infringement Festival Blog

The Pat Donnelly Award: The Golden Boot

2006-06-14T22:07:00.000-04:00

The Montreal infringement Festival has created its first award!

In collaboration with the Indie Theatre Times & Review, we are pleased to announce the first annual Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award, to be awarded June 25th, 2006 at the closing ceremonies of the 3rd annual festival.

This trophy goes to the infringement act most likely to have been kicked out of any other festival, especially for generating reflection, heated debate and political controversy, especially by artistically exposing and challenging oppressive structures, systems, and discourses.

The award is named after former Gazette (Can-West Global) theatre critic Pat Donnelly, who is responsible for booting the only show in the history of “Fringe” theatre out of a festival.

Abusing a conflict-of-interest position that included both critic and corporate sponsor, in 2001 Ms. Donnelly demanded that “Fringe” organizers boot the play CAR STORIES after it refused to give her a free ticket and then critiqued her performance at the box office.

By canceling reviews of “Fringe” performances and threatening to withdraw financial sponsorship, Ms. Donnelly succeeded in demonstrating corporate power over the “Fringe” agenda and artists’ autonomy. On June 19th, 2001, CAR STORIES was kicked out of the Montreal “Fringe” Festival. It remains the only show ever to have been booted from any “Fringe” across the globe.

While Ms. Donnelly is no longer with us as a theatre critic, her name lives on in the form of the Golden Boot Award – a glowing reminder to artists that instead of bowing down to abusive power-structures, we should celebrate creative resistance to oppression, monoculture, and hegemony.

The 21st Century heralds a new way of doing the arts – by reclaiming our authority as autonomous creators freed from corporate influence, we begin the long process of reclaiming our culture. The Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award acknowledges this fact and reminds us to keep vigilant, while simultaneously celebrating and highlighting excellence in critical artistry.

The Pat Donnelly Golden Boot Award is on display at infringement headquarters BAR MIAMI (3831 St. Laurent), where it will be presented to a deserving artist or collective on June 25th, 2006.

OTL's Sinking Neptune premiers at first Anarchis Theatre Festival

2006-05-06T17:00:00.000-04:00

SINKING NEPTUNE
facilitated by Optative Theatrical Laboratories
launches @ first-ever Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival
May 8, 7:30pm, La Sala Rossa, 4848 St-Laurent

SINKING NEPTUNE will premier at the first-ever, Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival, Monday, May 8, at the Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent, 7:30pm. Tickets are $5/$10 and include 5 activist plays!

SINKING NEPTUNE is a theatrical subversion of the "first play" ever written and produced in the so-called "New World": Marc Lescarcot's The Theatre of Neptune in New France. Written in 1606, and scheduled for re-enactment on November 14th, 2006, this play is extremely racist against First Nations Peoples. This project is a call to action to challenge the play and re-enactment by deconstructing and re-performing The Theatre of Neptune in New France from a critical and postcolonial perspective. A short version is being presented.

The Montréal Anarchist Theatre Festival - a North American first - runs May 8 -9, 2006, at the Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent, 7:30pm, and May 24-25, 7:30pm, at UQAM ( J-M400, Foyer studio théâtre Alfred-Laliberté, Judith-Jasmin 405, rue Sainte-Catherine Est).

The bilingual festival will feature ten plays from Canada and the USA involving about 50 actors, including the internationally renowned Bread and Puppet Theatre from Vermont. (See Schedule below)

The four nights of readings and productions range in length, theme, and style, but all are either written by anarchist writers, or with anarchist content. Each will present either anti-State, anti-capitalist, anti-sexist, anti-Empire, or anti-authoritarian positions.

The theatre festival is part of Montreal's annual 'Festival of Anarchy' that leads up to the city's 7th annual Anarchist Bookfair, May 20 and 21, 2006 - the largest anarchist event on the continent.
.
Info: 514-859-9090
Email: anarchistfestival@yahoo.ca

http://anarchistbookfair.taktic.org/
For more on this project, please log onto www.optative.net/neptune

*****************************************************************************
MONTREAL ANARCHIST THEATRE FESTIVAL 2006 SCHEDULE

LUNDI 8 MAI / MON MAY 8
La Sala Rossa, 4848 boul St-Laurent 19H30 / 7:30pm
Lacrymos : Avez-vous déjà pleuré pour des raisons politique? par Francis Dupuis-DériThe Human Juicer by Ross PetersonIn Conversation with Crows by Audrey FinkelsteinSinking Neptune by the Optative Theatrical LaboratoriesCantastoria by Bread & Puppet Theatre

MARDI 9 MAI / TUES MAY 9
La Sala Rossa, 19H30 / 7:30pm
Overdale by Norman NawrockiYa rien là par WeNousThe Works by Joseph ShraggeHaymarket by L.M. Bogad

MERCREDI ET JEUDI. 24 ET 25 MAI / WED & THURS, MAY 24 & 25
UQAM, 19H30 / 7:30pm
(J-M400, Foyer studio théâtre Alfred-Laliberté, Judith-Jasmin 405 Sainte-Catherine Est)

The Red-Emma Project/ LE PROJET RED EMMA par WeNous, based on a play by Howard Zinn
*** Please FWD and re-post

Telling His Own Story: Gary Corbin's "....four one-legged men!" by JC McLean

2006-04-13T12:38:00.000-04:00

Gary Corbin thought that once he had survived cancer, people would be fair with him and he could continue to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Unfortunately, he found out that the world of stage and screen just wasn’t ready for a one-legged man.

“I believed in the American Dream, that everybody has an opportunity,” he said in a telephone interview from New York, “but people said that it’s just not true in my case.”

Having lost his right leg to bone cancer (osteogenic sarcoma) in 1975, Corbin found that he wasn’t getting any scripts or auditions and eventually realized that he wasn’t going to get any work as an actor by waiting around for it.

He was walking down a street in Harlem one day when it hit him. If he wanted work as an actor, he’d have to make a show for himself.

This led to the creation of his critically-acclaimed one-man show “….four one-legged men!” which premiered at last year’s Buffalo infringement Festival.

In a series of short pieces, Corbin plays four different characters, each with one leg, in four different time periods.

“We’re people with the same types of trials,” he says of the characters in his show and physically unique people in general, “this show is about the universal human spirit in all of us.”

Looking for a place to perform it was the next step. The Franklin Furnace Foundation let him know about the Buffalo infringement Festival and he applied.

He credits the fest with helping him dust off the demons that were torturing him at the time: the loss of his grandmother and the loss of love. He tried sex and religion but realized that what really works is performing

“I wasn’t rejected,” Corbin remembers, “I was supported; they helped me put it up there. It let me know that I could probably produce it myself in New York City.”

The show has received rave reviews, both in Buffalo and later when it played The Producers Club in the heart of Manhattan’s Theatre District. Corbin was able to produce the show himself with support from just about every source available to individual artists including: The Franklin Furnace and Jerome Foundations, The New York State Council on the Arts, and The New York Foundation for the Arts.

Corbin is now considered an “emerging artist” who is on the verge of contributing something major to the world of theater and performance art.

He feels his show offers a service that can open doors so more physically unique people can get their stories told. Corbin argues that while many people in the theatre world say they support and show diversity, there is a resistance to presenting physically disabled characters in a rounded way.

“I show people with disabilities as multi-dimensional,” Corbin comments, “theatre needs a facelift, we need new ideas.”

Those new ideas will be presented this June as “….four one-legged men!” comes to the Montreal infringement Festival.

Corbin has never been to Montreal and is very excited about coming to play.

“People who go out of the country come back more rounded, with a broader perspective on life” he observes, “I’m looking forward to performing again.”

And judging by the buzz already building on message boards and through word of mouth, Montrealers are excited about Corbin’s show, too.

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For date, time and venue information of “….four one-legged men!” at the Montreal infringement Festival, keep checking: www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

People can send tax-exempt donations through the New York Foundation for the Arts: www.nyfa.org

For more on Gary Corbin, including pics, please log onto: www.garycorbinactor.com

Communiqué 03/15/2006

2006-03-16T16:39:00.001-05:00

(francais suit)

infringement Montréal Communiqué
March 15th, 2006

March infringeAGAIN: Rachel’s Words

Canadian artists are reacting to a theatrical controversy that has been brewing in London and New York City. An Off Broadway production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, an acclaimed solo show about an American demonstrator killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian home, has been censored (“indefinitely postponed”).

On Thursday, March 16th, the anniversary of Rachel’s murder, a broad spectrum of groups and individuals around the world will perform in staged readings and theatrical actions so Rachel’s words and her message of human rights and justice can be heard. Optative Theatrical Laboratories invites you to come hear Rachel’s Words …
(read more)

infringement Ministry of Culture-Jamming to take part in anti-war march

Optative Theatrical Laboratories and the infringement Festival Ministry of Culture-Jamming are organizing a theatrical demonstration to help protest the three year anniversary of the Iraq war. It will be part of the March that will take place on St-Catherine Street March 18th.

We will be meeting at the Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) every Monday leading until the jam at 7:30 P.M. to plan the details. For more information please call Jay at 515-FEST (3378) (read more)

infringement Community Meetings starting up soon

As the festival approaches, we will begin holding regular meetings for all members of the infringement Community: artists, volunteers, organizers and supporters.

This is a chance for all of us to get together, discuss the fest and our plans for it and collaborate. More details will come soon.

