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Newsstand: November 19, 2009
Gender Studies Coming to a High School Near You
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The Art of Not Knowing
Want to hear the news that's been making its way around the water cooler at theatres all over town this afternoon? Well, do you remember back in May when we reported that actor/director David Storch would be promoted to Artistic Director of CanStage as a result of a recent regime change? Apparently, as of today, in only the seventh month of his directorship (which officially began on July 1, 2007), Storch has resigned from the position. At least, that's what CanStage says. Those in the know who have heard about recent layoffs are calling shenanigans on the official story of "conflicting artistic visions" and saying that Storch got the sack. It is certainly abrupt for an Artistic Director to leave a theatre company before a single year's tenure, and well before the end of the current season. Especially when many are calling Palace of the End, which Storch directed and which is playing until February 23rd, the best thing CanStage has produced in years. Not to mention the fact that he is scheduled to direct Misery, an adaptation of the Stephen King novel, for CanStage in May.
We haven't forgotten that many were critical of the way that CanStage hired Storch internally, rather than conducting a search for his former position, which most would consider standard procedure. It is unclear at this point what this will mean to Storch's 18-year affiliation with CanStage, where he worked mostly as an actor. Torontoist is still waiting to hear back from CanStage for an official comment.
UPDATE (4:15 p.m.): CBC.ca is now reporting that Storch will still direct Misery this spring and continue a relationship with CanStage in some capacity. Storch is quoted as saying, "It has become clear to me that the demands of artistic director of this company are not ones which I feel are in my creative interests to pursue." They also report that Artistic Producer Martin Bragg claims a search for a new Artistic Director will begin soon.
UPDATE (12:00 a.m.): Just a final update to say that we've received CanStage's press release, which should put an end to the gossip; it sounds as though Storch and the company are parting on amicable terms. Martin Bragg expresses regret over Storch's departure and Storch himself explains that he will continue to work with the company as an actor, director and advisor for years to come. Not that tongues won't still be wagging over who Storch's replacement is going to be.
Photo from CanStage's website.
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Wow, David Storch resigns! Not THE David Storch, say it isn't so! "News that's been making its way around the water cooler at theatres all over town." I can see them now at Tarragon and Stage West, huddled waiters (sorry, actors) breaking into tears.
I guess the debate over Black-centric schools isn't as important for Torontoist to cover as a crappy story about somebody NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD ABOUT!
God, you guys are starting to piss me off! How about growing a set of balls and writing stories about subjects people actually care about (and please, don't tell me that's the role of newspapers -- Torontoist.com can't have it both ways). Let's see some real articles, not artiste-driven fluff.
um, where did that other comment go? you know, the one questioning the blog's substance?
[Doggiez's comment was unpublished; I just saw it now and I've republished it.]
I'm not sure why this post earned such a visceral reaction––it is absolutely news and absolutely interesting. I don't think it's fair (nor does it make sense) to measure every story we, Torontoist, publish against some sort of abstract 'newsworthy metric,' like the Black-focused schools issue (which, while we're on the topic, we did have a debate over in Torontoist vs. Torontoist over three months ago).
Why? Because our role is different from that of a newspaper. That's pretty straightforward: there's some overlap, but many, many things are not the same between us and a major commercial news media entity. We are not going to be (nor should we try to be) everything to everyone. I think it's better that way; I'm absolutely not interested in Torontoist becoming Toronto Star–lite.
Babycakes, just because you clearly don't follow the performing arts in Toronto doesn't mean it ain't newsworthy to a lot of other people reading Torontoist.com. A great deal of culture vultures and arts enthusiasts read this blog and this certainly was news to a lot of my friends in the arts sector when I pointed them to this article!
I'm sure you wouldn't have complained if it was a story covering the Leafs firing their GM. I don't give two shits about the Leafs... do you see me criticizing those stories, though?
I unpublished Doggiez's comment because I thought it was mean-spirited and belligerent, but I'm glad David and chickenvandoodle were able to make such an eloquent defense on my behalf.
Scannndalous!!!
Dear Johnnie: My comment was "mean-spirited and belligerent"? NOW my feeling have been hurt! :(
Sorry folks, but if anything, Torontoist.com is losing what it has left of its edge. "WhipperSnapper" gatherings? "Pillow fight league"? WTF??). There is always a place for stories on Toronto's art scene, without question -- but there seems to be a disproportionate amount of inane fluff lately. And yes David, you did have a debate over the issue of Black schools... umm, THREE MONTHS AGO. Guess what? There's been a few updates since then.
And Johnnie, love your '80s headband! Are you Mike Reno's iligetimate love-child?
"Some birthday. I'm going through menopause. My storch is on fire!"
(Really obscure SNL "Coffee Talk" quasi-reference.)
@Doggiez: Baby, why you gotta go make me Google old popstars? But throwback pop culture references are not going to distract me from the fact that your comments here are totally irrelevant and betray a bizarre anti-arts bias. This is news. Period. I already linked to CBC's coverage of this story, but perhaps you would like to read about what The Toronto Star or The Globe and Mail has to say. Should I go leave comments on that post about black-focused schools and complain that they didn't bother to announce the upcoming Stratford season? Or would that be entirely inappropriate?
And thanks for complimenting my headband. I'm sure you can find one just like it if you're interested. While you're shopping, you might want to pick up a dictionary, because you don't know how to spell "illegitimate" and there ain't no hyphen in "lovechild."
[I've removed a comment on this article; our comment policy––which we are typically lenient about enforcing––explicitly forbids offensive and harassing comments.]
Thanks David for keeping the comments in check.
And thanks to Torontoist for picking up this story. I found this tidbit of particular interest in the Globe:
"Bragg conceded that the economic climate for Canadian Stage is more challenging than it once was, given that Soulpepper Theatre Company is now programming year-round and the market is absorbing Aubrey Dan's Dancap season of Broadway hits."
This doesn't bode well for anything exciting currently in development at CanStage - especially with the imminent departure of Iris Turcott hot on Storch's heels. The only problem is, I don't know how much tamer CanStage's programming can get to fill seats in the Bluma Appel theater. At least I hope Storch's successor preserves the edgier work that's been at the Berkeley of late.
And thank you, StagedAndConfused, for actually responding to the content of my post, which is certainly refreshing.
Iris Turcott is leaving too? Ill tidings indeed. Although I don't think I've had a conversation about any of Toronto's non-Mirvish theatres where "challenging economic climate" hasn't been an applicable statement (or even an understatement). I just hope Palace of the End gets the kind of audience it so definitely deserves.
Johnnie, I wouldn't sweat what the troll says. The guy obviously doesn't realize that you cover stuff like this for Torontoist. And this is still, obviously, Toronto newsworthy otherwise it wouldn't have been covered in The Star and by CBC.
Thanks for this posting this story Johnnie.
Actually, I'm fairly sure you were one of if not the first to report on this important development before it became a major arts news story on the CBC, The Globe, The Star and international blogs such as Playbill and ArtsJournal.
Ouzounian at the Star reports:
"Informed observers are predicting the departure of long-time dramaturge Iris Turcott, as well as other key personnel in the organization."
Richard's gossip generally is well founded, if not always belonging in a major urban daily newspaper. And I think Bridget's right, you were one of the first to pick up the story. Right on.