Intangible Adorations is an immersive theatrical experience that explores the impact of celebrity worship on the mental health of the famous, and on those who become infatuated with celebrity. Audience members will gather in the Hall of Celebrity, have the opportunity to learn the best way to approach someone famous, and then experience an iconic piece of performance art in the Red Chapel enacted by a celebrity whose identity is concealed by a morph suit. Will they reveal their identity, or will they choose to remain anonymous? That will be up to the individual who represents the ICON each night. Who in the audience will have the courage to participate in a celebrity panel where they’ll get a taste of what it feels like to be famous?

Creators: Lisa Anita Wegner and Scott White
Lighting Design and Effects: Carl Elster
Original Music: Pink Moth
Co-producers: Haus of Dada, Workman Arts, KC Cooper and Meek
Performers: KC Cooper, Emily Gillespie, Amy Loucareas, Meek, Jane Smythe and Lisa Anita Wegner

The creators would like to acknowledge the OAC for Exhibition Assistance for Intangible Adorations: The Icon Experience.

Celebrity and Anonymity: An Artist Talk and Q&A

A discussion of Intangible Adorations with creator and performer Lisa Anita Wegner and collaborator Scott White on Saturday, October 19 after the 2:00 pm show, moderated by Lisa McKeown. The discussion will touch on the nature of modern celebrity culture, celebrity worship syndrome and the origins of this version of Intangible Adorations. The panel will also discuss the significance of Lisa’s journey with mental and physical health, the relevance of finding anonymous expression, and how this piece fits into Lisa’s larger universe of therapeutic performance and film work.

Charlie is looking for happy, Remi is a struggling musician and bartender who has clinical depression, Jinx is a burlesque performer and PHD candidate who works at The Orange Balloon, and Minka, no one knows what Minka does. In This House is a play about four young adults living together in Toronto. It is a look into the epidemic of loneliness and depression among the Millennial generation and the daily struggle to make something of yourself in this city. In This House is a play about a generation, a city and an exact time in our lives. This is a play about how we save each other.

Written and Directed by Grace Thompson
Performed by: Astrid Atherly, Jonathan Sconza, Rosie Callaghan and Ciana Henderson
Stage Manager: Erin Maxfield
Set and Lighting Design: Lisa Van Oorschot
Sound Design: Shannon Farrell

Millennial Mental Health: a two-part conversation 

How are young people today talking about suicide? How are Millennials navigating their experiences with mental health and addictions? Join the cast of In this House after the shows on October 12 and October 15 as they discuss the production themes and their experiences navigating between being emerging artists, living on their own for the first time and managing their mental health. This two-part conversation will explore the unique difficulties for young people in Canada, and the communities of support being created as a response.

PSYCHOSIS is inspired by the investigation of Ronald’s mental health episode in Canada and pulls into the present to explore an awareness of adversity, reconciliation and resilience. By connecting relationships between disability, environment and the human spirit, PSYCHOSIS seeks to explore the trauma and ongoing challenges of mental health, while dealing with bouts of darkness, depression and the human psyche.

Choreographer: Ronald Taylor
Performers: Michael Mortley, Kelly La Juenesse, Anthony ‘Prime’ Guerra and Emilie Jabouin

PSYCHOSIS Process

After the show on October 12, join the cast members to discuss the intricacies of creating and performing Ronald Taylor’s PSYCHOSIS. Through an inter-sectional lens, performers and audience members will have the chance to further reflect together on the performance and the insight that it provides.

In 1964, at the age of 28, a queer dancer named Fred Herko jetéd out the window of his ex-lover’s apartment – naked, and high on speed. The Life and Death of Fred Herko is an interdisciplinary, site-specific performance that sheds light on a footnoted figure in queer history and examines the collateral damage of art.

Through striking sound design, movement and text the piece reimagines the dancer’s infamous last moments and seeks to find utopian potential in his tragic story.

The research and development of this piece has been generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Suggested Dress Code: Party Glam

Director: Claire Burns
Writer: Natalie Liconti
Sound Design: Devon Bate
Lighting Design: Darah Miah
Production Management: Taylor Young
Set and Installation Design: James Knott
Stage Management: Kit Simmons
Irma Villafuerte: Choreographer
Performers: Oliver Price, Daniel Carter, Andrew Cheng and Sochi Fried
Special Thanks to Brian Quirt