I LOVE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE
Nightwood Theatre presents a Pencil Kit Productions production with support from Aluna Theatre
Created and Performed by Claren Grosz
Co-Directors:William Dao & Claren Grosz
March 8 – 19, 2023
ASL-English interpretation on Friday, March 10 and Sunday, March 12
Please note there is no performance on March 14, 2023
Aki Studio (585 Dundas St E)
Overhead projection meets performative research essay meets personal narrative as Claren Grosz attempts to reconcile her Alberta oil-industry roots with the current environmental emergency. I love the smell of gasoline was born of a frustration with divisive Canadian politics, rampant hypocrisy, and a lack of team spirit when facing impending doom. What does it really mean to sacrifice and to survive? How can we harness our agency and responsibility in a global crisis?
“The global energy crisis is a polarizing issue, and Grosz has a unique life story and perspective that enable her to bridge the extremes and keep humanity at the forefront.” – SesayArts Magazine
TICKETS:
General tickets $35, Artsworker, Senior and Student tickets $25.
$10 Community Access tickets will be available for the performances on March 10 and 17.
Limited pay-what-you-can tickets can be purchased at the door for each performance.
Please note: taxes and fees are already included in the ticket price. Tickets can be purchased online here or by calling the Aki Studio box office at 416-531-1402.
Shows running Wednesday to Saturday are at 8 pm, shows running on Sundays are at 2 pm.
Runtime: 70 minutes
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Projection Designer: Claren Grosz
Production Stage Manager: Taylor Young
Projectionist/Collaborator: Jesse Wabegijig
Projectionist/Collaborator: Elyse Waugh
Projectionist/Collaborator: Stephanie Zeit
Deaf ASL Performer: Sage Lovell
ASL-English Interpreters: Rogue Benjamin & Savannah Tomev
ASL Coach: Gaitrie Persaud
Set and Lighting Design: Echo Zhou
Associate Set Artist: Jessica Hiemstra
Sound Design, System and Compositions: Christopher-Elizabeth
Technical Director: Theo Belc
Understudy: Rachel Cairns
Consultants: Michelle Robinson and Cherish Violet Blood
Contributing Artist: Emily Jung
Personal Styling: Ami Blaxland
Production Dramaturg: William Dao
Developed with dramaturgical support from Andrea Donaldson, Cherish Violet Blood, and Keshia Palm
Past Projectionist/Collaborators: Jay Northcott, Emily Jung and Lu Linares Deaf ASL Performer
FREE WORKSHOP ON CREATIVE PROJECTION
Theatre practitioners, learn new ways to bring your stories to life on stage with overhead projection! Join Claren Grosz in an engaging in-person workshop on projection techniques used in her upcoming production, I love the smell of gasoline!
Claren will demonstrate how she uses overhead projectors to create a visual score and enhance storytelling. She will walk participants through various creative brainstorming exercises as well as practical tools like texture, depth of focus, found objects, negative space, framing, wet materials and MORE. Space is limited for this special event, so be sure to book soon!
Claren Grosz (she/her) is a queer Toronto based writer, theatre and visual artist and Artistic Director of Pencil Kit Productions. She recently published her first illustrated chapbook of poetry, starting with the roof of my mouth (Gap Riot Press, 2022). Some of her favourite theatre projects included directing CHICHO (Pencil Kit Productions / Theatre Passe Muraille 2019) and co-creating and directing Shadow Girls (Pencil Kit Productions, 2018). She is the recipient of the 2018 Ken MacDougall Emerging Director Award and the 2015 My Entertainment World Outstanding Direction (Small Theatre) Award. When she isn’t making art, Claren teaches children and teenagers math on zoom.