Saving God

1. Who: Ardon Bess Occupation: Actor

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Founding member

3. Where have you been?
"Dakinkinmyhair"

4. When will we see you next?
"Saving God"

5. Why art?
What else?

6. How’s the city treating you?
Great

7. Complete the sentence: “2009 will be…”
2009 will be a year of changes.

8. What is your favourite “O” word?
Obama

9. The best?
Life

10. The worst?
Self-aggrandizement

Vicerra

1. Who: Vanessa Lee Wishart Occupation: Costume/Fashion Designer

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Former Costume Design Apprentice

3. Where have you been?
I have been working on my clothing line, Vicerra.

4. When will we see you next?
I have a few shows lined up for the summer.

5. Why art?
Art is my form of expression.

6. How’s the city treating you?
Toronto is supportive and inspirational.

7. Complete the sentence: “2009 will be…”
2009 will be a year full of changes and achievements.

8. Your favourite ‘O’ word?
Ohm

9. The best?
The best for me is doing what you want, when you want it.

10. The worst?
The worst for me is to be without the freedom of choice

Paid to Play

1. Who: Sabryn Rock Occupation: Theatre Practitioner

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Philip Akin, Jordi Mand and I go way back

3. Where have you been?
With Obsidian: Late/ Mussorgsky Project 1 Others: Dead Ahead at LKTYP, Romeo & Juliet with Driftwood, things in Saskatchewan you probably didn't see.

4. When will we see you next? Not in Toronto! Little Shop of Horrors at Persephone in Saskatoon.

5. Why art?
I get paid to play. Why wouldn't I art?

6. How's the city treating you?
Toronto has been kind to me. Although with my friendly prairie roots, I am baffled why no one looks each other in the eye on the streets and God forbid sharing a smile with a stranger....lighten up, Toronto!

7. Complete the sentence: "2009 will be…"
2009 will be one of the sassiest years of my life because I get to be a Doo-Wop girl in one of my favourite musicals!

8. What is your favourite "O" word?
Ovaltine!

9. The best?
'The knee squeeze' or 'side jab' to your neighbour sitting next to you in the audience. This only happens when something deliciously awful or awkward happens on stage.

10. The worst?
When I can't stop laughing at something that isn't supposed to be comical...again as an audience member. Wow, I'm terrible for the latter two.

Hustle and Bustle

1. Who: Rachel-Lea Rickards Occupation: Playwright-Actor-Producer-Musical Theatre Nerd

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
I was honoured to be selected to be a part of Obsidians Playwright unit.

3. Where have you been?
The past couple of years, I have spent a lot of time zoning in on what feeds me the most. While spending many years on stage as an actor, I recognize the exhilaration I feel to write stories for others to tell. Most recently, I just completed writing for second season of da Kink in my Hair for Global Television. Since working with the Playwrights Unit and developing a 20 minute piece called "Bridge Over Joan", I have been working with a musical director to create 13 songs for the production. My plan is to mount Bridge Over Joan in early 2010.

4. When will we see you next?
Look for me in different spaces. I feel a strong pull to move into co-directing and self producing my first musical. I am also currently launching the "Broadway Bound March Break Program for children 8-13 years of age that runs from March 16-20. I think I always knew I wanted to be involved in theatre, from my earliest childhood memories. I wanted and needed mentors. I want to create space for children who need that outlet. My plan is to move The Broadway Bound program into a full school in summer of 09.

5. Why art?
Because it keeps me alive and gives me purpose. Because I couldn't stop doing it even if I wanted to. Art and performing is my addiction and I'm not looking for a way to clean up this act!

6. How’s the city treating you?
I recently moved into the city. Moving from Brampton to the heart of downtown sometimes makes me feel like a little church mouse in big city. Traded in my car for a bus pass and I still carry around the subway map with me wherever I go. But, I wake up to the sound of street cars, and hustle and bustle, and there's something exciting in the air that calls me to create.

7. Complete the sentence:
2009 is the year to walk through fear. It is a year of taking a deep breath and jumping right in.

8. What is your favourite “O” word?
Dare I not say Obsidian? LOL! But if I had to choose another magical word,
I think it would be OPPORTUNITY. I try to see opportunity wherever possible, even through OBSTACLES.

