Miranda Plant

Axelords

2010-08-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

On the weekend I was working away at a show I'm producing (DECONSTRUCTING BROADWAY starring Seth Rudetsky, which you should come see by the way. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.ca/)

Anyways, while I was working away, I got a call. It was a few of my buddies from a project I did called "I Got Fired!", except this amazing project is called "Axelords". It's about an axe-throwing league. Seriously. So I arrive to the set and there's a keg on set, and a huge amount of burly axe-throwing muscle men, (and women!), and it was such a fun day.

Toronto is such a wonderful place, full of so many talented artists, and I couldn't have been happier to drink some beer, hang out during an axe tourny, and get filmed all at the same time. I've never done a feature film, but if film is as much fun as it was on Saturday, I think I might just have to switch disciplines.

Also, I have given myself a new nickname: The Axe-assin. What do you think? Too much?

I'll post a link to it, when it's cut!

Lost Girl

2010-08-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Hello! I just signed on to do a new project with Bedlam Games. There's a new show coming to Showcase this September called "Lost Girl". On Showcase.ca you can hear me on the new prequel motion comic, "Lost Girl" Motion Comic. It's so cool!!

Check out http://lostgirlseries.com/motion-comic and watch the series!!

<3

IMDB

2010-05-29T21:02:00.000-07:00

Check it out!

I've got an IMDB account.

Yipppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

Louis Zeppieri

2010-05-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

Louis is a long time family friend who has literally known me from birth. He is a really loving and caring dude with a flair for hair, and photography. (He's a hairdresser by day, photographer by night).

Recently he was inspired by a series of old dilapidated houses in north Toronto that are scheduled be torn down later on this year. Before they were torn down, he wanted to take a few pictures, so that they could be remembered, even after they're gone.

We thought that we'd have some fun and take some pictures, with the idea of "post-war era" in mind.

Here are a few for you. I'll post the others on my flickr.

GLEE

2010-05-25T18:49:00.000-07:00

First, I find myself at Glee rehearsal. Obviously this is not rehearsal for the TV show because I live in Canada, and I'm sitting on a plastic chair in the underbelly of some concrete structure, the smell of dance shoes and flavoured vitamin water in the air.

In hands I'm holding the sheet music to "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Somebody to Love".

I look around, and I'm surrounded by other singers, actors, and even a few burlesque performers. This motley crew of talent are rehearsing for the Comedy For Gay Gala at the Panasonic Theatre, on July 2, 2010. And I'm one of 'em baby, so hold on tight.

This show is gonna be unhooked. The host of the night is Scott Patterson (Kids In The Hall), and the headliners include Sharron Matthews (Hairspray), and bunch of the city's hottest gay comics. And of course us, The Glee Club.

So if you're reading, I hope you'll consider supporting a great cause: The Toronto Pride Festival (one of the biggest pride events in the world!). This event is certainly one that won't disappoint.

More to come...

Pink Panther

2010-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Isn't a pink panther just a bald panther?

Man In The Mirror

2010-04-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to Michael Jackson religiously. I'm taking note of the oohs, versus the ahhs, and eees!. So many eees.

Why?

Because I'm singing in a Michael Jackson Tribute fundraiser event for Acting Upstage.

Acting Upstage Fundraiser
April 26th at 8pm
Bathurst Street Theatre
Tickets online or at the door!
It's got an all-star lineup, and the songs are all MJ... you'd have to be dead not to enjoy a night like this.

This has been a really fun exercise for me to play with more modern music. I find I often gravitate to the classical stuff, whether its jazz standards, or musical theatre rep.

I'm stoked.

What's your favorite children's story?

2010-03-05T06:45:00.001-08:00

I'm playing around with voices this week, and trying to come up with some ideas for an upcoming recording. I figured that if I read some children's stories out loud then the voices of different characters might come out naturally- or at least be a good spring board for creating new voices.

Any suggestions?

I'm gonna go to the Reference Library and see what I can find. Email me your suggestions if you have any!

Sears Drama Festival

2010-03-05T06:43:00.000-08:00

I've been invited to teach a workshop at the 2010 Sears Drama Festival in Barrie this weekend. Should be fun!! Stay tuned and I'll tell you all about it :)

"Ryerson Is?..."

2010-03-01T12:14:00.000-08:00

Does this voice sound familiar to you?

