I, CLAUDIA - GCTC PRESENTS AWARD-WINNING PLAY TO LAUNCH ITS STAGES 08-09 SEASON

GCTC presents the Crow’s Theatre production of I, Claudia, the first of Artistic Director Lise Ann Johnson's six-play Stages Season at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre: "I can't wait to share I, Claudia with Ottawa audiences. This award-winning play is funny, irreverent, theatrical and very touching. It's a privilege to watch Liisa Repo-Martell bring each of the four characters alive through four magical masks."I, Claudia is written by Kristen Thomson and stars Liisa Repo-Martell, directed by Chris Abraham. The 90 minute show (no intermission) previewed September 9 and 10, officially opens on September 11, and closes September 28. The play runs weekdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the GCTC Box Office at (613) 236-5196, or in person at 1233 Wellington Street West, at Holland Avenue. For information about the play, Crow's Theatre or GCTC, visit http://www.crowstheatre.com and http://www.gctc.ca/play01.html.

I, Claudia was developed and first produced by Tarragon Theatre (Toronto) in April 2001, and won the 2001 Dora Award for Outstanding New Play. Liisa Repo-Martell won the 2008 Sterling Award for Outstanding Actress in Edmonton. I, Claudia became an award-winning film directed by Chris Abraham, and picked up two Canadian Comedy Awards in 2005.

This extraordinary one-woman show maps the raw, but beautiful interior life of a misfit adolescent. Claudia finds herself suffering from the triple afflictions of puberty, unpopularity, and her parents’divorce. Using four astonishingly expressive masks, the performer evokes Claudia and those around her. Alternatively wrenchingly sad and wrenchingly funny, I, Claudia casts a spell of rare power in the theatre. According to Playwrights Canada Press, “Claudia is an official pre-teen, still reeling from her parents' divorce. Her father is getting remarried, she has a science fair project coming due, and she is in the physical throes of puberty. Finding refuge in the basement of her school, Claudia discovers the pain at the centre of her brimming child's heart. Some important adults in Claudia's life--her grandfather, her father's new girlfriend, and the school custodian--shed light on her situation.”

Crow’s Theatre produces the play and is thrilled to be sharing this extraordinary play with Ottawa audiences. Director Chris Abraham says, "GCTC's new digs provide a beautiful home for our show - we've wanted to play the show in Ottawa since it opened six years ago in Toronto. We feel especially lucky to be opening GCTC's 08/09 season. Our new award-winning production has recently performed in Vancouver, Edmonton and London (ON). We really hope that Ottawa audiences embrace the show with the same affection we've been lucky enough to encounter in other cities across the country."

Lise Ann Johnson’s programming includes an art gallery exhibition, inspired by the play itself. The artwork of Alex McMahon, curated by Don Monet of CUBE Gallery, opens with a reception open to everyone, on Thursday, Sept 11, 6 - 7 p.m., in the Lorraine "Fritzi" Yale Gallery in the Upper Lobby of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. The exhibition is free to the public and closes on October 15th.

GCTC proudly moved into its new home, the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre, one year ago. Close to 30,000 people attended GCTC’s inaugural Capital Letters season of plays in this new cultural facility. GCTC is in its first Stage of its 2008-2009 season and working on finishing the final Stage of the Making it Greater Capital Campaign. With $1.1 million still needed to complete this project, support from the community is required. Contact GCTC’s Development Director Leslie Turcotteat (613) 236-5192 x311 for more information on how to become involved or to make a contribution.

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Media contact(s):
Laurie Murphy
Great Canadian Theatre Company
publicity@gctc.ca
(613) 236-5192 x229
cell: (613) 816-0660

Miranda deBeer
Crow’s Theatre
marindadebeer@rogers.com