In April, the company brings a collection of new short plays to the stage -- and while several of the playwrights are new, I think the subjects (zombie invasions, superheroes, Lovecraftian horror) will feel right as bananas to the Monkeymen. Mark the show dates down now -- they'll be April 16th, 17th, 23rd and 24th at the Imperial Pub just off Yonge & Dundas in Toronto -- and be sure to keep an eye on this space as we'll be posting plenty of more information as the show comes closer. 

At the moment, though, we need some help spreading the word! We've got the scripts set up, we've got a location for the show, the next step is signing up some directors! Monkeyman Productions issues a Call for Directors for The Banana Festival, a collection of short plays to hit the stage on the dates listed above, with auditions late in January and rehearsals to begin at the end of February / beginning of March. The plays have running times between fifteen and forty-five minutes, and all plays will be shown at each performance. It's an excellent opportunity to be a part of new work in development, to further your own abilities and collaborate with some amazing theatrical artists, and to have a hell of a lot of fun! You can ask anyone who's ever done a show with us -- the Monkeyman experience is not to be missed. 

A few caveats: unfortunately, we can't accept union members. We do provide a certain amount of rehearsal space / time for each show in the festival, but if additional arrangements are necessary we may ask your assistance (for instance, holding line rehearsals in someone's apartment, etc.). We ask directors to keep technical requirements to a minimum and focus on the development of the script over production values. There will be a small budget for each show to cover necessities, but unfortunately we are not able to pay the directors or actors. (Or producers or playwrights, for that matter, but we have hopes for the future.) 

To apply to direct, send an email to headchimp@monkeymanproductions.com by December 31st, 2009. Please include your name, phone number, contact email address (if not the one you are using to submit the application) and indicate your directing experience or attach a theatrical resume / CV. We will be contacting director candidates early in January to provide copies of scripts for review and to arrange for interviews with the producers, as well as providing further information about the Festival itself to allow both sides to make an informed decision as to the best director for each play. 

If you have any questions regarding The Banana Festival or Monkeyman Productions, please write to the email address above or call Artistic Director D.J. Sylvis at 416-737-1267. 

For more information, the Doctor's secret blog, Ask Half-Ape and more, check out DoctorNefarious.com!

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