June 28 to September 23, 2017
2017
S NGS VING THEATRE SAVI SU ER THEATRE SA MER MM SUM
Trade in your ticket stubs from any Port-to-Port theatre at another partnering theatre and save 10% on a regularly priced ticket. Must present stubs prior to ordering.
Must stubs to Must present present stubs prior prior to ordering. ordering. Must present stubs prior to ordering. Offer valid on regular season performances only. Ticket stubs have no cash value. Limit one ticket stub discount per ticket purchased.
Our toPORT Our 2017 2017 participating participating PORT PORTto PORT Ontario Summer Theatre’s include: Ontario Summer Theatre’s include:
4th 4th Line Line Theatre Theatre Blyth Blyth Festival Festival Theatre Theatre Cameco Capitol Arts Centre Cameco Capitol Arts Centre Drayton Entertainment Drayton Entertainment Driftwood Theatre Group Driftwood Theatre Group The Foster Festival The Foster Festival Globus Theatre Globus Theatre Gravenhurst Opera House Gravenhurst Opera House Highlands Summer Festival Highlands Summer Festival Lighthouse Festival Theatre Lighthouse Festival Theatre Orillia Opera House Orillia Opera House Port Stanley Festival Theatre Port Stanley Festival Theatre
Shaw Shaw Festival Festival Showboat Showboat Festival Festival Theatre Theatre Thousand Islands Playhouse Thousand Islands Playhouse Westben Arts Festival Theatre Westben Arts Festival Theatre
For For all all the the details details please please ask ask our our Box Box Office Office Agents Agents
Our Home & Native Land July 6 - 16, 2017 Our Fourth Fourth Our Summer Summer of Music Music of
LIVE. ORIGINAL. CANADIAN. THEATRE. Gil Garratt Artistic Director 45 years ago, two summers before the Blyth Festival began, a group of actors, lead by Paul Thompson, arrived in Blyth to rehearse a show they were writing called 1837: The Farmer’s Revolt. Before they were allowed to use the hall, they had to sign waivers, declaring that if the roof fell on their heads, they wouldn’t sue the township. Incredibly, at that time, the theatre of Blyth Memorial Community Hall, was in disuse and some speculated that it would be best if the building were demolished. The repairs needed to open it to the public, the community, again, were too dear, and the scope of work too great. But a rallying cry from dedicated volunteers in the community, combined with passionate fundraising, and tireless elbow grease, ensured the building was restored. Restored and ready for an unforeseeable future as a leader in the creation of original Canadian theatre, from coast to coast to coast. 43 seasons later, here we are, with more than 130 world premieres under our belt, and embarking on our 205th production. If you are reading this, you are likely right now sitting in a new seat in this stunningly renovated hall, about to witness another inspiring, powerful, hilarious, beautiful piece of original theatre in what is now one of the best equipped theatres in the region. So, welcome back. The future is truly unforeseeably bright. 2015 - 2017 Season Sponsors
Parkland FUEL CORPORATION
Gil Garratt, Artistic Director
Media Sponsor
Blyth Festival is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT), Theatre Ontario, and Ontario Summer Theatre (OST) and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.
AUDIENCE INFORMATION GOOD SCENTS POLICY: On behalf of those
LATECOMERS: Patrons arriving late or leaving
who have serious allergies, we respectfully ask that employees, artists, and patrons refrain from wearing perfume, scented hairspray, cologne, scented deodorants, aftershave, or other scented products in the theatre building.
the auditorium may be seated during a suitable break in the performance. We will do our best to accommodate all patrons; however management reserves the right to hold latecomers.
RESTROOMS: Available on the main floor.
exits are equipped with emergency lighting in case of a power outage. In case of an emergency, our staff is trained to carry out an evacuation of the theatre.
FIRST AID: Please see the House Manager or the nearest usher. At least one staff member on duty is trained in first aid.
HEARING ASSISTANCE: The theatre is equipped with an Assisted Listening System. A limited number of units are available at the Box Office.
