The Pearl Company

DeMure Productions Presents: Dirty Dancing: The Burlesque! Saturday, June 15. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $25 advance, $30 at door unless sold out. (Note: Tickets sold by event organizer; see below.) An All Star Cast of some of Burlesque and Vaudeville’s finest, paying homage to (arguably) one of the greatest movies of our time! ‘Dirty Dancing’.  Performances by: El Toro, Mizzy Thrasher, Red Herring, Bella Barecatt, The Mansfield Brothers, Tahitia Belle Fille, Lucky Minx, Lucky Fremont, Knox Harter, Faeya Tal, Liv Vicariously, London Bridges. Kitten: Whiskey Sour; Emcee: Madam Poynter. All music performed by: Ben Payne and The Cornered Babies
Sponsored by: Playground Conference 2013, DeMure School of Burlesque, Toronto School of Burlesque, Oshawa Laser Supply, Conspiracy Comics, Phoenix Design and Photography, Copy Dog, Homegrown Hamilton.
Win!! Win!! WIN!! Prizes, raffles, amazing entertainment! (Passes for two to Playground Conference 2013, A private Burlesque lesson from DeMure School of Burlesque, Tickets to upcoming burlesque shows, Comic swag, Delicious treats, Autographed memorabilia, And amazing giveaways by our fabulous sponsors! See Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf0_97qrSgU&feature=youtu.be
Get Tickets: http://dirtydancingburlesque-es2.eventbrite.ca/?rank=1

40 Tiny Performances at the Pearl Company: Saturday, June 1. Doors: 7:30. Show: 8:00. $15/$12 Students/Seniors/Artists. Bringing together 40 of Hamilton’s finest performers from the world of theatre, dance, spoken word, comedy and music for a night of art, creativity and fun!  40 performers have 90 seconds to sing, dance, emote, rant, juggle, joke, or do whatever they please.  Curated by multidisciplinary artist Lisa Pijuan-Nomura.  ”40 Tiny” is a night not to be missed. Where else would you find such an amazing cross-section of talent from across the Toronto/Hamilton corridor!  And who is this Lisa Pijuan-Nomura? She’s a multidisciplinary tornado who is using all her connections to pull together a night of creativity that can never be duplicated.  Talent displaying talent displaying talent. You must be a witness.  Web: www.girlcancreate.com  Blog;  www.girlcancreate.blogspot.com

Perspective: Monday, April 22 to Wednesday 24. 7:00 pm. $8 at the door. Four students are being interrogated one week after a school shooting. The second shooting suspect has gone missing and they are the only ones who know where he is. They each take turns telling their stories and in the process discover the shooter’s motive, and one shocking revelation. This play, written and directed by student Jamie Kasiama, an aspiring writer, spoken-word artist, and former co-op student at The Pearl, is a labour of love and determination against some unexpected odds. She has overcome, and is proudly presenting a work that will, you can be sure, cause us to rethink a few attitudes toward the multinational, multiply-challenged students of today. ” Jamie blew me away with her spoken-word presentations; I expect to have the same reaction to her play.” Barbara

The HamilTEN Festival: April 12 & 13, 14.  $15 / $10 students/all artists.  HamilTEN is a festival of ten minute plays by playwrights from Hamilton and surrounding areas. A ten minute play is a streak of theatrical lightning. It doesn’t last long but it should hit its mark! The festival is now in its second year and they are back at The Pearl Company with something for everyone; a little drama, some comedy, with a bit of improv to spice things up. Tickets can be ordered at 416-524-0606 or info@thepearlcompany.ca (or you can show up and pay cash at the door…). See Gary Smith’s write-up in the Spec: http://www.thespec.com/whatson/article/915250–hamilten-play-festival-explores-10-minute-genre-in-second-season Questions? Email,  hamiltenfestival@gmail.com hamiltenfestival.blogspot.ca

Show times:
Friday, April 12 @ 8pm
Saturday, April 13 @ 8pm
Sunday, April 14 @ 2pm

See the “The Plays” tab for all the information re what’s playing!

