THIS IS CANCER!: LIVE!

THIS IS CANCER: LIVE!

Bruce Horak’s One-Man show, This Is CANCER: LIVE! Bruce Horak brings Cancer (the disease) to life and challenges the audience to view this disease, and their own lives, in a whole new light.

“An awesome blend of the sublime and the ridiculous. How could I be laughing at Cancer… I mean…it’s Cancer!!!” – Mary Fenkes, 3-time Cancer Survivor.

This one-man musical cabaret was nominated for a Betty Mitchell Award for ‘Outstanding Production of a Musical or Comedy’, and is the winner of the Betty Mitchell Award for ‘Outstanding Actor in a Musical or Comedy’ (2007). It has been invited to present as part of Theatre Hectics’ season in late Regina in late 2007, as well as at the Pivot Festival in Whitehorse in 2008. It garnered critical acclaim during Toronto’s SummerWorks Festival during the premier run in 2006 (***** - Now Magazine), and excerpts were presented as part of Toronto’s Harbourfront Centres’ Spiegelshow, summer 2007.

A cancer survivor himself, and one of Canada’s only legally blind professional actors, Bruce offers a unique and fresh perspective on the disease which took his sight, and most recently, his father. Directed by award-winning director/performer Rebecca Northan (Canadian Comedy Award – Best Sketch Group, Gemini and Dora Award nominee, CTV’s Alice, I Think) This is CANCER: LIVE! will challenge audiences to truly LIVE!

Bruce Horak is an accomplished playwright, actor, musician, director, teacher, facilitator and performer who has been a staple of Independent Theatre across Canada for over 12 years. His award-winning work has been presented at mainstream theatres and at Fringe Theatre Festivals from Montreal to Vancouver since 2001 (winning a Just For Laughs’ Frankie Award for Best Comedy in 2002, Audience and Critics’ Choice Awards in Toronto, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Vancouver, as well as numerous others). He has worked in virtually every theatrical medium, from Shakespeare to modern dance, and from Theatre for Young Audiences to Stand-up comedy.

Most recently, Bruce has been instrumental in the development of “Therapeutic Clown for Adults” – a beguiling blend of Lecoq-style Bouffon and contemporary forum theatre, of which CANCER is the culmination.

This is CANCER: LIVE! has been in process for over two years. Beginning with Mike Kennard’s (Mump and Smoot) cataclysmic Clown show, The Hollow produced at CanStage’s Berkley Street Theatre in March of 1995. Bruce began developing the character that would eventually morph into “cancer” during the intensive rehearsal process. The initial work was inspired by Kennard’s approach to Bouffon, and later incorporated Horak’s own interest in Improvisation, Comedy, Clown and Therapeutic Clown. The piece was fully realized through the initial production in Toronto, and with the generous support of Alberta Theatre Projects’ PlayRites Festival in 2007.

Show details:

-Dollhouse Studios: 42 West 8th Ave (2 blocks west of Main Street)

-Thursday November 8th @ 8pm w/ Panel Discussion following

-Friday November 9th @ 8pm

-Sunday November 11th @ 2pm

-Tickets and Information call 778.371.4731