®
CONGRATULATIONS JESSIE WINNERS AND NOMINEES
For over 35 years Arts Umbrella has been a proud part of Metro Vancouver’s theatre community. From the performers, designers, and technicians of tomorrow to everyone in the industry today, have a fabulous night at the Jessies!
WELCOME 2017/2018
TO THE 36 TH JESSIE AWARDS CELEBRATING THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE VANCOUVER PROFESSIONAL THEATRE COMMUNITY
WELCOME TO THE 36TH ANNUAL JESSIE RICHARDSON THEATRE AWARDS! We are so glad you all are here! To begin, we wish to honour the x?məθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwəta?/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations on whose unceded traditional lands we gather tonight. Flashback to June 21, 1982: the first Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards were held at the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Granville Island Stage. The theatre seated 450 people and, at that time, only 17 companies were registered with the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA). Today, there are 66 members. Over the course of the 2017–18 theatre season, our dedicated jurors attended a total of 77 productions. Tonight we honour a small group of these talented individuals—recognizing the part they’ve played in the wonderful whole—including members of productions both on and off the stage. The concentrated efforts of administrators, technicians, board members, and many other supporters and volunteers provide an exciting Vancouver entertainment scene and result in the exceptional work celebrated here tonight. Please join us in honouring these special individuals and companies. Your thoughtful respect and attention in celebrating these award-winners tonight is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support. Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Society Board
THANK YOU! The Jessies would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to each of our generous sponsors. Our in kind sponsors include Artslandia, Brooklyn Pizza, Contact Printing, David’s Tea, The Georgia Straight, K’pure Naturals, Miss604, News 1130, Steamworks Brewing, Tremors, and Vancouver Presents. Please join us in thanking them by visiting their places of business.
2018 | Jessie Awards 3
AND THESE ARE YOUR JESSIE HOSTS
Q&A
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT HOSTING THE JESSIES? D: Sweaty for all the right reasons. TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR ALTER-EGO PERSONALITIES. D: Ronald McDonald’s side piece and East Van’s cheapest date. C: Isolde is the me that can say what she wants to whom she wants. She’s the celebration of all the parts of me I was embarrassed by as a child. She’s loud, girly, and opinionated. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THEATRE IN VANCOUVER? D: The lovely sense of community we have. WHO’S YOUR HERO? D: Single parents everywhere. Give them awards, my god. TOGETHER, YOU LEAD ZEE ZEE THEATRE COMPANY, WHICH IS DEDICATED TO HIGHLIGHTING MARGINALIZED VOICES. WHAT ROLE DO YOU THINK THEATRE CAN PLAY IN SOCIAL CHANGE? C: Theatre has the capacity to do so much. We can learn about people and places we had no idea about; we can laugh, we can cry. I truly feel satisfied when theatre makes me evaluate my place and my actions in the world and offers me some hope for the future.
4
Dave Deveau is Peach Cobblah and Cameron Mackenzie is Isolde N. Barron, the Queen of East Van.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW YOU’VE BEEN A PART OF AND/OR THAT ZEE ZEE HAS PRODUCED? C: It has to be Elbow Room Cafe: The Musical at the Cultch. It was my initial idea and at the time it seemed like a pipe dream, but we made it happen. I think it did a beautiful job of honouring our queer elders as well as sharing and preserving some vital history of our city. The owners of the cafe, Bryan and Patrick, are dear friends of ours. Bryan passed away this past December, so I am so thankful we were able to get the show up in time for him to see what an impact his life had in the world. D: I’ve loved aspects of every production we’ve put on, and productions that I’ve been asked to be part of. Try picking your favourite child? (Well, maybe there’s actually always a favourite child...)
SPEAKING OF YOUR FAVOURITE CHILD, TELL US ABOUT BABY DEXTER’S FIRST THEATREGOING EXPERIENCE! D: It was Barrowland Ballet’s Poggle at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. Artistic/Executive Director Katharine Carol joined us to be there for his first cultural foray. He was enchanted and audibly gasping throughout the show—or maybe he just had gas, I’m not sure. But he seemed really into it. CAMERON, YOU WON THE RAY MICHAL AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING BODY OF WORK BY AN EMERGING DIRECTOR, WHICH REWARDS ARTISTS WHO ADD “A DASH OF DARING” TO THEIR WORK. HOW DO YOU LEAVE YOUR OWN ARTISTIC IMPRINT WHEN BRINGING ANOTHER’S IDEA TO LIFE? C: Directing is a team sport. I don’t need to always be the one bringing an idea forward to feel satisfied about my work on the show. My greatest sense of accomplishment is when I see an audience experience the show the way I experience it in my head and my heart. Then I know I’ve done my job. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? WHAT SHOULD WE WATCH FOR? C: Zee Zee just celebrated its 10th season. Right now we are incubating a few long term ideas. Definitely watch for an international collaboration with my home country, South Africa, and check out Dave’s latest play, Dead People’s Things, that Zee Zee and PTC have been developing over the past 4 years. It’s based on the true story of Dave’s aunt committing suicide—leaving him the house and all it’s contents. D: Catch Rumble’s production of my play Tiny Replicas at the Tremors Festival in August! WHERE CAN PEOPLE SEE YOU PERFORM IN DRAG? D: Every Tuesday at 1181 performing in my award-winning drag show, Shame Spiral, and all over Vancouver (and its alleys and dumpsters) during pride week! .
