It's been two years since my journey with Coal Mine Theatre, Toronto's hottest rising east-end theatre company (in my humble opinion).
... Actually STAGE DOOR, THE GLOBE AND MAIL, and NOW MAGAZINE (NNNN) agree with my opinion too!
Chief Engineers Diana Bentley and Ted Dykstra have been SO open, patient, and kind and I feel very blessed to be a part of such an inspiring team.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL COOPER | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE
You know how they (who is they?) say to place yourself around successful people who are doing innovative things? Well that is how I feel each and every day I get to work alongside the entire creative and artistic team.
DIANA BENTLEY, SHAUN BENSON, TED DYKSTRA, and CHRIS HAYES on set
After completing the website, Diana and I bonded over SM discussions and coffee! We began working on Twitter and Facebook, and saw a 73% increase over a year and a half!
PHOTO BY SHAUN BENSON | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE
We even ventured into producing video content this year and it was a pleasure to put together short vignettes about the BREATHING CORPSES cast.
We tried our very first holiday themed show and it was a blast. Louise Pitre and Kenneth Welsh on stage. Sweet melodious music mixed with a live reading of "A Child's Christmas in Wales."
PHOTO BY SHAUN BENSON | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE
PHOTO BY SHAUN BENSON | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE
PHOTO BY SHAUN BENSON | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE
We are half way through Season Three, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of the team that is putting on the Canadian premiere of SUPERIOR DONUTS. Tracy Letts, the wondrously talented writer (August: Osage County, and KILLER JOE)
PHOTO BY ATSHUTTERSPEED
We close this season with what Diana likes to call, "our dark horse." - ORPHANS. We were at Evergreen Brickworks this past weekend shooting out on the train tracks. Actually let me rephrase. I was safely on firm ground while the cast and photographer, Shaun, were out on the train tracks.
PHOTO BY ATSHUTTERSPEED | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE | ORPHANS
PHOTO BY ATSHUTTERSPEED | PROPERTY OF COAL MINE THEATRE | ORPHANS
Tickets are selling fast for the final two shows! If you like innovative, challenging, modern, and enticing art, Coal Mine is for you. If you like sheer entertainment - you have come to the right place!
Nominated for DORA awards three years running, I very much look forward to moving up and beyond in our next season of work!
- Jenn