Drafted

1) Who: Joseph Jomo Pierre Occupation: Artist

2) What is your Obsidian connection? Philip is like my Mafia Boss\ Mentor\

3) Where have you been? Been on some highs tryna dodge the lows

4) When will we see you next? Looking forward to progressing on two future works so hopefully the wait won't be long.

5) Why art? It drafted me

6) How’s the city treating you? How ya'll treating me?

7) Complete the sentence: In 2009… ya'll react I’ll do the acting

8) What is your favourite “O” word? don't have one.

9) The best? Seed to young men.

10) The worst? stagnation

Fed Up With Fear

1. Who: Mumbi Tindyebwa Occupation: Theatre Directing

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Apprentice Director 2008-09

3. Where have you been?
Apprentice Director Late/Black Medea (Obsidian) Assistant Director, Its A Wonderful Life (Canstage), Assistant Director, Stephen and Mr Wilde (Hart House Theatre), Assistant Director, Loves Labors Lost (York University), Director, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow is Enuf (Hart House Theatre)

4. When will we see you next?
Directing '27 weeks' for the New Ideas Festival at Alumnae Theatre, March 11-14

5. Why art?
I tried running away from it for all the practical reasons, but i got fed up of fear and embraced that my passion in art made me who i am. Now i can't imagine ever doing anything else.

6. How’s the city treating you?
I love Toronto

7. Complete the sentence: “2009 will be…”
2009 will be a year of living the life of my dreams

8. What is your favourite “O” word?
Oh dear... Oh boy..

9. The best?
The best chicken roti i've ever had is at the Real Jerk on Queen and Broadview

10. The worst?
The worst food i have ever tasted was some expensive seafood at the Love Boat restaurant in Niagara. Never ever go there!

Up the Hustle

1. Who: Aisha Sasha John Occupation: Poet, Dancer, Playwright

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
2008/2009 Playwrights Unit

3. Where have you been?
Wouldn’t you like to know! Um..mostly I go to my kitchen and brew very strong fruity black teas. After that I go to the living room and make out with my laptop or work on my stomach isolations. I like the library and the dance floor.

Don’t judge me:
I don’t have to leave the house because I’m working on my thesis, a thrilling book of poems called Self-Portrait with. I’m doing my MFA in Creative Writing at Guelph.

4. When will we see you next?
The Mussorgsky Project at the CrossCurrents Festival May 3. Fine actors will read my play and we’ll laugh. All of us will chitter and sigh. Be excited.

But if that’s too long of a wait you can see me whenever you please at my blog: http://ai5ha.blogspot.com.

5. Why art?
I’m greedy: I want to own all my minutes.

6. How’s the city treating you?
Funny that you ask—Toronto and I have recently renewed our vows. She’s shown me new parts of herself and I’m loving her more and more.

7. Complete the sentence:
“In 2009 I will…” up the hustle.

8. What is your favourite “O” word? Oh!

9. The best?
My poetry manuscript: Self-portrait with. A deep hip stretch. Soukous. Mutuashi.
Bachata. Good clown. 12-point Tahoma. Year-long jokes. Candour.

10. The worst?
Inauthenticity. Laziness.

Riding the Rocket

1. Who: Rebecca Fisseha Occupation: Writer.

2. What is your Obsidian connection? Playwright's Unit 2006-2007.

3. Where have you been? City-hopping.

4. When will we see you next? Riding the Rocket.

5. Why art? I got cornered.

6. How's the city treating you? Friendlier by the day.

7. Complete the sentence: "In 2009 I will…" Change my scenery.

8. What is your favourite "O" word? Oprah.

9. The best? Food & Sleep

10. The worst? Hunger

wise.woman by Rebecca Fisseha opens tomorrow night at the Theatre centre until Mar. 8

Power and Potential

1. Who: Kevin Hanchard Occupation: Actor/Husband/Father

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Performed in Obsidian's Consecrated Ground in 2004 and Intimate Apparel in 2008

3. Where have you been?
Since last we met; The Stratford Shakespeare Festival productions of Fuente Ovejuna and Palmer Park, The Great Canadian Theatre Company's Coma Unplugged, and The Vancouver Playhouse/CanStage Co-production of Miss Julie: Freedom Summer

4. When will we see you next?
Miss Julie: Freedom Summer currently runs until March 7. After that it's back to Stratford for Macbeth, Julius Caesar and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

5. Why art?
Art is a way in. A way into the consciousness of every man, woman and child. Its power and potential are undeniable.