LOOK FOR VANCOUVER’S NEW ARTS GUIDE. THIS FALL.
FOLLOW US FOLLOW ARTSLANDIA ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM RIGHT NOW FOR LIVE UPDATES FROM TONIGHT’S EVENT.
EVERYWHERE.
ARTSLANDIA.COM
2018 | Jessie Awards 5
AND THE FINALISTS ARE...
(Order of presentation)
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
LARGE THEATRE
SPONSOR:
LARGE THEATRE
SPONSOR:
Drew Facey The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Pam Johnson 1 Hour Photo, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Alex Kirkpatrick The Double Axe Murders, Rusticate Theatre/Presentation House Yvan Morissette Satellite(s), Solo Collective Theatre John Webber How Star Wars Saved My Life, Some Assembly Theatre
Carmen Alatorre The Winter’s Tale, Bard on the Beach Barbara Clayden Beauty and the Beast, Arts Club Theatre Company Drew Facey The Merchant of Venice, Bard on the Beach Mara Gottler The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Bard on the Beach Christine Reimer Much Ado About Nothing, Bard on the Beach
VANCOUVER NOW REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION AWARD
MARY PHILLIPS AWARD FOR BEHIND THE SCENES ACHIEVEMENT
Itai Erdal The Christians, Pacific Theatre Itai Erdal Topdog/Underdog, Arts Club Theatre Company Jeff Harrison Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company Lauchlin Johnston Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre John Webber Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika, Arts Club Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN SMALL THEATRE
Itai Erdal The Shipment, SpeakEasy Theatre Gerald King 1 Hour Photo, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Gerald King Satellite(s), Solo Collective Theatre Sophie Tang The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre
OUTSTANDING DESIGN THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Darren Boquist, LIGHTING The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Carousel Theatre for Young People Drew Facey, SET Crème -Glacée, Théâtre la Seizième Jay Havens, SET, COSTUME, & PROPS Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Axis Theatre Shizuka Kai, Joel Grinke, & Mishelle Cuttler, SET, PROJECTION, SOUND Jabber, Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre Yvan Morissette, SET The Velveteen Rabbit, Carousel Theatre for Young People
6 2018 | Jessie Awards
SMALL THEATRE
To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
&
Lauchlin Johnston Misery, Arts Club Theatre Company Shizuka Kai Topdog/Underdog, Arts Club Theatre Company Kevin McAllister King Charles III, Arts Club Theatre Company Carolyn Rapanos Circle Game, Firehall Arts Centre Ted Roberts Thanks for Giving, Arts Club Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Jessica Bayntun A Little Night Music, Patrick Street Productions Drew Facey The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Stephanie Kong City of Angels, The PIT Collective Markian Tarasiuk The Shipment, SpeakEasy Theatre
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN OR ORIGINAL COMPOSITION SMALL THEATRE
Steve Charles 1 Hour Photo, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Mishelle Cuttler The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Daniel Deorksen & Kurt Schindelka A Steady Rain, Seven Tyrants Theatre Keith Thomas Butcher, Prime Cuts Collective
OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN OR ORIGINAL COMPOSITION LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Torquil Campbell & Alessandro Juliani Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika, Arts Club Theatre Company Julie Casselman Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre James Coomber Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company David Mesiha The Humans, Arts Club Theatre Company Murray Price Much Ado About Nothing, Bard on the Beach
COLIN THOMAS’S FRESH SHEET THE FULL STORY 1. The Georgia Straight fired me. Uh oh. I was their theatre critic for almost 30 years.
2. So I created FRESH SHEET,
a fab, free weekly e-newsletter. I’ve packed it with curated local, national, and international theatre coverage—and, of course, my frank reviews. You need to read this. Sign up—free—at colinthomas.ca/subscribe.