Vote now online at http://www.ruryerson.ca/. Good luck guys!

From Evil Insect Villian, to Slow and Dopey Fairy, to a 40 year old Angry Mom

2010-01-23T15:50:00.000-08:00

So today I spent my day in the studio down in Queen Street East learning how to be an animation voiceover artist under the guidance of the wonderful Melissa Altro. She walks me through the ins and outs of what to do at an audition, how to approach the text, and most importantly, how to interact with the microphone.

And it was so much fun!!!

First I played around with sounds and the lengths of those sounds, and then what different intensities sound like. Next I got to fool around with a script from Grossology where I gave my take on the voice of "Insectiva": the evil insect mad scientist villain, who is locked up in an insane asylum.

Next I lent my voice to a fairy named "Penny" from a show Marfy of Dreams. My take on this fairy was that she was slow, dreamy, gentle, and maybe not the smartest fairy. Her evil master bids her to make people fall asleep, so she sings them lullabies and blows on them with her magic sparkle dust. This was a fun voice to do because its different from my natural inclination to do a wacky or funny voice- my interpretation was very subdued.

Lastly, I got to give'r a go at the voice of "Linda", who is Marfy's mom in the same show. When I was speaking it I thought I sounded like a real mom. But when I listened back to it just now, I sounded really mean! Eep. I guess I just don't have enough practice being a serious and sensible mother figure type. But I got LOTS of time before I need to start thinking about that.

Well that's it for me. A great day with a great lady. If you have ever thought about getting into the world of voice, please check out Melissa Altro and consider doing a class, or a one-on-one.

Peas,

Miranda

PS. Here's a pic from the workshop!

Break It Down Now

2010-01-10T18:28:00.000-08:00

This afternoon/ evening I spent recording a new song for the Pure Pwnage television that will be appearing on Showcase in March 2010.

The song will be featured in Episode 4 of Season 1. Ye-ah!!

The song is a dance song, and it is meant to be like a cover a Lady Gaga song so its dance/ pop genre. This was a totally new experience for me because I have been trained classically my whole life. That means you sing for the stage, with vibrata, and you sing notes in your range.

However, with audio software you can make your voice song like just about anything. There were a couple of notes that I couldn't belt, but all I did was sing them normally and the software made it sound like I was belting (so its a bit of cheat in one specific part of the song!). And then at the end of every phrase I would hold the note, and default into the vibrata, however with the equalizer on it distorts the recorded sound when you do that. So I had to hold vowel sound like "meeeee" with just a whole sound (no vibrata). That was like learning how to walk again- it just comes naturally to sing vibrata!!

The final product sounds pretty hot. So listen out for it in March when the show goes live!

www.scottgormanphotography.com

2010-01-04T18:08:00.000-08:00

Remember Boy Ballz? Well here, coming atcha is Scott Gorman, photographer and friend extraordinaire. And I got to play his lovely subject.

Check out my pics on my new Flickr page!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-12-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a happy holiday with friends, family, loved ones!

Love Miranda

Remember the costume contest in September?

2009-12-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

...because apparently I forgot.

Here's a pic of the costume I wore in Jerry Springer the Opera. As previously stated, I couldn't exactly replicate the winner's look, but I came pretty darn close!

Here's the pic! Different look, huh?

Happy Holly days!

Also...

2009-12-17T19:01:00.001-08:00

How great is lady gaga? I want a patent leather crop top!

Working my bits

2009-12-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

So some exciting news here. I did my very first stand-up performance on yesterday at the Comedy Bar (945b Bloor Street West) in Toronto. It was an awesome experience!!

It all started in mid-October when I decided to expand my writing chops and sign up for a sketch comedy class. That way I could work on new material within the comfort of a group, and I've had some experience with improv, so I was like, why not? I get to the first class, and its a stand-up class. And by this point I'm too proud to admit that I've signed for the wrong class so I just stay in it. What's the worst that can happen?

For those of you who have always wanted to try it but don't have the balls, here's my advice: go for it!! If I can do it, so can you. It was so awesome. The jokes I performed were ones that I'd been writing intermittently over the course of seven weeks, so for the show last night we had to present 5 minutes of material. I went a bit over, 8 mins I think.

