The More the Merrier with donna g

Focus on Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival with directors Paloma Zapata ( La Singla ) and Christian Einshøj ( The Mountains ). La Singla "A striking portrait of deaf Flamenco dancer Antonia Singla, who was hailed as one of the greatest performers of her time before mysteriously fading away from the spotlight at the peak of her career." -Hot Docs The Mountains "Expand...

I chat about National Canadian Film Day with Sharon Corder and Jack Blum , Tarragon Theatre Artistic Director, Mike Payette about the importance of the arts and his direction of Chelsea Woolley 's play " Paint This House With Love " and (from Germany) director Brenda Jorde on her first feature doc " The Homes We Carry " about the personal story of an Afro-German woman trying to...

Punctuate! Theatre 's Lianna Makuch joins me to talk about directing " First Métis Man of Odessa ", written & performed by Matthew MacKenzie & Mariya Khomutova . Lianna Makuch is a second generation Ukrainian Canadian theatre artist. She is as an actor, creator, instructor, and is an Artistic Producer with Pyretic Productions. Matt and Mariya’s love spans continents, but distan...

My chat with librettist Kanika Ambrose about Obsidian Theatre and Tapestry Opera presentation of Of The Sea an all Black cast opera + Luis Fernandes introduces me to The Assembly Theatre and its upcoming shows, including Comic Books Live! 📸 Kanika's headshot by the brilliant Dahlia Katz was cropped for space but you can see Kanika's 3 new headshots on her Instagram account @kanikaambrose....

The Toronto Irish Film Festival (March 24-26, 2023) is the focus with two featured guests: festival co-founder, John Galway chats about features and shorts + One Little Goat Theatre Company founder, Adam Seelig on directing Chapter 1 of "Finnegans Wake" performed by Richard Harte which screens as part of the Celebration of Joyce program. All screenings take place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox....

Soprano, Denise Williams has returned! This time the singer, arts educator, theatre founder and producer will discuss her ' Walk Together ' concert series, which, this time, will be in collaboration with the Jubilate Singers . ' Roots and Intersections ' is a concert featuring music from Toronto's African, Jewish and Muslim diasporas. Funded by the Ontario Arts Council. March 4...

Antiguan-born, Canadian singer Denise Williams talks about being a Black soprano and African-American storyteller, Sheila Arnold talks about her interpretation of Zora Neale Hurston's " Sweat " being presented by Storytelling Toronto Feb 18 at Arts and Letters in Toronto.

My chat with playwrights, Amy Lee Lavoie and Omari Newton about their satirical, time-shifting play, " Redbone Coonhound " and it's themes of race, gender, politics and perspective. Description: "Out for a walk in their West End neighbourhood, Mike and Marissa—an interracial couple—meet a dog with an unfortunate breed name: Redbone Coonhound." Source: @tarragontheatreto Runs Fe...

My chats with Ashley "Colours" Perez ("The Magic of Assembly") and writer/actor, @berylbain ("The Flight"). "The Magic of Assembly" is a new collaborative production with street dance (waacking) choreographer Perez, electronic music duo LAL, @torontodancetheatre Artistic Director, Andrew Tay and TDT's ensemble. On stage @winchesterstreettheatre February 2 – 4 &a...

My chat with Geneviève Langlois about her role in the comedic play, FLUSH, running Feb 1-5 at Théâtre Français de Toronto (French W/Eng surtitles) + CIUT's Nadine McNulty , Karibuni host and Artistic Director of Batuki Music Society, and I discuss the music of Congolese-Canadian musician, Naxx Bitota and her Feb 4th concert at Alliance Française. Music tracks by Naxx Bitota: Kurti, Femmes, Mos...

My chat with Sandra Laronde , Executive and Artistic director of Red Sky Performance about founding the indigenous dance company and about its latest creation, " Miigus: Underwater Panther " based on an Anishinaabe prophecy. Then I'm joined by playwright/actor, Amanda Lin to talk about her interactive identity theatre piece, " Between a Wok and a Hot Pot," in which audiences ma...

Steve Gravestock has curated the best of the best in northern cinema ― the countries he focused on during his tenure at TIFF. The films in the series reflect the screenings Steve programmed year-round and during the Festival, with some archival titles included. Films and special guests in Seen the North include: Phantom of Winnipeg with Malcolm Ingram; Phantom of the Paradise (see my Jan 6 special...

