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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, October 21, 2011 · 36 Actor took on a challenge, became Jackie Mason on NY stage Continued from page 34 While living in the GTA, Crane has been part of a number of productions, both on professional theatre stages and in independent movie projects, some of which are available on Netflix. He has always written scripts and worked on the production side of the business. He spent some time in university and received a diploma from the Toronto Film School. However, he said he learned more doing things in the professional world than in the classroom. He also took some vocal lessons in Oakville and Toronto after realizing he could sing. Up until his departure from Toronto to New York a year ago, Crane was with the traveling Big Kid Entertainment company, something he did for two years. The company visited two schools a day, five days a week, putting on shows for students that contained moral messages for the children. Days were long, with troupe members often having to leave home early in the morning and return in the evening. Though he calls it one of his best theatre experiences, there was something missing. "I thought I hit a wall," he said. "I knew after a few months I wanted to do a lot of other things. It's really hard to audition for anything else if you're doing that. They even warned us not to do any other projects while doing that, unless there was a summer break." He appeared in every show by the company for two years and considered either staying in Toronto and finding something new or heading to New York. A friend of his had recently travelled to New York and told him about his trials in the big city. The friend said it's tough and expensive and people are much more aggressive than in Toronto. However, he took on the challenge and moved to the Bronx, where he resides now. "I found out quickly, after I moved there, everything in Manhattan was at least double than everything else," he said of his choice to move to the borough with a bad rap. "Most people think it's the same Bronx it was 20 years ago. It's not. In most places, it's actually gotten a lot better." In New York he's worked a variety of jobs, including in the service field, and got his first television job, doing an enactment of Gary Busey in the Discovery Channel's Celebrity Close Calls. Though worrying about paying rent some months, he said he's made friends in the city and has no fears of ending up on the street. Then he landed his current ­ and perhaps his biggest ­ gig, in the off-Broadway musical 702 Punchlines & Pregnant. The show is being put on at the Broadway Comedy Club, where he was doing sketch comedy at the time of auditions. He saw an audition advertisement and went for it. At the audition he did an impression of Jackie Mason and sang in his style. Because he was performing at the club regularly he had the advantage of getting to know the producers, whom he saw frequently. After he learned and perfected some of the songs in the show, he got the part. This is also his first major role in a musical. "It's a funny show. It's got really good music. It's the best part I've ever had and probably the most fun I've ever had on stage," he said. The show features a cast of seven and two lead roles, one of which is Crane playing Jackie Mason. The other role is performed by Mason's child, Sheba Mason, who in the show plays her own mother, Ginger Reiter. Written, produced and directed by the mother-daughter team, the show is about Jackie Mason's relationship with Reiter in the 1980s. Crane said the feedback for the show has been really good and the producers intend to keep it running for as long as possible. He returned to Oakville for the month of SUBMITTED PHOTO FUNNY TIMES: Oakville actor Trevor Crane (in grey suit) is pictured with a group of friends on stage. He performs a younger Jackie Mason in the musical 702 Punchlines & Pregnant. September to spend time with family and friends, while his role in the show was being filled by an understudy. He admits there are difficulties that come with living in noisy, crowded and aggressive New York, but the challenge is worth it. To learn more about Crane, visit www. trevorcrane.net. Marvels and magic at art exhibit Abbozzo Gallery is hosting an exhibit by artist Cora Brittan, who will give a demonstration of her technique. The exhibit, titled Of Marvels and Magic, runs from Saturday, Oct. 22-Nov. 5. On opening day, the gallery will hold an opening reception with the artist from 2 to 5 p.m. Then, on Thursday, Oct. 27, the artist will have a talk and demonstration of the gliding technique, running from 7-9 p.m. There is no cost to attend the demonstration, but space is limited so people are asked to contact the gallery for reservations. In 2002, Brittan was commissioned by the Town of Oakville to create the Community Spirit Awards. The gallery is located at 179 Lakeshore Rd. E. For more information or reservations, visit www.abbozzogallery.com or call 905844-4481. Being a businesswoman today, told in book The founder of Oakville-based Company of Women has published a book in which she talks to readers about the trials and triumphs of being a businesswoman today. The local businesswoman, Anne Day, has published her book Day by Day ­ Tales of business, life and everything in between. In the book, Day tells businesswomen to be smart and supportive of one another. Her organization, Company of Women, works to connect and promote women in business. In the book, she uses her own tales from business and family life and talks about what works and what doesn't. The book is meant to be an uplifting storytelling, using honesty and humour. The 270-page book is listed at $23.81 at www.chapters.ca. BigNamesSmallTheatre Paradiso presents Dan Cooper presents I, CLAUDIA* October 28 ASHLEY MacISAAC October 29 All performances are at THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS To order tickets call: 905-815-2021 or go to www.oakvillecentre.ca * A "Pay-What-You-Can" production - see website for details