But seriously it was so much fun, and I had a lot of my really close friends there to support me. I have never been so nervous for a show... ever. I was literally shaking backstage which was almost crippling for me, because I never get nervous like that. I was worried that people would hate me, or WORSE- not laugh. But of course none of that shit happens. I got up there and just told my stories, and pretended like I was talking to my best friend instead of 85 strangers.

I also have a new respect for stand-ups! Its a hard thing to get up there and not only perform, but write the jokes that you perform, so there's no excuse if you're not funny. And "funny" is a funny thing itself. Like, depending on the audience and the way you phrase it, you don't even need to be telling jokes. You could just be having a conversation with the audience and have them sh*tting themselves.

My best moment involved a muppet joke. I'll upload the vid so you can see it!! heehee!

So this is your little friendly reminder that you gotta keep living, life's short. Carpe diem! Go sign up for a stand-up class and make the world a happier place, one laugh at a time!

Annex'd!

2009-11-18T13:08:00.001-08:00

My friend, and fellow showmo (his word, not mine!), Carl Swanson has a very funny webseries named "Annex'd". Carl and I met in 2007 when I was doing NINE (the musical adaption of Fredico Fellini's film "8 1/2), and then performed later in this fall's production of Jerry Springer the Opera at the same venue: Hart House Theatre.

Carl is particularly amazing because he, with the co-creator Kevin, has made this show Annex'd from the ground up, and also start to develop his own following for the show. Obviously this speaks to me, as I have been through the same process, and appreciate the hard work that goes into making original material for a national (or global) internet audience. So that means that he and Kevin write, cast, act, film, and then edit all of their episodes- which for the record is a lot of frickin' work! Carl- you're just the best!!

So anyways, he asked me to come and do a guest appearance on the show in the upcoming episode (that will premiere in a few weeks), and I play the Patricia Arquette character in a "Lost Highway" spoof during one of the many dream sequences of the episode.

Look out for the new episode in a few weeks, and in the meantime you can check out more about the show at www.annexd.com.

In Vino Veritas

2009-11-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

">

An internet commercial for Kotula's

Youtube Channel

2009-11-11T09:24:00.001-08:00

Friends, Romans, country men!
Check out my Youtube Channel.

reflections on the past two weeks

2009-11-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

I been out quite a bit since the end of September seeing all kids of shows: stage plays, installation art, cabarets, night club acts, sketch comedy, musicals, and big company theatre productions. I've been really lucky because I've had friends take me, or offer me free tickets (which is the only way that a person would want to, let alone be able to afford, seeing that much theatre)- however, tonight I had the chance to see August in Osage County (the Broadway tour) presented by Mirvish, and it was such a great show I had to write about it.

Firstly, its a 3 and half hour show (running time 3.15 hrs) and that is a looooooong show to have to sit through, but the entire show was so seamless that you didn't even realize how long you had been sitting for. My friend and I had front row seats and so we could literally see every facial expression and gestures these actors were making, which added to both the humour and the tragedy of the stories they were telling us. And speaking of which, the actors were so solid and their characters were crystal clear that you almost felt like a voyeur peeping into some one's house on a Saturday night watching a family try to piece together the shattered pieces of their broken history and relationships to one another. Even small things like watching their personal ticks, or their nervous habits, were very individual and clear. It was very cool!

I also have to mention that Estelle is 82 years old and she was incredible- she is a force to be reckoned with on that stage. I found myself staring at her watching her every move.. how does a young able bodied person do a role like that every night, let alone Estelle who is 82 years old?!?! She is a superhuman as far as I am concerned.

It was cool to see how the author played with the comedy in the script as well. It is a dark show, about the demise of the Weston family after a tragedy brings them all together. However, as is with most real-life situations, there are points in the play that are genuinely funny, despite the tragic circumstances. I began to notice that the author would set a punchline up, and then follow it with another punchline, and then just as you expect to keep laughing he would plunge the story deep into the dark tragedy of the situation, which not only stopped the audience from laughing, but it takes you to a very different place very quickly, jarring you from the humour that you had just enjoyed. It's very effective, and adds poignancy to the issues at hand in the story.

Mmm. Anyways, it was really really really great.

The other play that I could gush about forever and ever was West Side Story at Stratford. This was such a good production of the play that I left feeling almost sad because of how good it was. I saw those actors on stage and I honestly thought to myself "that isn't humanly possible". The actors in this show are also superhuman. I've seen maybe 5 productions of the show before and watched the movie musical maybe 15 times, but seeing this show was like seeing it for the first time. They flew across the stage with such agility and distinctive movement, it was very precise. It was truly mesmerizing.

