SYTYCA Presents: The Actors!

Wondering who will help our celebrities shine on stage? Today, we are pleased to bring you our fabulous line-up of talented local actors for our 3rd annual So You Think You Can Act fundraising event! In less than two weeks, seven local celebrity participants will test out their acting chops on stage in front of a panel of judges. Once all celebrities have performed, YOU will vote for the winner of the trophy (and bragging rights of course)! Keep reading to find out more about our actors.

Grant Burr – Look familiar? You may have caught Grant playing the role of Ray in Flood Control by Marilyn Anne Campbell as part of FemFest 2013. Grant is sure to show Eva Kovacs the ropes in a scene from The Fighting Days by Wendy Lill.

Justin Otto – As a recent graduate of the University of Winnipeg Acting Honours program, Justin is the perfect candidate to play Jim Ingebrigtsen’s teaching assistant in a scene from The Essay by Hannah Moscovitch. Will this duo win over the audience’s vote?

Andrea Houssin – We are pleased to have Andrea play the role of Hannah in a scene from Good Intentions by Ginny Collins. You may have seen Andrea in this very role earlier this season at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre. Will Andrea’s experience give Kris Laudien a step-up above the rest?

Lorraine James – Lorraine is no stranger to Sarasvàti Productions! Last year she played the role of Kirsty in All My Day Jobs by Kirsten Van Ritzen as part of our IWW Cabaret of Monologues. Lorraine is sure to make former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Obby Khan work for the prize in a scene from Riot by Andrew Moodie.

Cheryl Gensiorek – At last year’s So You Think You Can Act, Cheryl helped Kerri Salki of Clear FM shine on stage and take home the grand prize! Surely her expertise will give Alison Gillmor the upper hand. Catch these two in a scene from The Girl Who Loved Castro by Colleen Curran.

Elizabeth Whitbread – Elizabeth has appeared in a number of independent productions throughout the years. She is currently in the 4th year Acting Honours program at The University of Winnipeg. Elizabeth will be performing alongside Big Daddy Tazz in a hilarious scene from Kiss The Moon, Kiss The Sun by Norm Foster.

Danielle Savage – In a recent article, Troy Westwood stated that he is excited to be working with a pro like Danielle Savage in this year’s So You Think You Can Act. Having many years of experience on the stage, Danielle is sure to help Troy prove he can act in a side splitting scene from Why Torture is Wrong, and The People Who Love Them by Chirstopher Durang.

There will also be a special voice over appearance by local actor Kevin Anderson!

So You Think You Can Act will take place on February 19th, 2014 at 7:00pm at The Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Ave). This unique fundraising event is sure to have your laughing in your seats! Tickets are $25 dollars and include a fabulous wine reception after the show. All money raised will go towards supporting the transformative theatre work of Sarasvàti Productions. There will also be thousands of dollars in raffle prizes donated by local businesses and a 50/50 draw (raffle licence #MGCC#5542). Help support local arts and get your tickets before it’s too late! Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling our office at (204) 586-2236. We’ll see you on February 19th!

 Which pair do you think will steal the spotlight? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and/or on Twitter using the #SYTYCA!

SYTYCA Presents: Troy Westwood

Is there anything Troy Westwood can’t do?!? With experience in boxing, singing, song writing, radio, and even tap dancing, this former Winnipeg Blue Bomber is sure to impress the audience at this year’s So You Think You Can Act! We are pleased to feature Troy today as our final celebrity participant. Troy will take on the role of Leonard in a hilarious scene from Christopher Durang’s Why Torture Is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them. Our 3rd annual So You Think You Can Act fundraising event is just two weeks away. Have your purchased your tickets yet?

Leonard is on a serious mission with his trusty side-kick Hildegarde. He only wishes her panties would stop falling down.

Troy Westwood – Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber

Troy Westwood was an 18 year member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He is a multi-award winning Singer/Songwriter, including 2 time Juno nominee. He has been involved with numerous charities and non-for-profit organizations in MB and across Canada and is an outspoken advocate on the issue of ending violence against women. He is a father to two beautiful boys: Takeo 9 and Trey 5. He currently co-hosts “The Big Show” on TSN1290 weekday mornings from 6-10am.

This incredible fundraising event has received rave audience reviews since its start in 2012! Although we are known for tackling important theatrical works, this evening is really just about the fun. We invite you to come and laugh with us, enter to win fabulous raffle prizes, and stay for a drink or two after the show. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or you can give us a shout at (204) 586-2236! We hope to see you on February 19th, 2014 at the Gas Station Arts Centre. (Raffle prize #MGCC#5542)

Now that you’ve met all seven celebrity participants, who do you think will win So You Think You Can Act? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook and/or Twitter (#SYTYCA).

