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Michael Potter, managing director of Post Productions, said “Criminal Genius” is a hilarious comedy that represents a bit of a departure for a theatre group that typically focuses on intense and edgy works.
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“It seemed like the perfect show to come out of the endless ‘pandember’ with because it’s just a good time,” Potter said. “It’s zany, the characters are out there and it’s all about a good time and remembering what it’s like to enjoy a performance together with other human beings in a theatre where your laughter affects others.”
Getting creative, a local theatre group is turning the tables to present their latest play.
Having filmed nine hours from three dress rehearsals, Post Productions‘ Negatunity is coming to a screen near you. Written by Matthew St. Amand, the show was scheduled for an April run before current pandemic restrictions went into effect. As a result, it can now be purchased for $25 starting Friday, April 23. Like any in-person production, though, it will go offline in four weeks.
While the concept may seem simple, many challenges were still associated with the switch.
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“We’d created the show for one medium, namely theatre, and now had to transfer it to another without sacrificing its peculiar aesthetic,” said actor and producer Michael K. Potter. “The video version of Negatunity is a hybrid, something that exists in a murky space between theatre and television.”
As Covid-19 creates uncertainty for local theatres, one tradition continues to thrive.
Proceeding with their annual Windsor-Essex playwriting contest, Post Productions is on the hunt for unique voices. Wanting scripts from local authors, the fourth edition is underway to help writers gain exposure by getting their play produced.
Beyond competition though, the main goal is to help all involved improve their craft. As such, a developmental structure is used for everyone participating, allowing for feedback and revisions.
“There are some playwrights who have submitted every year so far who haven’t won yet,” said Post Productions managing director and judge, Michael K. Potter. “But the scripts get better and better, and last year one of these people got very close to winning. It was a tough decision. As judges, we were rooting for him! We root for everyone to keep working, revising, developing because we want to be blown away by their work.”
As theatres remain closed to the public, it hasn’t stopped two groups from planning for the future.
With Southern Ontario’s stay-at-home order in effect, Post Productions and Windsor Feminist Theatre (WFT) are joining forces. Looking past Covid-19, the two groups recently announced a partnership that came from a play scheduled for later this spring.
Seeing the potential, Post Productions’ Michael K. Potter has been excited from the start.
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“WFT artistic director Patricia Fell contacted us in early November about the possibility of performing their new show (Dominatrix on Trial) at the Shadowbox Theatre in spring 2021,” said the managing director. “We were excited about the possibility because we’d heard so much about it from Joey Ouellette and Rebecca Mickle, who have worked with Post Productions many times. It sounded like an interesting, unique, and provocative production. We knew it had been scheduled to run at the