In Lieu of Flowers...

Casey Farley is a Talk is Free Theatre Producer’s Circle Member and Board Member. As a theatre lover, she is thrilled to support TIFT, and so excited to be part of a theatre that not only brings, but creates, world-class productions to the Barrie area! Casey is willing to die for Talk is Free Theatre because she knows that despite our name, theatre is not free! This is why she is pleased to join this one-of-a-kind fundraiser to not only help raise money, but also raise awareness for our incredible organization, in true TIFT fashion! 

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I am not an actor but have “acted” throughout my whole professional life.   For years, the sole opportunity for culture in the city was a (very good) high school concert band and traditional “summer stock” plays.  I applaud those who have developed the vibrant arts programs and venues we now have the opportunity to enjoy in Barrie and area.  Many of those individuals are involved in this incredibly out of (well – actually - “in”) the box TIFT event. Please show your support for TIFT, donate now and VOTE FOR ME!

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"In addition to willingly giving my life for Talk is Free Theatre, I have already given TIFT the shirt off my back (posing for a nude calendar), slept with at least 20 cast and crew (who have boarded at our home—separate rooms, of course…), stayed awake all night locked in an old beer store while writing a play (the 24-Hour Plays), flown to London, England, and travelled to a dark alley with a murderer to track a bloodthirsty barber (The Curious Voyage and Sweeney Todd) and sat under a hot spotlight asking personal questions of Senators, Premiers, deep sea divers and Harvard-bound geniuses while a hundred people watched (Illuminating Conversations). So, as they say, dying is easy; comedy (and show biz) is hard!"

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The producer of “In Lieu of Flowers…”, Matthew MacQuarrie-Cottle is an aspiring multidisciplinary artist and Assistant Producer at TIFT. He is currently receiving tutelage from Artist Producer and Founder, Arkady Spivak. After spending the last few years working at Talk is Free Theatre, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to organize such an eccentric event, though it may end with him being in over his head (or in a casket). Matthew intends to use his creativity and exceptional eye for detail to plan everyone’s funeral, and if all else fails, maybe even his own.

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"I have lived in Barrie for years! Born and raised in Cookstown, I achieved various educational accomplishments, acquired by life experiences. One of these being the esteemed degree of ‘common sense’. Married to Robert Gilroy (and still am) in 1975 as a child bride. General interests are Fashion, Food, Floral gardens, and of course, live Theatre. Possibly the reason I said yes to this bizarre fundraising idea, was because of my brief acting gig, at a young age, cast as Sleeping Beauty (a short run, I recall) at the South Simcoe Theatre, which at that time was simply called, the Town Hall. The possibility of being displayed, supposedly deceased, will discover if my acting abilities are still with me. Also, I seldom say no to a certain delightful brilliant guy named Arkady Spivak."

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A man of exceptional and unusual character, TIFT Artistic Producer and Founder Arkady Spivak has put blood, sweat, and tears into building Talk is Free Theatre into the unique organization it is today. Over the last 20 years, he and our colleagues at TIFT have produced over 140 works. With an eye for extraordinary talent and unorthodox ideas, Arkady prides himself in pushing artists and audiences alike to explore the unknown. Now, Arkady is ready to die to fund our ever-evolving unprecedented endeavours, and as you may know, he is not one to give up. 

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Nancy Chapple Smokler (she/her) is a singer, actor and President of The South Simcoe Theatre in Cookstown. Whether professional or amateur, live theatre in Simcoe County is facing a very real crisis post-pandemic, and is continually looking for creative ways to attract both new and established audiences back to the theatre, as well as innovative ways to raise funds to support their work. The theatre community in Simcoe County can capitalize on this by working collectively to promote and utilize the talents of the best and brightest in its midst - from arts educators to community theatre to professional theatre. As a community theatre “feeder” SST has enjoyed a supportive relationship with TIFT over the years, and Nancy is pleased to “play dead” for this worthy cause.

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