WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING

2013 promises to be an exciting and creative year. Laara and dancer/choreographer Noam Gagnon (Vision Impure, Holy Body Tattoo) were awarded a Creator’s Reserve grant by Nightswimming Theatre courtesy of The Ontario Arts Council, for their multidisciplinary project, Collision. Much gratitude to Nightswimming for their support.

The first phase of the creation process took place from March 31st – April 6th. A very productive week of explorations in the Ernest Balmer Studio in Toronto’s distillery district, followed by a wild and wonderful day in Montreal working on sound design with composer/scratch artist/musical savant, Kid Koala. Next phase involves some interesting residency possibilities to continue developing the piece. Definitely more to come…

Other recent projects in the can:

-  The Listener: ‘Angela’ in House of Horror, Shaftesbury/CTV, directed by Harvey Crossland.

-  The Patels (Pilot): ‘Priya’, CBC, directed by Keith Samples.

-  West Coast premiere of Anton Piatigorsky’s pithy Eternal Hydra, playing the role of ‘Vivan Ezra’. Produced by Touchstone Theatre, directed by Katrina Dunn. See the PRESS page for reviews.

And – it looks like Electric Company Theatre's multimedia production of Jean Paul Sartre’s No Exit will return to its origins and run in Vancouver this fall. Stay tuned for details…

RECENT & UPCOMING

Laara finished off a great summer of work and play with an episode of the smart new CBC series Cracked, playing the role of ‘Ria Kush’, directed by Brett Sullivan. Slated to premiere in early 2013, this series is going to be very, very good.  Watch for it… www.cbc.ca

In October, Laara will head to Vancouver to play ‘Vivian Ezra’ in Touchstone Theatre’s production of Anton Piadigorsky’s Eternal Hydra.  This incredible play explores literature, sex, authorship and the question of genius.  Running from November 1st – 11th 2012 @ Studio 16.

Also starring: John Murphy, Cherissa Richards, Andrew Wheeler

Director: Katrina Dunn

Design Team: Owen Belton, Adrian Muir, David Roberts, Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh

www.touchstonetheatre.com

SPRING 2012

Laara’s been busy shooting a bunch of interesting projects in Toronto.  Great writing, great shows…

  • Greg Spottiswood’s excellent new series KING.  Playing the role of ‘Jillian Saunders’ in the season 2 episode Wendy Stetler. Dir: Don McBrearty.
  • DEGRASSI: playing the role of ‘Dr Yardley’ in Walking on Broken Glass. Dir: Stefan Brogren.
  • Currently shooting John Grisham’s THE FIRM.  Playing the role of prosecutor ‘Helen Figgis’ in the episode Chapter Eighteen. Dir: Holly Dale.

Stay tuned for air dates…

THE PENELOPIAD IN VANCOUVER

Laara is currently in previews for the Arts Club Theatre’s west coast premiere of Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad, playing the role of Helen of Troy. Running at Vancouver’s historic Stanley Theatre, The Penelopiad features a cast of shit hot women, including Meg Roe, Megan Leitch, Colleen Wheeler, Dawn Petten and Lois Anderson.

Direction by Vanessa Porteous, Artistic Director of ATP. 

Movement Design by Denise Clarke, Associate Artist at One Yellow Rabbit.

Don’t miss this beautiful, bold production…

Opening Night: Wednesday October 26th, 2011.
Running till November 20th, 2011.

http://www.artsclub.com/20112012/plays/the-penelopiad.htm
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162322153860682&context=create#!/event.php?eid=162322153860682

BUSY SUMMER, NEW PROJECTS!

It's been a busy summer. A few noteworthy projects to mention:

- Guest starring on USA Network's hit series Covert Affairs. Catch the episode 'Sad Professor', directed by Miller Tobin, on Tuesday August 2nd, 2011 @ 10/9C

-Workshop of Peter Brook's classic adaptation of The Mahabarata with Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, directed by Richard Rose.

-Upcoming: shooting an episode of Don McKellar's new comedy series Michael - Tuesdays and Thursdays, directed by Patricia Rozema.

**Hot tip: don't miss Cat on a Hot Tin Roof @ the Shaw Festival this season. Spectacular performances, particularly Moya O'Connell and Gray Powell as Maggie & Brick.

More Articles...

LEO AWARDS 2010

Laara was the recipient of a Leading Actress award for her performance in Bruce Sweeney's feature film Excited. at the Leo Awards Gala, held in Vancouver at the Westin Bayshore on June 5th 2010. The film also picked up awards for Supporting Actress, Best Director and Best Feature Film. In 2009, Excited had its world premiere at TIFF, opened the Canadian Images program at VIFF, and has been making its way through the film festival circuit in Canada & the US. Commercially released by Union Pictures, Excited will open in Vancouver on June 14th at the Ridge Theatre. For details and screen times, go to www.excitedmovie.com.

NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE 2010-2011

Laara will be heading to Ottawa this fall to join the Resident Acting Company at the National Arts Centre. She will appear in Romeo & Juliet, Nativity - A Coyote Christmas, and St. Carmen of the Main (co-produced with the Canadian Stage Company).