3. Now it’s time for the FRESH SHEET revolution! Make a monthly pledge. Low ad sales are killing newspapers. Critics are getting cut. But readers can fight back! Support quality criticism with monthly pledges on Patreon. Stick it to the man! Make your pledge at patreon.com/colinthomas
4. Pledge before JULY 31 for twice the impact. An anonymous benefactor will match your total pledges with a one-time donation of up to $10,000. She wants to see monthly pledges totalling $1,500 before her contribution kicks in.
We’ve got until July 31 to get there. We can do this!
Pledge to Colin Thomas’s FRESH SHEET — right the hella now! I
THEATRE
I
THEATRE
I
THEATRE
+ it’s a decades-long affair
+ it’s a decades-long affair
+ it’s a decades-long affair
Because you can’t keep good criticism down. MAKE YOUR DONATION AT patreon.com/colinthomas
FINALISTS CONTINUED SYDNEY RISK PRIZE FOR OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT BY AN EMERGING PLAYWRIGHT To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC CREATION
Lauren Bowler, Katrina Reynolds, Cailin Stadnyk, Josh Epstein Bittergirl: The Musical, Arts Club Theatre Company Peter Carlone, Kim Larson, Giovanni Mocibob, Baraka Rahmani, Jalen Saip Almost, Maine, Pacific Theatre Kimmy Choi, David Cohen, Rowen Khan, Scott Perrie, Adriana Ravalli, Sara Vickruck Circle Game, Firehall Arts Centre
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SPONSOR:
Joe Bird, Wes Borg, Jeff Gladstone, Ryan Gladstone, Neil Grahn, Bruce Horak, and Cathleen Rootsaert SONG COMPOSITION
The Canada Show, Monster Theatre Chelsea Haberlin, DIRECTING Jabber, Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre Patrick McDonald, DIRECTING The Code, Green Thumb Theatre Deb Williams, DIRECTING The Velveteen Rabbit, Carousel Theatre for Young People Marguerite Witvoet, COMPOSER/ MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, Axis Theatre
JOHN MOFFAT AND LARRY LILLO PRIZE To be announced at ceremony
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Jeny Cassady, OUTSTANDING PUPPET DESIGN AND COACHING
Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company Andrew Cohen, OUTSTANDING MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS
Circle Game, Firehall Arts Centre Lonnie Delisle, OUTSTANDING CHOIR DIRECTION
The Christians, Pacific Theatre Jamie Nesbitt, OUTSTANDING PROJECTION DESIGN
SAM PAYNE AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER
Nine Dragons, Gateway Theatre Corey Payette, OUTSTANDING
To be announced at ceremony
CONTRIBUTION TO A NATIONAL CONVERSATION
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Sarah Afful, Peter Anderson, Craig Erickson, Pippa Mackie, Naomi Wright The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Daniel Deorksen, David Newham, Kurt Schindelka A Steady Rain, Seven Tyrants Theatre Katey Hoffman, Cheyenne Mabberley The After After Party, After Party Theatre
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Amber Funk Barton, Andrew Gordon, Nathan Kay, Tiffany King, Billy Marchenski, Niall McNeill, Lucy McNulty, Kerry Sandomirsky, Matthew Tom-Wing, Marcus Youssef, Lucy Cairns King Arthur’s Night, Neworld Theatre 8 2018 | Jessie Awards
Children of God, Urban Ink with National Arts Centre and Raven Theatre
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Joanna Garfinkel & Yoshié Bancroft, OUTSTANDING USE OF A SITE SPECIFIC HISTORICAL VENUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONNECTION, EXPERIENCE AND IMPACT
Japanese Problem, Universal Limited Tetsuro Shigematsu, Jamie Nesbitt & Susan Miyagishima, OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DESIGN AND EXECUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF HISTORICAL STORYTELLING
1 Hour Photo, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Marisa Emma Smith & Daniel Arnold, OUTSTANDING WORK INVOLVING AND ENGAGING DISTINCT COMMUNITIES FROM THE LOWER MAINLAND FOR CROSS COMMUNITY OUTREACH CONNECTION AND PERFORMANCE
The Ridiculous Darkness, Alley Theatre
Tara Travis & Dusty Hagerüd, OUTSTANDING PUPPETRY DESIGN, CREATION, EXECUTION AND PERFORMANCE
Who Killed Gertrude Crump? Monster Theatre
SIGNIFICANT ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
Axis Theatre Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR CENTRALLY FOCUSING ON AN INDIGENOUS STORY
Green Thumb Theatre OUTSTANDING Q & A PREPARATION & EXECUTION
Green Thumb Theatre The Code OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCEPTIONAL PRESENTATION OF CONTEMPORARY, FAR REACHING TEEN ISSUES
Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre Jabber OUTSTANDING USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA AS A WAY OF REPRESENTING MODERN TEENAGE EXPLORATIONS INTO IDENTITY
Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre Jabber OUTSTANDING ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR PORTRAYING HOW DIFFERENT RACES AND RELIGIONS CAN INTERTWINE AND CO-EXIST
