All posts by Megan Mooney

Megan loves being in the thick of all things theatre, but her ultimate goal is to promote theatre to the world of non-theatre people. It was the same when she was the theatre writer for blogTO, or the Fringe Correspondent for CBC Radio One‘s Here and Now, as it is as the founder of Mooney on Theatre. Her basic belief is that there is theatre/performance out there for everyone to love, they just need to find it. This is not to be confused with the idea that everyone should love theatre for theatre’s sake, in fact, as obsessed as she is with theatre, even *she* doesn’t love all types of theatre.

Learn To Be Your Own Publicist (5 tips and info on Toronto seminar May 29, 2010)

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Do it yourself publicity seminar presented by Mooney on Theatre and Sweat Equity

I’m teaming up with the Shehori Brothers and the Second City training centre to present a one-day seminar on how to be your own publicist.  Lots of details over here.  And, check out the 5 tips for effective publicity at the bottom of the post.

One of the great benefits of this particular seminar is that you get both sides of the story.  Guidance from the side of some very well respected publicists, and from the side of the media.

Continue reading Learn To Be Your Own Publicist (5 tips and info on Toronto seminar May 29, 2010) →

Review: Rock of Ages – Mirvish

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By Megan Mooney

Rock of Ages Rocks the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto   photo of Victor A. Young Josephine Rose Roberts Cody Scott Lancaster by Joan Marcus

Rock of Ages is pure unadulterated fun.  It pokes fun at itself and standard conventions of musical theatre throughout.  There’s never a moment where it takes itself too seriously.

In fact, to drive that point home, in the latter part of the show the narrator  says that we don’t get everything we want in life, and that he “wanted to explore deep and challenging theatre” but instead he was in this.  The whole show is playful, delightful and a great deal of fun.

Now, it stands to reason that if you were around in the 80s and listening to popular music, you’re probably going to get the most out of this.  My show partner for the piece, Yves, said “It’s hard not to sing along if you’re a product of the 80s”  And he’s right.  I caught myself singing a lot.  My lesson of the night would appear to have been that I still remember the lyrics to the music from my teens, enough to sing along at least…

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Review: The Last Five Years – Angelwalk Theatre

By Megan Mooney

Eric Craig, Adrienne Merrell - photo by Katherine Verendia

Love live music at live theatre? Check out The Last Five Years playing at the Toronto Centre for the Arts

As part of their inaugural season at The Toronto Centre for the Arts, Angelwalk Theatre is presenting The Last Five Years.  It’s playing in the Studio Theatre at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, which is, by the way, a lovely little space.

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Mooney on Theatre is looking for an Editorial Intern

I’m losing my editor (to a good cause, she’s transferring things she learned at Mooney on Theatre to pursue her children’s book series with more gusto) and am now on the search for a new one.

The position will let you participate in all of the nitty gritty of an edited online publication, and is a great learning experience (and, of course, good resume fodder). 

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Making the arts riskier, not broader-based – a call to arms by Michael Kaiser

By Megan Mooney

Should Toronto theatres be producing edgier content given current economic realities?

The Pittsburgh Post Gazette has a great article by Sally Kalson about taking risks in the arts during challenging economic times.

Here’s an excerpt, a quote from Michael Kaiser (president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.) as part of his Arts in Crisis project.

“Too many groups have reacted to the economy by cutting programming and marketing, which is suicide. It cuts the size of your family. Or they do more ‘accessible’ things that are boring and less interesting to donors and audiences. What they should be doing is riskier, exciting programs, if not now then three, four or five years down the road.

“I do all my arts planning five years ahead,” he said. “It gives me time to find the money and educate audiences to want to see the work.”

Take a minute to go read the whole article at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.  It’s a good read, and it’s poking my brain awake.  Wondering what all that poking has resulted in?  Well, let me tell you…

Continue reading Making the arts riskier, not broader-based – a call to arms by Michael Kaiser →