Sunday, July 4, 2010

Hopkins Happenings - July 2010

Hi everyone,

Phew - June was crazy! Between the Stage One workshop at Lunchbox Theatre, Across the Tracks in Vulcan, the ALS fundraiser at Broken City and my 27th birthday, I've definitely needed some recovery time. But now I'm back in the game, so if I haven't seen you in a while, give me a call in July - I've got some spare time to hang!

Speaking of ALS, thank you once again for making my annual fundraising events a huge success. With your help, we raised over $4,000 for Betty's Run for ALS, making me this year's third-highest individual fundraiser. I'm now planning Markapalooza 3 for late 2010, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

In the meantime, there's plenty to see and do in July, including:
  • Sled Island Music & Arts Festival
  • We Should Know Each Other #57
  • Boot Scootin' Boogie Ball
  • We Should Know Each Other #58
  • Ghost Town Pizza Party
- - -

Sled Island Music & Arts Festival

So, um... I'm a few days late releasing this newsletter, and the fabulousness of Sled Island (including the event co-hosted by Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre) is pretty much over. Oops!

However, there's a wrap-up party and pig roast happening right now at the Republik! What better way to spend your Sunday afternoon?


We Should Know Each Other #57

Sunday, July 4, 2010
7:00-11:00 pm
714 5A St NW (buzzer: M. Hopkins)
www.swallowabicycle.com

Since February 2008, I've been hosting 'We Should Know Each Other' parties in my living room, where you can have a drink, relax and meet a host of fascinating people!

We've had artists, engineers, police officers, accountants, journalists, politicians and more, and there's always a great mix of personalities and stimulating conversation. This is a great chance to step outside of your comfort zone and expand your social circle. I hope you can join us!

Boot Scootin' Boogie Ball

Thursday, July 15, 2010
'Hoe down' begins at 5:00 pm
$40 in advance, $50 at the door
Stockyards Saloon, 24 - 7400 MacLeod Tr South
www.stockyardssaloon.com

Yes, I am indeed involved in an event called the "Boot Scootin' Boogie Ball". A career in theatre takes you to strange places...

This Stampede party takes over the Stockyards Saloon, a bar so steeped in Western authenticity that it has a mechanical bull right next to the stage. Proceeds from the event will benefit both One Yellow Rabbit and the High Performance Rodeo, and the evening will feature two-steppers, swing dancers and a shoot 'em up Wild West showdown.

We Should Know Each Other #58

Sunday, July 18, 2010
7:00-11:00 pm
714 5A St NW (buzzer: M. Hopkins)
www.swallowabicycle.com

Um, this event is pretty much identical to 'We Should Know Each Other' #57, described above, so now I'm in an awkward position... how to fill this space?

Wellllll, if you want to know a bit more about the 'We Should Know Each Other' parties, they've been featured in Swerve, FFWD, U Magazine, The Calgary Herald and even on CBC's Definitely Not the Opera. Pretty cool, huh?

Ghost Town Pizza Party

Saturday, July 31, 2010
5:00-9:00 pm
Sam's Saloon
Rowley, Alberta
AMA website

Rowley, Alberta is a tiny ghost town located about a half-hour north of Drumheller. What distinguishes it from most ghost towns is that, on the last Saturday of every month, they open up the old saloon for a pizza night!

My sister and I went for the pizza night in June, and it was a tremendously charming experience. Hundreds of people from Drumheller and the surrounding area gather at Sam's for pizza and cheap beer, in the middle of an empty town that feels like Heritage Park come to life. This month, I plan to take advantage of the free camping and stay overnight. Let me know if you'd like to join me, or go ahead and plan a trip of your own!

Oh, and if you're in Sam's Saloon for the first time, be sure to ask the bartender about the ferret. Trust me.

- - -

Last month, I slacked off and didn't include a rundown of other rockin' Calgary events. This month, I won't be so lazy! You may want to check out:
That oughta keep you busy, hey? Whether you're Stampeding or not, there are loads of wicked events in July. Hope to see you out and about!

