TORONTO – December 12, 2008

Writer, actor, director, producer and all-round renaissance woman, Sarah Michelle Brown, recently won Chapters Best Text Award for her new stage play First Hand Woman. The hot new show will make its Toronto debut at the Factory Theatre, Wednesday, January 7, 2009, after being personally invited to the 2009 Next Stage Festival.

First Hand Woman first captivated audiences at the St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival where it received critical acclaim for its compelling performances and emotionally layered story. First Hand Woman is an arousing account of a woman’s romantic loss. The play gives a voice to the innermost thoughts and feelings of an individual seeking redemption and reconciliation of her fragmented self. The five stages of grief: Denial, Bargaining, Anger, Depression and Acceptance, are personified on stage by a cast of strong and talented women. The five boisterous and unapologetic characters come together to shape her journey in search of new beginnings and coming to terms with loose ends.

The show was written by the charismatic and versatile, Sarah Michelle Brown and features an outstanding group of performers that have been moving and inspiring theatre-goers. Led by director Esther Jun (Red Bird Day with Picasso, Calamity), the play showcases the talents of Kiran Friesen (Odyssey 5, Love Rules), Patrice Goodman (Show Me Yours, Touch The Sky), Allana Harkin (Train 48, As You Like It) and Nicole Leroux (CLONEAGE.PA, Red Shift). Audiences undergo a cathartic experience as these women ignite the stage. Caution: Show contains spontaneous simulated Orgasms!

Upon completing her studies at the Neighbourhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City, Brown went on to combine her passion for acting, writing and photography to leave her mark in the Canadian film industry.

Possessing great talent for writing, directing and producing, Brown was an obvious selection for the ReelWorld’s Emerging 20 at their 2007 Toronto International Film festival’s Indie Film Lounge. Brown was also one of six finalists at TIFF’s “Pitch This” in 2002, and also won the inaugural CBC Innoversity dramatic programming internship competition that same year.

In the 2004/2005 season, Brown was selected to be one of eight women who participated in the internationally recognized developmental workshop, Women in the Director’s Chair program. Currently, Brown is directing, producing and shooting the documentary Story of Creashun on d’bi young anitafrika that is sure to enlighten audiences

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Available for interviews, Sarah Michelle
Brown

Performance Dates and Times:
The Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St, Toronto

January 7 -9:00 p.m.
January 9 – 7:15 p.m.
January 10 – 5:00 p.m.
January 11 – 7:15 p.m.
January 13 – 6:30 p.m.
January 15 – 5:30 p.m.
January 16 – 5:30 p.m.
January 17 – 3:30 p.m.
January 18 – 9:15 p.m.

*This is a Canadian Actors’ Equity Association approved Co-op.

www.sarahmichellebrown.com
Fire Up Co-Operative
Fire Up (verb):
– To arouse or excite feelings and passions.
– inflame, stir up, wake, ignite, heat

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