Congratulations to Megan Follows, who is a Gemini nominee this year for her performance in Booky Makes Her Mark (Actress in a Featured Supporting Role, Dramatic Program or Miniseries). Her husband/partner, Stuart Hughes, is also a nominee (Actor in a Featured Supporting Role, Dramatic Program or Miniseries; also for Booky).
A tip of the hat also goes out to Sarah Polley, who is nominated for her role in the final season of Slings and Arrows (Actress in a Featured Supporting Role, Dramatic Series), particularly in the episode “Vex Not His Ghost”.
Overall, Slings and Arrows is up for fourteen statues; Booky Makes Her Mark is up for three.
Most of the statues will be handed out over from October 15 to 17 in Toronto in untelevised galas. The Broadcast Gala will be in Regina and will air October 28 on CBC.
Gemini Awards website
Anne and Gilbert, the musical based largely on Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island, will be going on tour next year.
Producer Campbell Webster hopes to kick it off at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto. A separate theatre company will mount the musical in Ontario; there will be another production in Japan; and there will be yet another mounting in Michigan.
This summer, Anne and Gilbert was put on in Gananoque, Ontario, to much success. Its run will close on September 1. The current PEI run, being staged in Summerside, will wrap for the year on September 19.
CBC.ca Arts
Official website for Anne and Gilbert
Actor Keith Knight, who portrayed Reverend Fitzsimmons in RTA’s season four episode “Evelyn”, has died at the age of 51 from brain cancer in Toronto.
The Sault Ste. Marie native’s most noted role was in the 1979 comedy Meatballs, in which he portrayed Larry Finklestein, a counselor-in-training. At the time of its release, it was the highest-grossing Canadian film ever (a title that would later be bestowed upon Porky’s and Bon Cop, Bad Cop).
He also performed in local theatre productions in the 1970s and at the Shaw Festival during the 1980s. Other film credits included My Bloody Valentine, Bar Life, Looking for Angelina (filmed in his hometown), Gas (with Kiefer Sutherland and Howie Mandel), and Class of 1984. On television, he guest starred on various television series such as Street Legal, Traders, and Queer as Folk. He also lent his voice to several animated series, like Franklin and — more recently — Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends and appeared in over 160 commercials.
He is survived by wife Jennifer McCullough.
CBC Arts
IMDb Entry
Hat-tip to Kitty for this…
I was speaking to James O’Regan (Constable Jeffries) about an actor friend of his, Keith Knight (Rev. Fitzsimmons) whom we had invited to attend AvCon07.
Keith played Reverend Fitzsimmons in the episode “Evelyn” - where Alec’s friend is killed in a boating accident and Alec assumes responsibility for his friends wife and child - much to the consternation of his wife Janet.
Keith Knight was unable to attend AvCon07 because of serious health reasons. Several years ago Kay Tremblay* was also unable to attend AvCon because of health reasons and the committee and AvCon attendees asked if they could send cards or e-mails to cheer her. Since Keith Knight is also part of the “Avonlea Family”, we thought it would be nice if we sent him e-mails and cards to let him know he is remembered and to wish him a successful recovery.
Cards may be snail-mailed to the following address:
Keith Knight
c/o Fountainhead Talent
131 Davenport Road
Toronto, ON, Canada
M5R 1H8
You may also send well-wishes via email to info(at)fountainheadtalent.com
IMDb: Keith Knight
* Kay Tremblay (Aunt Eliza) was invited to AvCon 2005, which was held in late July of that year. She passed away the following month at the age of 91.
Elaine Campbell, who had co-created the long-running musical version of Anne of Green Gables, passed away this past Friday in Charlottetown at the age of 82.
She was responsible for writing the lyrics to the musical’s songs, and was part of the original team &emdash; which included her husband Norman as well as the legendary Mavor Moore, Don Harron (now the sole surviving member), and Alan Lund &emdash; that brought Lucy Maud Montgomery’s much-lauded novel to life at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown back in 1964. She also wrote lyrics for three other musicals and lent her hand to specials for CBC Television, Rideau Hall, and two Royal galas. Perhaps better known as a patron of the arts, she also served in World War II with the Royal Canadian Air Force, was a part of the National Ballet of Canada, was a Jane Austen scholar, and loved to travel (her last trip being to Libya).
There will be a private memorial on the Island, and then a public one later on in her winter home of Toronto.
CBC Arts