Mark Hopkins
Co-Artistic Director
Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre
www.swallowabicycle.com
403.710.0093
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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Hello friends -

Welcome to April! It's so close to patio weather, I can taste it. The only tricky part will be making time for patios with everything that's happening this month!

Here's what I've got on the menu for April:
  • Creativity as an Economic Force
  • The Building Project
  • We Should Know Each Other #51
  • Robot Wedding
  • Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo
  • We Should Know Each Other #52: The Big Listen
  • Building Bridges Playwriting Competition
Creativity as an Economic Force

Thursday, April 8, 2010 - 5:00 pm
The Local Library, Central United Church
131 7th Ave SW
www.thrivecalgary.org

Thrive Calgary is a fantastic organization that focuses on Community Economic Development in our city. In this event, they ask the questions: How does creativity enhance the local economy? What challenges do artists experience as they contribute to making our city great?

The conversation will be led by Terry Rock (Calgary Arts Development), Joe Ceci (Alderman, Ward 9) and Alexi Davis (Studio C / Prospect). This discussion will be followed by some informal mingling, where you can check out local community-oriented arts organizations like ArtRecruits, This is My City, the Local Library, Calgary Dollars, CAKE Youth Arts and more. This is a great chance to explore the ways in which art intersects with social change!

The Building Project

Opening: Friday, April 9, 2010 - 6:00 pm
Exhibition: March 25-April 29, 2010
Gallery 101, 1109 Olympic Way SE
(beside 101 Wines by David Walker)
Facebook event

I met photographer Heather Saitz about a year ago and, throughout that time, she's been hard at work on The Building Project, a photography book that documents the historic Moxam and Congress apartment buildings and their current inhabitants. The project is now finished, and you can see the results at Gallery 101! (or in Swerve magazine, or on Global TV, or...)

Signed hardcover first editions will be on sale at the opening night party. The book is gorgeous, and it's an important project documenting the evolving history of Calgary.

We Should Know Each Other #51

Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 7:00 pm
714 5A St NW (buzzer: Mark Hopkins)

Phew - 'We Should Know Each Other' #50 was an epic affair! But now that the LEGO has been cleared away and the cupcakes have been eaten, it's time to get back to the traditional WSKEO parties in my modest Sunnyside apartment.

This is a super casual evening, where you will get the chance to meet some of the colourful Calgarians that surround you! Bring some food, bring a friend and, most importantly, bring a smile and an open mind. Hope you can make it!

Robot Wedding

Friday, April 16, 2010 - doors at 9:00 pm
Auburn Saloon, #163 115 9th Ave SE
(base of the Calgary Tower)
$12 in advance, $15 at the door

It's been a while since we last rocked Calgary nightlife with a Swallow-a-Bicycle party. We're due for another.

Help us celebrate the recent nuptials of Toaster-Bot and H-02 B1, may their circuits remain forever entwined. Featuring Dragon Fli Empire, Piper Davis, inFUNKstigation and DJ Goodword, along with a robotic wedding cake, a speech by the Best "Man" and more, this will be a night you don't want to miss.

Join us for this rockin' celebration of cybernetic love... because robots need love, too.

Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo

April 24-25, 2010
BMO Round Up Centre, Hall D & E
Stampede Park, 20 Roundup Way SE

Leonard Nimoy! Twilight! Malcolm McDowell! Swallow-a-Bicycle...?

That's right, we're going to have a booth at the Comic Expo to help promote i-ROBOT Theatre. This will be my first comic-con, so I'm a bit nervous. What if my nerd chic makes me irresistible to all the con-goers? I might be swarmed as soon as I walk in the door!

If you're heading to the expo, come visit our table to pick up a copy of i-ROBOT Poetry and advance tickets to i-ROBOT Theatre!