CELLULAR PHONES: Phones, pagers, and beeper alarms must be turned off inside the theatre during the performance. The use of cameras and/or recording devices is not permitted in the theatre.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: The theatre and
CONTACT US: Telephone: 519.523.9300 Toll Free 1.877.862.5984 Email: info@blythfestival.com Mailing Address: PO Box 10, 423 Queen Street Blyth ON N0M 1H0 Website: blythfestival.com Photos are credited or contributed and published with permission. Printed in Canada by Blyth Printing. Information in this program is correct at time of printing but is subject to change. ©2017 Blyth Festival.
BEVERAGES: Only bottled water is permitted inside the theatre.
North Huron BLYTH FARM CHEESE
THE ANCHOR
QUEENS BAKERY
PART II BISTRO
WONKY FROG
ALICE MUNRO FESTIVAL CANADIAN CENTRE OF THE SHORT STORY FOR RURAL CREATIVITY
Welcome!
northhuron.ca
We are proud to be home to the Blyth Festival and have Canadian theatre in our own backyard! There is lots to do in North Huron. A creative hub and activities galore - there is something for everyone! A night at a bed and breakfast after dinner and the show or a whole week, unplugged, looking at the stars and fireflies - consider staying awhile with us! We have LOTS of places for you to relax, unwind, and enjoy! While you’re here, we invite you, our visitors, to savour our fresh and delicious fare. From gourmet meals prepared by award-winning chefs, to farm-gate products to take away – fresh and local is what we do! Please take the time to explore our main streets, discover our trails and gardens or experience our sites and festivals. Leave your cares behind and spend some time in beautiful, creative, natural... North Huron.
Stay...
Play...
Eat...
Drink...
SEASON IMAGES by Terry Manzo
Top photo by Mr. T.B. McArter, June 10, 1903. Bottom photo by Terry Manzo, September 2, 2016. Season image creative by Terry Manzo. Terry Manzo is a freelance professional photographer based in Stratford, Ontario. Her work encompasses a broad spectrum including events, theatre, music, publicity, product promotion, and people at work and play. A client once said "I wish I could see the world through your eyes." Terry's unique perspective is particularly evident in her fine art photography. She has been photographing for the Blyth Festival since 2001/2002 and is one of her favourite gigs. Visit terrymanzo.com.
From the Blyth Standard, June 11, 1903... “Yesterday was a busy day in Blyth. Mr. W.A. Carter, agent for the Frost & Wood Co. had a delivery of farm implements. There were 35 loaded wagons in the procession, which was formed at the railway station and marched up town to Queen Street, where Mr. T.B. McArter took a photo of the group. The implements delivered consisted of binders, mowers, horse rakes and corn cultivators. All those who took part in the procession were entertained to dinner at the Commercial and Queen’s hotels by the Frost and Wood Co." With thanks to Brock and Janis Vodden.
June 28 to August 19
WORLD PREMIERE
MR. NEW YEAR'S EVE:
Image by Terry Manzo
A night with Guy Lombardo by David Scott
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Creative Team
KLAUS ANSELM REBECCA AUERBACH JASON CHESWORTH NATHAN HOWE RON KENNELL GEORGE MEANWELL J.D. NICHOLSEN JIM SHEA (alternate) BIRGITTE SOLEM JAMES THOMSON
GIL GARRATT Director GEORGE MEANWELL Music Director BETH KATES for Playground Studios Inc. Digital Dramaturg, Set & Projection Designer GEMMA JAMES SMITH Costume Designer LESLEY WILKINSON Lighting Designer VERNE GOOD Sound Designer HEATHER THOMPSON Production Stage Manager KATERINA SOKYRKO Assistant Stage Manager
There will be one 15 minute intermission. Production Sponsor
Media Sponsors
Playwright's Notes
Director's Notes
This play started as an idea almost a decade ago. I was aware of Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians but didn’t know much about their story. As I dug deeper and read everything I could on Guy, a greater, more complex story emerged, a story that needed to be captured on stage with the music that brought him fame. My journey with the development of this play started with a workshop at the Grand Theatre in London with Gil Garratt as dramaturg. It has gone through many versions, workshops and approaches, more than any script I’ve worked on in the past. There aren’t many musical acts that can claim the same achievements. For the tremendous success the Royal Canadians achieved (selling an estimated 300 million records in their career), Guy and his brothers were often ridiculed and labelled with unflattering monikers. Even his hometown of London didn’t always embrace him. Waning support led to the closure of the Guy Lombardo Museum. When jazz evolved with swing and bebop, the Lombardos continued to play their slow tempo dance music because it worked for their audience. As an individual, Guy achieved fame beyond music for his speedboat racing. It’s a passion inspired by his father’s love of boats. Gaetano and Guy led parallel paths of music and boating. They were both leaders and headstrong, and their paths and ambitions often collided.