Ready for some wild trippiness? Steve Gravestock , departing Senior Programmer of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on the opening films of his specially curated series, "Seen the North," the cult classics Phantom of the Paradise and Phantom of Winnipeg . Both screen on January, 7, 2023 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West (corner of King and John Streets) in Toront...

Get cozy and listen to a few audiobook samples using the Libby app and your local public library. In respect of copyright, all samples played are limited to what you would hear on the app. Music at the end is "Where the Blackbird Sings by Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks. Recommended for You by Sarah Silverman The Matzah Ball by Jean Meltzer Christmas Eve at Cranberry Eve by Kate Forester Wrap...

A look back @dbiyounganitafrika and her work in @dakinkinmyhair (ticket promo offered at the end of our chat thanks to @tolivegram- until Dec 23, 2022 ) her cd #wombanifesto. In 2010 I wrote of her cd: "With its raw, powerful lyrics and African-Caribbean rhythms, “wombanifesto” is a powerful assertion of the female in general, and a defiant declaration of existence by the black woman. The CD’s...

A quick chat with Amai Kuda about her new release, EmUrgency! Featuring tracks "Oshun" "Eshu" and "Which Way." FROM Amai Lisa's IG post: Posted @withrepost • @amaikudaetlesbois GET YOUR TICKETS FAST BEFORE THEY SELL OUT!! LINK IN BIO So excited to be sharing the new work with you all live! It's been four years since our last release party and we dont often perform i...

Featured guests: Juno-Award Nominees Alex Bird and Ewen Farncombe talk about their new release, "Songwriter." Playlist consists of tracks from the album.

My chat with Laurie Evan Fraser & Jacinto Salcedo about Upper Canada Choristers concert on Dec. 2, 2022. Laurie is a composer and the co-founder of UCC where she is the Artistic Director and Conductor. Jacinto is a member of UCC and the coordinator of its ensemble, Cantemos , which sings music in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin. Besides music by UCC, you can also hear music by Juno-Award nominee...

I have interviews with fabulous award winners in their respective fields: @alexandrapetkovski media music composer (Better at Texting) and #RayEllenwood, translator and author lauded for his work in Québec's automatiste movement. Music on the show is by #LorraineKlaasen and #DjelyTapa. Tune in, listen, learn, and have fun. Please note that this show occurred during CIUT's Fall Fundraising...

Guests Adam Seelig and Kanika Ambrose join me to discuss their latest ventures.  Adam is a poet, playwright, stage director, and the founder and artistic director of One Little Goat Theatre Company . We talk about the Nov 14th book launch of Claude Gauvreau's " The Vampire and the Nymphomaniac" translated by Ray Ellenwood, winner of the Governor General Award in translation. Edited by...

Mark Tara and Heidy M and I finally reveal our #TIFF2022 favourites and Andréa Picard and I discuss Lost and Beautiful: New Italian Cinema, screening at the #TIFFBellLightbox until the end of the month. @themarktara is a podcaster (www.marktara.com) and the host of CIUT 89.5 FM's "Rainbow Country." @hyemusings is the owner of the indie arts and culture site www.hyemusings.ca and a freq...

Audiobook thrillers and horrors that you can borrow with your library card using Libby I used the #libbyapp via my Toronto Public Library card. Note: Mature content warning for this show as these are adult samples. This show is for fans of this genre. All samples are those that can be heard on your public library site and not from any other part of the books.

My chat with #AkiTakabatake founder of the new distribution company @momofilmsinc about the launch of her first acquisition @mysmallland dir by #EmmaKawakada. #JapaneseFilms #KurdsInJapan #KurdishRefugees #FilmDistrisbution #MomoFilmsInc

My reunion with #OscarNominee @volkerbertelmann_official on composing music for #AllQuietOnTheWesternFront and #WarSailor (#TIFF2022) + an excerpt from my #TIFF2016 with Volker (aka @hauschkamusic) and @dustinohalloran on their score for #LionMovie @whitebearpr #ObscuredPictures

Kirk Cooper @filmmarketaccess on Durham International Film Festival @catchthedriff, @djennielaguerre on Manman la mer @theatrefrancais and Chris A Cummings on @markerstarling opening for #StereoLab