EVENT: Aneemah's Spot (SummerWorks)

WORLD PREMIERE OF ANEEMAH'S SPOT BY MOTION 

Toronto, ON (July 23, 2012) - MotionLive in association with Cric Crac Collective proudly present the world premiere of ANEEMAH'S SPOT by acclaimed Toronto spoken word poet, emcee and Playwright-in-Residence at Obsidian Theatre, Motion, as part of the SummerWorks Festival at the Lower Ossington Theatre, August 9-18.  Directed by Dian Marie Bridge, and starring Araya Mengesha and Amanda Parris, ANEEMAH’S SPOT is supported by Obsidian Theatre Company, with musical direction by DJ L’Oqenz.

Aneemah (a poet) and Wan (an emcee) are bought together in the hours after the funeral of their childhood friend “G.” In a theatrical remix of dialogue, rhyme and spoken word, Aneemah and Wan struggle with the untimely death, violence and imminent threats that surrounds the tragedy. In the safe house of Aneemah’s apartment, known as ‘the base,’ Aneemah and Wan are forced to challenge their pasts, face their present, and choose how they will navigate life from this moment on. 

First created in Obsidian's Playwright's Unit,  ANEEMAH'S SPOT had its debut workshop production in bcurrent's 2011 Rock Paper Sistahz Festival. ANEEMAH'S SPOT now takes the next step of its journey with the world premiere at the 2012 Summerworks Festival. The Summerworks production of ANEEMAH’S SPOT stars TV/film/theatre actor Araya Mengesha (War Horse, Another Africa, Nurse.Fighter.Boy) as Wan, and playwright, performer and co-founder of Lost Lyrics Amanda Parris (32C, The Whores, A Question Remains) who plays the title character, Aneemah. 

About the Playwright  

Motion is an award-winning emcee/poet and playwright whose work spans the realms of music, spoken word and drama. Born and  raised in Toronto, her lyrical agility has taken her from hip hop radio host to the stages of Manifesto Jamaica, Canadian Urban Music Awards (CBC), Caribbean Literary Festival, Luminato, HBO Def Poetry Jam and Africa Expo in South Africa. Dubbed by Now Magazine as a “multi-talented, truthful artist,” Motion is the author of two collections, Motion In Poetry and 40 Dayz, published by Canadian Scholars Press. Her dramatic works (4our Woman, Aneemah’s Spot, Dancing to a White Boy Song, Mo’Suite) have been featured at Obsidian and Factory theatres, Theatre Passe Muraille, Summerworks and bcurrent’s Rock.Paper.Sistahz Festival. Her play ANEEMAH'S SPOT premiers at the 2012 Summerworks Festival, and is published in Give Voice, a collection of plays from Obsidian’s Playwright’s Unit, by Playwright's Canada Press.

About the Director

At the helm of this production is director Dian Marie Bridge. She was an inaugural member of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s Michael Langham Workshop, and intern artistic director at Obsidian Theatre. Her directing credits include the dancehall theatre work King Ah Di Dancehall  (Baby Boyz Dance Group/Dance Immersion), Thank You for Carey Street Theatre and assistant directing the Mirvish Production of ’da Kink in My Hair. She is artistic producer of Cric Crac Collective, and directed ANEEMAH'S SPOT in its debut workshop production at bcurrent’s Rock.Paper.Sistahz Festival.

The Creative Team

Musical direction is by acclaimed DJ L'Oqenz (Emancipation of Ms. Lovely, HeadSpace, UforChange) who designs an infectious soundtrack for the dramatic duet. Jade Lee Hoy (Hilary & Denise, Manifesto) joins as Set and Costume Designer, with Nan Sheppard as Stage Manager. Jasmine Chen and Cassy Walker join ANEEMAH'S SPOT as Associate Producer and Assistant Director.