The infringement circuit is expanding

This year, in addition to Montreal, there will be an infringement Festival in Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City, with hopefully more cities joining.

All Montreal infringement artists are invited to tour the circuit. Please apply to each festival you’d like to play individually, their contact information can be found here and their dates are posted here.

If you’d like to collaborate with other touring acts and possibly share resources, or to get listed as touring act on the infringement International website, please contact JC (514) 583-3378 or infringementfestival@yahoo.ca once you know which fests outside of Montreal you’ll be playing.

Car Stories looking for players

Optative Theatrical Laboratories is currently seeking actors, writers and organizers for Car Stories this summer in Montreal and for our tour to Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina and New York City.

Set in real alleyways, streets, cars, bars and parking lots, Car Stories is a guided tour through the urban wonderland for three spectators at a time. This highly interactive combination of theatre and street performance is also Montreal’s longest-running theatrical experiment.

We’re looking for people who can play a bold character that can fit into loose dramatic guidelines and people that have a 10-15 minute story that can be played in a car (or would be willing to write one). We’re also looking for people to help us behind the scenes with organization, sponsorship or by lending us their car so we can make it a star.

If you’d like to hop on board or would like more information, please call (514) 915-0674, e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca or log onto www.optative.net/carstories (includes videos).

Reminders

If you haven’t already done so, there’s still time to submit an act to Montreal’s infringement Festival or volunteer as an iF Agent. Please call (514) 583-FEST (3378) to submit an act, or (514) 513-0420 to volunteer, or reach us by e-mail at infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca. More information, including our application form, can be found online at www.infringementfestival.com/montreal/join.html

To get your event listed as an infringement Community Event, to propose making your event an infringeAGAIN, or to look for players in the infringement Community Classifieds, please contact infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

To get on this list, or to have your address removed, please contact infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca

Thank you,
Montréal’s infringement team
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

*** Please FWD and re-post

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Communiqué du festival infringement de Montréal
le 15 mars, 2006

infringeENCORE de Mars: Rachel’s Words

Les artistes canadiens réagissent à une controverse théâtrale qui a brassé à Londres et la Ville de New York. La production de Broadway My Name is Rachel Corrie, un spectacle solo acclamé d'une activiste américain tué par un bulldozer Israelien pendant qu'elle essayait d'arrêter la destruction d'une maison palestinienne, a été censuré (“indéfiniment remis”).

Jeudi le 16 mars, l'anniversaire de la meurtre de Rachel, des groupes et des individus autour du monde exécutera des lectures sur scène et des actions théâtrales pour que les mots de Rachel et son message de droits et la justice humains peuvent être entendus. Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif vous invitent à venir entendre Rachel’s Words…
(lire plus)

La Ministère de Brouillage Culturelle du festival prendra partie dans un démonstration anti-guerre

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif et la Ministère de Brouillage Culturel du Festival infringement organisent une démonstration théâtrale pour aider la protestation contre la troixième anniversaire de la guerre en Iraq. Notre action fera partie de la marche qu'aura lieu sur la rue St-Catherine le 18 mars.

Nous rencontrerons au Bifteck (3702 St-Laurent) chaque lundi a 19h30 pour planifier les détails. Pour plus de renseignements, SVP appeler Jay à (514) 515 FEST (3378)
(lire plus)

Les réunions de la communauté infringement commençeront bientôt

Plus proche au festival, nos reunions communautaire infringement régulières commençeront de nouveau pour tous membres de la communauté infringement: les artistes, les volontaires, les organisateurs et les supporters.

Ceci est une chance pour nous tous se rencontrer, discuter le festival et nos projets et collaborer. Plus de détails viendra bientôt.

Le circuit infringement agrandisse

Cette année, en plus de Montréal, il y aura un festival infringement à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York, et peut-être d’autres villes.

Toutes les artistes infringement de Montréal sont invités à faire la tournée du circuit. Si vous voulez, SVP proposer votre spectacle à chaque festival individuellement. Leurs details de contacte sont en ligne ici et leurs dates sont ici.

Pour collaborer avec les autres actes qui font la tournée (peut-être partagent des resources), ou pour vous lister comme acte de tournée sur notre site web, SVP contacter JC (514) 583-3378 ou infringementfestival@yahoo.ca une fois vous savez quels autres festivals vous jouerez.

Car Stories cherchent des joueurs

Les Laboratoires Théâtraux Optatif cherchent presentment des acteurs, des écrivains et des organisateurs pour Car Stories cet été en Montréal et pour notre tournée à Ottawa, Kingston, Buffalo, Regina et New York.

Le spectacle déroule dans les vraies rues, ruelles autos et bars du monde des merveillles urbaine. Cette combinaison extrêmement interactive de théâtre et théâtre dans la rue est aussi l'experiment théâtrale la plus longue-durant de Montréal.

Nous cherchons des personnes qui peuvent jouer un caractère grand dans des indications dramatiques détachés et des personnes qui ont écrit (ou qui peuvent écrire) une scène de 10-15 minutes qui peuvent être jouée dans une voiture. Nous cherchons aussi des gens pour nous aider avec l'organisation, le sponsorat ou pour nous preter leurs voiture, qu'on va transformer en vedette.

Si vous aimeriez sauter à bord ou aimeriez plus d'information, s'il vous plaît appeler (514) 915-0674, envoyer un courriel à optativelabs@yahoo.ca ou consultez www.optative.net/carstories (inclut des vidéos).

Rappels

Si vous n'avez pas fait déjà si, il reste du temps pour proposer un spéctacle au festival infringement de Montréal ou devenir un agent iF (bénévole du festival). Appeler (514) 583-FEST (3378) pour proposer un spéctacle ou (514) 513-0420 pour devenir bénévole, ou nous contacter par courriel: infringementmontreal@yahoo.ca

Pour lister votre évenemment comme évennement communautaire infringement, proposer votre spectacle comme infringeENCORE ou chercher des joueurs dans nos annonces classés communautaire infringement, contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

Pour y joindre cette liste ou enlever votre adresse courriel de la liste, SVP contacter infringementfestival@yahoo.ca
*** SVP envoyer ou re-afficher

L'équipe infringement de Montréal
www.infringementfestival.com/montreal

Communiqué 03/15/2006

2006-03-16T16:39:00.000-05:00

Play postponed for political content in NYC

2006-03-01T01:58:00.000-05:00

Interesting story out of NYC...

-----

Rickman slams 'censorship' of play about US Gaza activist
Julian Borger in Washington, Tuesday February 28, 2006, The Guardian
http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1719693,00.html

A New York theatre company has put off plans to stage a play about an American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Gaza because of the current "political climate" - a decision the play's British director, Alan Rickman, denounced yesterday as "censorship".

James Nicola, the artistic director of the New York Theatre Workshop, said it had never formally announced it would be staging the play, My Name is Rachel Corrie, but it had been considering staging it in March.

"In our pre-production planning and our talking around and listening in our communities in New York, what we heard was that after Ariel Sharon's illness and the election of Hamas, we had a very edgy situation," Mr Nicola said.

"We found that our plan to present a work of art would be seen as us taking a stand in a political conflict, that we didn't want to take."

He said he had suggested a postponement until next year.

Mr Rickman, best known for his film acting roles in Love, Actually and the Harry Potter series and who directed the play at London's Royal Court Theatre, denounced the decision.

"I can only guess at the pressures of funding an independent theatre company in New York, but calling this production "postponed" does not disguise the fact that it has been cancelled," Mr Rickman said in a statement.

"This is censorship born out of fear, and the New York Theatre Workshop, the Royal Court, New York audiences - all of us are the losers."

Rachel Corrie was a 23-year-old activist from Washington state crushed in March 2003 when she put herself between an Israeli army bulldozer and a Palestinian home it was about to demolish in Rafah, on the Egyptian border.

The International Solidarity Movement, of which she was a member, claimed the bulldozer driver ran her over deliberately. The Israeli Defence Forces said it was an accident, and that she was killed by falling debris.

The Israeli government said the demolitions were aimed at creating a "security zone" along the border. The Palestinians say they are a form of collective punishment.

"Rachel Corrie lived in nobody's pocket but her own. Whether one is sympathetic with her or not, her voice is like a clarion in the fog and should be heard," Mr Rickman said.

My Name is Rachel Corrie consists of her diary entries and emails home, edited by Mr Rickman and Katharine Viner, features editor of The Guardian. It won the best new play prize at this year's Theatregoers' Choice Awards in London.

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Play About Demonstrator's Death Is Delayed
February 28, By Jesse McKinleay, New York Times, February 28, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/28/theater/newsandfeatures/28thea.html?ex=1141794000&en=6510458956b6ccfc&ei=5070&emc=eta1

A potential Off Broadway production of "My Name Is Rachel Corrie," an acclaimed solo show about an American demonstrator killed by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to stop the destruction of a Palestinian home, has been postponed because of concerns about the show's political content.

The production, a hit at the Royal Court Theater in London last year, had been tentatively scheduled to start performances at the New York Theater Workshop in the East Village on March 22. But yesterday, James C. Nicola, the artistic director of the workshop, said he had decided to postpone the show after polling local Jewish religious and community leaders as to their feelings about the work.

"The uniform answer we got was that the fantasy that we could present the work of this writer simply as a work of art without appearing to take a position was just that, a fantasy," he said.
In particular, the recent electoral upset by Hamas, the militant Palestinian group, and the sickness of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, had made "this community very defensive and very edgy," Mr. Nicola said, "and that seemed reasonable to me."