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SCRIPT Rachel Aberle The Code, Green Thumb Theatre Mark Leiren-Young Bar Mitzvah Boy, Pacific Theatre Colleen Murphy The Society for The Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Tetsuro Shigematsu 1 Hour Photo, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre Jovanni Sy Nine Dragons, Vertigo Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, & Gateway Theatre
PATRON OF THE ARTS AWARD To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES SPONSOR:
Elizabeth Barrett The Code, Green Thumb Theatre Frankie Cottrell, Alex Gullason & Carly Pokoradi The Canada Show, Monster Theatre Sereana Malani The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Carousel Theatre for Young People Parmiss Sehat Jabber, Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre Amanda Testini The Velveteen Rabbit, Carousel Theatre for Young People
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Oliver Castillo Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company Eric Craig Fun Home, Arts Club Theatre Company Douglas Ennenberg The Events, Pi Theatre Steven Greenfield Million Dollar Quartet, Arts Club Theatre Company Warren Kimmel Shylock, Bard on the Beach Brian Markinson Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika, Arts Club Theatre Company Andrew McNee Misery, Arts Club Theatre Company Luc Roderique Topdog/Underdog, Arts Club Theatre Company John Emmet Tracy Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre Jonathan Winsby Beauty and the Beast, Arts Club Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY ACTOR SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Peter Anderson Butcher, Prime Cuts Collective Paul Anthony The Pillowman, Reality Curve Theatre
Nick Fontaine A Little Night Music, Patrick Street Productions Kenton Klassen The Lonesome West, Cave Canem Productions Joey Lespérance The Hunger Room, Staircase Theatre Omari Newton The Shipment, SpeakEasy Theatre Tom Pickett Ruined, Dark Glass Theatre Mason Temple Satellite(s), Solo Collective Theatre John Voth The Lonesome West, Cave Canem Productions Raugi Yu I Lost My Husband, Ruby Slippers Theatre
CRITIC’S CHOICE INNOVATION AWARD Cinerama, Fight with a Stick Hyperlink, Elbow Theatre Japanese Problem, Universal Limited Multiple Organism, Mind of a Snail The Ridiculous Darkness, Alley Theatre in partnership with Neworld Theatre Six Fine Lines, Level-Headed Friends Productions
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Lois Anderson Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika, Arts Club Theatre Company Nicola Cavendish Happy Place, Touchstone Theatre Erla Faye Forsyth Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre Lucia Frangione Misery, Arts Club Theatre Company Katherine Gauthier King Charles III, Arts Club Theatre Company Margo Kane Thanks for Giving, Arts Club Theatre Company
Amber Lewis Much Ado About Nothing, Bard on the Beach Jennifer Lines Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company Kelli Ogmundson Fun Home, Arts Club Theatre Company Colleen Wheeler Forget About Tomorrow, Arts Club Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY ACTRESS SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Patti Allen A Little Night Music, Patrick Street Productions Lindsey Angell Butcher, Prime Cuts Collective Yoshié Bancroft The Double Axe Murders, Rusticate Theatre/Presentation House Shayna Jones Ruined, Dark Glass Theatre Melissa Oei A Beautiful View, Naked Goddess Productions Katrina Reynolds Smart People, Mitch and Murray Productions Tara Travis Who Killed Gertrude Crump? Monster Theatre Panthea Vatandoost Blackbird, One Story Collective Lindsay Warnock A Little Night Music, Patrick Street Productions
RAY MICHAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMERGING DIRECTOR To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING DIRECTION SMALL THEATRE SPONSOR:
Stephen Drover The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Ryan Gladstone Who Killed Gertrude Crump? Monster Theatre Angela Konrad Ruined, Dark Glass Theatre Omari Newton & Kayvon Khoshkam The Shipment, SpeakEasy Theatre 2018 | Jessie Awards 9
THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT OUTSTANDING DIRECTION FOR LARGE THEATRE AWARD LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Lois Anderson Fun Home, Arts Club Theatre Company Kim Collier Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika, Arts Club Theatre Company Stephen Drover Hand to God, Arts Club Theatre Company Dean Paul Gibson Topdog/Underdog, Arts Club Theatre Company Angela Konrad Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre
COLIN CAMPBELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TECHNICAL THEATRE To be announced at ceremony
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
CONGRATULATIONS!
