A Public Display Of Affection
21 22 Season
By Jonathan Wilson
Directed by Moze Mossanen
June 3–5, 2022
In Person at The Paradise Cinema
And Streaming Online
Studio 180 Theatre presents a filmed adaptation of Jonathan Wilson’s A Public Display of Affection, directed by Moze Mossanen.
Mixing comedy, history and poignant reflection in equal measure, Wilson’s deeply personal solo show excavates the lives, loves and landmarks of his youth. A bracing companion piece to My Own Private Oshawa, A Public Display of Affection looks back on Wilson’s time as a teen drop-out in Toronto in the late 70s and early 80s and the challenges faced (as well as the community formed) in the face of persecution, ostracization and the onset of the AIDS pandemic. Join Jonathan Wilson on an intimate exploration of the Village he knew, the legacy it left and the future being forged by a new generation.
A Public Display of Affection was created with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts
Writer & Performer Jonathan Wilson
Director and Dramaturg Moze Mossanen
Dramaturg Mark McGrinder and Chris Earle
Beyond the Stage events
Fragments: Memory Pieces with Jonathan Wilson
May 26, 2022
7:00 PM
Details
Memory Pieces with Jonathan Wilson
In anticipation of our presentation of A Public Display of Affection join theatre artist Jonathan Wilson as we explore the concept and conceits of sharing our own personal histories.
Through a series of prompts and exercises, we will examine the variables of sharing the past from the present…while always moving into an unknown future.
How do our stories change as we look back and pick up different fragments?
Are we reliable narrators?
Aren’t we all composite characters?
All creative forms of expression are welcome. Create in the medium of your choice and comfort. Movement, gesture, song, visual art, spoken word or even interior monologue.
MEET JONATHAN WILSON
For Studio 180: My Night With Reg; The Normal Heart; Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish. Past theatre work includes the Canadian premiere of The Lion King (Dora Award – The Princess of Wales Theatre) and performances in his own play My Own Private Oshawa (Governor General’s Award nominee, Dora/Chalmers Nomination – Tarragon Theatre, New Yorker Theatre). Jonathan was also a writer and performer with The Second City for six shows (Dora Nomination). Other theatre credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Moonlight and Magnolias (Sudbury Theatre Centre); The Clockmaker (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Possible Worlds, The Duchess (Theatre Passe Muraille); Not To Be Repeated, Medici Slot Machine (Tarragon Extra Space); Cinderella (The Elgin Theatre); This Could Be Love (The Poor Alex); and Annie Get Your Gun (Massey Hall). Jonathan was also writer in residence at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto where he wrote the play Kilt (Dora/New York Drama Desk nominations), which has had over 20 productions around the world. TV and film credits include Not To Be Repeated (CTV/The Comedy Network), My Own Private Oshawa (Gemini Nomination – CTV), Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (Pax Network/CTV), Murdoch Mysteries (CityTV), This Is Wonderland (CBC), Life With Derek (Family) and Monk (USA Network), as well as hundreds of voices for animated series including Skatoony, Iggy Arbuckle (Gemini Nomination), Pearlie and Little Bear.
MEET OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER
Supporting Our Youth Community groups are a place for LGBT2SQ youth to develop new skills, connect with peers, to dream fun and feel held through the toughest of times. Their groups are held virtually until further notice.
Their drop-in groups focus on supporting Black Queer and Trans youth, LGBT2SQ newcomers, and Trans, non-binary and gender questioning youth. They also have drop-in educational workshop series, registration only programs and other opportunities for youth to build community with one another.
Check out the lineup at www.soytoronto.com or on the SOY virtual bulletin board https://tinyurl.com/
All donations made for our May CREATE: AT HOME will go towards supporting their work.