The play, which received strong reviews in London, follows the story of Rachel Corrie, an idealistic American demonstrator and Palestinian-rights activist who was crushed to death in March 2003 in the Gaza Strip.

The play was written by the actor Alan Rickman, who directed the piece, and Katherine Viner, a journalist at The Guardian newspaper in London, who pieced together snippets of Ms. Corrie's journals and e-mail messages to create the script. And while the show had not been formally announced, Ms. Viner said yesterday that she and Mr. Rickman had already bought plane tickets to see the production at the workshop.

"I was devastated and really surprised," Ms. Viner said in a telephone interview from London. "And in my view, I think they're misjudging the New York audience. It's a piece of art, not a piece of agitprop."

But Mr. Nicola said he was less worried about those who saw the show than those who simply heard about it.

"I don't think we were worried about the audience," he said. "I think we were more worried that those who had never encountered her writing, never encountered the piece, would be using this as an opportunity to position their arguments."

Mr. Nicola said that he still hoped to produce the play during the 2006-7 season but that he hadn't heard back from the Royal Court yet. A call for comment to the Royal Court's general manager, Diane Borger, was not returned.

"It seemed as though if we proceeded, we would be taking a stand we didn't want to take," he said.

infringing this weekend...part two

2006-02-08T20:05:00.000-05:00

infringing this weekend...

2006-02-08T20:00:00.000-05:00

Some interesting stuff to check out...

Anti-Hallmark Valentine's Day party!

This Valentine’s Day, Head & Hands wants to invite you to come celebrate love in all of its forms.
The evening will feature Montreal DJs DJ Maus and Julie D alongside rockout act Kill the Lights, and punk band Tundra. Andrew Johnston, who has a side project from The gentlemen's Club called The Hearts In Transit will also be part of the show. In addition we will have a theatre performance by The Dead Doll Dancers.

The evening will also act as the launch party to Head & Hands’ 2006 Save Our Sex Ed (SOS) campaign which aims to raise funds for Head & Hands sex education programs. Unlike other diseases, STIs and AIDS are completely preventable and education is the key to protection. Support Head and Hands in the SOS campaign and help us make sure that Montreal youth get the sex education they deserve.

8pm at El Salon, 4388 Blvd. St. Laurent. $10 in advance or $12 the door. Tickets are available at Head & Hands, 5833 Sherbrooke W, 481-0277.

Something infringers might be interested in...

2006-02-08T19:49:00.000-05:00

WANTED: ANARCHIST PLAYS FOR MONTREAL'S 1ST ANARCHIST THEATRE FESTIVAL

Montreal's newly created 'Anarchist Theatre Festival' is now seeking submissions of anarchist theatre pieces to be staged May 8 & 9, 2006. This will be North America's first ever festival of anarchist theatre.

The festival is part of Montreal's annual 'Festival of Anarchy' that leads up to the city's
7th annual 'Anarchist Bookfair,' May 20 & 21st, the largest anarchist event in North America.

We are looking for theatre pieces about anarchists, anarchist ideas, history, or any subject related to anarchism. We will consider plays or monologues that are original new work, or that have already been performed, or that have been written by anarchists (historical or contemporary). The pieces can be either full productions or staged readings in either French or English.

We are looking for work that is anti-State, anti-capitalist, non-sexist,
non-homophobic, anti-Empire, anti-authoritarian, etc. We want anarchist content written by either anarchist playwrights or writers who are sympathetic to anarchism. ( Please see the 'Principles' section of the web site of the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair for a more detailed description of appropriate guidelines for 'anarchist' content. http://anarchistbookfair.taktic.org )
We ask all potential participants to explain why they believe their proposal would fit in this Festival. This is an all-volunteer event, thus, without any remuneration. The Festival will provide publicity, an appropriate indoor venue, and a guaranteed interested audience. (All proceeds from sale of tickets will cover Festival expenses and be used for staging future festivals.) If interested, please send either an outline of your proposal, or a few sample pages from your work NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 22, 2006 to either anarchistfestival@yahoo.ca or

@ Theatre Festival
c/o S. Laplage
6797 rue de Normanville
Montréal, Quebec
H2S 2C2

If you submit anything by snail mail, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Report from Christiania (January 10th)

2006-01-11T04:21:00.001-05:00

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

The people of Christiania do not live a subsistence living - the area is probably too small to grow food for all its inhabitants, and they do move into and out of Copenhagen whenever they like.

At the same time, the Sunshine Bakery makes delicious breads and treats (the Danes loves to eat sweet breads at breakfast).

At the moment, I am in an area (Christianshavn) that has been cordonned off by the POLITI (police) - apparently due to a bomb threat.

I was going to get some milk for the coffee, and had to pass under a police tape. On my return, the POLITI said I was not allowed back to where I am staying.

Luckily, I managed to convince them, otherwise I'd be standing on a cold street corner with a carton of milk while my associates wondered what happened to me.

Apparently the Danish citizens are concerned that they are "next" on the terrorist hit-list, not unfeasible given the Danish participation in the Iraq war, and the ongoing Bush bootlicking carried out by the right-wing government.

Nowadays, I am told, there is an atmosphere of danger and any unattended bag is suspect. Anyways, I am personally hoping that this bomb threat has no substance, otherwise, I could be in serious shit if the thing goes off.

There are actually trucks outside that send TV-robots into sewers, so maybe the threat is under ground.

*** LATER ***

Well, it seems the bomb threat was a false alarm.

Apparently as white car was viewed as suspcious for some reason, and was eventually towed away by POLITI.

On the 5 o'clock news the anchor was asking the reporter if the threat was tied to Christiania. She said "no", rolling her eyes at such speculation.

Tonight I am going to movie night at the operaren...

- Donovan King (in Christiania)

Report from Christiania (January 9th)

2006-01-11T04:16:00.000-05:00

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

I just returned from Christiania and Monday nights are pretty dead there. I was hoping to attend another meeting, but alas, there was none to be found.

The police patrol until midnight I am told, and I witnessed two cops harassing a young woman. I moved in a bit closer to see what was going on, and saw a cop intimidating here, saying something in Danish with the word HASH at the end of the sentence.

Translated, I imagine it would have sounded something like "Hey, what were you smoking? Where is your HASH?????".

Christiania TV is now loaning out video cameras to document police harassment and brutality. There are also 2 weekly papers (in Danish only) that discuss these issues and show photos. Tomorrow night is the Christiania TV screening night, so that should be interesting.

I have also spent a bit of time wandering around Copenhagen. Apparently some rich dude, Maersk, forked over tons of money for an opera house, but only if he could build it right next to a historic castle.

Sure enough, there it is spoiling a beautiful historic view by being situated right at the end of an important historic street. It is a monstrosity of architecture.

- Donovan King (in Christiania)

Report from Christiania (January 8th)

2006-01-11T04:04:00.000-05:00

infringement performance activist Donovan King is in The Free City of Christiania, in the middle of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is reporting daily on the resitiance to attempts by the Danish government to shut the city down...

I just came back from the Blues Jam at the Operaren, and met a fellow named David from New Orleans. He was playing the trumpet with passion and pizazz amidst the improvised jazz ensemble (which plays 4 - 9 pm every Sunday, free of charge).

I have met a few Americans here, many dating back from decades ago. Many of them are similar to the current War Resisters in Canada - they came to escape oppressive US policies.

Discussing Katrina with David was enlightening - as a black person he had a lot to say against the US government and Bush.

I also met an older woman, a single mother whose daughters are now grown into adults, who told me of a horrifying encounter with the police where they beat the shit out of her. Apparently this is a common practice with Chistianites, and reportedly Amnesty International mentions it every time they report on the Danish government's conduct.

A lot of the people here are extremely pissed with their right-wing government, and the lasy I mentioned described it as "the most racist government in the world today".

Apparently they are tightening up and already extremely tight immigration policy, with new "tests".

The police also paid a visit to Christiania today with a massive bulldozer. Surely an intimidation sign, they demanded to bulldoze a snowfort which they claimed was a "security risk". And bulldoze they did.

Not a single snowman made by kids hands or wall within the playful fort remained following this sad spectacle.

A lot of it was actually made by Greenlanders, or the equivalent of First Nations in Canada.

There is a real atmosphere of fear and intimidation in Christiania.

On an entirely different note, I had dinner with a new media artist internet-named "FRIGG" who has a beautiful girl named Penny (1 1/2 years old). She told me that she is planning an electronic defense of Christiania.

- Donovan King (in Christiania)

A report from the free city of Christiania

2006-01-05T01:07:00.000-05:00

Donovan King, a Canadian performance activist is presently visiting the Free City of Christiania in Denmark in hopes of establishing an infringement Festival there to help residents artistically challenge recent police harassment.

Christiania, a green car-free city in the middle of Copenhagen has come under threat from the right-wing Danish government which plans to demolish over 50 homes with no plans for the people currently living in them.

Donovan brings us this, the first of many reports...

Today I managed to get to Chistiania during daylight hours and purchased a guidebook (for 5 kroners - it is available for free online). While trying to orient myself with a cold Tuborg on the terrace at the Cafe Woodstock, I witnessed my first "police patrol" through the Freetown. About 8 officers, armed to the gills, paraded military-style up Pusher Street, glaring at everyone, myself included, as though we were potential criminals. There is a series of signals used by the locals to ensure when the police arrive they are clean (eg - not smoking or posessing any hash) and therefore not subject to harssment.