We Should Know Each Other #52: The Big Listen

Sunday, April 25, 2010 - 7:00 pm
714 5A St NW (buzzer: Mark Hopkins)

In its 52nd edition, 'We Should Know Each Other' dives into the world of politics! The Alberta Party is the newest provincial political party and, to help develop its platform, they are reaching out to hear what Albertans have to say.

The Big Listen will take place in kitchens and living rooms across the province, where the host (that's me!) will facilitate a conversation about the pressures and priorities facing the attendees. If you want to add your voice to the dialogue, join us for a special "Big Listen" edition of WSKEO!

Building Bridges Playwriting Competition

Submission deadline: April 30, 2010

Have you ever wanted to write a play for young actors, and add to the library of Theatre for Young Audiences in Alberta? This, my friend, is your chance!

The Building Bridges program invites playwrights to write an original one-act play for young actors & audiences. The first prize is $500 cash, a 2.5 day workshop with actors and a dramaturge, and a professional production in February 2011. A pretty sweet deal, if you ask me. Writers, start yer word processors - the deadline is coming up fast!

- - -

In case my happenings aren't enough to sate your April appetite, check out these other fabulous events:
Also this month, I'm going to be in rehearsal for our upcoming production of i-ROBOT Theatre, running May 5-15. We've been working our firm-yet-supple asses off on this show, so I hope you can check it out!

Have an amazing April! I hope our winding paths will converge at some point this month.

Mark Hopkins
Co-Artistic DIrector
Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre
www.swallowabicycle.com
403.710.0093
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Sunday, July 12, 2009

TED - Sir Ken Robinson on creativity

[cross-posted at Swallow-a-Blogcycle]

I'm a bit behind the times - until recently, I had never seen a TED lecture.

TED stands for "Technology, Entertainment, Design" and, at its core, it is a series of conferences that brings together "the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers" to give a wide variety of presentations. Videos of these presentations are available online at www.ted.com.

One video in particular has been doing the rounds in my artistic circles for quite a while: Ken Robinson on creativity.



http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

I've watched it a couple of times now, and I think it's a tremendously intelligent and important topic. (I wasn't a huge fan of his comments about gender difference at the end, but nobody's perfect.) It's only 20 minutes long; I highly recommend that you set aside the time!

Watching it today, I was immediately reminded of the University of Calgary's recent decision to merge the faculties of Communication and Culture, Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences into a single Franken-faculty.

Over the next little while, I'm going to work my way through the vast library of past TED talks, and I will post links to those that I find particularly compelling. I would love to start a conversation, so if anything sparks you in these videos, please feel free to comment!
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Monday, June 1, 2009

Hopkins Happenings - June 2009

Hey everyone -

June is off-the-hook crazy. Off. The. Hook. At least we won't be bored! My month is full of adventures, including:
  • ALS Fundraising 2009
  • Post
  • Matadora
  • Markapalooza 2
  • Betty's Run for ALS
  • NextFest Nightclubs
  • Did I mention MARKAPALOOZA 2???
... and just to see who actually reads these things, there's a contest at the end! What fun!

ALS Fundraising 2009


My 2009 fundraising campaign for the ALS Society of Alberta is entering the homestretch, culminating in Betty's Run for ALS (see below) on June 14th! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far - as of this e-mail, I've raised $5,988 of my $10,000 goal.

This cause is very important to me: my great-uncle, uncle and father all passed away from ALS, and I have a 50% chance of someday being diagnosed. All the money raised will go toward support and care for victims of ALS, and toward research for a cure. The ALS Society of Alberta was an enormous help to my family during my father's illness, and I hope that my fundraising efforts will help them to support other afflicted families.

I am still gratefully accepting donations! You can donate online at this website:www.als.ca/events/mysite.aspx?fid=2704. I can also accept cash or cheques - just contact me at 403.710.0093 or mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com.

