Feb 5 2010

Mi Casa performs “Countries Shaped Like Stars” in Vancouver, BC at the Russian Hall to a SOLD OUT crowd. Dance party ensues.

Jan 17 – 25 2010

Mi Casa tours “Inclement Weather” and “Countries Shaped Like Stars” to Tricklock Company’s “10th Annual Revolutions Theatre Festival” in Albuquerque, NM. Both shows enjoyed SOLD OUT runs. Additionally, musical and textual selections from work-in-progress “Live From the Belly of A Whale” are performed as a special concert event for the festival. The company develops an unwavering love of blue corn tortillas and green chili.

Jan 16 2010

Mi Casa performs musical and textual selections from work-in-progress “Live From the Belly of a Whale” as part of the Cube Gallery’s Salon Series.

Dec 2 – 5 2009

With support from the Ontario Arts Council and the GCTC’s Theatre Creator’s Reserve, Mi Casa produces “Countries Shaped Like Stars” and “Inclement Weather” in the studio of the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre. The production enjoyed a SOLD OUT run and allowed the company to continue developing these shows for touring to more traditional theatrical venues.

Aug 3 – 8 2009

With funding from the City of Ottawa and the GCTC’s Theatre Creator’s Reserve, Mi Casa spent a week further developing Tales from the Gasoline Coast. The workshop culminated in an invited presentation of five songs by Nicolas Di Gaetano structured around physical imagery created by a company of actor/musicians.

June 18 – 28 2009

Mi Casa presents both INCLEMENT WEATHER and Countries Shaped Like Stars at the Ottawa Fringe Festival in a BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue). Both shows enjoyed sold-out runs and were the only local shows named in the top 5 CRITICS PICKS by the Ottawa Citizen. Countries Shaped Like Stars wins the award for “Outstanding Overall Production.”

June 2009

Mi Casa participates in the Magnetic North Theatre Festival’s Industry Series pitching Tales From the Gasoline Coast as part of the festival’s Pitch Sessions event. Later, we host the festival bar at SAW Gallery, which features music by Bob Wiseman, home-made empanadas, piñatas and Storybike – the world’s goldest, person-powered narrative machine (created by Emily Pearlman with video by Nicolas Di Gaetano and extemporaneous stories about biking in Ottawa from various members of the local theatre community).

May 2009

Workshopping of Countries Shaped Like Stars continues. This phase of development focuses on micro-spectacle, character relationships and clarification of the narrative. Director Patrick Gauthier shapes the show for the Ottawa Fringe Festival focusing on spatial relationships and story.

April 2009

With help from Odyssey Theatre and the Ontario Arts Council’s Theatre Creators Reserve program, Mi Casa continues to develop INCLEMENT WEATHER. The process involves evaluating the workshop presentation and continuing to play with the props and setting of the show. Creating a character who does not speak English fluently allows us to investigate ways of non-verbal communication while creating a distinctive relationship with an audience who speaks a different language. Director Catriona Leger shapes the show for the Ottawa Fringe Festival, finding character nuance and reinforcing the narrative arc.

March 2009

Using text written by Emily Pearlman as source material, Mi Casa undertakes the first phase of devising Countries Shaped Like Stars. The process involves creating imagery and music around the text and clown-based explorations in character and movement.

December 2008

Mi Casa begins initial explorations of a show titled Tales From the Gasoline Coast. Using local indie-rock musicians, actor-creators, improvisers and writers, they begin devising a show based on musical source material composed by Nicolas Di Gaetano.

December 2008

Nicolas and Emily create and host a workshop presentation of INCLEMENT WEATHER, a solo clown show.

November 2008

Emily Pearlman and Nicolas Di Gaetano create a Bouffon-inspired piece titled Blue Ribbon Baking with text by Emily Pearlman for Ottawa’s “(ISME): Cabaret.”