During the COVID-19 lockdowns, to deal with isolation and lack of live theatre, we started gathering some of our favourite people every Tuesday & Saturday night to read scripts over Zoom. We read all 38 Shakespeare plays in six months. Then we kept going. We decided to create mini-seasons featuring highlights from the canons of major writers across generations, plus a few bonus episodes thrown in.

All of our readings are available to enjoy as full videos on our YouTube page but we’re also releasing them in audio form so they can be accessed through your favourite podcast app.

Though our regularly scheduled programming has come to an end, the CCR troupe reunited on December 11, 2021 for an Indie Playwrights Marathon. Over the course of one afternoon/evening, we read three new (or new-ish) works from local Toronto independent playwrights, including two of our own troupe members. When I asked CCR mainstay Scott Garland if he had any writing projects he could submit for this event, he decided to write something brand new! The result is a goofy, love-filled parody of the Corona Cold Reads group with personalized roles for every cast member.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes so you don’t miss an episode. 

The Cast of The CCR Reunion:

Miriam B as Meermimam Bachwoman

Hilary Wartinger as Hallary Wartidinger

Laura Hubbard as Lurra Herberd

Torey Urquhart as Tori “with an I” Urquhart

Marlow Shaw as Karlow Maw/Another Aid

Basel Daoud as Babe-sel Daoud, Rando

Christopher Prentice as Christofure Prentice

Michael Ross Albert as Prisoner 24601A, the worst monster

Shalyn Bass McFaul as Shylern McFlyLern

Anne van Leeuwen as Lydia (she’s the worst)/Janne Van Fleeuwen/Yet Another Aid

Elizabeth Morriss as Elerzaberth Murs/Aid

Shawn Wilson as Shawn “Ashton Kutcher” Wildad/Guard

Nicole Falgoust as Nicole “Bartlett For America”

Saiya Floyd as Saiya Prime

Nicanor P Campos as Nicanur D Krampus

Stage Directions by Scott Garland

The post Corona Cold Reads: The CCR Reunion appeared first on My Entertainment World.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, to deal with isolation and lack of live theatre, we started gathering some of our favourite people every Tuesday & Saturday night to read scripts over Zoom. We read all 38 Shakespeare plays in six months. Then we kept going. We decided to create mini-seasons featuring highlights from the canons of major writers across generations, plus a few bonus episodes thrown in.

All of our readings are available to enjoy as full videos on our YouTube page but we’re also releasing them in audio form so they can be accessed through your favourite podcast app.

This episode marks the end of our 18-month run of weekly performances. We still gather periodically to read so there will be more Corona Cold Reads to come but this was the closing of our principal chapter as the world began to re-open to in-person events. As the finale to our Shaw Season, we chose a text that reminded us of the Shakespeare plays that brought us together in the first place, the epic Saint Joan.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes so you don’t miss an episode. 

The Cast of Saint Joan: 

Robert/Sentry/Ladvenu – Elizabeth Morriss

Steward/ The Page/The Executioner/The Soldier- Jessica G Smith

Joan- Laura Hubbard

Poulengey/The Inquisitor/The Gentleman- Thomas Gough

La Trémouille/D’Estivet- Olivia Jon

The Archbishop/The Chaplain- Miriam B

Bluebeard/Courcelles Hilary Wartinger

La Hire/Cauchon- Rebbekah Vega-Romero

Charles- Gaby Grice

The Duchess/Warwick- Shalyn Bass-McFaul

Dunois- Christopher Prentice

Stage Directions- Kelly Bedard

The post Corona Cold Reads: Saint Joan appeared first on My Entertainment World.

Before we announce the winners of our 2024 Critics’ Pick Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series.

I saw 40 plays at the 2024 Toronto Fringe Festival and my very favourite was a deeply strange clown two-hander about Albertan rats. Creative, heartfelt, and executed brilliantly, Rat Academy is a perfect example of why it’s important to take risks at the theatre, or at least at the Fringe. Nominated for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance, creator/star Dayna Lea Hoffmann joined the Nominee Interview Series to discuss the show, her craft, and talking with those crazy prosthetic teeth.

Check out this and all our other interviews and series on our podcast feed.

The post Nominee Interview Series: Dayna Lea Hoffmann appeared first on My Entertainment World.

Before we announce the winners of our 2024 Critics’ Pick Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series.

Bowtie Productions is one of Toronto’s most promising young companies. Specializing in intimate and complex musical theatre, Bowtie produced two of the nominated shows in this year’s Critics’ Pick Awards. In addition to Taylor Long’s nomination for their spring production of Falsettos, Bowtie scored two nods for their ambitious fall show Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Outstanding Production and Outstanding Performance for Jessie James). We caught up with Artistic Director Meredith Shedden and Executive Director Ian Kowalski, who also directed and produced the shows respectively, to chat about taking on the massive project of Hedwig and their knack for finding the right talent.

