Thanks for stopping by the cowbell blog!
Please note: life with more cowbell is no longer booking reviews. I will, however, continue to shout out/share/RT shows on social media—so if you’d still like to invite me out to your show, please do!
For more info, please see my post from the end of January, 2020.
If you’d like to get in touch or invite me to your show/event, please leave a comment on this page and I’ll get back to you by email. Even if I’m not able to attend, I’ll be sure to respond to your message and get on your mailing list to stay abreast of your future gigs/productions/exhibits.
Shout-outs and support for the Toronto arts scene continue on my Twitter account.
life with more cowbell 
hi cate, you don’t ‘know’ me but I am here sitting at my dinner table, tears streaming down my face, after reading your offering about Esu Crossing The Middle Passage. Thank you for opening up your heart and spirit to go on the journey. Thank you for your sacred holding. So much of healing is about having the community witness what happened and saying ‘yes, it did indeed happen and together we will hold each other through the implications of such a happening.’ Thank you for the role you choose play in all of our healings. Tonite you have encouraged me 3 steps deeper-further. In solidarity and allyship, d’bi.young anitafrika.
d’bi. – Thank you so much for your words. See my email reply.
If you would like to join us for RAID: Operation Soap I would love to guest list you, please let me know by June 23rd. It’s going to be an epic evening and I hope you can participate!
If you’d like to interview any of the cast, just email me. Thank you and happy Pride!
Ray
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
150 COPS. 4 SIMULTANEOUS RAIDS. MORE THAN 300 ARRESTS.
AN UNCONVENTIONAL LOVE STORY ABOUT THE TORONTO BATHHOUSE RAIDS
TORONTO | The Reading Salon presents the premiere of RAID: Operation Soap | Written by Raymond Helkio with David Bateman, directed by Raymond Helkio, starring Keith Cole, music Stewart Borden
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016 | 8PM | Buddies In Bad Times Theatre as part of QueerPride 2016.
35 years ago over three hundred men were arrested during Operation Soap, a simultaneous police raid against four Toronto bathhouses and a turning point in LGBT history.
“This story is about an unlikely activist whose personal transformation happens in the face of unforgivable brutality” says director Raymond Helkio who co-wrote the play with David Bateman. “Whenever I hear people referencing the bathhouse raids it’s almost always with a certainty of how things played out but there was no certainty about anything, life for the LGBT community had been overshadowed by mounting fear and doubt for years.
RAID: Operation Soap, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016 | 8PM | Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (Queer Pride 2016)
TICKETS
http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/show/raid-operation-soap/
MORE INFORMATION, PRESS PHOTOS OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW:
ray@raymondhekio.com
TheReadingSalon.ca/RAID
Hi Ray –
Thanks so much for getting in touch about RAID: Operation Soap and your media invitation. I tried emailing you at the address you included with your comment, but my message bounced back.
The blog is on hiatus this month, then I’ve committed to covering the Toronto Fringe Festival, so I won’t be available to do interviews or cover the show, but I’ll be happy to tweet and post on FB about RAID: Operation Soap.
All the best with the reading! And please stay in touch regarding future productions.
Cheers,
Cate
Hello, hope you are keeping warm while enjoying this bright day. I have a little project. let’s talk this week. Nora
Hey, Nora. Just emailed you. Looking forward to chatting.