Every time I’ve sat down with Dave to talk about this script, he has stood up. Truth.
By David Scott
Guy was a band leader who learned his craft in southern Ontario, including Huron County, found success in New York City, and fame around the world. The assistance of the Grand Theatre, the Ontario Arts Council, and Gil Garratt in the development of Mr. New Year's Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo is greatly appreciated.
#bfLombardo
By Gil Garratt
Every time we’ve sat down at a table with the pages and pages of writing, the research, the books, the records, be it all neatly organized or in a dog-eared mound of marked up notes, Dave has almost immediately, leapt to his feet. Dave has been working on this script for years now. And it's been very challenging. And yet, his excitement, his passion, his curiosity, his openness, his then-what-if-then-what-if-thenwhat-if has been completely uncontainable. And it's infectious. As restless as a dance floor. I remember talking to Dave the day Municipal Council for the City of London voted to close the Lombardo museum. The argument, as so often reverberates in our society, was that this was a cost saving measure for the city. The museum wasn’t making any money. In fact it was "costing the city money". For the record: Operating the Guy Lombardo museum cost Londoners about seven cents per capita, per year, to keep open. seven cents each. I don’t know when it became acceptable to measure the value of a museum based on the tally of its box office. I don’t know when we decided to apply so-called market forces to our history. I can only imagine how empty our halls of antiquity would be if the rest of the world had taken this approach. Shortly afterward, Dave told me about watching item after item from the museum’s collection go up for auction on eBay. A short series of anonymous online bids later, and the tangible legacy of one of Canada’s Greatest, most successful, most influential artists of all time was irretrievably scattered. Dave has wanted to tell this story, to bring this man to the stage for a long time. For so many reasons. Not the least of which was to remind us all how easy it is to overlook what came before. I think more of us, like Dave, need to stand up. Stand up, and dance for what we believe in.
July 5 to August 19
by Drew Hayden Taylor
Image by Terry Manzo
THE BERLIN BLUES
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Creative Team
NYLA CARPENTIER Donalda JONATHAN FISHER Trailer CATHERINE FITCH Birgit NICOLE JOY-FRASER Angie TONY MUNCH Reinhart JAMES DALLAS SMITH Andrew
BRAD FRASER Director MEGAN ALFANO Choreographer KELLY WOLF Set & Costume Designer LOUISE GUINAND Lighting Designer VERNE GOOD Sound Designer SANDY PLUNKETT Stage Manager LAURA BAXTER Assistant Stage Manager
There will be one 15 minute intermission.
Media Sponsor
#bfBerlin
Playwright's Notes
Director's Notes
I am so delighted Blyth Festival has chosen to produce my humble little comedy. Like all true comedy, it has its origins in reality. In this case, it is the product of sixteen lecture tours of Germany I have been fortunate to experience. I have seen more of that country than most Germans, and more importantly, I was witness to an amazing if puzzling interest - dare I say obsession- regarding North American First Nation cultures. Some of the adventures I had over there demanded to be recorded and shared.
In these days when the idea of artist or cultural appropriation is so prevalent, Berlin Blues seems a particularly timely play. Drew Hayden Taylor’s take on a reserve that hits the appropriation gold mine looks at some very serious issues from a more rarely seen point of view, that of the people who are being exploited. And he does it with a sharp, insightful sense of humour that keeps us laughing so we can think about it later. To my mind, that’s the best thing any play can do.