to everyone who helped make Vancouver theatre outstanding this year. from Pacific Theatre the Paci Team 10 2018 | Jessie Awards
Crème -Glacée, Théâtre la Seizième Jabber, Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre The Canada Show, Monster Theatre The Code, Green Thumb Theatre The Velveteen Rabbit, Carousel Theatre for Young People
GVPTA CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: John Wright
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION LARGE THEATRE SPONSOR:
Fun Home, Arts Club Theatre Company Misery, Arts Club Theatre Company Much Ado About Nothing, Bard on the Beach Outside Mullingar, Pacific Theatre Topdog/Underdog, Arts Club Theatre Company
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION SMALL THEATRE
The Lonesome West, Cave Canem Productions The Shipment, SpeakEasy Theatre The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius, Rumble Theatre Who Killed Gertrude Crump? Monster Theatre
JOHN WRIGHT GVPTA CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD By Ariane Fleischmann With a career spanning 55 years in theatre, film, and television, John Wright is a man of philosophy, art, and letters. Born in Pioneer Mine, B.C., his family moved around throughout his childhood. A self-described army brat, Wright thrived in the ever-changing landscape of his youth, turning to theatre for companionship. “When you’re a kid it’s just showing off,” says Wright. “The showing off part never really goes away, and neither does the kid, really.” Theatre runs in the Wright family. At his first performance—Hansel and Gretel in grade 4—Wright recalls, “my little sister sat in the front row and she said all of my lines in a loud voice just before I did.” Years later,
“There appears to be an unlimited possibility if you can have a high ceiling.”
when Wright developed Blackbird Theatre with Paddy Macleod, founding members included his sister, Marti, and his daughter, Johnna. After high school, Wright briefly joined the navy before realizing it wasn’t for him. Following a nine-month tour of BC’s interior with Holiday Theatre, he returned to UBC to study the classics. Then, he continued his theatre education at Stanford University under the mentorship of Dutch director Erik Vos. There, Wright was assistant director on one of his favourite productions in his career: Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound. Back in Canada, he taught at the Universities of Saskatoon and Calgary, followed by a stint in television and film where he produced commercials, educational videos, and even a feature film. Using that knowledge, Wright returned to teach and direct at his alma mater, eventually becoming Head of the
Department of Theatre and Film at UBC from 1996–1999. Retirement brought Wright the opportunity to pursue the classics once more. You could say his passion for them is written in stone or triptych. “What you need to make art or poetry is a baffle,” says Wright about producing classical theatre. “It’s just as important to have a thing that obstructs you as it is a thing which releases you.” Their first season, Wright chose a true classic: Friedrich Schiller’s Mary Stuart. “It had all of the classic elements, requiring us to make the literary aspects as brilliant as we could, and find new choices in design that would work in a small theatre.” The Cultch may be small, but it has lofty ceilings, a feature Wright adores. “There appears to be an unlimited possibility if you can have a high ceiling.” One thing’s certain: John Wright has reached for that ceiling throughout his career. .
STAY CONNECTED AT STRAIGHT.COM
Proud Media Sponsor
The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Congratulations to all the nominees and winners!
Vancouver's leading arts source. 2018 | Jessie Awards 11
JESSIE RICHARDSON JESSIE RICHARDSON was a local pioneer in the development of professional theatre. Once met, she was never forgotten. She could be found at the center of any dramatic activity that aspired to professional theatre—she created costumes, acted, toured the province, raised money and raised the spirits of all. Jessie gave everyone she encountered a sense of community and common purpose. It was, and continues to be, fitting to celebrate Vancouver’s theatrical excellence in her honour.
SPECIAL AWARDS DESCRIPTION SYDNEY J. RISK Sydney J. Risk was a Western Canadian theatre pioneer who formed Everyman Theatre, a reparatory company, in 1946. The company toured Western Canada at a time when there were no professional theatre companies and no government grants. He contributed to the theatre as a professional actor and educator with the Universities of BC and Alberta and the Banff School of Fine Arts. However, it is his support of playwrights for which he is particularly remembered, producing new plays through Everyman and later at UBC. In memory of Mr. Risk, the Sydney J. Risk Foundation created this award to recognize an outstanding original play by an emerging writer. A monetary gift accompanies this award, given annually in memory of this inspiring director and teacher. Further information about Sydney J. Risk Foundation may be obtained by contacting Donald Risk at dhrisk@shaw.ca. CRITIC’S CHOICE INNOVATION AWARD The Innovation Award is adjudicated by Vancouver theatre critics, and celebrates the most successfully innovative production of the year. The nominating committee for this award includes Jo Ledingham, Colin Thomas, and Mark Robins. They nominate the five most innovative productions of the season and select one winner. The producer receives a special trophy. PATRON OF THE ARTS AWARD The Patron of the Arts Award recognizes an individual or organization that has provided significant support to live theatre in our community. In honouring these exceptional supporters, we celebrate the impulse to philanthropy that is essential to our survival. The Patron of the Arts Award is juried each year by a committee of the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance.