Can’t get enough of Troy? Be sure to check out this recent article titled “Troy Westwood Thinks He Can Act”!

SYTYCA Scenes Announced!

Fighting for women’s rights, worst way to get a date, unplanned pregnancies, underpants, and more! We bet we’ve got your attention now. Today, we are pleased to announce the scenes we will be featuring in this year’s So You Think You Can Act fundraising event. Each celebritiy will be paired with an actor to perform one of these contemporary plays. This year’s theme is The Revolution Starts Now and has resulted in a collection of scenes with something for everyone! The scenes feature an array of works by Canadian playwrights including a scene from local playwright Ginny Collins piece Good Intentions which premiered at the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre this fall, and  a piece by Christopher Durang who is known for his outrageous and absurd comedy. Keep reading to find out which scene your favourite celebritity will be featured in!

SYTYCA 2014 Featuring:

Alison Gillmor as DEB in The Girl Who Loved Castro by Colleen Curran
Deb is sipping a Mojito in a small cantina in Havana, Cuba boasting about her admiration for Fidel Castro. What will Maria, the fed-up cantina keeper, do when she’s finally had enough?

Jim Ingebrigtsen as GALBRAITH in The Essay by Hannah Moscovitch
What is history? It’s up for debate as Galbraith and Jeffery, his teaching assistant, argue the merits of a female student’s paper.

Obby Khan as WENDLE in Riot by Andrew Moodie
If you ask Wendle, the first thing he’ll say is “*$@# Quebec”! After all, English is the international language of business. Who needs French?

Eva Kovacs as FRANCIS in The Fighting Days by Wendy Lill
Francis is loud, Francis is proud, and Francis will NOT make a spectacle of herself at the suffrage parade! She believes change is coming, great change, but we must keep fighting!

Kris Laudien as PETER in Good Intentions by Ginny Collins
Peter just isn’t good at asking a beautiful women out on a date. Will he get the girl?

Big Daddy Tazz as SIMON in Kiss The Moon, Kiss The Sun by Norm Foster
You’re what??!! Simon swears this must mean only one thing. He does in fact have lasersperm.

Troy Westwood as LEONARD in Why Torture Is Wrong, And The People Who Love Them by Christopher Durang
Leonard is on a serious mission with his trusty side-kick Hildegarde. He only wishes her panties would stop falling down.

So You Think You Can Act: The Revolution Starts Now will be held on Feburary 19th, 2014 at 7:00pm at the Gas Station Arts Centre (445 River Ave.). There will be thousands of dollars worth of raffle prizes donated by local businesses plus a wine reception afterwards! Tickets are $25 dollars and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling our office at (204) 586-2236. We hope you will join us for a fantastic evening in support of the transformative theatre work of Sarasvàti Productions!

Will Ace Burpee Be Aces?

Everyone knows and loves listening to Ace Burpee on HOT 103, but will everyone love his acting skills? Will Ace earn the judges praise?  It’s time to meet everyone’s favourite radio personality, Ace Burpee!

Ace Burpee is from Cooks Creek, Manitoba. He currently works as the host of the Ace Burpee Show with Chrissy Troy on HOT 103. Prior to that, he played in the NHL. This is not true. At all. Prior acting experience includes being on float with Beethoven the dog in Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure. Ace was cut from the scene prior to release.

So…now that we know Ace’s prior acting experience, we wait with baited breath to see him act! We are pleased to announce that Ace will be performing a scene with his mom, actor Jan Burpee! Not only that, but they will be performing a scene from For Whom The Southern Belle Tolls by Christopher Durang! This parody of Tennesse Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is sure to have the audience rolling in their seats with laughter. Here’s a teaser to give everyone something to look forward to:

LAWRENCE: I can’t work, mama. I’m crippled.

AMANDA: There is nothing wrong with your leg, Lawrence honey, all the doctors have told you that. This limping is an affectation.

LAWRENCE: I only know how I feel, mama.

AMANDA: Oh if only I had connections in the Mafia, I’d have someone come and break both your legs.

LAWRENCE: Don’t try to make me laugh, mama. You know I have asthma.

Will Ace and Jane Burpee will the coveted trophy?  Will they be the pair to beat?  You must come to So You Think You Can Act to find out! Join us February 16th at 8pm, Gas Station Arts Centre! Tickets are limited so purchase yours in advance on our website or by calling 586-2236.