6. How's the city treating you?
As a suburbanite Toronto and I have an interesting relationship. We are like the ultimate long distance lovers. When we come together it's explosive and thrilling, but at the same time we need the absence to make the heart grow fonder. Toronto and I are cool like that.

7. Complete the sentence: "In 2009 I will...."
In 2009 I will be taking care of business, in 2010 I fly!

8. What is your favourite "O" word ?
Onomatopoeia. (Just thought I'd POP a little SIZZLE in there.)

9. The best?
Good Jamaican Stew Peas and Rice

10. The worst?
Good Jamaican Cerasse Tea. Good for you, but the worst!(Y’all know what I'm sayin')

Despite All the Doom and Gloom

1. Who: Leah-Simone Bowen Occupation: Various Theatrical Positions and Office temp

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
A member of the 2007/2008 Playwrights' Unit and long-time fan.

3. Where have you been?
Is this an existential question?

4. When will we see you next?
I will be playing Lt. Nyota Uhura in an improvised Star Trek spoof at the Bad Dog Theatre in March.

5. Why art?
It's the only thing I do moderately well. It was a choice between that or TV watching

6. How's the city treating you?
I moved to Toronto from a small prarie town with loads of fresh air. For the first two years I lived in Toronto, I was so ill I had to take three months off work and caught every airborne illness including pnemonia. Even then, with death on the horizion, I still thought it was a great city to live in.

7. Complete the sentence: "2009 will be…"
2009 will be extraordinary, despite all the doom and gloom.


8. What is your favourite "O" word?
My "hey look at me I know big words that start with O answer " would be Obscurantist, a person who is deliberately vague. Unfortunately, that is a lie, the real answer is Oprah. I love her and patiently wait for Gail King to mess up so I can take over as best friend and executive - in - chief of O magazine.

9. The best?
To be a woman living in Canada with so much choice and freedom.

10. The worst?
Cold Showers, Strong Perfume, Arrogance, Cynics and the fact that Barack Obama, inspirer of many, will meet Stephen Harper, inspirer of none.

From the Paper Trail

1. Who: Dian Marie Bridge Occupation: Playwright, Director,
Administrator.

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Staff (2003), Apprentice MAP Director (The Piano Lesson), Playwrights Unit (2006)
and Intern Artistic Director (2009)

3. Where have you been?
I followed the paper trail and just got back.

4. When will we see you next?
At a workshop reading of my play Agave, later this month and being on the lookout
for playwright, as Intern Artistic Director at OTC.

5. Why art?
Art is the truest documentation of history. How else to tell of who we are, what was
learned, where we have been and the places we dream to create?

6. How's the city treating you?
We are friendly acquaintances.

7. Complete the sentence:
“In 2009 I will do my Taxes.

8. What is your favourite “O” word?
Ocelots

9. The best?
looking forward to the new year.

10.The worst?
negativity and fear

Art is Life

1. Who: Tony Thompson Occupation: Actor/Teacher/Radio Announcer

2. What is your Obsidian connection? Polished Hoe connection role of Sargeant Percy Stewart

3. Where have you been? I am back in barbados

4. When will we see you next? I wish I could work with you from today

5. Why art? art is life and i enjoy living

6. How’s the city treating you? Toronto is my second home and no place has ever treated me kinder

7. Complete the sentence: “2009 will be…”another mini miracle in the macro-miracle called life

8. What is your favourite “O” word? OBVIOUSLY
'obsidian'

the god-side of us

1. Who: MOTION Occupation: Poet/Writer/Spoken Wordist/Emcee

2. What is your Obsidian connection? Member of the Playwrights Unit (yeah!)

3. Where have you been? All over the city, and then by my computer, writing, writing, writing - ready to emerge back into the streets.

4. When will we see you next? March 1st @ the Trane Studio, 40 Dayz, The Launch Party, launching my new book of poemz - live performance, live band,
live DJ, live crowd

5. Why art? Art is the god-side of us all, The CREATOR

6. How’s the city treating you? T.O. is home, gotta roam, but still have the rumble of the street cars within me.

7. Complete the sentence: “In 2009 I will…” take my step into a new phase - ready for the next adventure!

8. What is your favourite “O” word? Orgasm, open, organic

9. The best? Wings, warm weather, feeling free

10. The worst? Preconceptions, bars and barbed wire (pass me a wire cutter) and bone chilling weather...I'm ready for spring!

