REHEARSALS BEGIN TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3 IN TORONTO FOR CANADIAN PREMIERE OF The Thanksgiving Play
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: John Karastamatis, Sue Toth, Erin Nantais
STARRING RACHEL CAIRNS, COLIN A DOYLE, CRAIG LAUZON & JADA RIFKIN
DIRECTED BY VINETTA STROMBERGS
SET, COSTUMES & PROPS BY ANAHITA DEHBONEHIE
LIGHTING BY NICK BLAIS
SEPTEMBER 27 — OCTOBER 20, 2024 AT THE CAA THEATRE, 651 YONGE ST.
Today, Tuesday September 3, 2024, marks the first day of rehearsals for The Thanksgiving Play in Toronto. Pop-Up Theatre company’s Canadian premiere production of Larissa Fasthorse’s hilarious Broadway comedy The Thanksgiving Play will be performed September 27 to October 20, 2024, at Toronto’s CAA Theatre.
Tickets are available now at mirvish.com or by calling 1.800.461.3333.
"BROADWAY’S FUNNIEST AND MOST DARING NEW COMEDY!”
- The Guardian
“CRITIC’S PICK. HILARIOUS AND BRUTAL SATIRE ABOUT MYTHMAKING!”
- The New York Times
“SHARPLY TIMED AND FUNNY...A SATIRE OF WACKY WOKENESS”
- Chicago Sun-Times
About The Thanksgiving Play
Good intentions collide with absurd assumptions in Larissa FastHorse’s hilarious comedy.
A high school drama teacher, a history teacher, and two theatre people set out to create a new Thanksgiving show that won’t ruffle any feathers. Their politically correct attempts to update the myth of the first Thanksgiving with today’s social justice issues are served up as a comedic feast. The play asks: How do you do the right thing in an ever-changing world?
;A hit on Broadway and one of the most produced plays across North America, The Thanksgiving Play is smart, wildly entertaining and deliciously wicked.
The Cast
Starring in the Canadian Premiere of The Thanksgiving Play are four esteemed Canadian actors:
RACHEL CAIRNS stars as Logan, an ambitious teacher who’s trying to keep her job by creating a new version of the traditional Thanksgiving school pageant.
Rachel Cairns delights to reunite with Pop-Up Theatre once again after their last adventure performing the adaptation of The Seagull, Stupid Fcking Bird. Other theatre include Post-Democracy, Bunny, Hamlet, The Summoned (Tarragon); The Wolves (Howland/Crows); Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo & Juliet (CanStage); Cymbeline, Equivocation, Hamlet, Twelfth Night (Bard on the Beach). Her solo show Hypothetical Baby premiered last year in collaboration with the Howland Company and is set for another production in 2025 with Nightwood Theatre. Rachel is also the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Aborsh which examines why abortion is still such a “big deal”, what “choice” really means and looks like, and why that answer is different for different people. She lives in Toronto and also lives with the ongoing existential dilemma of whether she should move back to the West Coast, where she grew up.
COLIN A DOYLE stars as Jaxon, a busker/yoga instructor/actor who also happens to be Logan’s boyfriend.
Colin A. Doyle is an award-winning actor in tv, film, radio and theatre. He has toured all over Canada, the United States and Europe. Recent theatre credits include: Baskerville (1000 Island Playhouse, Western Canadian Theatre), Cavan Blazers (4th Line Theatre), Fairview (Canadian Stage), Three Sisters (Howland Theatre) The Antipodes (Coal Mine Theatre); The Ministry of Mundane Mysteries (co-creator); The Flick (Outside the March and Crow’s Theatre, Toronto Theatre Critics Award), Monday Nights (co-creator, Theatre Centre, Luminato, PuSh Festival) to name a few. Selected Film/TV: “5 Days in Memorial,” 'Elinor Wonders Why", “American Gods,” “Titans,” “Murdoch Mysteries,” “Grand Army,” and “FANGBONE!” (ACTRA Award nomination). Thank you to the cast & crew, Rae Ellen, Ogden Day Care, his agents Sandie & Yanick, his father Martin for the helpful chat before this audition and his mother Judi, for always. And a super big thanks & love to my heart Katherine and my love Lily for their continued support and love. This one is for David. www.colindoyle.ca
CRAIG LAUZON stars as Caden, a know-it-all history teacher and wannabe playwright.
Originally from Ottawa, of mixed settler and Anishinabe descent. A member of the sketch troupe Tonto's Nephews, former Artistic Associate at Native Earth Performing Arts. Has performed across Canada, Australia, The UK and the U.S. Theatre credits: Bad Roads (Crow’s Theatre) Little Red Warrior & his Lawyer (N.A.C), The Darkest Dark (Y.P.T), Detroit (The Coal Mine), Where the Blood Mixes (Soulpepper), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stratford), The Drawer Boy (Theatre Passe Muraille), Thunderstick (Persephone Theatre), King Lear (N.A.C), Trudeau & Levesque (VideoCaberet).
JADA RIFKIN stars as Alicia, a fledging actor desperate to launch a Hollywood career.
Jada is thrilled to be part of The Thanksgiving Play! Selected Theatre: GoldiRocks! Tour (Education Arts Canada), Tape (Toronto Fringe Festival), Merrily We Roll Along (Shifting Ground Collective), Jada Rifkin: I’M PERFECT* (Now Toronto Critic’s Pick), Alice in Wonderland (Creativiva Inc - Qatar, Singapore Tour), and Every Silver Lining (Next Stage Festival). Selected TV/Film/Livestream: Discovery Channel 2, Amazon, OutTV/Go Button Media, Whistler Film Festival, and multiple national/international commercials including being the face of the current OLG Triple Millions and Merry Millions Ad Campaigns. Rifkin is a graduate of Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Thank you to my parents, Luke, and the team of The Thanksgiving Play! @jadarifkin
The Creative Team
The Thanksgiving Play is written by Larissa FastHorse and Directed by Vinetta Stombergs. The Lighting designer is Nick Blais, the Set, Costume, and Props Designer is Anahita Dehbonehie, the Assistant to Costume and Props Designer is Niloufar Ziaee, Videography by Tristan Gough and the Video Co-Ordinator is Caitlin Farley.
On camera actors include Elley Ray Hennessy and Eric Wolfe.