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Native Earth Day
Native Earth celebates 20 years of aboriginal theatre with a big fundraising bash down at Harbourfront Friday (May 30). Gary Farmer hosts a night of scenes, songs and soliloquies by some of the company’s – and the country’s – most acclaimed playwrights, including Tomson Highway, Daniel David Moses, Drew Hayden Taylor, the Turtle Gals and Yvette Nolan. Nolan, the company’s artistic director, says she’s thrilled to bring together a lot of the artists who originated their roles.
“I feel like a kid in a candy shop,” she says.
The lineup includes Lorne Cardinal, Billy Merasty, Jennifer Podemski, Herbie Barnes and Cheri Maracle-Cardinal and kicks off with music by Podemski, who’s starred in Rent.
The same night sees the book launch of Staging Coyote’s Dream, a collection of plays by native playwrights edited by Monique Mojica and Ric Knowles.
Weesageechak! Here’s to 20 more years. Lakeside Terrace, Harbourfront Centre (235 Queen’s Quay West). $50. 416-973-4000.
Hunter’s bulls-eye
Here’s an award with financial punch. Among the recipients of the 2003 K.M. Hunter Artist Awards presented earlier this month were writer/performer Kelly McIntosh, who picked up the theatre award, and Santee Smith, who took the dance award home. In addition to public and community recognition, each artist gets an $8,000 prize.
jonkap@nowtoronto.com glenns@nowtoronto.com