Week One:

Thursday, Jan. 31   7:30 pm – Actionable: Bob Wiseman
Thursday, Jan. 31   9:00 pm – Trashmen’s Dilemma: New Fangled Stages 
Friday, Feb. 1   7:30 pm – 11 Times: Krista McNaughton
Friday, Feb. 1  9:00 pm – Actionable: Bob Wiseman
Saturday, Feb. 2   7:30 pm – Trashmen’s Dilemma: New Fangled Stages
Saturday, Feb. 2   9:00 pm - 11 Times: Krista McNaughton

Week Two:

Thursday, Feb. 7   7:30 pm – Trashmen’s Dilemma: New Fangled Stages
Thursday, Feb. 7   9:00 pm – 11 Times: Krista McNaughton
Friday, Feb. 8  7:30 pm – 11 Times: Krista McNaughton
Friday, Feb. 8  9:00 pm –  Actionable: Bob Wiseman
Saturday, Feb. 9  7:30 pm –   Actionable: Bob Wiseman
Saturday, Feb. 9   9:00 pm –  Trashmen’s Dilemma: New Fangled Stages

Corin Raymond & The Sundowners w Wax Mannequin: The CD Release for Paper Nickels! Friday, January 25, 8:00. $15/$10 artists/students.  He’s done it folks! Corin’s magnificent quest across the country collecting Canadian Tire $$$ has come to CD fruition! Here’s a direct quote from Corin about ‘Paper Nickels’: “First of all, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen, like nothing anyone could possibly expect. It defies all the rules of CD manufacture. It’s a thing of beauty for its own sake, an objet d’art, and so full of life and love that it’s as if my living heart has disguised itself as an album package. It sounds warm and wooden and alive. It’s full of flesh and heart tones and laughter and soul food. Not just live music, but living music.” It is essentially a manuscript with music! Most of you know Corin as a Pearl favourite; a wonderful, warm human being whose songwriting talent is impressive and whose personality charms, captivates, and thoroughly entertains.  He is also the guy whose play “Bookworm” was an audience favourite at Fringes everywhere this past summer and at The Pearl last winter. “Corin Raymond, to me… is just a giant ‘F – you’ to mediocrity.” C.R. Avery “Corin Raymond is a storyteller who by the end of the night you’ll have known all your life” –Brad Wheeler, The Globe and Mail  http://www.dontspendithoney.com Wax Mannequin: “Part wandering minstrel, part rock animal, Wax Mannequin combines a fine sense of prog-rock parody with intense sincerity and lyrical smarts. He will indoctrinate you with chilling harmonies, absurd lyrics and the almighty power of the guitar http://www.waxmannequin.com

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Stories for Grownups! A Dr. Seuss Burlesque Tribute: SOLD OUT. Friday, January 18. 8:00pm. Have you ever wondered what Yertle looked like under that shell? You loved the stories when you were young, admit it, you still love them now! Here is your chance to enjoy them again, even though you’re all grown up. There was a naughtier side to these stories, and they’re going to show it to you! What better way to warm up on a cold winter night? This is just what the Dr. ordered. TICKETS!!!! $15 ahead or $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://grownupstories.eventbrite.ca/ Or at Salon Dior (659 Upper James, Hamilton) or contact one of the performers.

Performances by:
Mz Kitty DeMure
Lucky Fremont
Bella Barecatt
The Mansfield Brothers
Red Herring
Bianca Boom Boom
Miss Helvetica Bold
Kinky Bizket
The lovely Stage Kitten, Miss Taylor Tatas

Emcee extraordinaire: Madam Poynter
Special Musical Guests: Burnin’ Ethyl
The Feisty Jack will be on site selling booze infused Seuss Cupcakes. Mmm…
Prizes, raffles and more!

The Quarterly: A Night of Live Performance: Saturday, December 8. 8:00pm. Tickets: $18 Adults or $15 Students/Seniors/Artists. An impressive night of performance from some of the finest in Theatre, Dance, Comedy and Music! Curated and hosted by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura, The Quarterly is a celebration of artists taking chances with their art, and looking to share with others!
The December edition features the talent of
Meagan O’Shea- Dance Theatre
Gary Santucci – Music
Chris Gibbs – Comedy
Sarah Beatty – Singer Songwriter
Elysium Tribal Dance- Belly Dance
Hosted by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura: For inquiries please contact Lisa at lisa@girlcancreate.com

C.R. Avery & The Madison 22 Review: Live at The Pearl: The 5-person East Van wrecking crew! Thursday, November 15. Tickets for this Sensational Spectacle are: Adults: $20 (adv)/$25 (door) Students: $15 (adv)/$20 (door). Doors at 7:30pm. Show at 8:00pm.
The masterful outlaw Hip-Hop harmonica-playing, beat-box poetics of C.R. Avery meets with the tasteful art of Hot Burlesque, in a performance, the likes of which you will have never witnessed before! Toss into the mix some dirty 12-Bar Blues and you’ve got C.R. Avery & The Madison 22 Review…all the way from Canada’s West Coast! C.R. Avery is a unique, raw and dynamic performer. His genius lies in many genres – blues, hip-hop, spoken word and rock & roll. His incredible live performances have been described as Bob Dylan in the body of Iggy Pop….  Every show is all or nothing and his fearless approach to all genres of music both on stage and in the studio proves the longevity of this talented, astonishing creator who has so much more to come. www.cravery.com

