Fall 2011-Winter 2012

It's almost been a year, I guess I'll write something.

What is new? My production of Dying City by Christopher Shinn was nominated for and received 3 Saskatoon and Area Theatre Awards (SATAwards) this past September. Two performance awards and a directing award. I am very proud of all of the work that we all put into that show and grateful to all of my peers who were so supportive.

Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company is undergoing a renaissance right now with a new artistic director, general manager and board of directors. I think that this company has one of the most unique and important voices in the arts in SK - I can't wait to see them soar. I got to work with them recently on a workshop for a Christmas play called Kohkoms in Toyland. It was a blast.

My most exciting news - and what I am most looking forward to career-wise is my upcoming project co-produced by Alberta Theatre Projects (Calgary) and Green Thumb Theatre (Vancouver). I will be performing in a hip-hop musical called Ash Rizin' in ATP's PlayRites' Festival. This is a brand new Canadian script written by Michael P. Northey with music by Sweatshop Union's Kyprios. The subject matter of the script is sort of a blend of 8 Mile and The Wire but it is set in and around the suburbs of Vancouver. If you get a chance, check out the Facebook Page- Ash Rizin' at ATP and click 'like' also check out the video clips, artist bios, etc at www.atplive.com

After Ash Rizin' concludes I will be resurrecting Fire in the Hole Productions for a Governor General Award-Winning play called The December Man - which coincidentally was originally produced at ATP. Great play. Really looking forward to finally bringing that one to life.

Between these blips of employment I am also working on a few writing projects which I hope one day see the light of day. If they do, who knows, maybe I'll write about it on here... more likely I'll just tweet about it. Which brings me to this: Follow me @aaronhursh

Cheers....

Mash...

Faulty Towers

From Robin Hood to ZOMBIE! to The Pillowman

Well! this is a procrastination entry...I have work to do...I'll get to that...


DYING CITY went extremely well. I was really happy with the response that we received from audience members as well as our peers. It's great when you get to choose who you get to work with and what you get to work on - it gives you ownership and makes you want to succeed even more. I put some photos up at aaronhursh.workbooklive.com if you want to check them out.

After closing, I had a couple weeks off before starting rehearsals for THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD. It was a cast made up of nearly all Saskatchewan actors - which in a small theatre community is really nice - especially around Christmas. I really liked working with director Kevin McKendrick as well as fight director Adrian Young - a couple of Alberta fellows who were recruited to...you know, tell us where to stand and to not kill each other with swords. Something that was really cool about this show was that I shot a real arrow from the audience into the Sherriff of Nottingham's throne every night. There was a bet placed that I would miss and put an arrow through the cyclorama - but I disapointed them by hitting the target every night...not to brag, but...

Robin Hood Closed on the 19th and the plan was to head out to Vancouver Island for Christmas - So, I was looking forward to a couple days of sleeping in and packing etc... BUT, things happen. Stephen Huszar of Hulo Productions (http://www.hulo.ca/ for a video clip) gave me a shout to come audition for a short film called ZOMBIE! written and directed by Paul Kell. Um... got the part! So my relaxing and packing turned into a frantic, long-houred two-day shoot. 6 or 7 locations - interior and exterior - and if you've never been in Saskatchewan for winter, lemme tell you - you made sure that you nailed those outdoor scenes in as few takes as possible.

Now, what am I avoiding? I am sitting in an apartment downtown Vancouver working on my script for THE PILLOWMAN - which is probably in my top 5 favourite plays that I have read. It's about a writer in a totalitarian state who is being interogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a number of child-murders happening in his town. We've got a fantastic team. Stephen Drover, Ryan Beil, Ashley O'Connell, Mike Wasko, as well as a ton of talent behind the scenes. Check out http://www.wildgeesecoop.com/ for dates, bios, and more info. If you are in or around Vancouver, don't miss out on this!

I'm going back to work now!