For more information about my fundraising efforts and my family's history with ALS, please click these links:

Calgary arts 'phenom' leads fight against ALS - Calgary Herald
Mark's Run - ShawTV Calgary
Choosing Hope over Helplessness - U Magazine 
Time and Love - Melanie Jones 

POST

June 1, 2009
Pay-What-You-Can
Facebook event page

Calgary, Alberta - 8:00 pm
Auburn Saloon (163 - 115 9th Ave SE)
Toronto, Ontario - 9:00 pm
The Cameron House (408 Queen St West)

June kicks off with a crazy Calgary-Toronto theatrical experiment, which includes a performance by yours truly!

About a month ago, Strangebird Theatre commissioned seven artists in each city to create a short show - theatre, music, dance, whatever - and then send the show to our counterparts in the other city. Their job, in turn, is to adapt and perform the piece they receive. Simple and fun!

The two shows will happen simultaneously, with some crazy Skype action so that we can see what's happening across the country. Alongside musician Brendan McGuigan, I'm performing an adaptation of a Canada Post-inspired song by Toronto artist Marko Panzda... and I have no idea what the other performances will be! It promises to be a wild, diverse and exciting evening of original performance. Hope to see you there!

Matadora

May 27-June 6, 2009
8:00 pm nightly (no show on Sunday, May 31)
2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, June 6
Joyce Doolittle Theatre
Pumphouse Theatres (2140 Pumphouse Ave SW)

Adults $16, Students/Seniors/Equity $12
403.263.0079 - tickets.pumphousetheatre.ca

Trepan Theatre's latest creation, Matadora, opened last week, but you still have six more days to catch the insanity!

Juanita Cruz dreams of becoming a bullfighter, but no one will train her. No one except La Reverte, a transvestite master of the bullring who has fallen into security. Witness the triumphant return of the Gender-Bending Bullfighter in Trepan Theatre's trademark style of tour-de-force physical hilarity. Starring Aaron Coates, Cheryl Hutton and Alice Nelson.

(There's talking bulls, testicle injuries, cross-dressing and a foppish royal family. What more could you want?)

Markapalooza 2

June 6, 7:00 pm-2:00 am
Wild Ginger (115 - 414 3rd St SW)
$15 at the door, or in advance at:
www.swallowabicycle.com/markapalooza2.html

Rockin' party. Fundraiser for the ALS Society of Alberta.  Be there.

The second annual Markapalooza has an incredible line-up of performers, includingBalleronster, DJ Noah York City, Dragon Fli Empire, The Fast Romantics, Garter Girls Burly-Q Revue, Gina Dragpiper, The Human Statues, The Shagbots andURBANdivide . Plus, there will be bodypainting, film screenings, a silent auction, a prize raffle and more!

(There's also the rumour of an after-party at Charles Netto's house, but you'll have to ask him about that.)

The party is getting a really good buzz, and it's going to be featured in Swerve Magazine on Friday, so I'd really encourage you to buy your tickets in advance... which you can dohere!

It will be a ridiculous, awesome night of partying, and all the proceeds benefit the ALS Society of Alberta. I promise, this will be one of the best parties of the year. Don't miss it!

Betty's Run for ALS

June 14, 9:00 am
North Glenmore Park Rowing and Canoe Club (6449 Crowchild Trail SW)
www.bettysrun.ca

All the fundraising, all the Markapalooza-ing, it all leads up to this: Betty's Run for ALS!

This will be my third time participating in Betty's Run, which is a major fundraising event for the ALS Society of Alberta, and it will be my first time actually training for the run. (Five miles! Eek! That's, like, eight kilometers!)

You're absolutely welcome to come along, either to run, walk, or just cheer us on. And hey, I'm still fundraising...

Nextfest Niteclubs

June 19 & 20, 9:30 pm
The ARTery (9535 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton)
$5 at the doorwww.nextfest.ca

Nextfest is Edmonton's gigantic, 14-year-old festival for emerging artists, with over 50 events and over 400 artists... including Swallow-a-Bicycle!