In the past I am told the police have resorted to the following draconian measures: strip-search, arresting people with a roach by their foot, banning people from establishments for 1-2 years if caught smoking, ticketing (300 kroners I believe), mass arrests (recently, on Sept 7 2005, an entire circus was arrested, including children!), police brutality, intimidation, extensive use of under-cover officers, and the demolition or removal of not only housing, but also stages, tents, and other facilities used by the citizens.

I soon went to the Nyt Forum (infoshop) and was soon hooked up with one of the leaders of the Rebel Clown Army, who was very keen to hear about how we deal with these issues in Canada. I shall call him JH out of respect for privacy. I mentioned the infringement festial and JH said he was very interested to learn more. I told him to check it out online and tell his associates.
He filled me in on a lot of the other critical artists in Christiania, and will now set up meetings with folks such as Christiania TV, filmmakers Britta and Nils Vest, various visual artists, activists, etc. This is a freecity in need of a strategy for the shitstorm ahead, probably due in the spring or summer.

Recently, on Jan 1, every resident was given a paper telling them whether or not they have "users rights" to Christiania, an obvious effort to divide the people. Those with "rights" will be allowed to stay living here after the mass evictions, but for how long, nobody knows. Those with no rights will have their homes demolished and they will be forcibly expelled from the community. No, this isn't Gaza or Zimbabwe - it is central Europe!

In any case, I am trying to hook up the people here with other activists around the world. If Christiania is to be saved, it will need a global effort this time around.

I will keep you all posted as things develop on this side of the pond.

- Donovan King
in Christiania

infringeAGAIN / infringeENCORE

2005-12-02T18:09:00.000-05:00

Travesty Theatre presents...

The Dead Dolls Commercial Chri$tma$ Cabaret

Proudly bringing live entertainment standards to new lows.....

With dancing girls, boobies, booties, dreidls, reindeers, candy canes, songs and skits, menorahs, Jesus in the house, creche scene, porno puppets, dancing girls, erotic quebecoise songs, dancing girls, Mcgill's Dr. Broom, cream pies, bad tap dancing and spoken-word.

With special appearances by the Agnostic International Family Choir and Mohammed & the Guantanamo Bay Boys (on their international tour of secret American prison camps) and of course the "almost famous" Dead Doll Dancers and much much more!!!

Don't forget- the audience gets to throw stuff at the actors!

Hosted by funny gal MC Deanne Lyn and featuring live musical accompaniment from the very talented Amanda Schenstead who came all the way from Brandon, Manitoba to join us. She will be on the mandolin and keyboard (not at the same time) and will also attempt to play the spoons.

Friday December 9th at Cafe Cleopatra 1230 st Laurent (2nd floor). Showtime 9pm (doors open 8pm) Cost: $7

For more information, please call (514) 915-0674, e-mail travestytheatre@hotmail.com or log onto www.travestytheatre.com

***

Travesty Theatre Présente

"The Dead Dolls Commercial Chri$tma$ Cabaret"

En abaissant fièrement les standards du divertissement vers de nouveaux bas-fonds...

Des filles qui dansent, des boules, des fesses, des rennes ou des reines.... des cannes de "nouelle", des bonbons, des chansons, des sketches, des satires, "Jesus in the House", une crèche, des marionnettes, des filles qui dansent, des billes anales, une chanson québécoise cochonne à répondre, des filles qui dansent, des tartes à la crème, apparition spéciale du "Agnostic international Family Choir" et bien sûr des filles qui dansent et bien bien plus!

N'oubliez pas : vous le public, aurez la chance de "garocher" des bebelles aux acteurs sur scène!

Notre maitresse de cérémonies est Deanne Lyn et on a du musique "Live" interprétée par la supra talentueuse Amanda Schenstead toute fraîchement débarquée de Brandon, Manitoba! Elle sera sur la mandoline et le clavier (ben...pas dessus et pas en même temps...) et essaiera peut-être de se compromettre à la cuillère!

Le vendredi 9 décembre au Café Cléopatra 1230 St-Laurent (2ième étage). Spectacle : 21h Portes : 20h Prix : 7$

Pour Info : 514. 915. 0674, par courriel travestytheatre@hotmail.com ou www.travestytheatre.com

American Apparel infiltrates activist group

2005-12-01T11:00:00.000-05:00

American Apparel sent an undercover security agent posing as an activist to spy on preparations for Optative Theatrical Laboratories' Buy Nothing Day jam of the company in Montreal.

He identified our performers and got them thrown to the sidewalk, where a whole new performance insued, which brought out Maurice Charney, American Apparel founder Dov's father, and the Montreal police.

The whole story, videos and pics are online here: www.optative.net/bnd

OTL Announces Buy Nothing Day Jam

2005-11-21T01:03:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

American Apparel is not as friendly as you might think they are. While they might not use sweatshop labour in their production, which should be a given instead of a sellpoint, they have created a different kind of sweatshop in Downtown LA and around the world.

Their ads, touted as empowering and liberating, are actually playing on an old advertising standard that victimizes women. These attitudes are mirrored by CEO Dov Charney, who has been accused of sexual harassment at the workplace more than once.

American Apparel has vigourously fought attempts to unionize it’s production faclility in downtown LA, even visiting workers at home and forcing them to attend anti-union rallies.

“Knowing that the company has bullied its workers, and that sexism pervades from the ad department up through the office of the CEO, it becomes clear that American Apparel is different only in degree, not kind, from its competitors.”
– Ari Paul, In These Times

American Apparel was born here and as proud Montrealers, we feel it is our duty to let everyone know that we are not about the exploitation of women, union busting or cloaking business-as-usual garment-industry capitalism with activist chic.

This Buy Nothing Day, November 25th, Optative Theatrical Laboratories will expose the theatre behind this conglomerate by performing in an undisclosed American Apparel store in the greater Montreal area.

OTL has been jamming the monoculture on Buy Nothing Day since 2002, last year’s performance of Death By Latté by Bill Talen inside two Starbucks locations galvanized the patrons and produced a short video documentary and drew attention.

For more information please contact (514) 583-FEST (3378) or optativelabs@yahoo.ca or log onto www.optative.net/bnd

-30-

Party in support of Projet Montreal will feature some infringers...

2005-10-28T19:38:00.000-04:00

To get involved, please contact jacobnerenberg@yahoo.ca

sCARe Stories Hallowe'en weekend

2005-10-19T09:14:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

sCARe STORIES:
Hallowe’en is expanding in Montréal…

Hallowe’en is slowly becoming a major festive and cultural event in Montreal. In what it hopes to be the start of a new annual tradition, Optative Theatrical Laboratories is bringing the spirit of Hallowe’en back by transforming the Plateau, with all its grungy alleyways, streets, bars and parking lots, into a terrifying haunted house where no one is safe from the creatures that lurk in the shadows….

Montrealer Donovan King, infamous for putting the fear-factor back into motherland England’s London Dungeon is facilitating sCARe STORIES as a celebration of Montreal’s ghostly past and Hallowe’en. In the tradition of Montreal’s longest-running theatre experiment, Car Stories, only three spectators at a time, never knowing what’s lurking just around the corner, will be thrown into a frightening matrix of phantom killers, the undead, classic scenes of terror set in real cars - and things that go bump in the night!

The performance runs Sunday, October 30th and Monday, October 31st between 6:30pm and 10pm, with a new group leaving every 30 minutes.

Spectators should call (514) 583-FEST (3378) or e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca to reserve a spot, or go to Copacabana (3910 St-Laurent) during show times and look for someone undead.

sCARe Stories is PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN

www.optative.net/carstories

Media Inquiries: (514) 583-3378 or optativelabs@yahoo.ca

-30-

*** Please FWD and re-post

Actors wanted for sCARe Stories

2005-10-12T16:30:00.000-04:00

Optative Theatrical Laboratories is looking for players, cars and stories of horror for sCARe Stories, a Halloween show based on Montreal's longest-running theatre experiment Car Stories.

Set in grungy alleys, streets, bars and parked cars, this show will transform Montreal's urban wonderland into a haunted house for three spectators at a time.

If you can create a bold character and play within loose dramatic guidelines, or if you have a 10-12 minute story (scripted or improv-based) that can be played in a car, please get in touch with us.

Call (514) 583-FEST (3378) or e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca

Wendy Bouie performing this Friday

2005-10-05T18:45:00.000-04:00

Wendy Bouie, who played with The Capones in the 2005 Fest, will be performing unplugged versions of her Home Again CD this Friday at 8pm at The Yellow Door (3625 Aylmer, near Pine in the McGill Ghetto). It costs $5. Wendy will be playing a 45 minute set and opening for Johnny Eden.

Lots of infringing this weekend

2005-09-30T12:21:00.000-04:00

Some infringement artists playing this wekend/
Quelques artistes infringement qui joue cette fin semaine:

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The Dead Doll Dancers will be performing in Fetish 4 Play with DJ's: Chris (Steelwerks) Beastie Bill and DJ Ryan, a performance by Pierre (Black Sun), NUDE ART Painting Exhibit by Diane Loisel on Friday, September 30th at Le Tube Bar, 1592 Ste-Catherine Est(métro Papineau) $10 in advance/$13 at the door. Check www.attitudes.cc for more.