The Canadian Improv Showcase (CiS): Saturday October 13. 8:00 pm. Tickets: $15 general, $10 for kids/seniors (group rates available). I am just going to use View Magazine’s superb review of this group when they played our theatre festival this past summer: Tom Macken says it just too well!
“Improv is theatre before you have to learn lines. It’s the matrix to muck about in with your acting shoes and see how good you are. A genius at mucking about this way is Matt Lawrence who operates The Canadian Improv Showcase, and he’s brought five of the same ilk to Hamilton. Risky? Oh boy, you bet, but these remarkable performers are nothing if not high–wire walkers with no safety net….. They’re huge, all of six of them, in talent, invention, energy, timing, knife–sharp wit….and that’s only five of the qualities they generate.…. Effortless excellence in falling–about–just–plain–funny is Tony Babcock doing a take on a talk–show host or a deliriously hilarious famous mayor from not far down the road.  Sneaking up on you with unexpected witty resources is Nkasi Olgbonnah as a mousy Spanish bull–fighter, and all unsuspectingly, Carmen Gillespie transforms in a nanosecond to an honest–to–god Montreal Canadien hockey grunt. Matt Lawrence MCs the whole. He is perfect in his relaxed and sure–footed experience, a natural improv. Add a prop or two to any of them and the moment is simple gladness to see.” V (TM) www.canadianimprovshowcase.com

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The Pearl Company & Northern Lights Theatre Company Present: The Pearl Company Canadian Theatre Festival: Aug 16-18, 23-25. Theatre That Will Astound You! Buy Your Tickets Now – $15.  Pay cash at door or use Paypal on the Buy Tickets tab above.
Shows: Love, Loss & Leonard (Fevergraph); Romeo & Juliet: An Escapist Comedy (make.art.theatre); Different Every Time (Canadian Improv Showcase).
The Pearl Company Canadian Theatre Festival Has Something for Everyone: Take a dose of Shakespeare, twisted by Woody Allen (aka Ryan Sero); add a shaker of Leonard Cohen, danced, sung, spoken and imaged; toss in two hilarious west indian women fresh from a “Best of Toronto Fringe” award; mix with whatever crazy idea you can come up with for Canada’s best short-form improv group; and finally top off with the blockbuster musical talents of Shari Vandermolen and the Quarter to Nine Band and you have this year’s Pearl Company Canadian Theatre Festival.
The Festival runs two shows per night and Saturday matinees, Aug 16-18 and 23-25.  Here’s the schedule!

Week One:
Thursday, Aug 16 – 7:30 pm – Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy. make.art.theatre
Thursday, Aug 16 – 9:00 pm – Love, Loss & Leonard. Fevergraph
Friday, Aug 17 – 7:30 pm – pomme is french for apple. liza paul & bahia watson
Friday, Aug 17 – 9:00 pm – Different Every Time. Canadian Improv Showcase
Saturday, Aug 18 – 1:30 pm – Different Every Time. Canadian Improv Showcase
Saturday, Aug 18 – 3:00 pm – pomme is french for apple. liza paul & bahia watson
Saturday, Aug 18 – 7:30 pm – Love, Loss & Leonard. Fevergraph
Saturday, Aug 18 – 9:00 pm – Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy. make.art.theatre

Week Two
Thursday, Aug 23 – 7:30 pm – Different Every Time. Canadian Improv Showcase
Thursday, Aug 23 – 9:00 pm - pomme is french for apple. liza paul & bahia watson
Friday, Aug 24 – 7:30 pm – Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy. make.art.theatre
Friday, Aug 24 – 9:00 pm – Love, Loss & Leonard. Fevergraph
Saturday, Aug 25 – 1:30 pm – Love, Loss & Leonard. Fevergraph
Saturday, Aug 25 – 3:00 pm – Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy. make.art.theatre
Saturday, Aug 25 – 7:30 pm - Different Every Time. Canadian Improv Showcase
Saturday, Aug 25 – 9:00 pm – My Funny Valentine. Quarter to Nine Productions

The Canadian Improv Showcase (CIS): Their 700th live performance!