Check out this and all our other interviews and series on our podcast feed.

The post Nominee Interview Series: Bowtie Productions appeared first on My Entertainment World.

Before we announce the winners of our 2024 Critics’ Pick Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series.

One of the most refreshing and memorable theatre pieces of 2024, Circlesnake Productions’ 13 Plays About ADHD All At the Same Time is nominated for Outstanding New Work, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Production. We caught up with four of the five cast members Jon Blair, Danny Pagett, Chloé Sullivan, & Jillian Welsh and their director Alec Toller to discuss how the play came together and the vulnerability of performing such an honest piece.

Check out this and all our other interviews and series on our podcast feed.

The post Nominee Interview Series: The Ensemble of 13 Plays About ADHD All At the Same Time appeared first on My Entertainment World.

Before we announce the winners of our 2024 Critics’ Pick Awards, we’re proud to present our annual Nominee Interview Series.

Stratford Festival stalwart Steve Ross not only had the season of his career at the festival this past summer, appearing in Something Rotten and taking on the flashy starring role in La Cage aux Folles, but he also had a hit down the road with Here For Now Theatre as his autobiographical play 12 Dinners was a highlight of that fast-growing company’s season. Steve is part of our first ever slate of Artist of the Year nominees (usually it’s a standalone award announced with the winners) and we’re thrilled he took the time to chat with us about his incredible 2024.

Check out this and all our other interviews and series on our podcast feed.

The post Nominee Interview Series: Steve Ross appeared first on My Entertainment World.

The Toronto Fringe Festival runs July 3-14 at locations throughout the city.

We’ll be on site reviewing as much as we possibly can so be sure to check back at MyEntertainmentWorld.ca as well as @MyEntWorld on Instagram to read all our reviews as they’re published.

In the meantime, we asked the artists to send us their best show pitch for a taste of what there is to look forward to at the festival this year. Check out our audio preview below or on our podcast feed and get excited for twelve days of theatre magic and madness.

Read more about the productions and book your tickets at fringetoronto.com.

The post Toronto Fringe Preview 2024 appeared first on My Entertainment World.

Our annual Baseball Roundtable Podcast returns, previewing the 2024 season for the Toronto Blue Jays.

This year’s panel consists of Jays superfan Melissa Wright and Sky Dome insider Luis Fernandes, alongside returning villain die-hard Yankees fan Chris Behmke who shares his outsider take on the Jays and predictions for his own beloved team.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to the My Entertainment World podcast on Apple Podcasts

The post MLB Roundtable, 2024 appeared first on My Entertainment World.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, to deal with isolation and lack of live theatre, we started gathering some of our favourite people every Tuesday & Saturday night to read scripts over Zoom. We read all 38 Shakespeare plays in six months. Then we kept going. We decided to create mini-seasons featuring highlights from the canons of major writers across generations, plus a few bonus episodes thrown in.

All of our readings are available to enjoy as full videos on our YouTube page but we’re also releasing them in audio form so they can be accessed through your favourite podcast app.

This episode features our cold reading of Jean Anouilh’s beautiful Antigone, the finale of our season of modern Greek adaptations.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes so you don’t miss an episode. 

The Cast of Antigone:

Chorus/ Third Guard- Gaby Grice

Nurse/ Second Guard/Messenger- Claudia Liz

Antigone- Nicole Falgoust

Creon- Christopher Prentice

Ismene/Page- Shruti Kothari

Haemon/Guard – Shawn Wilson

Stage Directions- Elizabeth Morriss

The post Corona Cold Reads: Jean Anouilh’s Antigone appeared first on My Entertainment World.

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, to deal with isolation and lack of live theatre, we started gathering some of our favourite people every Tuesday & Saturday night to read scripts over Zoom. We read all 38 Shakespeare plays in six months. Then we kept going. We decided to create mini-seasons featuring highlights from the canons of major writers across generations, plus a few bonus episodes thrown in.

All of our readings are available to enjoy as full videos on our YouTube page but we’re also releasing them in audio form so they can be accessed through your favourite podcast app.

This episode features our cold reading of Sarah Ruhl’s gorgeous take on the myth of Eurydice as part of our Modern Greeks season.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes so you don’t miss an episode. 

The Cast of Eurydice:

Eurydice- Saiya Floyd

Father- Weldon Goree

Orpheus- Mark Kreder

A Nasty Interesting Man- Laura Hubbard

The Lord of the Underworld- Shalyn Bass-McFaul

Big Stone- Elizabeth Morriss

Little Stone- Melissa Wright

Loud Stone- Nicole Falgoust

Stage Directions- Christopher Prentice

The post Corona Cold Reads: Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice appeared first on My Entertainment World.