12 2018 | Jessie Awards
THE SAM PAYNE AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER Born in New Westminster, Sam Payne received his formal training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Upon returning to Canada, he joined the company of Ottawa’s Canadian Repertory Theatre along with Christopher Plummer, Derek Ralston, Amelia Hall, et al. The company ran for three years and is credited for being the first professional theatre company in Canada. Returning to BC, Sam worked as an actor, director, adjudicator, and producer. He put his stamp of excellence on every company from the early days of Totem and Vanguard Theatre to CBC’s Golden Age of Radio Drama and the beginning of television drama. The Sam Payne Award was established to recognize and encourage new talent on the Vancouver Theatre Scene. THE PERFORMING ARTS RECOGNITION FUND The three components of The Performing Arts Recognition Fund are The Mary Phillips Award, The Ray Michal Award, and The John Moffat and Larry Liillo Prize. These three cash awards, administered by The Vancouver Foundation, provide unique opportunities for us to recognize local theatre artists. By making a personal investment in our community, you help ensure the ongoing recognition of our outstanding artists. Donations can be made payable to The Vancouver Foundation and sent to: The Performing Arts Recognition Fund, c/o The Vancouver Foundation, Suite 1200, 555 West Hastings St., Box 12132, Vancouver, BC V6B 4N6. THE JOHN MOFFAT AND LARRY LILLO PRIZE John and Larry were prodigiously talented theatre artists—lovers of life, art and fun — who were lost to AIDS. John and Larry were integral members of the contemporary Vancouver Theatre scene. They were recipients of numerous Jessies, John for performance and Larry for directing. This Prize grew out of a request by John that an annual award be established in memory of his longtime companion, Larry Lillo. In their memory, a cash prize is presented each year to a West Coast theatre artist to be used for a project, a course of study, or to fulfill their heart’s desire. In John and Larry’s memory, we must strive to live courageous, creative lives full of laughter and love. THE RAY MICHAL PRIZE FOR MOST PROMISING NEW DIRECTOR Ray Michal was a vital force in Vancouver’s theatrical life. As the artistic director for
City Stage, directing over 100 productions, his choice of plays and players, to some, were quite risky. However, Ray’s vision provided a guiding light for innovation in theatre that is still present in our city today. As one of the very first directors to present “lunch hour” theatre, he offered many people their first break in the arts. Ray won two Jessies for Outstanding Direction of a Play, and in 1988, was given the Career Achievement Award. His wife Betty and sons Carl and Paul established the Ray Michal Prize which offers a monetary bursary to the most promising newcomer in the field of Stage Direction. The bursary is awarded annually to a person who has combined commitment, vision, integrity, and added a dash of daring to their artistic endeavors.
THE MARY PHILLIPS AWARD FOR BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACHIEVEMENT This award honours our unsung heroes: publicists, stage managers, administrators, accountants, box office and front-of-house personnel—all those wonderful people who labour in obscurity and will never be asked to take a bow for their work. The prize commemorates Mary Phillips, whose matchless wit and style graced the behind-the-scenes at City Stage. When she fell ill with breast cancer, the theatre community’s love and respect for her was demonstrated in a memorable evening of entertainment, the “pass the Hat” benefit of September 4, 1988. David Phillips established the Mary Phillips Award with the generous donations of Vancouver’s theatre community. Each year, this award is given to a person who best exemplifies the spirit and dedication which were Mary’s gifts to the performing arts in Vancouver. THE COLIN CAMPBELL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TECHNICAL THEATRE Colin Campbell lived and worked in technical theatre and live performance for over 30 years in a variety of capacities and increasing responsibility. The Colin Campbell Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre is awarded to an individual at any stage in their career who has displayed excellence and commitment to the field of professional technical theatre in Greater Vancouver through their body of work. Colin Campbell, production manager at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, passed away on June 25, 2010, after a fierce and inspiring battle with cancer. His friends and colleagues have established an award in his name to recognize an individual who shares Colin’s commitment to excellence in the field of technical theatre.
JURY CHAIRS IAN FARTHING Large Theatre
Ian now works primarily as a freelance director and writer, with occasional forays into acting. He was artistic director of Ontario’s St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, receiving the Capital Critics Circle Award for Excellence, along with numerous Prix Rideau Award nominations for his productions there.
ELIZABETH KIRKLAND JACKMAN Small Theatre
Liz is an actor, mom, puppeteer, Alley Theatre board member, and interim artistic producer for Staircase Theatre. She is the winner of the The Cultchivating The Fringe Award for Alley Theatre’s Wicked Shorts gratefully acknowledges that she lives and works on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish people.
