New theatrical production celebrates the re-creation of Regent Park

The Journey – A Living History of the Regent Park Revitalization is a musical that follows the history of the Regent Park community throughout the years and leading up to its current revitalization. More than a stage show, The Journey is a community event that tells the stories of Regent Park through the voices of the people living in the neighbourhood. The production will have two performances, June 19 and June 20 at the Ada Slaight Hall located in the community cultural hub, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East).

A musical covering the history of Regent Park with public performances June 19 and 20

Beginning as a fundraiser for Daniels Spectrum, The Journey was wildly successful during its original iteration in 2012 and again in 2013. This year, the production has outgrown its roots to become an annual show that celebrates the Regent Park community, and shares their stories.

“It really has been an incredible journey watching this spectacular show come together over the past few years,” said Seema Jethalal, managing director of Daniels Spectrum. “The level of co-operation and creativity on display highlights how Daniels Spectrum inspires this type of community involvement in our cultural hub. The show is like no other–it’s inspiring on so many levels and showcases so much amazing local talent.”

Written by the president of The Daniels Corporation, Mitchell Cohen, with script adaption by Anne-Marie Woods (playwright and Harry Jerome Award Winner), each year The Journey is created in collaboration with members of the Regent Park community who help shape the stories seen on stage. Under the guidance of Woods, who also acts as creative director, and musical director Henry Heillig (from Juno Award-winning jazz band Manteca and Heillig Manoeuvre), the production combines spoken word, dramatic scenes, music and dance – telling almost 70 years of Regent Park history and its exciting revitalization.

“Directing the Journey for the second year in a row is a very rewarding,” said Woods. “To work with an inter-generational cast that pulls together professional and emerging artists with youth from the Regent Park community is an experience that these young people will never forget. I have had the privilege of watching their growth and interactions during rehearsals which has been nothing short of spectacular.”

The musical stars a multi-talented group of up-and-coming artists and young people from the community, led by Regent Park spoken word artists Trevlyn Kay (5 Fingers 1 Fist) and Britta B (2013 Toronto International Poetry Slam Champion) with R&B singer-songwriter Steve Harmony. The Journey’s local cast has a unique opportunity to share the stage and receive personal mentorship from professional heavyweights like award-winning jazz and blues vocalist Jackie Richardson (Big Mama, The Willie Mae Thornton Story), acclaimed pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo, gospel songstress Lisa Henry and stage veteran Jeremiah Sparks (The Lion King; Drum).

The Journey is on stage this summer with special presentations for the Regent Park community on June 19, closing with a public performance on June 20. The performance is approximately 90 minutes long with no intermission. After an unprecedented demand at the box office, tickets for the public performance sold-out in two days, filling the 322-seat theatre at Ada Slaight Hall (585 Dundas Street East).

In order to encourage community discussion and engagement, Artscape and The Daniels Corporation are hosting a free community presentation of The Journey for people who live and/or work in Regent Park. More information about the community performance is available at journeyregentpark.ca.

Website: torontoartscape.org
Facebook: Toronto Artscape
Twitter: @Artscape
Hashtag: #JourneyRegentPark

About The Journey- A Living History of the Regent Park Revitalization:
Venue: Ada Slaight Hall, Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas St. East)
Dates: June 19: Community Presentation
June 20: Public Event

Original script and song lyricist/composer
Mitchell Cohen

Overall script adaptation/editing
Anne‐Marie Woods

Script narrative adaptation
Trevlyn Kay, Steve Harmony, Britta B and members of the Regent Park community

Featuring
Trevlyn Kay, Britta B, Steve Harmony, Itzel Julieta Velázquez Martínez, Simba Wetu, Limees Riezig, Charlotte Siegel, Stacy Darko,Thompson Egbo-Egbo, Jackie Richardson, Jeremiah Sparks and Lisa Henry

The Journey is presented by Community Sponsor: RBC
in partnership with event producers: Innocon, Lafarge, The Daniels Corporation and Artscape.
Media Sponsor: JAZZFM91

About The Daniels Corporation
The Daniels Corporation (danielshomes.ca) is one of Canada’s pre-eminent builders/developers, building more than 25,000 new homes across the GTA for 33 years. Among its many initiatives, Daniels was chosen to partner with Toronto Community Housing to revitalize Regent Park – 69 acres in the heart of Toronto’s Downtown East. Committed to community, Daniels offers innovative programs that help people achieve homeownership, champion’s neighbourhood initiatives that enhance resident’s quality of life, and supports numerous charities and non-profit organizations. danielshomes.ca

About Artscape
Artscape is a not-for-profit urban development organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities. Canada’s leading practitioner in multi-tenant space development for the creative and cultural sector, Artscape develops and manages unique facilities that deliver sustainable and below-market production, rehearsal, exhibition and living space for creative practitioners, entrepreneurs and cultural organizations. Since, 1986 it has helped to stimulate some of the city’s most creative and vibrant neighbourhoods with dynamic community assets and cultural hubs such as Daniels Spectrum, Artscape Wychwood Barns, Artscape Distillery Studios, Artscape Gibraltar Point and multiple projects in the thriving artistic communities of West Queen West and Parkdale, including the recently opened Artscape Youngplace. The Artscape Foundation, a registered charity, is responsible for fundraising initiatives at Artscape. torontoartscape.org