By Drew Hayden Taylor
By Brad Fraser
With that said, it's been my experience that many First Nation playwrights prefer to explore the darker side of the Aboriginal experience. About twenty years ago, in a conversation with an Elder from the Blood Reserve in Alberta, I heard him say something that has haunted much of my work: "For Native people, humour is the WD-40 of healing". To me, that said it all. I wanted to be a part of the healing and as the old adage goes, "laughter is the best medicine." Welcome to Otter Lake. Welcome to Ojibway World. I'll see you in the recovery room. Drew Hayden Taylor Dawson City, Yukon May 2017
Congratulations to the Blyth Festival. Thank you for the privilege of working on this great project.
August 9 to September 23
WORLD PREMIERE
by The Company
Image by Terry Manzo
THE PIGEON KING
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Creative Team
REBECCA AUERBACH (August 9 to Sept 3) JASON CHESWORTH GIL GARRATT GEORGE MEANWELL J.D. NICHOLSEN AJINEEN SAGAL (September 4 to 23) BIRGITTE SOLEM
SEVERN THOMPSON Director STEVE LUCAS Set & Lighting Designer GEMMA JAMES SMITH Costume Designer VERNE GOOD Sound Designer ALI BERKOK* Sound Apprentice HEATHER THOMPSON Production Stage Manager KATERINA SOKYRKO Assistant Stage Manager
There will be one 15 minute intermission. Co-sponsor
Media Sponsor
*The services of Ali Berkok were made possible through Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program, funded by the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
#bfPigeon
Playwright's Notes
Director's Notes
In his recent memoir, Canadian Poet turned Farmer, Brian Brett, said “farming is a profession of hope.”
“He who does not trust is not to be trusted.”
By Gil Garratt
(On the same page he also admitted that if the Ministry of Agriculture knew how little he paid himself he’d be brought up on charges for exploitation!) Nut. Shell. More than pigeons and squab, what Arlan Galbraith traded in, was hope. Empty barns became pens full of possibility. Farmers who’d been dealt a bad hand, suddenly had another ace in the deck. Until the whole house of feathered cards came down. But, to extend the gambling metaphor a little (and after all, this is a farm story, so why wouldn’t we extend the gambling metaphor?) it’s important to remember that while Arlan may have run the table, there were a lot of other players betting on his dice. Not just the farmers who got fleeced. There were banks who made business loans against century farms, mortgage brokers, feed companies, trucking companies, contractors, insurers, lumberyards, and more… whole communities were riding on Arlan’s reckless roll. While his scheme may go down in the annals and the almanacs as one of the most preposterous, it will not be the only one… and it certainly won’t be the last.
By Severn Thompson
-Lao Tzu Arlan Galbraith printed this quote in large letters and included it with his Pigeon King contract information. One could say that our whole economy is built on a similar kind of faith. The play you see today is the result of a group investigation and exploration of Pigeon King International, a business that ran from 2001 to June 2008. In 2013, Arlan Galbraith stood trial in Kitchener’s Superior Court for fraud. Hundreds of people had lost their trust along with their investments while a few still considered him a friend. All characters in the play with the exception of Mr. Galbraith have fictional names and are only loosely based on people we have researched and/or interviewed. It’s our wish to respect the privacy of those surrounding the case while still including the full range of experiences and perspectives. The Pigeon King is a compelling story of hope, fraud, uncertain economies, justice, forgiveness, despair and love. I like to think that it’s also a story where trust can be found again, at least in ourselves and our ability to overcome misfortune. Perhaps pigeons are a great example of this resilience as they have survived and thrived along with us for thousands of years.
E QUE NS
As more than one couple told us, when they were asked why they believed him, they said simply “he always paid cash on the barrel... was never late… never bounced a cheque.” They had their doubts. But sometimes the need for hope is greater than the scale of doubt. It’s the same odds: Boxcars and Snake Eyes. Jokers are wild. The Pigeon was King.
