MEDIA RELEASE

THE STORI YA COLLECTIVE in Association with UPSTAGE PRODUCTIONS PRESENT

STORI YA

as part of

HATCH: emerging performance projects at Harbourfront Centre

TORONTO, Tuesday, October 17, 2005– Stori ya, a compelling one-woman drama, returns in production as part of the prestigious 2005-2006 HATCH: emerging performance projects series opening November 8th at 8:00pm in the Harbourfront Centre’s Studio Theatre. Stori ya was previously workshopped at the rock.paper.sistahz IV Festival and the Summerworks 2005 Festival. Selected for its writing and performance merits, Stori ya focuses on an African-Canadian woman whose life is caught in the midst of imposed gender, racial and social constructions and promises to be a forceful piece of drama.

Written by JOAN M. KIVANDA, Directed by ahdri zhina mandiela

Starring: RHOMA SPENCER

Written in three different languages (English, Nyamwezi, and Swahili), Stori ya maintains a culturally specific narrative about a Canadian woman born in a small village in Tanzania, as she attempts to hold on to her native African-ness. After losing much to external forces that manipulate the course of her being, Maria finds herself in financial trouble, and her last prized possession is about to be repossessed. Maria Msondo delivers a swelling chorus of anecdotes as she invites us into her house in hopes that we will acknowledge this imminent invasion. Will Maria maintain ownership of that which she holds dear to her heart, or will it be taken away?  “This is my house,” Maria chants! Is anyone listening?

Stori ya features the accomplished Dora Award-winning artist RHOMA SPENCER (founder of Theatre Archipelago, fresh from her critically acclaimed production of Mad Miss).

Stori ya is written by actor and playwright Joan M. Kivanda (with works published in The International Library of Poetry and the Noble House Publisher Series). Direction by ahdri zhina mandiela (Nightwood Theatre’s Cast Iron, Obsidian Theatre’s Two Can Play, Gamut Productions’ The Burglary at the St. Lawrence Centre, Artistic Director of b current). Set and Prop Design by Camellia Koo (fu-Gen’s Banana Boys, Nightwood Theatre’s Cast Iron, Soulpepper’s Waiting for Godot). Produced by Upstage Productions (Looney Bin, Indoor Voices, and upcoming in 2006, Closer, in association with macideas). Production Stage Manager is Andrea Winzer with Lighting Design by Factory Theatre’s Aaron Kelly.

HARBOURFRONT CENTRE

 STUDIO THEATRE, 235 Queens Quay West

NOVEMBER 8^th-13^th Tues-Sun @ 8pm; Wed, Thurs, Sat, Sun @ 2pm

 Tickets are: $23/Adult, $18/Student and Seniors, $13/Groups of 10 or more and available through the Harbourfront Centre Box Office at 416.973.4000   Website Information: www.harbourfrontcentre.com