Adventure is Life

1. Who: Name: Rita Shelton Deverell Occupation: TV producer/director, university professor, journalist, actress/playwright.

2. What is your Obsidian connection? On a galaxy long ago and far away I was on one of the early Boards of Directors. In 2007-08 a very proud member of the Obsidian Playwrights Unit.

3. Where have you been? Studio Lab Theatre, Globe Theatre, CBC, Vision TV,APTN, Saskatchewan Arts Board, OMNI, SCN, Bravo!; Winnipeg, Edmonton,Ottawa, and Saskatoon Fringe Festivals; SummerWorks reading "The First Stone," Obsidian Playwrights Unit, Storyteller-in-Residence, Centennial College, Centre for Creative Communications.

4. When will we see you next? OMNI TV, producer/director/writer of "Not a Drop", 1-hour docu-drama, March 21, 2009, the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, check local listings in primetime.

5. Why art? Art that makes a difference, in a number of different genres,is what I have been compelled to do for 55 years.

6. How's the city treating you? Check out my guest editorials in the Toronto SUN.

7. Complete the sentence: "In 2009 I will." In 2009 I will be living/working in a new part of the world for me, the Atlantic at Mount Saint Vincent University. Adventure is life.

8. What is your favourite "O" word? Obsidian.

From the Beginning

1. Who: Michael Sinclair Occupation: Stage Manager

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
I have been the Stage Manager with Obsidian from their 1st show and they still keep bringing me back

3. Where have you been?
I am currently working on the Sound of Music at the Princess of Wales Theatre

4. When will we see you next?
Hopefully next season.

5. Why art?
What better way for people to express themselves, and art has a way to bring different people and cultures together.

6. How’s the city treating you?The city has been GREAT.

7. Complete the sentence: “2009 will be…”A year where we might have to tighten our belts but we will come through it.

8. What is your favourite ”O” word?
Oppurtunity.

Oodles

1. Who: Marcia Johnson Occupation: Actor/Playwright

2. What is your Obsidian connection? Playwright

3. Where have you been? Writing (and making turkey broth)

4. When will we see you next? Probably at a theatre

5. Why art? It moves me.

6. How's the city treating you? Really well. (I love the snow)

7. Complete the sentence: "In 2009…” I will achieve more
milestones.

8. What is your favourite "O" word? Oodles.

9. The best? An audience who gets it.

10.The worst? A critic who doesn't.

At the Heart of It All

1. Who: Raven Dauda Occupation: Actor/Writer/Designer (I could go on... but you get the idea)

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
I played Esther in their production of Intimate Apparel

3. Where have you been?
Y'all sound like my mamma...
I've been right here performing in shows such as;
Da Kink In My Hair
Wild Dogs
and the upcoming CTV series The Bridge

4. When will we see you (next)?
You can see me right now in Miss Julie: Freedom Summer, which is playing at The St.
Lawrence Centre Bluma Appel Theatre

5. Why art?
Why not art? How not art? Living in this world is just not possible without it, and it becomes clearer and clearer to me each day that not only am I an artistic being, but if I don't express myself in a creative manner daily my head would pop off...and that's just no good.

6. How's the city treating you?
This big 'ol city has treated me just divinely. I've received so much love from everyone over the years that I can only say "thanks" and "You guys rock!" and "I couldn't do what I do without learning from y'all and being so greatly inspired by what you do." Of course life in the city can be cold at times. Many times the answer is "no", but even then, at the heart of it all, the support from this crazy artistic community that I am so proud to be apart of was always there.

7. Complete the sentence: “In 2009 I will…”In 2009 "Yes We Can" (and do) make a difference!

8. What is your favourite “O” word?
Orgasmic

9. The best?
Omnipotent

10.The worst?
Obnoxious

The Sedina Show

1. Who: Sedina Fiati Occupation: Actor / Singer / Producer / Creator / Arts Administrator / Goddess / Good Friend

2. What is your Obsidian connection? Was the production apprentice for 2007/ 2008 season. Yeah!

3. Where have you been? Mostly Canada - spent a few months in Quebec(Montreal, Trois Rivieres and Trois Pistoles (oui, je parle francais). Vancouver (lovely), Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Banff (beautiful!), recently New York City, Orlando & Titusville (exremely boring small town in Florida), Windsor (four years, where I went to university!). Trinidad when I was 8...