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Optative Theatrical Laboratories wants you to help save our planet by reclaiming the urban landscape for one day this fall. After touring the international infringement circuit with stops in Ottawa, Buffalo and New York City, Car Stories is coming home for one more show this year, and we're going green!

Three spectators at a time are invited to witness parked cars transformed from gaz guzzlers into vibrant theatre spaces as they are guided through Montreal's Urban Wonderland in a quest to preserve the nature we still have left.

Car Stories runs Saturday, October 1st between 2:30pm and 7:30pm with a new show every 30 minutes as part of Journee de la Culture-JAM. Go to Les Minots (3812 St-Laurent) during showtimes and look for someone wearing coloured sunglasses or call (514) 583-FEST (3378) or e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca to reserve your spot. Car Stories is PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN at the end of the show.

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Der Kosmonaut (The Fall of New York) will be one of over 15 contestants participating in Black Theatre Workshop's Poetry Jam at The Green Room (5386 St-Laurent, corner St-Viateur) Sunday, October 2nd at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). Expect a hot night of slam poetry.

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A POESIA présente...LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA CHANSON VIVANTE à L'Inspecteur Épingle 4051, rue Saint-Hubert (angle Duluth) [598-7764] 20 h 30.

Isabelle Larrivée accueille...Éric Bélanger, Geneviève Binette, David Portelance. ENTRÉE LIBRE.

Pour suivre les événements essentielsde la chanson québécoise, visiter : http://quebecpop.com/Consulter aussi : http://www.leparolier.org/

Final Car Stories show this year !!!

2005-09-21T19:16:00.000-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ONE MORE CHANCE TO CATCH CAR STORIES THIS YEAR

Optative Theatrical Laboratories wants you to help save our planet by reclaiming the urban landscape for one day this fall.

After touring the international infringement circuit with stops in Ottawa, Buffalo and New York City, Car Stories is coming home for one more show this year, and we're going green!

Three spectators at a time are invited to witness parked cars transformed from gaz guzzlers into vibrant theatre spaces as they are guided through Montreal's Urban Wonderland in a quest to preserve the nature we still have left.

Car Stories runs Saturday, October 1st between 2:30pm and 7:30pm with a new show every 30 minutes as part of Journee de la Culture-JAM.

Go to Les Minots (3812 St-Laurent) during showtimes and look for someone wearing coloured sunglasses or call (514) 583-FEST (3378) or e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca to reserve your spot.

Car Stories is PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN at the end of the show.

*** Please FWD and re-post

Videos available online at www.optative.net/carstories (DVD footage available upon request)

Bury the Dead: Global Anti-War Reading This Month

2005-09-08T20:22:00.000-04:00

Montreal is taking part in this global anti-war theatre event. For more information, or to get involved, please click here or on the picture above.

Thanks to all the friends of Car Stories NYC

2005-09-08T19:04:00.000-04:00

This weekend's run of Car Stories NYC was great, but it wouldn't have been possible without the support of some wonderful people. Thanks to all those who made played in the show and everyone who helped us out.

Special thanks to Brian, Ross and infringement New York (also thanks to Brian for lending us his car), Michelle, Carrie, Tim & Tomoko, Mike and Max for housing our players, Kasai for showing us the real New York that you won't find in any tourist brochures and ensuring that no one got lost, Nicos, Eric and Matt for getting us there and back in one piece and to Nicos, Kathleen and Roni for running back and forth with updates during the show.

Also thanks to Pete, Dragana, Karen and all those who came out to see the show and played as spect-actors with a special mention to Elaine Dear, who gave the most energetic performance of the run.

And thank you to everyone who helped raise funds to get us there and back.

Car Stories plays next as part of les journées de la culture, so if you can make it out to Montreal the last weekend of September, you're more than welcome to hop in for the ride. Check out www.optative.net/carstories for updates.

We'll be back in NYC for next year's infringement Festival, but if you'd like to keep Car Stories going in the Big Apple before we return, please contact optativelabs@yahoo.ca

Once again, thanks to all, it was a blast !!!

Isabelle au pays de la chanson

2005-09-08T18:50:00.000-04:00

Ceci vient d'Isabelle Larrivé, artiste du festival 2005, et ca mentionne certaines autres artistes infringement...

Bonjour à vous, Bien de l'eau a coulé sous les ponts depuis le spectacle du café Sarajevo le 1er août dernier. Voici un petit communiqué pour vous annoncer ce qui s'en vient :

Tous les dimanches à compter du 11 septembre, LA POESIA présentera LES RENDEZ-VOUS DE LA CHANSON VIVANTE à L'Inspecteur Épingle (angle Saint-Hubert et Duluth), à 20 h 30.

Ces soirées de chansons seront animées en alternance par les auteurs-compositeurs-interprètes Louis Royer, Gilles Bernier et Isabelle Larrivée.

Chaque semaine, trois artistes partageront la scène avec l'animateur ou l'animatrice pour un tour de chant d'une demi-heure chacun.

Le récital inaugural du 11 septembre sera donné par les trois animateurs ainsi que par la très talentueuse Annick Bérubé.

Se succéderont au fil des semaines sur la scène de L'Inspecteur Épingle plus d'une cinquantaine d'artistes de la chanson, dont Annie Bujo, Gilbert Gélinas, Paule Tremblay, Myriam Rousseau, Madeleine Royer, Geneviève Binette, Martin Lavoie, David Portelance, Tristan Malavoy-Racine, Claude Prieur, Geneviève Lenoir et Pierre Sarrazin (le Projet Miron), Marie-Nicole Groulx, Amélie Di Foster, Ginette Desmarais, Maurice de Longue Épée, Véronique Bacci, Francis Halin, Monique Paquin, Richard Gingras (Jack Drill)...CE SERA UN PASSIONNANT RENDEZ-VOUS EN CHANSONS TOUS LES DIMANCHES !

Pour infos : lapoesia@sympatico.ca 849-8249

Dans le cadre des Rendez-vous de la chanson vivante, je serai sur scène aux dates suivantes:

11 septembre
2 octobre
30 octobre
20 novembre
11 décembre.

Je serai alors accompagnée par Martin Gagnon au piano, et René De Montigny au saxophone, flûte traversière et mélodica.

De plus, pour ceux d'entre vous qui auraient envie d'un petit dépaysement, je signale à tout hasard que je chanterai au Maroc aux dates et lieux suivants :

20 septembre, Institut Français de Casablanca
22 septembre, Institut français d'Oujda.

Au plaisir de vous accueillir, ici, là-bas ou ailleurs,

Isabelle

Montreal artists playing in the NYC infringement

2005-08-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

New York City's innaugural infringement Fest kicks off Thursday and runs 'till Sunday, and three Montreal shows will be along for the ride...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CAR STORIES drama is coming to NYC!!!

Canada’s most controversial experimental theatre project, CAR STORIES, is driving across the border for a performance in New York City as part of the inaugural NYC infringement Festival.

As the only show ever to be kicked out of a “Fringe Festival”, it has been described as “infamous” (Amy Barratt, MIRROR), “a lot of fun, interactive and exciting” (J. Kelly Nestruck, National Post), “Montreal's longest running experiment in drama as a culture-jamming street disturbance” (Matt Radz, Montreal Gazette), and as “more fringe than Fringe” (Raina Delisle, Ottawa Citizen).

For an audience of only three at a time, spectators are taken on a theatrical joyride, embarking on a surreal dramatic journey through the streets, alleys and parked cars of New York’s Urban Wonderland. The show runs:

Saturday, September 3rd between 7:30pm and 10:30pm
Sunday, September 4th between 2pm and 5pm and between 8pm and 10pm

A new show starts every 30 minutes. To reserve a spot e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca or, during show times, go to Kenny’s Castaways (157 Bleecker St.) and look or ask for someone wearing colored sunglasses. CAR STORIES is pay-what-you-can at the end of the show.

CAR STORIES has been running since 2001, and it has been featured through various media outlets. Print articles and video samples can be found online.

Online Details: www.optative.net/carstories
Media Contact: 514-583-3378 Jason C. McLean

For more information on the NYC infringement Festival, please visit www.infringementfestival.com/newyork.html

*** Please FWD and re-post

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Der Kosmonaut: The Fall of New York

The Fall of New York analyses the social, political and cultural crisis of New York in the 1990's under the regime of Rudy Giuliani.

Der Kosmonaut takes the story and condenses his epic manuscript into a 30 minute poem with his mix of underground electronic music music along with images of a bygone New York. The Fall of New York also collects and mixes post 9/11 poetry and his collection of politically and socially critical repertoire over the past decade.

This show has already played in the second-annual Montreal infringement Festival.

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The Blacklist Committee for Unsafe Theatre (Montréal) presents...

W-MART IN BAGHDAD

a short play by Matt Jones

Über-market chain W-Mart has descended on downtown Baghdad, and manager Al Head is trying to keep up its standards of excellence despite poor productivity, competition overhis job, and a creeping insurgency around the besieged menswear department.

A play in which consumerism and imperialism become unmasked.

