Famous People Players
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Famous People Players is an internationally renowned black light theatre company. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and tours around the world. It is a non-profit organization which employs physically- and mentally-challenged individuals. Those individuals share duties in dining room management, arts administration, and theatrical and visual arts performances.
Since inception, the company has paid homage to the works of famous people within its own theatrical context, hence the name Famous People Players.
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History
The Famous People Players was founded on June 1, 1974 by Diane Dupuy. At inception, the company consisted of Dupuy and an assistant, eleven performers, and Dupuy's mother Mary Thornton; Thornton designed and built the costumes and props. The company's original piece was Aruba Liberace, in which a life-size character of Liberace plays the piano; it is still the company's signature performance.
Liberace attended a showing of Aruba Liberace, and was so impressed he invited Famous People Players to perform with him in Las Vegas. The company debuted in Las Vegas in October 1975; over the subsequent ten years, the company performed with Liberace both in Las Vegas and internationally.
The CBC produced and aired Carnival of the Animals as a result of the increasing popularity of Famous People Players. In 1982, Famous People Players was invited to perform in the People's Republic of China.
In 1994, the company opened the Dine and Dream Theatre; Paul Newman, from proceeds of Newman's Own products, funded the restaurant's development.
Dine and Dream Theatre
The Dine and Dream Theatre is located at the company's Toronto north-end headquarters. Guests first arrive to the restaurant for dinner, where they are served by individuals who also perform in Famous People Players productions. After dinner, they are led to the Phil Collins Theatre, where the main production is performed. The theatre is named after Phil Collins, who became a source of inspiration for the actors when he viewed a performance interpretation of his music.
Recognition
The troupe has been subject of numerous talk shows, specials and documentaries. A Little Like Magic, which detailed the company's operation and success, was an Emmy Award-winning documentary.
Productions
Famous People Players has created many productions over its 30-year history. (Note: The table below is currently incomplete.)
Leave the Porch Light On was a 25th-anniversary production for the company. Its initial performance was attended by a number of celebrities and other well-known people, including the Governor General of Canada.Template:Ref
| Name | First Performance | Last Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Aruba Liberace | 1974 | still performed |
| Leave the Porch Light OnTemplate:Ref | 1999 | ? |
References
- Template:Note Governor General of Canada: Opening Performance of "Leave the Porch light On" -- the 25th Anniversary Production of the Famous People Players (http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=66)
- Template:Note Shantero Productions - Archives: Leave the Porch Light On (http://www.shantero.com/Archives/archives_famous_people.htm)
External link
- Famous People Players website (http://www.fpp.org/)