Our preview tour of Get Stuffed (by Alexis Diamond & Richard Payne) is underway in the Greater Toronto area.  Last Friday Oct. 17th we began a 10 show tour to schools around the city in anticipation of our premiere tour which launches in spring 2009.  We will be visiting schools and community centres all around the province of Ontario, with support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, including northern Ontario in spring 2010.

So far feedback has been fantastic and a huge help as we continue to develop this new work before the premiere.  Developed by Tapestry & Words in Motion in association with the Canadian Diabetes Association, Get Stuffed is a comic children’s opera about serious decisions – making healthy food choices inspired by the Canada Food Guide. The rise of type 2 diabetes, especially among children, is a huge concern.  With Get Stuffed we hope to use opera – a most inclusive art form – engage young people with this important issue and of course with the performing arts.  Like Elijah’s Kite, Get Stuffed will include a Study Guide and interaction between the audience and artists.

Click here to learn more about Get Stuffed.

Click here to learn more about Words in Motion

Click here to learn more about the Canadian Diabetes Association and the rise of type 2 diabetes.

Here’s what some audience members had to say about the Get Stuffed preview performance:

West Preppers wowed by wonderful world of veggies! Adults and children alike were entertained by big voices and splendid soundscapes at the performance of “Get Stuffed”, definitely not an ordinary opera. The primary students were mesmerized by the complex yet accessible medley of voices and veggies as well as instruments (where did that sound come from?) provided by a stellar cast of musicians and vocal artists. The children were completely engaged by the dramatic performances and responded enthusiastically to the non-stop, ever-changing musical smorgasbord of continually surprising and often amusing rhythms and sounds. Adults were moved to laughter by the nuances of the script but nothing was lost on the children who sat up taller and craned their necks, anxious to see if their fallen diva would revive.  All this and learning, too! Canada’s Food Guide never had it so good. Oh, did I forget to mention that all of this creativity is the vehicle for a lesson on the benefits of good nutrition.  A lesson they’ll always remember joyfully!
Thank you.
West Prep Public School

So…we are well on our way and very excited for the spring premiere!  Here are a few shots from rehearsals in the Ernest Balmer Studio at Tapestry.

Just click on the photo to advance the slide.

ARTISTS PICTURED: Neema Bickersteth, Catharin Carew, Cory Knight, Keith O’Brien, Justin Welsh.  PHOTOS (c) Tapestry