Nasty family schemes go to hell in Coal Mine Theatre’s primal, raw & darkly funny Killer Joe — life with more cowbell
There’s a mini-Lettsapalooza going on in Toronto right now – and last night, I stopped by Coal Mine Theatre to see their production of Tracy Letts’ Killer Joe, directed by Peter Pasyk. Chris Smith (Matthew Gouveia) is in big trouble. In deep with drug debts, he owes a mean son of a bitch named Digger […]
New show announced: 9to5 Narrative
I’ll be sharing a story of romance at this on February 9!
Hey everyone! 9to5 Narrative is back! The second Tuesday of every month at the Monarch Tavern!
February we are sharing hopeful and awkward stories about romance in the workplace with a stellar line up of storytellers!
Come in out of the cold and spend the evening with us Feb 9 @ 8:00!
New Show Announced: Secret Handshake Sunday Aug 30!
Join us this Sunday in Kensington Market Toronto! 2-5:30pm 170a Baldwin Street. 🙂
I want a bagel!
Sometimes, in a world filled with quinoa and kale, you just want a white bagel double-toasted brown with creamed cheese dripping all over your face. By popular demand, I am posting a snippet of my parody of Ms B’s hit which I performed for the first time as part of LMG Productions’ Wonder Women series.
Here is I Want a Bagel 
I’ll be performing it again live this Sunday August 30th at the Secret Handshake Series 170 Baldwin Street in Kensington Market 2:00-5:00pm. Come if you can!
This is especially posted for you and your friends, Derek! I hope you all enjoy and I hope to see you again at a live show– where the magic explodes! 🙂
Happy final daze of summer, everybuddy!
🙂
FANTASTIC SPECTACLE OF FEMALE FUN!
Saturday July 4th 2015
Kat and Helene onstage! TWICE THE FUN!
SoulOTheatre: Kat & The Smurfs All Star Show
Have you ever had an experience that unlocked a creative surge in you? How many experiences like that have you had? I’ve been blessed to have had many– sometimes it’s in the form of an individual kindred connection I make with someone else, sometimes it’s discovering new technology, sometimes it’s something I stumble upon by my own mistake, and sometimes it’s in the form of tools gained in direction from a teacher. I’ve been blessed with having the open mind and heart of a student and also blessed by the existence in my life of brilliant and generous teachers– not all teachers have been this way, but those who have gifted me make up for those who didn’t. Tracey Erin Smith is one such guru. She founded the SoulO Theatre Company. I’ve known the name of the company and workshop series for years but it wasn’t until I was sitting in the Master Class intensive this past May staring at the cover page of the workbook that it dawned on me with a jolt: Oh! Soul- O Theatre, like soul theatre! Ahhhh!” said I. “Whoa,” said the rest of the group. I may not be the brightest bulb on the tree but I do twinkle and flash.
I encourage you to find out more about Soulo Theatre, and if you’ve ever contemplated exploring something like this, DO IT DO IT DO IT!
For more information, please visit the website at www.Soulo.ca @TraceyErinSmith @SOULOFest
From the official website:
“SoulOTheatre is an innovative, interactive program designed to help people create, write, direct and star – in their own One-Person Show by transforming raw material from their lives into creative personal story telling performances. Smith’s process turns personal experience into compelling and entertaining theatre, with no prior acting experience necessary.
Participants take part in writing and theatre exercises to explore their lives, gaining insight into their trials and triumphs, as well as the wisdom they have earned; and share a ten-minute performance with an audience of friends and family at the end of the course.”
During the Master Class intensive I made new friends while I explored own bits of my life, fragments of memories that turned into stories. I discovered just how much my life has been molded by my two greatest influences: Madonna and The Smurfs. I have yet to do a show entirely of covers of songs from The Smurfs All Star, but it’s agonna happen, oh yes it is! Here is my homage to Papa Don’t Preach.
Here is my piece that came out of the Master Class intensive: Kat & The Smurfs All Star Show— still a favourite album of mine.