The fine folks at Catch the Keys Productions are curating Nextfest Nite Clubs, a series of late-night, multi-disciplinary performance parties. Each night has a different theme, and Swallow-a-Bicycle will perform in The Hurly-Burly Time-Traveling Vaudevillian Serial Comedy Show (June 19) and The SMUT Cabaret: Fetishism (June 20).

We're creating some brand-new performances for this event, so if you're in Edmonton, join us for an evening of performative mayhem!

- - -

After all that, in the early days of July, I'll be participating in the Calgary Blow-Out Festival. Watch for more info in the next newsletter!

I promised a contest, and here it is! The fine folks over at Hole in the Wall Studios have given me several free tickets for the midnight showing of Repo! The Genetic Opera on June 13. The first three people to e-mail me with the word "Repo!" will get a pair of tickets!

Of course, June is full of many other delightful events, and I'll be hitting twenty-five, The Piper, Neruda Nude, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald's Love and Manners CD launch,Tuesdays with Morrie, the IGNITE! Festival, Something to Do with Death, Sled Island andImaginary Ordinary.

And, y'know, hopefully spending some time out in the sun.

Have a great month!
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Monday, May 11, 2009

Bag

I've embarked on a new writing project with my dear friend Colin (more on that later), and it got me rooting through some of my old stories. I found this tidbit skulking on my hard drive, and there's something about it that still charms me.

Enjoy.

Bag

Katie was sitting really still, just like she was supposed to, but the car kept bumping and that made her move. She bounced almost right out of her seat when it bumped big, but her seatbelt was on so that helped. Except for the bouncing, she was almost all still, except she kept turning her head. The bag was sitting on top of the cup holes between the seats and it was staring at her.

“What’s in the bag, Mommy?”

Mom looked over really quick. She didn’t have much time to look over because she was driving and that took concentration.

“Nothing.”

She looked back out the front window, and Katie looked out too, but there was nothing fun, just cars and trees. The car rolled over a bump. The bag rattled.

“But why would there be a bag if there’s nothing?”

Bags don’t have nothing. Bags come with stuff. Mom looked away from the road and looked back fast and wiggled the steering wheel.

“It doesn’t have nothing, just nothing important.”

Katie pulled at her bottom lip. The car bumped and the bag rattled and it was still looking at her.

“What’s not important?”

“Don’t worry about it, Katie.”

Rattle rattle.

There were eyes on the side of the bag, big open circle eyes, looking right at Katie. She pulled at her bottom lip and waited. When Mom turned her head to turn the car, Katie reached really sneaky into the bag and her fingers grabbed a plastic and pulled it up far enough to see.

“Don’t touch that!”

She pulled back her hand and started to cry. It was just medicine, vitamins like Katie chewed in the morning with her cereal, nothing important.

“Katie, honey, just sit still, alright?”

Katie was sitting really still.

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Sunday, May 3, 2009

Hopkins Happenings - May 2009

Hey everyone -

Every month, I start off this newsletter by talking about how busy I am. It's time for a change, because... this time I'm not going to talk about it.

Here's what I've got cooking:
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream
  • Matadora
  • ALS Fundraising / Markapalooza 2
  • POST
A Midsummer Night's Dream

May 7-29, 2009
Tuesday to Saturday @ 8:00 pm
May 16 and 24 @ 2:30 pm
Arrata Opera Centre
1315 7th St SW

Adults $25, Students/Seniors $20
www.shakespearecompany.com

I'm delighted to once again be working with the Shakespeare Company, whose elegant presentations of the Bard's work are consistently excellent.

This famous comedy begins as Duke Theseus prepares to wed Hippolyta, the Queen of Amazons. On the eve of the royal nuptials, forbidden lovers Hermia and Lysander escape into the enchanted wood to elope under the full moon, but the wood's mischievous fairy-folk have other plans in store for the two lovestruck couples.