To all the performers, directors, tech, and producers: thank you for these two shows. There is so much garbagey theatre out there that one almost begins to despise seeing theatre or having any part of it. These two shows restored my faith in the respective craft and I am very thankful and grateful to have seen them.

In conclusion, a great piece of theatre = the work of superhumans. Anyone heard of the Superhuman School? I think I'd like to apply for next semester.

It's Very Tasteful

2009-10-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

I did a commercial over the weekend with talented Charles Ketchabaw (ready set panic! productions) and director Billy Reid. Billy makes hilarious web vids and also writes original music. And as if that's not enough he's also an animator. Thriple threat?... yep. His work is so great, I had to share it!!

If you are a "Very Tasteful" virgin, then you gotta listen to this:

- VERY TASTEFUL ! | SONGS AND VIDEOS OF BILLY REID -

Enjoy! (You can thank me later...)

A little teaser

2009-09-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

Davin Lengyel, a longtime friend, and fellow actor on PP has recently created a new show called Brotherhood of Leet: 8 Bit Wars. This will be a very cool new series for all the 8-bit junkies and non-junkies alike. It's a very interesting new show, and I cannot wait to see the finished product!! I'm also sure that you'll recognize a lot of the cast members...

The series should be up on the site around Christmas, but you can still check out the site, and the teaser, in the meantime!

Here's a message from Davin:

Hi all,

It's my pleasure to introduce my latest guerrilla Internet project - www.8bitwars.com - a comedic mash-up of classic gaming and military drama. It stars a host of really talented people, was a blast to film, and should be worth a couple good laughs. The series hits the net this winter, but the teaser trailer, forums and store are live, so check it out and share with friends.

Cheers!
Davin

Can't wait Davin!

Boy Ballz

2009-09-27T13:31:00.000-07:00

Desperately in need of a good laugh, I fell into the fortunate acquaintance of an actor by the name of Scott Gorman. He is a professional actor, recording artist, and musician, just to name a few of his professional endeavors, and concommitent to all of this, he knows how to hit a good punch line.

Well perhaps more fortunately, he also is the lead singer of a group called Boyballz. His music is part hip-hop, part dance, part hilarious. I'm not a music critic so I can't really give you anything more than that. But I really like a couple of his songs, and so should you.

A shout out to the Pure Pwnage fans... there is a song DEVOTED TO HAVING BIG BOY BALLS. Nuf said. I hope you'll listen to his music and make him a millionaire.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Scott Gorman, and the musical stylings of Boyballz.

Listen to BoyBallz.

Check out their website.

Invited Dress Rehearsal and Costume Contest

2009-09-23T09:36:00.001-07:00

I have been having the best time rehearsing for this show... and now finally it is here!! Opening night is tomorrow and tonight is the invited dress rehearsal.
We have been running the show once (if not twice) every night for the past nine days - oh wait, we had sunday off ;)
But the great part about that is that we are entirely ready for an audience. It would be nice to do the show for PEOPLE!!

Also, I'd sincerely like to thank all the sexy ladies who submitted to the fun Costume Contest!! I honestly had such a fun time submitting ideas to Ming (the costume designer) and I am pretty happy with the results. However, it must be said that, in fairness, I wasn't able to exactly copy any gamer grrl's costume precisely, mostly because the pieces that girls use are things that you have collected from all different places and times in your life. That what's makes an outfit so cool- its ORIGINAL. It's not like I can just walk into a Gamer Outfit Costume Store and point at mannequin and say "That one please!" (or can you?) Whatever. I shop at the Gap sometimes. I release my need to "hip".

Anyways, I really appreciate all the help that was offered from the girls who submitted. I'll be posting pics from the winning submission and our dinner out together, and hopefully she can do a post about the show.

That being said, please! Come and see the show. Especially if you got to U of T... what are you waiting for?? It has men in diapers, a dancing Klu Klan, and a duelling Satan and Jesus. You'll like it, I promise.

Film Fest and Prom Night

2009-09-11T08:42:00.001-07:00

The city is so alive with beautiful people right now. The line at Starbucks today looked like a line-up for Ford Models. Viva Film Fest!

