Joseph Aragon's News

Cat’s out of the bag! After months of biting my tongue and keeping friends and colleagues in the dark, I can finally declare to the world that Bloodless: The Trial of Burke & Hare is being given its Toronto premiere by Theatre 20, as the company’s inaugural show of its inaugural season. No pressure at all.

The announcement was made on January 23 in Toronto at a press conference/swanky do hosted by Theatre 20. The musical — about two 19th century serial killers who sell cadavers to Edinburgh medical schools — will be presented at the Panasonic Theatre from October 16 to November 11, 2012. It will be directed by Colm Wilkinson (yes, that Colm Wilkinson) and will feature some of Canada’s finest musical theatre talent (so I’m told; they haven’t actually cast anyone yet).

Needless to say, I am very excited. Scared out of my mind, but excited. I’ve had the great fortune of working with so many wonderful and talented people on this project so far (lookin’ at you, White Rabbit crew), that to now be working on it with the artists of Theatre 20 is almost overwhelming. This is an amazing opportunity, and I’m so grateful for the chance to take this project further.

Guess I should get crackin’ on those rewrites, huh…

Theatre 20 announces inaugural season — The Globe and Mail
Theatre 20 announces its first season in Toronto — Toronto Star
City composer’s fringe hit opens new TO company — Winnipeg Free Press
Adjusting the Timing – Theatre 20 sings — NOW Magazine

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! And whatever other holidays have happened since my last update…

Things have been pretty cool on this end. For starters, I just came home from a month-long stay in the Philippines (see photo left; I took that picture, yes I did). I visited a lot of family, and managed to squeeze in some research for a project on Jose Rizal (if you don’t know who he is, click the link and read about him–absolutely fascinating guy). Though I must say I’ve hit the ground running on my return. Lotsa stuff happening:

1. Kiss The Giraffe Productions has been drawn to participate in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, and work on Illuminati III: The End of the World (the final episode of the Illuminati cycle) is coming along…
2. KTG has been invited to create another Steampunk Cabaret show for KeyCon this year off the phenomenal success of the last one, so that’ll be fun…
3. I also recently got to sit in on a recording session for the debut album of local a cappella group Those Guys. I contributed a few vocal arrangements to it, and the boys are sounding amazing…
4. Finally, really exciting things are happening on the Bloodless front. I’m not at liberty to say what, I don’t want to jinx it, and the bottom may fall out at any moment, but I’m cautiously optimistic. If all goes well, you’ll be hearing about it very soon. (How’s that for a teaser?)

A busy few months ahead. Onward and upward.