VocalEye and the Arts Club Theatre have been working together to make theatre more accessible for audience members who are blind and partially sighted since 2010. We’re thrilled to share another Listen to This audio play with our Almost Live audiences.
Out for a walk in their West End neighbourhood, Mike and Marissa—an interracial couple—meet a dog with an unfortunate breed name: redbone coonhound. This small detail unleashes a cascading debate between them about race and their relationship that manifests as a series of micro-plays, each satirizing contemporary perspectives on modern culture. Through its hard-hitting comedic elements, Redbone Coonhound explores the intricacies of subtle and overt polemics of race, systemic power, and privilege in remarkable, surprising, and hilarious ways.
Host Amy Amantea will be joined by the playwrighting team Amy Lee Lavoie and Omari Newton.
The VocalEye virtual lobby opens at 6:30 pm Pacific Time for some socializing and community updates with host Amy Amantea. The pre-show introduction will begin at 6:45 pm with Amy and guests. The featured show begins at 7 pm followed by conversation, Q and A and a prize draw.
If you’ve never attended a VocalEye Almost Live Zoom event before, you can register for just one event or sign up for the full season. A Zoom link and reminder will be sent to you on the day of the event. Almost Live events are designed for people with sight loss, but everyone is welcome.
Register here or call 604-364-5949
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS
Amy Lee Lavoie is an award-winning playwright and a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Playwriting Program. Her first play, Rabbit Rabbit, received its premiere production with Infinitheatre, earning Amy Lee two MECCA’s for Best Text and the Revelation Award. Rabbit Rabbit has since been produced across Canada and in the US. Other plays include Me Happy (co-written with Matthew Mackenzie/Summerworks Festival), Stopheart (Factory Theatre) Genetic Drift (Pi Theatre/Boca del Lupo) and My Tom (Railtown Lab Series).
Amy Lee was also the Head Digital Writer for the CBC drama Strange Empire, which won a Gracie Award (Women’s Alliance Media) for Best Website in recognition of its interactive storytelling.
C’mon, Angie!, Amy Lee’s latest play, premiered with Touchstone Theatre in June, 2018, and was a critical success, being hailed as “visceral, important, life-changing theatre.” It has since been produced in Toronto with Leroy Street Theatre.
Amy Lee has collaborated on two new plays with her playwright husband Omari Newton, Redbone Coonhound and an adaptation of Titus Andronicus, commissioned by Repercussion Theatre.
Omari Newton is an award-winning professional actor, writer, director, and a senior instructor at The Vancouver Film School.
As a writer, his original Hip Hop theatre piece Sal Capone has received critical acclaim and multiple productions, including a recent presentation at Canada’s National Arts Centre. He often co-writes with his wife, playwright Amy Lee Lavoie.
Newton’s work in Speakeasy Theatre’s production of Young Jean Lee’s The Shipment earned him a 2017-2018 Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, as well as a nomination for Best Direction.
Notable film & TV credits include: Lucas Ingram on Showcase’s Continuum, Larry Summers on Blue Mountain State and lending his voice to the Black Panther in multiple animated projects (Marvel). Most recently, Omari has a recurring role as Nate on Corner Gas (the animated series) and a recurring role as Corvus in Netflix’s hit new animated series The Dragon Prince.