Viruses can be very triggering
A Public Display of Affection
Video
Gallery
Video
Company
Jonathan Wilson
Writer & Performer
For Studio 180: My Night With Reg; The Normal Heart; Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish. Past theatre work includes the Canadian premiere of The Lion King (Dora Award – The Princess of Wales Theatre) and performances in his own play My Own Private Oshawa (Governor General’s Award nominee, Dora/Chalmers Nomination – Tarragon Theatre, New Yorker Theatre). Jonathan was also a writer and performer with The Second City for six shows (Dora Nomination). Other theatre credits include The Drowsy Chaperone, Moonlight and Magnolias (Sudbury Theatre Centre); The Clockmaker (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Possible Worlds, The Duchess (Theatre Passe Muraille); Not To Be Repeated, Medici Slot Machine (Tarragon Extra Space); Cinderella (The Elgin Theatre); This Could Be Love (The Poor Alex); and Annie Get Your Gun (Massey Hall). Jonathan was also writer in residence at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto where he wrote the play Kilt (Dora/New York Drama Desk nominations), which has had over 20 productions around the world. TV and film credits include Not To Be Repeated (CTV/The Comedy Network), My Own Private Oshawa (Gemini Nomination – CTV), Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye (Pax Network/CTV), Murdoch Mysteries (CityTV), This Is Wonderland (CBC), Life With Derek (Family) and Monk (USA Network), as well as hundreds of voices for animated series including Skatoony, Iggy Arbuckle (Gemini Nomination), Pearlie and Little Bear.
Moze Mossanen
Director and Dramaturg
Moze Mossanen is a director, writer and producer who has created a body of popular and critically acclaimed work that has included a unique blend of drama, documentary, music and performance. These films include Dance for Modern Times (winner of the Chris Award, Columbus Int’l Film Festival); Year of the Lion (winner of three Gemini Awards and the Jury Prize at the Yorkton Film Festival); Roxana (winner of two Golden Sheaf awards, the CSC Award for Cinematography and two Gemini Awards); and Nureyev (winner of the Golden Sheaf Award and two Gemini awards, including one for Best Direction for Moze). His 2013 doc, Unsung, a documentary about the world of show choirs, won the Canadian Screen Award in 2015. His most recent feature doc, You Are Here, about the actual people who inspired the current worldwide hit, Come From Away, was released on HBO Canada in September 2018. The film won the Audience Award at CineFest in October 2018 and two CSA Awards including Best Documentary in March 2019. The film was also released in over 800 theatres across the United States in September 2019.
Mark McGrinder
Dramaturg
Mark is the Artistic Director of Studio 180 Theatre. His Studio 180 performing credits include Oslo, The Nether, You Will Remember Me, Clybourne Park and Stuff Happens. He has been a director and/or dramaturg(e) for many of Studio 180’s IN DEVELOPMENT projects and, as the program’s coordinator, has worked to connect creators with the appropriate collaborators required to bring their visions to the stage. He adapted and directed Love, Dishonor, Marry, Die, Cherish, Perish for PANAMANIA, directed Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays and worked as Associate Director for Blackbird, God of Carnage and Studio 180’s 10th Anniversary reading of The Laramie Project. Mark was a member of the acting ensemble at the Shaw Festival for five seasons and he performed in several reviews with The Second City’s National touring company. He has been head or co-writer on several collective creations (Single and Sexy, That Artz Show and The Berlin Show) and his play MacHamlet was presented as part of the Alumnae Theatre’s New Ideas Festival. As an artist educator he has worked with high school, college and university students in and beyond the GTA and is continually inspired by the passion and vision of the young artists he has had the good fortune to connect with.
Chris Earle
Dramaturg
Production Team
Picture and Sound Editor – Marco Panduro Cervantes
Line Producer – Jason Hunter
Director of Photography – Kevin Santos
Camera Operator – Matthew Collu
Sound Recordist – Emerson Chan
Project Coordinator – Kristin Bourne
Animation & VFX Director – Franco Barroeta
Live Action Animation Producer – Mariana Osuna
Project Manager – Natalia Jimenez
Animator & VFX Designer – Eduardo Sandoval
On-Set Production Coordinator – Andrea Pavez
Videographer – Darcy Tithecotte
Community Partner
Supporting Our Youth
Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an innovative community development program of Sherbourne Health. SOY works to support the health and well-being of all 2SLGBTQ youth 29 years old and under through our groups, programs and events and by providing one-on-one support. SOY provides you with goal planning and health and wellness programming through our Youth Resource Workers; mental health and primary care service providers; mentors and peers; dietitians and housing supports; urban and newcomer health services; and community partners and referrals.