With Alexandra Epi Ivanov, Scott Kettles, Jason C. McLean, Matt Jones and Eric Squire

Saturday, September 3rd, 6:15pm and Sunday September 4th 7:15pm at Player's Theater Loft, 115 MacDougal Street, between W. 3rd and Minetta, 3rd floor

New York City, America

A proud participant in the 2005 New York inFRINGEment Festival

(www.infringementfestival.com/newyork.html)

infringement 05's Little Birdie playing this Saturday at Barfly

2005-08-30T18:07:00.000-04:00

LITTLE BIRDIE with Ryan Shearing
September 3rd, 10pm
Barfly - St.Laurent St. (just a bit above Duluth)
no cover

Hey everybody,
Thought you'd like to kick off September with a live show at Barfly, everyone's favorite live music venue. We have the pleasure of having the talented and sexy Ryan Shearing open up for us with a solo set, around 10pm. We'll follow it with a set of originals that we're very excited to play for you. Come for him, for us, or for the cheap whisky, either way we'd be glad to see you there, (and if you already got this or a similar message, just consider us thorough, )

LITTLE BIRDIE
Andre, David and Orit

Car Stories sendoff performance this weekend

2005-08-24T17:47:00.000-04:00

Car Stories is coming - are you ready?

Better keep one eye on the person ahead of you and one in back of you, because in the cars, bars, streets and alleys of Montreal's urban wonderland, you never know what can happen next.

Car Stories, Montreal's longest-running theatre experiment is headed to New York City, but not before a sendoff benefit performance next weekend.

The show runs Friday, August 26th and Saturday, August 27th, between 7:30pm and 10:30pm, and Sunday, August 28th, between 2pm and 5pm A new group of three spect-actors at a time leaves every 30 minutes.

To reserve, or for more information, contact (514) 583-FEST (3378), e-mail optativelabs@yahoo.ca, check out www.optative.net/carstories or go to Bar Bifteck, 3702 St-Laurent, and look for someone wearing colored sunglasses.

Car Stories is PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN.

*** Please FWD and re-post

Buffalo infringement gets press and starts blog

2005-08-02T12:45:00.000-04:00

Buffalo's first-ever infringement festival is in full gear and has been getting some good press in Artvoice (it's on page 14), The Buffalo News (online soon) and a one-hour interview on WHLD's speakeasy program which you can download here.

They've also got a festival blog up, where you can comment on the shows.

The fest runs until Sunday.

NEWSFLASH: Fringe stage across from infringement Central

2005-06-18T04:59:00.000-04:00

BACKGROUND: The infringement festival was established last year by artists who were either denied access to the Fringe or who didn't want to pay hefty fees to perform. Now in its 2nd year, the festival has over 60 acts, but the anglo media is not giving it very much coverage, despite covering he Fringe in detail with teams of critics and journalists.

NEW: The Ste Ambroise Montreal Fringe has set up a stage immediately in front of the infringement festival's central location at BARFLY (4602 St. Laurent), causing a cultural situation of an unusual nature. The noise emanating from the Fringe stage (which includes boy bands, screaming mimes, and other Fringe performers) is disrupting performances scheduled at the infringement central and upsetting patrons.

NEXT: Call 583-3378 (JC McLean) to stay on top of the story. The artists are planning their next move today.

A letter to the editor of HOUR

2005-06-15T03:16:00.000-04:00

This is in response to the letter to the editor by Michael Black, published in HOUR Magazine and here on his blog.

Dear Editor,

I was touched to see Michael Black taking us on a trip down memeory lane in his recent letter ("You Might Enjoy Our Fringe Coverage Pages 29-31, page 5, HOUR June 9"). Of the current "dysfunctional family" Fringe program, Black laments that "I don't see things that jump out at me, unlike a decade ago where a family from the West Island did a show about Dr. Seuss."

As the director and co-author of "Who Ran Off With Dr. Seuss" presented by the Wahoo Family Theatre Company at the 1994 Fringe, I cannot agree more that the nature of the festival is nothing like it was when dedicated artists, myself included, did everything in our power to create and maintain the Fringe as a fertile ground for artists and their wild imaginations.

After the word "Fringe" was trademaked in Toronto (1998), the festival quickly declined into a pale shadow of its former cultural glory.

Luckily now there is the infringement festival, a place that is sure to delight Mr. Black. With over 65 acts from Montreal and beyond that capture the spirit and creativity of the bygone Fringe era, Mr. Black may well come to realize that the arts aren't dead yet in Montreal. Not only does the infringement have an air-conditioned central location with cheap beer, free pool, and live music from Noon - 6 every day at BARFLY (4062 St. Laurent), but it also showcases artists of all stripes who would support the 21st Century concepts of arts democracy, non-hierarchal organization, critical performance, celebration of otherness, and the end of pay-to-play for artists as we know it.

Most of all it is a strong family of dedicated artists and activists - just like it was at the original (pre-trademarked) Montreal Fringe. Critics and journalists should take note too - the infringement festival deserves coverage and support - especially with so many critical acts such as "You'll Never Piss in This Town Again" by transgendered Bostonian performer S. Bear Bergman.

I certainly hope to see better coverage in HOUR, who apparently forgot to mention the festival at all in its theatre column last week. For more information please visit: http://infringementfestival.com/

Donovan King, Artistic Facilitator
Optative Theatrical Laboratories
www.optative.net

Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." - Bertolt Brecht

infringement Festival Communiqué

2005-06-15T03:10:00.000-04:00

(ENGLISH FOLLOWS)

Communiqué du Festival infringement - le 14 juin

Le Festival bat son plein et tout le monde est invité à notre "matinee madness" de midi à 18h à notre centrale, Barfly (4062 St-Laurent) tous les jours jusqu'à la fin du festival.

Venez faire la fête, rencontrer d'autres artistes, installer votre spectacle sur scène, apprécier des bouteille de bière boréale à tout petit prix et soutenir le Festival Infringement. Ai-je mentionné que nous avions des groupes jouant en direct à 16h?

Nous demandons aussi à nos agents if de s'arrêter au Barfly et de venir nous rencontrer avant de rejoindre leur poste pour la soirée.nous recherchons toujours de l'hébergement pour certains artistes venant de l'extérieur. Si vous avez un lit ou un canapé de dispo, appelez le 583 FEST aussitôt que possible.

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infringement Festival Communiqué - June 14th

The infringement is in full bloom and everyone is invited down to matinee madness from noon until 6pm at our infringement Central Barfly (4062 St-Laurent) every day until the end of the festival.

Come celebrate, meet other artists, plug your shows from the stage, enjoy cheap Boréale bottles and support the infringement.

Did I mention that we’ve got live bands performing at 4pm?

Also, we’re asking all if agents to drop by and meet with us before going to their stations.

We're also still looking for billeting for some of our out-of-town acts. If you've got a bed or couch that you wouldn't mind sharing, please call (514) 583-FEST (3378) as soon as possible.

Jason C. McLean
Montreal's Second-Annual infringement Festival
June 9th-19th, 2005
www.infringementfestival.com

Hermit joins the infringement and Juliet and Romeo move dates

2005-06-12T16:09:00.000-04:00

Hermit, from Vancouver BC has just been added to the infringement lineup:

http://infringementfestival.com/montreal/shows/#gh

Also, Juliet and Romeo: A Critical Look at the World's Most Famous Luv Story has been moved to Galerie Fokus on Sunday, June 19th, more to come !!!

Car Stories and Dead Dolls Dancers score high in Mirror's Best of Montreal

2005-05-15T19:38:00.000-04:00

Congratulations are in order for Car Stories, which was voted third best play last year by readers of The Montreal Mirror in that paper's annual Best of Montreal Survey and to the Dead Doll Dancers who were voted eighth best dance group in the city. Check it out here.

Both will be returning in this summer, among close to 50 other acts in Montreal's Second-Annual infringement Festival June 9th to 19th. For a complete list of acts, click here.

March 22nd Communiqué - thanks and get ready !!!

2005-03-25T13:17:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all those who helped us bring in the spring with a bang at Sunday's Flip the Goat: the bands, dancers and performers for donating their talent, the if agents and infringement organizers for donating their time and all those who came and gave us much-needed cash.

Also, thanks to Phillippe and Giselle and all the team at le petit Campus for making this possible.

Now that the goat has been flipped, the free beers from the stage (thanks, Egotestical) have been drank and the tar and feathers...well, let's just leave it at that...its time to get ready for our final infringeAGAIN event before the festival.

Its at Pub St-Ciboire (1693 St-Denis) on Saturday, April 30th, and the lineup will be announced soon.After that, its truly time to infringe (June 9th-19th). Our list of acts is growing daily and while we're always open to new submissions, you need to apply before May 1st to be guaranteed a spot in our program. If you'd like to join one of our existing shows or your show is looking for performers, please let me know and we'll list you in our infringement Classifieds (up soon).

We're also currently seeking technicians experienced in theatre, music and film projection, people who want to volunteer their time as if Agents and a full-time graphic designer.

Submission information can be found online. For techs, graphic designers and the classifieds, please contact this adress.Thanks once again and hope to see you all out reclaiming your culture and having a great time doing it this summer !!!

'till next time

Jason C. McLean
Chaos OrganizerMontréal's Second-Annual infringement Festival
www.infringementfestival.com

infringement Comes to the Big Apple !!!

2005-03-04T18:32:00.000-05:00

Dear infringers,

In order to help us add New York City to the infringement international touring circuit, Donovan King will be hosting a meeting of interested critical artists.

