United States: Piti Theatre’s Jonathan Mirin in “Canary in a Gold Mine” @ DC Independent Film Festival, March 3 & 4

Piti Theatre’s Jonathan Mirin in “Canary in a Gold Mine” @ DC Independent Film Festival, 

March 3 & 4
Press release, ptco.org/canary, 7 February 2023

Inventive, comedic documentary sheds light on environmental illness

After a viral premiere at the Ko Festival of Performance, Piti Theatre’s “Canary in a Gold Mine” comes to the DC Independent Film Festival in Washington, DC on March 3rd at 6:30 pm and Saturday, March 4th at 4:15 pm, Landmark E Street Cinema Theatre, 555 11th Street, NW.

A unique blend of theatre and documentary, “Canary” uses humor to explore fatherhood, marriage and environmental health. Writer/Performer/Director Jonathan Mirin describes the show as "like theater … but flatter." The one hour screening on Friday will be followed by a panel discussion with Jonathan Mirin; Dr. Mikhail Kogan, MD; journalist Barbara Koeppel; Joseph Sandri, President, National Spectrum Association; and Theodora Scarato, Executive Director, Environmental Health Trust. A reception at 5:30 will precede Friday’s screening. Tickets are $13 @ dciff-indie.org.

Locked down during COVID and facing the cancellation of the stage version of "Canary", Mirin turns the camera on ... himself, telling the story of the mysterious symptoms his life and production partner, Swiss choreographer/designer Godeliève Richard, began experiencing in 2010.

With Godeliève increasingly unable to leave the house and care for their new baby, the couple contends with the growing likelihood that her illness is environmental – and inescapable. Richard‘s severe neurological symptoms are triggered by exposure to EMFs, the wireless radiation the rest of society is passionately embracing to connect phones and upload cat videos.

As her electro-sensitivity worsens, Mirin finds himself compelled to become a public health advocate, activist and petitioner in a landmark legal case against the FCC. The result: a show that’s a 21st century love letter as well as a wake-up call to the risks of 24/7 wireless exposure.

Deirdre Evans-Pritchard, Executive Director of the Washington DC Independent Film Festival says "Five years ago we screened ‘Generation Zapped’ which addressed the issue of wireless technology's impact on children. Given the major legal decisions, policy changes and the sheer number of communities across the US who have grappled with the 5G rollout since then we are delighted to be able to share Jonathan's unique and very personal approach to his first documentary after two decades of creating acclaimed theatre productions."

KoFest Artistic Director and producer Sabrina Hamilton who originally commissioned the piece says, “This show is so entertaining, with wonderfully inventive camera work. Anyone who has experienced chronic illness themselves or helped a loved one in crisis will find comfort and laughter in it. It’s a fun and compelling dive into the opposing forces of corporate profit vs. public safety.”

About Piti Theatre

Founded in 2004 by American playwright/performer Jonathan Mirin and Swiss choreographer/designer Godelieve Richard, piti (pronounced "pea-tea") is an ancient Indian (Pali) word translatable as "joy" or "rapture." Piti programming plants seeds of joy, sustainability and justice. The troupe has received the Suzy Polucci Food and Justice Award, been nominated twice for an Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Award, received the Children’s Theater Foundation of America’s Aurand Harris Fund Award as well as Club Passim’s Iguana Fund Award for their collaboration with musician Carrie Ferguson.

MORE INFO @ ptco.org/canary and dciff-indie.org

Press Contacts

Piti Theatre:

Susan Kooperstein
(617) 875-3619
skooperstein@comcast.net

DCIFF:

Deirdre Evans-Pritchard
(323) 333-3125
deirdre@dciff-indie.org