EURY CHANG Script Reading
Eury Chang is a Vancouver-born and based theatre artist, writer, and director. He was part of the first cohort of the Arts Club Actors Intensive, trained with One Yellow Rabbit Theatre in Calgary, and intensively trained over a ten-year period with master teacher
Linda Putnam. He obtained his master’s degree in Theatre Studies from UBC and works as the artistic director of Creative Dominion, a company dedicated to remounting Canadian plays, developing an intercultural aesthetic, and hosting workshops and dialogues for performing artists.
MING HUDSON Theatre for Young Audiences
Ming is a physical theatre practitioner, freelance performer, and devised theatre creator. Ming is the co-artistic director of two devised physical theatre based companys: you & i Theatre (Canada) and Inside I’m a Mermaid (UK), and is the founder of new Vancouver collective, At Last Productions. Ming is excited to be making her Bard on the Beach debut this summer.
HOST REBECCA DUNCAN is from the Squamish and Musqueam Nations of the Coast Salish Peoples. Rebecca has devoted her life to preserve the Squamish Language along with the cultural teachings that have been handed down to her. She is a teacher/ curriculum developer and has performed worldwide.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2017/2018 Vice President JUDY CHANG Secretary GISELLE CLARK-TRENAMAN
Marketing Assistant ANGIE DESCALZI
Treasurer GAIL NELSON
Sponsorship Assistant CHARISSA HURT
Awards Show Chair JULIA MAURO
Members at Large BREANNE HARMON
Special Awards Chair MIKE MACKENZIE
IAN HARMON
Statues JULIA SIEDLANOWSKA
JETHELO E. CABILETE
Marketing Chair WENDY BOLLARD
Sponsorship Chair DANIELLE KLAUDT
TOM PICKETT Jessie Review Committee Chair SUSAN MIYAGISHIMA
This serves as the official notice to members that the 2017/2018 AGM will be held on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 7pm at Green Thumb Theatre Studio B, 5560 McKinnon Street, Vancouver. The AGM will be followed by a TownHall. Got a Jessies related subject you’d like to see discussed at the town hall? Email info@jessieawards.com
CREDITS Producer/Director Christie Watson Projection Designer Jordan Watkins Traditional Welcome Rebecca Campbell – Tsitsayxemaat ASL Interpretation Lisz Keallen & Michelle Eedes Hosts Cameron Mackenzie & Dave Deveau House Band The Queertet Luis ‘Babyface’ Melgar: keys Sally Zori: drums Alison Gorman: trumpet Presenters Davey Calderon & Deb Williams Claire Sakaki & Raugi Yu Itai Erdal & Stephen Litton Pedro Chamale & Renea Morriseau Ashlie Corcoran & Kiomi Pyke Fay Nass & Aaron Wells Patrick Keating & Susan Miyagishima Sarah Marchant Don Risk Dawn Brennan & Pam Johnson David & Louise Phillips Colin Thomas et al. Milton Lim Special Awards Chris Gachalian Milton Lim Production Team Jenn Stewart, Robyn Volk Melissa McCowell Geoffrey Jones Projection Support Markian Tarasiuk – The Art Left Live Announcer France Perras Photographers Rob Trendiak, Artslandia Flora Gordon, Artslandia Mark Halliday, Moon Rider Productions Marketing/PR Bonnie Allan Program Cover Design J. A. Glen Design Program Publisher Artslandia
2018 | Jessie Awards 13
PRODUCTIONS CONSIDERED 1 Hour Photo.......................................Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre A Beautiful View................................Naked Goddess Productions A Little Night Music.........................Patrick Street Productions A Steady Rain....................................Seven Tyrants Theatre Above The Hospital...........................Midtwenties Theatre Society Almost, Maine....................................Pacific Theatre Angels in America, Part 2: Perestroika............................Arts Club Theatre Company Bar Mitzvah Boy...............................Pacific Theatre Beauty and the Beast........................Arts Club Theatre Company Bittergirl.............................................Arts Club Theatre Company Blackbird............................................One Story Collective Bombay Black by Anosh Irani Raghupriya Society (In the process of incorporation)
Much Ado About Nothing................Bard on the Beach Nine Dragons.....................................Vertigo Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre & Gateway Theatre Not So Dumb......................................Green Thumb Theatre Only Drunks and Children Tell The Truth.....................................The Firehall Arts Centre Outside Mullingar............................Pacific Theatre Red Light Winter...............................Vagrant Players Theatre Society RUINED..............................................Dark Glass Theatre Satellite(s)...........................................Solo Collective Theatre Sequence..............................................Realwheels SHIT.....................................................Firehall Arts Centre Shylock................................................Bard on the Beach
Butcher................................................Prime Cuts Collective
Six Fine Lines....................................Level-Headed Friends Productions
Children of God..................................Urban Ink