“The Showcase have a long list (15 years) of honours, including representing Canada in a cultural exchange with Singapore, performing at the prestigious Bar None Club. “They are the only improv group to be invited to perform at venues as diverse as the St. Lawrence Centre, and  the infamous Kingston Penitentiary. They have won numerous improv competitions and were voted “Best of the Fest” two years in a row at both the London and Toronto Fringe Festivals. It’s a ‘can’t miss’ show for people who like improv.” www.canadianimprovshowcase.com

The Fevergraph production of “Love, Loss & Leonard”

Whose not a fan of Leonard Cohen? This show promises to be a favorite with his wealth of fantastic material to build a show around!
Fevergraph is the work of Tosha Doiron of Vancouver and Hamilton’s Paula Grove. Both women have impressive bios; Dorion reaped the 2012 Toronto Best of Fringe and the Patron’s Pick award for “Help Yourself”. She has performed professionally with Vancouver’s Carousel Theatre, and Thunder Bay’s Magnus Theatre. Her TV & film credits include Supernatural, Psych, Smallville, Zoe Busiek Wildcard, Storm Seekers and Blonde and Blonder.
Grove has performed at The Shaw Festival, CanStage and the legendary Caravan Stage Company, a traveling ensemble that lives and works on a 30-meter tallship. She has performed numerous times at The Pearl with the Artword Ensemble. www.fevergraph.com

“pomme is french for apple”

Liza Paul and Bahia Watson describe their show “pomme is french for apple” as ”a fresh, funny, irreverent and distinctly west indian look at womanhood in all its glory: its perils, its pleasures and all kinda madness in between,” and critics hailed it as “a real gem…an honest, intelligent and wildly funny play” –THEATROMANIA.
Paul and Watson are stopping in to Hamilton on their way to New York, to perform “pomme” in the Big Apple! www.pommeisfrenchforapple.com

Ryan Sero’s “Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy”

Local playwright and actor Ryan Sero follows up an impressive list of recent successes with a project that he has been working on for some time, a retelling of a classic love story.
“Romeo and Juliet: An Escapist Comedy” promises only the barest of homage to the Bard. Sero, has become known for his snappy wit and unpredictable plotlines; he previously scored with A Modicum of Freedom (Pick of the Fringe, 2009), and won the audience choice award at the HamilTEN Festival (also at the Pearl Company) for his hysterical and beautifully acted “The Cheese”.

Shari Vandermolen with “My Funny Valentine”.

One of Canada’s finest voices, Vandermolen promises to both break and meld hearts with her musical tribute to love, “My Funny Valentine”. Vandermolen has won two Best of Fringe Awards, plus two Western Ontario Drama League “Best Actress” awards, and has twice been the feature performer on stage at Theatre Aquarius.
My Funny Valentine will close the Festival August 25 at 9 pm, for one show only.  www.quarter2nineproductions.com

Tickets are $15 per show, available in advance by Paypal, by email, or by phone. Contact The Pearl Company at 905.524.0606 and www.thepearlcompany.ca

Lost Identities: BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, THE SHOW HAS HAD TO BE CANCELLED. See schedule below. $9 at the door. This astonishing and relevant story needs to be told and in order to get their hair-raising tale out there, the playwrights have BYOV  (brought their own venue, obviously to The Pearl Company) to Hamilton’s Fringe Festival. Lost Identities is a life drama– a true story: One man is challenged to do the right thing – keep silent or report an extortion to the authorities. He calls them, and his life goes from a semi-conventional existence to an inconceivably aberrant reality where nothing normal can be taken for granted ever again. Not even now. Playwright/Author: Mr. X, AJ Hodges. Featuring: Philip Zelazny, Robbie Brewer. Memories Productions.

StandUp Theatre Company presents “My Lucky Stars”: Saturday, June 23 / Sunday, June 24 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $12.00. Written and directed by Colin Leversidge, based on a story by Horatio Alger, the play follows our hero as he rises from boot-black to a ‘spectable young man through his own good character and good deeds.  My Lucky Stars is a musical… the twelfth musical production in StandUp’s short history… Colin Leversidge has been producing plays for young actors ages 9-14 for many years.  He has worked with The Disney Company Lion King, Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museums, and dozens of classrooms and art/music camps throughout the province.  Colin writes the music and the book, teaches the children three- and five-part harmonies, and trains them well in the theatrical arts. Outstanding performances in store!  This is their grand finale They are presenting the play that they have been working on since February.   All ages welcome. Call 905 517 1054 now to order your tickets!

The Quarterly: Saturday, May 26, 8:00pm

Join us for our first edition of the Quarterly: A Night of Song, Dance,
and Theatre.  Featuring a diverse mix of artists in a great lineup
of performances. 

This edition features:
Tor Lukasic-Foss – Song
Laura Kappel – Dance
Nea Reid – Spoken Word
Evalyn Parry – Music
Clare Preuss and Thom Morgan Jones – Theatre
Lucy Rupert – Modern Dance

Hosted by Lisa Pijuan-Nomura
Tickets are $12 for Adults, $10 for Artists, Seniors and Students
For more information please contact Lisa at girlcancreate@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/events/368237366546037/