This production utterly transforms the Arrata Opera Centre into a twilight wonderland, where the forces of nature come to life. Welcome the first days of summer with one of Shakespeare's most enchanting creations!

Matadora

May 27-June 6, 2009
8:00 pm nightly (no show on Sunday, May 31)
2:00 pm matinee on Saturday, June 6
 Joyce Doolittle Theatre
Pumphouse Theatres (2140 Pumphouse Ave SW)

Adults $16, Students/Seniors/Equity $12
403.263.0079 - tickets.pumphousetheatre.ca

Trepan Theatre is back! I worked with them on last year's catacomb comedy La Mexicaine de Perforation. Now, they turn their slapstick sights on a historical figure from 1920s Spain - La Reverte.

Juanita Cruz dreams of becoming a bullfighter, but no one will train her. No one except La Reverte, a transvestite master of the bullring who has fallen into security. Witness the triumphant return of the Gender-Bending Bullfighter in Trepan Theatre's trademark style of tour-de-force physical hilarity. Starring Aaron Coates, Cheryl Hutton and Alice Nelson.

Should be a rollickin' good time. Hope to see you on opening night!

ALS Fundraising / Markapalooza 2

Mark Hopkins' fundraising site

Markapalooza 2
June 6, 7:00 pm-2:00 am
Wild Ginger (115 - 414 3rd St SW)

Wow. You are a tremendously generous and supportive bunch of people.

I started my 2009 fundraising efforts for the ALS Society of Alberta less than two weeks ago, and with your help, I've already raised over $4,000. That's a huge start toward my $10,000 goal, and I'm blown away by the response. I will still be fundraising until Betty's Run for ALS on June 14, so it's not too late to check out my fundraising site. Your support is enormously appreciated!

(Also, watch for me in the Calgary Herald on Monday, and on ShawTV later this week. The media has picked up on my fundraising efforts! Neat!)

Oh yeah, and I'm throwing a massive birthday party / fundraiser on June 6th.

Markapalooza 2 will be "off" the "hook". I'll be starting my full-blown publicity later this week, and you'll also be able to pre-purchase tickets, but here's a preview: The Human Statues. The Garter Girls Burly-Q Revue. Dragon Fli Empire. Gina Dragpiper. Not to mention bodypainting, merchandise (that's right - more t-shirts), a silent auction and more surprises.

So. Um. Save the date?

POST

June 1, 8:00 pm
Auburn Saloon (163 - 115 9th Ave SE)
Pay-What-You-Can

Okay, yes, this event isn't until June 1st... but what are the chances that I'll get my June newsletter sent out on time? I mean, c'mon.

The crazy kids at Strangebird Theatre have concocted a Calgary-Toronto collaboration for a group of adventurous emerging artists - myself included! Our task is to create a show - theatre, music, dance, whatever - and then send the show to our sister city counterparts, who will adapt and perform it. The Calgary and Toronto performances (and subsequent parties) will happen simultaneously.

So, to re-cap: I write something, send it to Toronto, they adapt it in some crazy way, then it's performed out East. Meanwhile, I perform some poor sucker's piece here in Calgary. Wild!

---

I'll be spending my spare time this month checking out an abundance of brilliant events, including the Calgary International Children's Festival, Studies in Motion: The Hauntings of Eadward Muybridge, Art on Art, Essay and the Russian Play, Carmen & Bolero, Imaginary Ordinary, Jump/Cut, Letters from the WhimsyState, the Flemish Eye Ball, and Evil Dead: The Musical.

Phew.

Have a great May!

Mark Hopkins
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Friday, April 10, 2009

Hopkins Happenings - April 2009

Hey everyone -

It's April! Man, 2009 is just flying past. I've got another busy month, including:
  • Salon de la Conversation - Re-Launch!
  • Honesty
  • Shhhh!
  • ALS Fundraising - 2009
Salon de la Conversation - Re-Launch!