For more photos from the 2015 SoulOTheatre Festival, please see SoulO General Manager and magician James Alan’s album at his website Reality Based Magic and while you’re at it, check out the rest of his magical stuff. It really is magic because he’s a magician, eh!
Don’t forget I’m doing an hour-long version of Myselfie for Roof’s Off on Saturday July 4th where I plan to regale you with inspired and humorous storytelling, song and dance with my body bits! More on that here!
Wishing you a glorious day! See you soon!
🙂
New Project Announced: Myselfie!
Myselfie: A snapshot to share.
I recently did a meditative exercise whereby one mindfully describes their own body parts in a grateful manner. As I was exploring, it came to me that this is my next show. It is is still a work in progress but I aim to create a piece of work that will inspire positive self-love and self-esteem. My goal is to create a meaningful spectacle of word, body part selfie images, song and dance that I can tour with in order to engage and empower, especially within the preteen and teenage group. I may have to mind the cheekiness– though I’m of the belief that a fresh amount of cheek is honest and healthy. I welcome you to join me in this journey and provide feedback as I work this show.
Upcoming dates I will be previewing and workshopping Myselfie bits:
April 30 at Habits Gastropub as part of the WonderFest Comedy and Storytelling series.
May 3– that’s my birthday! at 3030 Dundas West as part of the Super Tash CD Release bash!
May 30 at Hirut in Toronto…
More deets, dates and dots to come!
And I encourage you to partake in this exercise of going through your body parts in a mindful way. Don’t forget your innards! Here is an example of how I tackled the exercise, in the form of an excerpt from Myselfie.
I feel superbly blessed and I am taking this time to give thanks for what I’ve been given. Behold… Myselfie.
Dear, all everything beating and breathing in the universe, thanks for giving me head. And face. And other great bits. Thank you for my soft silky hair, for being so enticing to others that I benefit from frequent petting. …
Smile, thank you for being there for me and others. You have lightened and heightened a good many mood. They say you light up a room when you arrive, and I know this to be true because whenever I walk into a room with you, everyone within is illuminated–and all the jubilant light reflects back at me. Thank you for the readiness and ease with which you come out to play. You are a weapon for good and I brandish you gladly. Get it? Gladly? …
Feet. I like your shape. I love your toes. I love how they cascade down in size but for the second one that reaches out beyond the crowd. I love that you signify traits that so many of us strive to be in tune with and hope to be courageous enough to act upon… to stand out from the masses even if it means wrecking the visual of the status quo, to reach and grow beyond our own backyard, to be anchored to others yet free on our own. All these things are so important and hold me up, just like you, my sweet feet. You allow me to hold my poise as I run wild and dance with no restraint, as I walk in stride with friends side by side, as I follow those I admire and blaze a path for others… Dear feet, thank you for bringing us to this spot right here right now and thank you for taking us to our next adventure– which is always only a few steps away.
Thank you, my dear body, for the collective chaos and cacophony and clownery you are. I explode with passion both joyful and painful from the inside out and know that I am alive and moving forward. You and me are in this together. There is no you without me or me without you. Together we are myselfie.
_______
Do it! Do the exercise! It’s fun! And while you’re at it, drop a selfie!
New Show Announced-A Night Of Laughs!
A night of laughs?! Yes please!!!
Black Swan 154 Danforth Avenue, Toronto March 28, 2015 at 10pm $5
Please join us for a laugh- a whole nightful! 🙂
New Show Announced!
Amsterdam Bicycle Club, Toronto!
Thursday March 12! Doors 8:30 Show 9:15. Hope to see you thurrrrr! 🙂 xo
NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED! WonderFest Comedy Series
HABITS GASTROPUB
1928 College Street, Toronto
Thursday February 6, 2015
Doors 8:30pm $PWYC (Suggested $10)
Let’s Make Good Productions presents:
Tracy Hamilton
Azfar Ali @azfarsays
Jhanelle Dennis @JhanelleDennis
Kat Leonard & The MP3 (That’s me, eh!) @Katbandoo
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Check us out, yo! Hope to see you there! 🙂 xo
KAT LEONARD (Kat & The MP3) 