&
ACC
BA
KERY NS O M M O D AT I O
430 Queen Street
Homemade Treats & Lunches, Wine, Craft Beer
226-523-9720
August 16 to September 16
WORLD PREMIERE
IPPERWASH
Image by Terry Manzo
by Falen Johnson & Jessica Carmichael
Cast (in alphabetical order)
Creative Team
NYLA CARPENTIER JONATHN FISHER NICOLE JOY-FRASER JAMES DALLAS SMITH
JESSICA CARMICHAEL Director CLAYTON WINDATT Set Designer BETH KATES for Playground Studios Inc. Projection Designer MICHELLE RAMSAY Lighting Designer JEFF CHIEF Costume Designer DEANNA H. CHOI Sound Designer & Composer BARB BRESSETTE Community Consultant Liaison CANDACE SCOTT-MOORE Community Consultant Liaison SANDY PLUNKETT Stage Manager LAURA BAXTER Assistant Stage Manager
There will be one 15 minute intermission.
Media Sponsor
#bfIpperwash
Playwright's Notes By Falen Johnson
When Jessica Carmichael and I began work on Ipperwash we knew one thing for certain, we had to be in the community and on the land. Being there went beyond research. Meeting the people and getting permission from the community to tell this story was the most important thing we could undertake in the process. The people of Kettle and Stony Point have had the story of Ipperwash told before, there have been books, and movies, but our hope is to dive deeper into the story. To tell the history of the dispossession of the land, the reasons why the Ipperwash crisis occurred. To focus on the beauty of the space, the resilience of the people, and how they are moving forward. I am endlessly thankful for Barb Bresette and Candace Scott-Moore who served as community liaisons. Meegweetch to the both of them. Most of all, Meegweetch to the residents of Kettle and Stony Point. I hope I tell this story well for you.
Director's Notes
By Jessica Carmichael Director’s notes are always a strange thing to write before a play has begun rehearsal. This is the task before me today on a raining June 6th, 2017… More so they feel premature on this project as Falen Johnson and I are still
asking ourselves what Ipperwash is to us, to the community of Kettle and Stony Point, and, to you. It’s still revealing itself. I believe this will likely be true even as you sit here tonight engaging in the performance before you. There are so many stories from the people of Kettle and Stoney Point. Some have been told. Some badly. Some in earnest. Some without permission. Some without knowledge. Many have not been told too. We won’t tell them all tonight. We may fumble. We may discover a true moment of care and listening. We may have more questions than answers by night’s end. For there are stories still to come of the community and their land. The process of walking and being on the land has been profoundly moving. Along with Falen, I’ve met community members who have generously opened their doors to us. We thank them humbly for letting us hear their experiences of their land, their history, their present, their hopes for the future. Barb Bresette and Candace Scott-Moore, Meegwetch for your great hearts and “resistance.” Meegwetch to the people of Kettle and Stony Point for accepting us into their lives. It’s a beginning. Falen and I keep saying it’s a longterm relationship struck. It has to be. We hope you see some of that relationship and findings here in this theatrical experience tonight. Theatre is an important medium for sharing stories. For bringing us together. I hope it does just that.
Congratulations to the Blyth Festival.
