an upcoming play he was producing and he wanted to know if I would be available to take over. Now, this is a guy I have been dying to work with for quite some time now, so saying yes was a no brainer. Not only that, the play is in French, fulfilling a life-long dream of working professionally in my native tongue in a show that I did not have to produce myself... even though it turns out I may actually be speaking in English for most of it. Did I say the play was in French? It's actually a bilingual play.

It's a new creation by a local Ottawa company called le Groupe des 2. The show is called Pop Fiction and it has been a few years in the making. I don't know how much I can say, because I don't want to spoil the story, but it's a very cool project with a sci-fi bent that makes my inner nerd-girl squeeee. It will play at the end of January at Arts Court in Ottawa with rehearsals starting at the end of November.

Basically, this means I'm moving back to Ottawa until at least early February. I have a place lined up with some very cool theatre folks and, after almost a year on the road, I can't say I'm not excited to stop in one place, even for just a few months - though I already have plans to head to New York City again and will be visiting family back in New Brunswick over the Holidays, so my hobosapien ways will still be nourished.

If you would like to know more about the show, I recommend you check out the Indiegogo Campaign they've got going on (and maybe even donate a few dollars to the cause). Like I said, it's a super cool concept, but it does need the funds in order to pull it off, so every little bit helps.

In the meantime, Ottawa, get yourself ready. I'm coming home.