Anyways, what I really wanted to do was to spread the word about a great event going on tonight for charity hosted by my friend Steph Bernston called The Prom. Its a prom night fundraiser in support of "Girls on the Run" tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 2009.

GOTR is one of the charities affiliated with the Chicago marathon, which she and her friend Michelle will be attempting to survive together on October 11 2009 in the windy city.

They write:

If we promise to run all 42.2 kilometres over four long hours, will you come dance for the same amount of time at the GSU gym for $15? There'll be drinks at the pub, free snacks a-plenty, a live DJ, general hilarity and even the crowning of a Queen and King.

If you can't attend the prom but would like to donate to Girls on the Run, you can find our online fundraising pages at:

Donate through Michelle Arthur's Facebook Page

Donate through Steph Bernston's Facebook Page

Please visit the event page for more information about prom and the charity we are fundraising for. We hope to see you there!

Good Luck Steph and Michelle!!

I Got Fired!

2009-09-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Except, not actually...

Back in May I played a small role in the Ready-Set-Panic Productions show "I Got Fired!" with directors Mark De Angelis and Charles Ketchabaw. It was a hilarious scene, and I found it really hard not to laugh the entire time. The guys recently sent me a copy of the finished scene. Here's the clip:

Check out the show on blip.tv

So I'm beginning to write a new musical

2009-09-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have a dirty little secret...

I am a musical theatre junky. Blame it on my parents who let me watch 1950s Hollywood movie musicals as a child, or Gene Kelly and his darn umbrella, but I am 100% hooked.

And that has led me to want to write my own musical. Having no experience whatsoever in book-writing, it is a huge undertaking, but one that I am very excited about!
I spend about 30 minutes each day writing. I have an extremely busy schedule right now with rehearsals but the little time I can find in a day, I spend writing.

I'll fill you in on more details, and script samples when the time is right. But for now, I'm just going to keep writing.

Grandescunt aucta labore!

What Not to Wear: The Gamer Grrl

2009-09-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hey! So I have the opportunity to have a little bit of artistic freedom with my costume for Jerry Springer the Opera. I had locked in on the idea of dressing like a gamer girl!! Liek ftw!!!!1

I have given the following description to my costume desginer to design something in the vein of:

-a fiesty chick who attends a lot of comic cons, loves anime, plays a lot of games, preferably wow or other mmos, and is just generally, well, fucking cool .

Do you have an awesome style that you want to share with me? Then get dressed in your best outfit and send me your pictures or videos! Why should I choose you?

The person with the best costume/ style will win a dinner with yours truly and two free tickets to see the show!

Not to mention, I'll post all our pics on the Pure Pwnage website for other fans to see!

The deadline for submissions is September 16th 2009 at midnight.

Come on gamer grrlz! Complete to be leet!

<3<3<3

Jerry Springer the Opera

2009-09-06T11:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

You will be excited to know that I will appearing in the upcoming remount of Jerry Springer the Opera! And please don't let the word "opera" scare you. It is a throughly entertaining and ironic commentary on the effects that the Jerry Springer show has had on modern soceity as we know it. And although we can all agree that the show is a vulgar and shameful exploitation of the dregs of soceity, who is really to blame: Jerry? The Guests? Or perhaps the people who watch the show?

Its full of crude language, judeo-christian imagery (and characterizations), and of course, a show-stopping number by the Klu Klux Klan. Don't say I didn't warn you. You will need to bring your sense of humour along to this production, so don't leave home without it.

Jerry Springer-The Opera

Be offended All Over Again

The Return of the Canadian Premiere

Music by Richard Thomas

Book and Lyrics by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas

Directed by Mark Selby

Based on the original by Richard Ouzounian

Musical Direction by Lily Ling

Starring Byron Rouse

Sept 24 - Oct 10, 2009

WARNING:

Recommended for mature audiences only due to extreme coarse language and adult situations.

3 Week Run (11 performances)

Week 1: Thurs to Sat @ 8pm

Week 2: Wed to Sat @ 8pm

Week 3: Wed to Sat @ 8pm

Tickets: Adults $25

Students & Seniors $15

$10 Student Tickets every Wednesday Night!

Come and check it, and stick around and say hello after the show!

Hart House Theatre is located at 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H3.

Call for tickets, or directions at (416) 978-8849.