Smart People......................................Mitch and Murray Productions
Circle Game: reimagining the music of Joni Mitchell......................The Firehall Theatre Society / Firehall Arts Centre
Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish...........................................Axis Theatre Company
City of Angels.....................................the PIT Collective Crème-Glacée.....................................Théâtre la Seizième End of the Rainbow...........................ACEproductions Fool for Love.......................................ABB Collective Forget About Tomorrow...................Arts Club Theatre Company Fun Home...........................................Arts Club Theatre Company Good Day and Good Night..............Carousel Theatre for Young People
Thanks for Giving.............................Arts Club Theatre Company The After After Party........................After Party Theatre The Canada Show.............................Monster Theatre The Christians...................................Pacific Theatre The Code..............................................Green Thumb Theatre The Double Axe Murders.................Rusticate Theatre/ Presentation House The Events..........................................Pi Theatre
Gruesome Playground Injuries......Island Production
The Hound of the Baskervilles........The Royal Canadian Theatre Company
Hand to God.......................................Arts Club Theatre Company
The Humans.......................................Arts Club Theatre Company
Happy Place.......................................Touchstone Theatre
The Hunger Room.............................Staircase Theatre
Homeward Bound.............................Western Gold Theatre Society How Star Wars Saved My Life........Some Assembly Theatre Company
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe......................................Carousel Theatre for Young People
I Lost My Husband...........................Ruby Slippers Theatre
The Lonesome West...........................Cave Canem Productions
Jabber..................................................Green Thumb Theatre & Neworld Theatre
The Pillowman...................................Reality Curve Theatre The Realistic Joneses........................The Mint Collective
Japanese Problem..............................Universal Limited
The Ridiculous Darkness................Alley Theatre
Jitters...................................................Arts Club Theatre Company
The Shipment.....................................SpeakEasy Theatre
King Arthur’s Night..........................Neworld Theatre King Charles III.................................Arts Club Theatre Company
The Society for the Destitute Presents Titus Bouffonius...............Rumble Theatre
Kurt Vonnegut’s The Euphio Question........................Little Mountain Lion Productions
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.........................................Theater Crossing Equity Artists Collective
Land of Trash.....................................Green Thumb Theatre
The Velveteen Rabbit.........................Carousel Theatre for Young People
Me and You.........................................Arts Club Theatre Company Merchant of Venice............................Bard on the Beach Million Dollar Quartet....................Arts Club Theatre Company Misery..................................................Arts Club Theatre Company Mr. Burns, a post-electric play.......Little Mountain Lion Productions 14
The Winter’s Tale...............................Bard on the Beach Topdog/Underdog.............................Arts Club Theatre Company Two Gentlemen of Verona................Bard on the Beach Who Killed Gertrude Crump?.........Monster Theatre
SELFIE
BY CHRISTINE QUINTANA DIRECTED BY PEDRO CHAMALE
TINY REPLICAS BY DAVE DEVEAU
DIRECTED BY SHELBY BUSHELL
THEORY
BY NORMAN YEUNG
Breaking News, Traffic, and Weather
DIRECTED BY MILY MUMFORD
VANCOUVER’S ONLY ALL NEWS RADIO
NEWS_1130_2018_Jessies_Sixth.indd 1
FESTIVAL OF EMERGING TALENT | AUGUST 16–25 Italian Cultural Centre | Pay what you decide at rumble.org
2018-05-28 2:53 PM
Emily Jane King, Marguerite Hanna, Julia Munčs, Isaac Mazur and Matthias Falvai in The Skin of Our Teeth, photo by Ross Den Otter
CONGR ATUL ATIONS STUDIO 58 GR ADUATES Studio 58 congratulates all of our graduates on their Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations! We are very proud of your work and look forward to supporting you throughout your career.
STUDIO 58 Studio 58 is one of the most renowned professional theatre programs in Canada, and provides practical, hands-on training for exciting and rewarding careers in theatre, film, and television. Learn more. www.langara.ca/create www.studio58.ca
2018 | Jessie Awards 15
NIKITA CAMERON Stagecraft and Event Technology Grad Production Assistant
GET A CREATIVE CAREER
with Douglas College.
Performing Arts | Creative Writing | Music | Theatre Performing and Fine Arts | Stagecraft and Event Technology
Apply Now for Fall douglascollege.ca/apply
18124D
DOUGLA
“Bringing light to important subjects, representing minorities on screen—that’s why I do this.”