4. When will we see you next? In b current's production of Wise Woman in the chorus and in my cabaret, The Sedina Show.


5. Why art? Because I love it and apparently don't care about making a lot of money. Art makes us better people or so I tell myself as I use toonies to pay for my groceries...


6. How's the city treating you? Love Toronto, but the commute from Rexdale is getting me down. Need to move where a bunch of artistes live in the west end...anyone have a lead on an affordable apartment in the Ossington & Bloor, Dufferin & College area. If so, bye mom!

7. Complete the sentence: "In 2009 I will…": Oh god, I hate resolutions, but if I must...In 2009, I will walk more, eat less wheat and flirt more.

8. What is your favourite "O" word? oooo, Orgasm for sure.

9. The best? rice, beans, vegetables and cookies, hanging with friends with no time limit, turning off the alarm in the morning and getting up when you feel like, dancing like everyone is watching and dancing more because they are watching, doing what you actually want to do with your life despite the odds, being genuinely happy, good wine, the $25 mani/pedi at Lucy Nails, shopping deals, coupons and getting things by charming your way into them, a great musical

10.The worst? apathy, people not caring about art in this city and not bothering to support independent theatre, living your life to fit other people's ideals, people giving up on being artists without really trying and then blaming the "cold industry", mushy fruit in baked goods and well cooked fruit in anything, the fact that the government doesn't actually represent the people, but corporate interests, our society's unrealistic beauty standards, oppression, debt, consumerism, buying stuff you don't need, valentine's day.

Can't Complain

1.Who: Edwige Jean-Pierre Occupation: Actor/Playwright
2. What is your Obsidian connection? Played the role of Carol in Obsidian Theatre's production of Late by Marcia Johnson (Fall 2008) and Past member of Obsidian Theatre's Playwright Unit (2006-2007)

3. Where have you been? Spent the holidays in Ottawa

4. When will we see you next? Rhubarb Festival in Michael Rubenfeld's play called: An Exercise in Futility (Feb 18 - 22nd 2009) at Buddies in Bad Times. Theatre Arcipelago's production of Saint Bitch (World Premiere) Preview April 24-May 10 2009 at the Papermill Theatre

5. Why art? Why not?

6. How's the city treating you? Good, can't complain

7. Complete the sentence: “In 2009 I will…”
In 2009, I will stop and smell the roses

8. What is your favourite “O” word? Outrageous

9. The best? BBQ Ribs

10.The worst? Liver - Soooo grrrrooosssssss!!!

Why breathe?

1. Who? Donna-Michelle St. Bernard. Occupation: General Manager, emcee, playwright, upstart.

2. What is your Obsidian connection?
Participant in playwriting unit in 2006/2007. Playwright-In-Residence in 2008/2009. Longtime listener, first time caller. Fan.

3. Where have you been?
I have been ... within, consumed with looking forward, onwards, upwards.

4. When will we see you next?
As soon as you drop by Native Earth's office in the Distillery to find out what all the noise is about.

5. Why art?
Why breathe? Why spit? Why cry? It's how I was made; with the desire to show others what it all looks like from the side where I stand, and to shake the place where you stand just a little.

6. How's the city treating you?
Toronto and I are going Dutch, that way no one is expected to put out. I find if you let a city treat you, you can soon become a kept woman.

7. Complete the sentence: "2009 will be..."
2009 will be transformative.

8. What is your favourite "O" word?
Obeah

9. The best?
The best is ... / being tested / by the energy you manifested; / power wrested / from the divine you have invested. / There's nothing better than to spit unrestricted, / negative evicted / afflicted with wickedness of the mouth. / Blessed by the breath you breathe out. / Not your own, / birthed by a spirit unknown. / It's silk purse made from my humble ear / a minute made from a year / this thing that I do here.

10.The worst?
Genocide. Coca Cola. Apathy. Sonic Youth. Just garbage, all of it.