Every Monday night, 8:00 pm
Kensington Pub
207 10A St NW

Waaaaay back in May 2005, a bunch of us French Immersion veterans got together and said, "Mon français n'est pas aussi good que it used to be." We decided to get together, every Monday night, for drinks and friendly French-language conversation!

For a couple of years, the Kensington Pub was a hotspot for French conversation and our language skills increased exponentially. Over the past several months, malheureusement, Le Salon has gradually faded away. It's time to bring it back!

Si vous parlez français (even if you only speak a little bit!), venez nous rejoindre au Kensington Pub chaque lundi soir! Beer, French conversation and good company: a formula for a fabulous Monday night!

Honesty

April 16-25
Thursday to Saturday @ 8:00 pm
EPCOR CENTRE's Motel
225 8th Ave SE (2nd Floor, across from the Big Secret Theatre)

Tickets $12 at the door, call 403.294.7459 to reserve
www.downstage.ca

The final show in the 2008-09 Motel Series promises to be a gem - it's a new comedy by Calgary playwright extraordinaire, Neil Fleming, author of John Doe/Jack Rabbit, Security and Gnomes!

In the year 2367, lying is impossible. Humans use their brains to full capacity and communicate telepathically. But at the Ministry of Obsolete Technologies, two officers discover a forbidden secret: a pill that can mask brainwaves. Celebrate Canada's 500th birthday with a taboo tale of seduction, deception and chocolate addiction in a play that creates the world of the future, using wit as its weapon of choice. Starring Col Cseke, Aaron Edelstein, Nicola Elson and Jessica Nottell.

Shhhh!

April 28-May 2 @ 8:00 pm
Lantern Community Church
1401 10 Ave SE

$15 at the door, call 403.698.3088 to reserve
www.swallowabicycle.com

You've probably heard me rambling about "Swallow-a-Bicycle", that little theatre company that keeps me insanely busy. Now's your chance to meet the creative team!

Swallow-a-Bicycle consists of myself, Léda Davies and Charles Netto. For this performance, we challenged ourselves to each create a stand-alone half-hour performance using the theme Shhhh! as our starting point. The resulting pieces include a seductive femme fatale, thoughts from the monster under the bed, and an eccentric historian with a story to tell.

As the show develops, we'll post more details on our website (and blog!). In the meantime, you can book your tickets online to see original work on the cutting edge of Calgary's creation scene! (Or whatever.)


ALS Fundraising - 2009


My great-uncle, Fred, died of ALS in the 1970s. My uncle, Bob, died of ALS in 2001. My father, Doug, was diagnosed with ALS in July 2006 and passed away on June 3, 2007. I have an approximately 50% chance of someday being diagnosed with the disease.

Every year, I participate in Betty's Run for ALS, a fundraiser for the ALS Society of Alberta, an organisation that helped my family through my father's illness and that supports ALS research. This year, the run takes place on June 14, and I will once again run 5 miles in an effort to raise money toward care, research and an eventual cure.

Last year, my fundraising campaign raised over $12,000. I'm hoping to exceed that amount this year, and your support would be greatly appreciated! Donations are accepted by credit card through the website (click "Donate Now!" at the top of the page), or you can donate by cash or cheque by contacting me at 403.710.0093 or mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com. Donations for $20 or more will be issued a charitable tax receipt.

And, yes, I will be throwing another epic birthday party / fundraiser! You can expect more bands, more bodypainting, more prizes, and more general awesomeness. Markapalooza 2 will be on June 6 - save the date, and watch for more details soon!

---

Amidst all this insanity, I'll be attending a slew of other events, like Taking Flight, Re:Verb, The Calgary Underground Film Festival and The Collection, just to name a few. Hope to see you there!

And, of course, the 'We Should Know Each Other' parties are still going strong. If you'd like to meet a bunch of interesting folks on a Sunday night, drop me a line for more details!

Thanks for bearing with my extended ramblings; that's it until May! Have a great month.
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