GCTC in Joint Production with Factory Theatre Proudly Presents The Real McCoy
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Ottawa native Andrew Moodie returns to his hometown to direct his play The Real McCoy, a Great Canadian Theatre Company joint-production with Factory Theatre. The Real McCoy, which premiered in 2006 at Factory Theatre, enjoyed asuccessful run in Toronto October 11- November 4, 2007. Inspired by the life of Elijah McCoy, The Real McCoy tells the tale of the renowned Black engineer, born in Colchester, Ontario in1844 to runaway slaves. His inventions revolutionized steam engine travel. With a triumphant career that included an amazing 57 patents, ‘The Real McCoy’ became an expression of authenticity despite being inspired, it is argued, by a man whose life was marred by tragedy. The Real McCoy runs on the mainstage of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre on November 15 (with previews November 13 & 14) until December 2, 2007. To purchase tickets or subscriptions, call the GCTC Box Office at (613) 236-5196 or buy in person at 1233 Wellington Street West (at Holland Avenue), Ottawa. Visit online at http://www.gctc.ca/play02.html; high-resolution production shots are available at http://www.factorytheatre.ca/presszone.htm.
Maurice Dean Wint (Tarragon’s Capture Me, Factory Theatre’s Where is Kabuki?) plays the complex Elijah McCoy. Kevin Hanchard (Canstage’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Factory Theatre’s Apple), Ardon Bess (Canstage’s Comedy of Errors), Marcia Johnson (Toronto Fringe Festival The Gladstone Variations), Ordena Stephens-Thompson (Mirvish/Royal Alex da kink in my hair), Bruce Beaton (Canopy Theatre’s The Tempest), and Darren Keay (Canstage’s The Edible Woman, Tarragon Theatre’s Soldier’s Heart) create the ensemble cast. Set and Lighting Design for the production is by Steve Lucas. Costumes are designed by Julia Tribe. The Stage Manager is Sandy Plunkett and the Apprentice Stage Manager is Ottawa’s Natalie Lobb.
In describing The Real McCoy, Moodie explains, “This is not the real Elijah McCoy. This is a play. The play is intended to be an allegory, or rather a parable. The theme of which is our struggle with the fundamentally entropic nature of the universe. I have mixed truth and fiction to tell a story. There have been many, and there will continue to be many, who will say that Elijah McCoy had nothing to do with the saying 'The Real McCoy'. They say that the phrase was inspired by a cattle baron, or perhaps the prohibition rum runner Bill McCoy, or the American boxer Norman Selby, otherwise known as ‘Kid McCoy’. I'm not sure how much I care. I'm more interested in how the phrase can be applied to his life.”
Andrew Moodieis an actor, writer and director who has performed in many theatrical, film and television productions. His writing credits include the play Riot, for which he won a Chalmers Award, Oui for Factory Theatre, Wilbur County Blues for Blythe Center for the Arts, and A Common Man's Guide to Loving Women for the National Arts Centre, the Canadian Stage Company and Black Theatre Workshop Montreal. He is also the host of TV Ontario’s Big Ideas. “I am forever grateful to everyone at the GCTC, past and present, for creating one of this country’s greatest theatres,” says Moodie. “Not only is it a dream come true to have my play in the inaugural season of the new GCTC space, but it is absolutely fascinating to have my play performed a few blocks away from where I went to high school. Steps away from a high school friend’s restaurant. Three blocks away from where a high school girlfriend broke my heart. And light years away from those youthful, sun-filled days that held nothing but opportunity and the wild wide-open universe was just three centimeters beyond the horizon for as far as the eye could see.”
Andrew Moodie’s upcoming projects include acting in The Satchmo Suite for Eastern Front Theatre, directing a new play set during the Harlem renaissance called The Language of the Heart, and writing a new play about Pushkin's Great Grandfather, an African named Gannibal. A blogger, Moodie’s entries are available at http://greatcanadiantheatrecompany.blogspot.com/ and http://realmccoy.wordpress.com/.
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Media Call & Photos - Note: There is no media call for The Real McCoy; high-resolution production shots are available online at http://www.factorytheatre.ca/presszone.htm; attached are images of Maurice Dean Witt as Elijah McCoy in The Real McCoy, Factory Theatre 2007, and Playwright & Director Andrew Moodie.
BACKGROUNDER – GCTC AND IRVING GREENBERG THEATRE CENTRE:
Capital Letters 2007-08 Season, sponsored by TELUS http://www.gctc.ca - Artistic Director Lise Ann Johnson’s second GCTC season features Ottawa theatre professionals: In 2007, Jennifer Brewin directed a sold-out production of The Man from the Capital, October 9 – 28. The Real McCoy, a joint production with Factory Theatre, is written and directed by Andrew Moodie and runs November 13 - December 2. In 2008, Morwyn Brebner’s The Optimists plays January 29 - February 17, playwright and actor Pierre Brault stars in the premiere of his work, 5 O’Clock Bells, co-produced with Sleeping Dog Theatre, April 1 – 20. GCTC’s final play in its 2007-08 Season is Plan B, directed by Lise Ann Johnson, May 27 - June 15.
The Lorraine ‘Fritzi’ Yale Gallery http://www.gctc.ca/facility/gallery.html - Each play in the season will feature an exhibition of original artwork by Ottawa artists. Don Monet of CUBE Gallery has curated an exhibition inspired by The Real McCoy, featuring the artwork of Hawa Kaba and Shaun Motsi. Their artwork is on display in The ‘Fritzi’ from November 13 – December 2, 2007. The Vernissage/Artist’s Reception on Thursday, November 15, 5 p.m. – 6p.m. is open to the public.
Box Office http://www.gctc.ca/boxoffice/ - The Box Office is open during non-performance weeks: Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., and Sunday, 12 noon – 4 p.m. During performance weeks, hours are Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon - 4 p.m.
The Local Bar by Thyme & Again Encore http://www.gctc.ca/facility/catering.html - The lobby café and wine bar at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre is open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Acoustic Waves http://www.gctc.ca/AcousticWaves.html - The Ottawa Folk Festival in association with GCTC presents an Acoustic Waves’ concert on the second Sunday of each of the mainstage show’s run. These concerts highlight both the celebrated and the rising stars of the Canadian music scene. The second concert in this series features Ian Tamblyn on Sunday, November 25 at 8 p.m.. Tickets are $25.
Media Contact: Laurie Murphy, Marketing & Communications Director
Great Canadian Theatre Company - Administration
300 – 1227 Wellington Street West, Ottawa, ON K1Y 0G7
613 236 5192 ext. 229; publicity@gctc.ca; www.gctc.ca