We are asking all of you to help us get the NYC infringement off the ground by forwarding the following to as many people who might be able to attend as possible:

Meeting to establish a NYC infringement festival

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 2005, 7:00 pm
Bluestockings Book Store

Hello THAW friends, theatre activists, critical artists and culture-jammers in NYC!

I am writing today to invite you to an important meeting in New York City, with the purpose of establishing an infringement festival in the Big Apple.

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 2005, 7:00 pm

WHERE: Bluestockings Book Store, 172 Allen Street, Manhatten, Lower East Side (see below for directions).

WHAT: A meeting regarding the establishment of an infringement festival in NYC and video presentation of some infringement arts.

WHO: Hosted by Donovan King of the Montreal infringement festival, this meeting is open to anyone interested in seeing the birth of a festival in NYC.

WHY: The infringement festival is an annual festival for theatre activism, culture-jamming & critical arts. Protesting the corporate takeover and trademarking of the “Fringe”, the infringement is an alternative people’s festival that celebrates cultural resistance and activism (especially anti-war and anti-oppression). At the moment there are 6 infringement festivals, and hopefully many more to come soon. Some information is available online, including an map of existing festivals and a DIY guidebook:
http://www.infringementfestival.com/cities.html

NYC is deemed as important for the circuit, largely because it is a hotbed of theatre activism, culture-jamming and creative pioneering. Lots of touring acts want to go there, and we want to provide NYC artists and activists the opportunity to take their performances on the road and inter-connect with like-minded folks in other cities. Setting up a festival is very easy to do, doesn’t require many resources, and it is sure to grow. The more festivals the better – it is a great opportunity for critical artists to collaborate, share strategies, resources, ideas, and create powerful works of critical performance.

At the moment there are over 30 Fringe festivals worldwide, many of them belonging to a corporate Toronto-based franchise (CAFF), which holds the “Fringe” trademark. Corporatization is rampant - artists are being forced to pay-to-play, service charges are added on tickets, unethical sponsors like Starbucks and Diesel Jeans are calling the shots, critical artists are being kicked out, and a host of other corporate issues infests the Fringe™. Ironically, the original 1947 Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland began as one such protest against corporatization of theatre in their city. Now, in the 21st Century, the Fringe is co-opted and history is repeating itself. Because the original Fringe is a good idea, and because it has a viral effect of spreading to different cities around the globe, we are modeling the infringement on the original, with preventative measures against co-opting.

HOW: If you would like to attend this meeting, please contact Donovan to reserve a spot at optatif@gmail.com - or just show up. The meeting is free to attend.

I hope to see many of you on Wednesday!

Donovan King, Artistic FacilitatorOptative Theatrical Laboratories (www.optative.net)
"Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it." - Bertolt Brecht

*** Directions: Bluestockings is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan at 172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington - which means that they are 1 block south of Houston and 1st Avenue.

By train: We are 1 block south of the F train's 1st Avenue stop and just 5 blocks from the JMZ-line's Essex / Delancey Steet stop.

By car: If you take the Houston exit off of the FDR, then turn left onto Essex (aka Avenue A), then right on Rivington, and finally right on Allen, you will be very, very close.
To learn more about Bluestockings, please visit: http://www.bluestockings.com/

*** Please FWD & REPOST widely ***

infringement Festival Fundraiser next Saturday !!!

2005-02-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

Now's the time to fight those winter blahs and start thinking about the fun times ahead, while making them possible with your generous donations.

That's right, the next infringeAGAIN offseason event is right around the corner and features Cheryl Neill, Eric Hanson and The Church of Doubt and Dissent, Brad Holy, Peter Green, Deanne Lyn a special screening of two short films: Follow the Signs by Jay Lemieux and My Grad Date by Ron Hollywood and much, much more !!!

Our fundraiser kicks off at 9pm at les Minots, 3812 St-Laurent, just north of des Pins and costs $5 with all proceeds going to the operational costs of Montréal's second-annual infringement Festival which refuses to charge participating artists or be influenced by unethical or conflict-of-interest sponsorships.

Support the infringement and reclaim your culture !!!

http://www.infringementfestival.com/

* Please FWD and re-post

---

Levée de fonds pour le Festival Infringement samedi prochain!!!

Maintenant il est temps de chasser ce blues d'hiver et de commencer a penser aux bons moments qui nous attendent, en nous aidant a les rendre possibles par vos généreux dons.

Le prochain évenement infringeAGAIN hors-saison est juste a portée de main et comprendra Cheryl Neill, Eric Hanson et The Church of Doubt and Dissent, Brad Holy, Peter Green, Deanne Lyn, une projection de deux court-métrages: Follow the signs de Jay Lemieux et My Grad Date de Ron Hollywood et bien d'autres encore!!!

Notre soirée levée de fonds commence a 21h au café les Minots, 3812 St-laurent, juste au nord de l'avenue des Pins. L'entrée est a 5 dollars et les bénéfices iront aux frais de fonctionnement du deuxieme Festival Infringement annuel, qui refuse de faire payer les artistes participants ou de se laisser influencer par des commanditaires non-éthiques ou présentant des conflits d'intérêt.

Soutenez le Festival infringement et revendiquez votre culture !!!

www.infringementfestival.com

* SVP envoyez a d'autres et re-afficher

January infringeAGAIN event at Concordia

2005-01-28T03:45:00.000-05:00

BREAKING NEWS: Death by Latté screening at Concordia

Montréal's second-annual infringement Festival hereby invites you to attend a special screening of Optative Theatrical Laboratories' adaptation of Death By Latté, a tragedy by Bill Talen as part of uberculture's Cinéma Politica on Monday, January 31st at 7pm in H-110 of Concordia University's Hall Building.

This short documentary tells the story of OTL's recent Buy Nothing Day performace of the acclaimed activist work in two Montréal-area Starbucks locations (including the new one at Concordia) and is a prelude to the Car Stories movie due out soon.

This will be our January infringeAgain offseason event, please look for more in the months leading up to the second-annual infringement Festival this June, please check www.infringementfestival.com for updates.

Death By Latté is the opener for Rocks at Whiskey Trench, an NFB film documenting recent acts of racism against the First Nations'. For more info: www.cinemapolitica.org

The event will continue after the screening at Reggies at 9pm, where you'll have the chance to meet with our team and be entertained, more details to come....

*** Please FWD and re-post

From the world of academia...

2004-12-19T18:11:00.001-05:00

Those of you who missed the fundraiser also missed the announcement that festival Minister of Culture Jamming and OTL Artistic Facilitator Donovan King successfully passed his thesis defense at the University of Calgary and now has his Masters degree for his thesis on Revolutionary Theatre. Cheers, D!

infringement Festival Communiqué - Thanks !!!

2004-12-19T18:11:00.000-05:00

I'd like to thank everyone who made yesterday's infringement Festival fundraiser such a success.

From the artists who generously lent their talents in support of our festival to the festival's organizers and volunteers who donated their time to make sure things went smoothly, to all those who came out to see a great show and support us by paying the cover and leaving money in the donations box et un gros merci à Hughes, Marco et toute l'équipe de les Minots pour l'usage gratuit de leur espace et leur aide.

I'd also like to remind everybody that they can still submit an act to the infringement festival or volunteer their time as an ifAgent by contacting infringementfestival@yahoo.ca or calling (514) 583-FEST (3378).

And be on the lookout for the next infringeAgain offseason event in January.

Once again thanks and happy holidays from all your friends at the infringement Festival.

Sincerely,

Jason C. McLean
Chaos Organizer - the infringement Festival (Montréal)
http://www.infringementfestival.com/

A bit of press...

2004-12-16T18:36:00.000-05:00

The fundraiser (see last post) got some good press in the Montréal Mirror this week (check the third story down):

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2004/121604/artsweek.html

Also, even though we weren't mentioned by name, some of our ideas got ink in Jodi Essery's year-in-review in the Hour:

"The word "fringe" fell under fire this year: Is the very concept too commercialized? Are some shows too mainstream to belong?"
http://www.hour.ca/stage/stage.aspx?iIDArticle=4983

It really only touches the tip of the iceberg and then goes somewhere completely different. Too bad, maybe next time.

Jason

infringement Festival Fundraiser tomorrow !!!

2004-12-16T18:17:00.000-05:00

A NIGHT OF WORDS, DANCE MUSIC AND VIDEO TO BENEFIT THE SECOND-ANNUAL INFRINGEMENT FESTIVAL IN MONTRÉAL

The infringement festival is asking the community to come out and support its festival and have a great time doing it!

On Friday, December 17th, we are proud to host the infringement Fundraiser, featuring Cheryl Neil, Kasai Dear, Art Armstrong, The Dead Dolls Dancers, Peter Green, DeAnne Lyn, David Roth and a special screening of Death By Latté, Optative Theatrical Laboratories' recentBuy Nothing Day Performance.

The show kicks off at 9pm at les Minots (3812 St-Laurent) and costs $5 at the door, with all proceeds going to operating costs of Montréal's second-annual infringement Festival, which refuses to charge participating artists or risk being co-opted by unethical conflict-of-interest sponsorships.

For more information, please call (514) 583-FEST (3378), e-mail infringementfestival@yahoo.ca, or check out www.infringementfestival.com

Please FWD and re-post

A war of words...

2004-12-09T19:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it seems that the infringement is being discussed quite a bit in the Montréal Mirror's letter section these days.

It all started with Michael Black's annual advertisement for the Fringe(tm) deadlines. This year, he went beyond his typical cheerleading to bring up some interesting points:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2004/111104/letters.html
(its about halfway down the page and called "Fringe heads up")

I responded in hopes of informing people struggling with the issues Mr. Black brought up that they have another option:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2004/112504/letters.html
(fourth letter down called Infringement heads up)

This letter drew an inexplicably harsh attack from none other than Montréal Fringe(tm) producer Jeremy Hechtman:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2004/120204/letters.html
(third down, Fringe fires back)

This was a baseless attack on infringement Artists. Mr. Hechtman even went as far as insinuating that we were like the Republican Party. As someone who went to both NYC and Ottawa to protest Bush with other like-minded people in the infringement movement (not to mention our involvement in countless actions against corporate opression here in Montréal), I found those comments both laughable and insulting and felt compelled to write a response. Other infringers did the same.

Ultimately, though, it was Vivian Unger who said in the press what most of us here were already thinking (thanks, Vivian!) :

http://www.montrealmirror.com/2004/120904/letters.html
(last letter on the page, Infringement riposte!)

So let me know what you think. If you have a letter, send it to me and I'll post it here.

For now, here's some of the letters we sent that have not yet been published.

'till next time,

Jason

***

In response to Jeremy Hechtman's question (Fringe fires back, letters, December 2nd), I was referring more to practical guidelines such as the December deadline and the registration fee (which I mentioned elsewhere in the letter) than specifically artistic ones like the unwritten rule the Fringe has about not pissing off their sponsors if you want to stay in the festival.

I do find it funny, however, that Mr. Hechtman thinks infringement artists would be "more at home joining the Republican Party" when we have a clear mandate to nurture critical art and encourage it to infringe on opressive structures like the GOP or more local "lie-spreading bullies."

In fact, by focusing on one little line, and then turning to name-calling in hopes people will forget that we charge nothing to join, strive for diversity and put the artists ahead of the sponsors, you are employing the same tactics the neo-cons use to convince people they're really just a swell bunch of guys.

We should all work to strengthen and diversify this community's artists, not hinder them.

Jason C. McLean
Chaos Organizer - The infringement Festival (Montréal)
www.infringementfestival.com

***

I find it ironic that in his letter to the editor bashing the rival inFRINGEment festival [letters, Fringe Fires Back] Fringe Boss Jeremy Hechtman would stoop so low as to accuse us of being closet Republicans!

While he doubtless scored some cheap points with his “swift-boat veterans for Henchman” type distortion the reality is quite different.

The inFRINGEment has been, from it’s outset, a people’s festival. Created as a critical response to the corporatization, exorbitant fees and, in at least one instance, blatant censorship of the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe FestivalTM the inFRINGEment has sought to offer artists a choice. Between high entry fees and ticket surcharges – and no fees at all. Between a festival beholden to corporate sponsors – and a festival which lives and breathes an anti-corporate ethos.

Last year’s critical success, with both media and audiences, and the expansion of the inFRINGEment to three new cities has provided us with the credibility and profile to offer just such a choice to our fellow artists.

The problem for Mr. Hechtman? The artists are choosing, and they are choosing in record numbers. And really, who can blame them? The financial advantage alone is enormous, not to mention the opportunity to dispense with lotteries, deadlines and other bureaucratic nonsense and participate in reclaiming our culture.

So perhaps Mr. Hechtman can be forgiven for his bile. However, the irony of accusing the inFRINGEment of Republican tendencies is too much to pass up.

The organizers of the inFRINGEment organized a wildly successful touring fundraiser named Bush Fire in Toronto and Montreal earlier this year. It was an off-season inFRINGEagain event put together to help subsidize the buses they too had organized to go down to New York and theatrically protest the Republican National Convention. Buses Mr. Hechtman was mysteriously absent from.

Some inFRINGEment organizers were also heavily involved in organizing subsidized buses to Ottawa two weeks ago to protest George W. Bush. In fact, Mr. Hechtman was mysteriously absent from those buses as well!

GASP! Could it be that Mr. Hechtman is engaged in that other age-old Republican trick: accusing your opponents of being what you yourself are? In his case not a cheese eating surrender monkey but… a Republican sympathizer!!!

In any case give us a call (583-FEST), check out our website (www.infringementfestival.com) or drop us a line (infringementfestival@yahoo.ca). Help us reclaim our culture from the corporate presence which permeates our lives and, starting small, with one little corner of the world, make it ours again. Oh, and we promise not to turn you into cheese eating surrender monkeys OR closet Republican sympathizers!

Ethan Cox

RNC NYC Fundraising Concert and Trip (August 18th General Communiqué)

2004-08-18T11:48:00.000-04:00

Hi,



As many of you may have already heard, we're going to

New York to protest the Republican National Convention

on August 29th.



To raise funds to get buses and people down there,

Artists Against War is putting on concerts in Toronto

on the 18th and 19th of August and in Montreal on

August 25th (with a third concert in New York itself.



The Montreal concert takes place at The Green Room

(5386 St-Laurent, corner St-Viateur, officially known

as the Mile-End Cultural Centre) with 12 acts on two

stages and costs $10 for the whole night.



The show features Randboro, Chariot of Shame, Danny

Michel, Dwayne Morgan, Rita BiGheat, Demon's Claws,

Wood (Ivan Freud, Dave Lines of Motherfunkers and

Dylan Maxwell of the Green Party), Gods of Taste, the

Dead Dolls Dancers, David Fennario and more to come.



We're still looking for people to help out with

postering, etc.



Please contact Gary St-Laurent at gslmtl@yahoo.ca for

more details.  Also, you can check out

www.artistsagainstwar.ca



All funds raised will go to renting buses to bring

people down.



For those interested in the trip itself, the first

meeting of the NYC Organizing Committee will be held

at 6pm on THURSDAY (Aug 19th) at the Casa del Popolo

(St. Laurent). We need help with:



(1) postering and publicity

(2) co-ordination with NYC

(3) filling the bus

(4) getting the bus

(5) finances



etc. Please come and help out!



Please contact Matt Jones at pimentrouge@sympatico.ca

for more details.



Hope to see as many of you at the concert and in NYC

as possible,



Jason C. McLean

Chaos Organizer - The infringement Festival (Montréal)

www.infringementfestival.com



[please post widely]

Thanks for infringing!!!

2004-08-17T02:54:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the infringement Festival blog!

Here's a few of our more recent communiqués, feel free to comment on them. New ones will be posted here soon along with a bunch of other stuff.

Don't worry about "becoming a member", just post anonymously until I get it fixed,

Jason

August 5th General Communiqué

2004-08-17T02:21:00.000-04:00

Hey all,

Just thought I'd refer you to a letter I wrote to the
Montreal Mirror's editor about les Panthères Roses

Pink Panther props
As Chaos Organizer of the Infringement Festival, I would like to support and sympathize with les Panthères roses ["Radical Pink," July 29] for their efforts to fight the corporate ownership and control of yet another fun and artistic celebration of liberation and freedom.
It seems like we're in the middle of some huge pillage and resale of our culture's most poignant elements of resistance and free thought. This is a new type of segregation where what was once thought of as different and dangerous is now accepted, only because someone can make a buck off it. Resistance in its purest form is still taboo, therefore, this isn't a step forward at all.
Now the pride movement is getting co-opted just like the fringe movement has been in recent years. Voices like those of les Panthères roses need to be listened to now more than ever if we are to reclaim our culture.
I would also like to thank your paper for coverage of this group and of us. Considering you are a sponsor of both Divers/Cité and the fringe, it's good to see that your editorial board is independent.

» Jason C. McLean, Chaos Organizer, The infringement Festival

And to the article on the group itself:

http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2004/072904/news3.html

Their interests are similar to the festival's.

Also, we'll be releasing our schedule of off-season
events soon (I'll keep you posted).

If you want to make an event you'll be doing already
an infringeAGAIN event, please let me know,

'till next time,

Jason

July 17th General Communiqué

2004-08-08T15:53:00.006-04:00

Greetings, one and all!

Once again, I have good news: The Subversive Theatre Collective (www.subversivetheatre.com) of Buffalo, NY will host that city’s first-annual infringement Festival in 2005!

This means that next year, there will be an infringement Festival Touring Circuit, and, as always,all are welcome to join. We’re still looking for other cities to join the ones already confirmed (Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and now Buffalo) so please pass this message around to anyone you know who might be willing and able to start aninfringement Festival. Details on how to get started can be found here: www.infringementfestival.com/newfestivals

Those who wish to get an early start can always start their festival this year.

Once again, I'd like to thank all the wonderful people in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto who helped out with Car Stories and the infringement. Also, if anyone has photos of the Montreal or Toronto festivals this summer, or of Car Stories in Ottawa, please e-mail them to infringementfestival@yahoo.ca

On another note, Optative Theatrical Laboratories (one of the infringement hosts in Montreal) will be in New York City as part of Theaters Against War (THAW) to participate in theatrical protest for the RepublicanNational Convention on August 28th. Those interested in joining us should contact optatif@excite.com

And speaking of THAW, people representing that group were kicked out of the Toronto Fringe Beer Tent last weekend. We find this reprehensible and have started an online petition: www.infringementfestival.com/tofringethaw.html

Things seem to be shaping up nicely for us and next year should be a blast! Once again, thanks and hope to see you all soon,

Jason C. McLean
Chaos Organizer The infringement Festival (Montreal)
www.infringementfestival.com