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this project. 40374 Huron Street, Exeter 519.235.0909 | pfaff.electric@eastlink.ca
Phillips Studio August 9 to 13
Primordial Soup Theatre Company presents
THE DOWNS
Written and Performed by Sheryl Scott Directed by Desiree Baker Stage Manager/Sound Design Debra Chantler Props, Make-up and Hair Design Lara Jenson
Director's Message By Desiree Baker
Photo of Sheryl Scott by Debra Chantler
“You haven’t lived until you bitten into a still steamy, newly buttered, soft in the middle… crunchy on the outside slice of homemade white bread.” - Millie Johnson The Downs came from humble beginnings. This simple one woman play was born from a five minute audition piece that Sheryl Scott wrote back in 2014, when she was asked to audition for a part in the play called On Golden Pond. Just in case you were wondering, Sheryl got the role My imagination was captured immediately by this character. I belly laughed and cried the whole way through the fiveminute audition. Afterwards I was determined to make this piece into a short play. People HAD to meet this animated character that I quickly fell in love with. Fortunately, Sheryl was open to writing more to this story and it became a twenty-minute play to be performed in the LOAF (London One Act Festival). It was again lengthened into a forty-five
minute play, where it was performed in the London Fringe Festival. Today its running time is about one hour and fifteen minutes. Sheryl has performed it for several local London fundraisers. This is a brilliant one woman play set in the small town of Miramichi, New Brunswick. I’m sure at first you might wonder what the heck you are doing here, listening to this woman and all her farm stories. But I will guarantee that by the end of the play you will have laughed, drooled, learnt how to fold, diddled along, gasped, fell in love just a little bit, and even cried. It is my hope that your heart will be moved, and your imagination will be captured. As the adjudicator said when we debuted The Downs at the 2015 LOAF (London One Act Festival), “There are many plays you watch, leave, and don’t remember, but there is that one play that will stick with you forever, and The Downs was that one for me.” It was my absolute joy and pleasure to direct The Downs and to workshop this piece alongside Sheryl. To be trusted with such a labour of love. Thank you Sheryl for allowing me to push you, cry with you, laugh with you and walk alongside this piece. It is a true gift you have girl, never let this light die in you. You have taught me so much, you my sweet talented friend, are deeply loved. Many thanks to Debra and Lara, who also believed in this story from the beginning, and have been right along on this amazing journey every step of the way. Thank you for your vision, your encouraging words, your stage managing skills, and your creativity in sets, clotheslines, and clothes pins (lol). For deeply loving Millie and this project. You both are treasured friends! I hope you enjoy the show, and remember… “Life is short, so make the most of it!” Millie Johnson
Phillips Studio September 12 to 16
WATCHING GLORY DIE By Judith Thompson Produced by Mulgrave Road Theatre Guysborough, Nova Scotia Director - Emmy Alcorn Featuring - Stephanie MacDonald as Gail | Rosellen | Glory Sound - Stephen Naylor Lights - Ingrid Risk Set - Tanner Welsh Stage Manager - Sarah O'Brien Judith Thompson is represented by Great North Artists Management, 350 Dupont Street, Toronto, M5R 1V9. Watching Glory Die was first produced by Canadian Rep Theatre, Toronto, in May 2014.
Playwright's Notes
By Judith Thompson Watching Glory Die was inspired by the tragic death of Ashley Smith in Grandview Prison for Women in October 2007. Though she died by self strangulation, I will not call it a suicide, because the truth is that our correctional system killed her. Six guards watched her die, as they had been instructed not to enter the cell until she turned blue. Though the play is inspired by my outrage at the death of this beautiful child/woman, it is important to note that it is not documentary, or biography. It is a play. The characters of the jail guard, Gail, and Rosalee, Glory's mother, are invented. I did speak to Coralee, Ashley's mother, on the phone at length, however, and I was thankful to have her permission to write this play. The terrible truth is that there are many Ashleys in our system right now. Though isolation cells have been ruled unconstitutional, inmates are still in them for months at a time. Change must happen now.
Director's Notes By Emmy Alcorn This is a fictional story that draws heavily on true accounts. It isn't about blame. It isn't about who is right or who is wrong. It is a contemplation on where we are as a society today. The situation depicted in this play is indicative of what is happening in our country now. Until we stop government sanctioned torture - as defined by the United Nations - Canada cannot call itself a just nation.
THE 2017 COMPANY EMMY ALCORN Director, Watching Glory Die Emmy has been Artistic Director for Mulgrave Road Theatre for 20 years, where she develops and produces significant Canadian plays – many of which have been seen in theatres across the country, the USA, and New Zealand. Most notably she has brought four plays by Daniel MacIvor to the public, originating the roles of Boots in Bingo! and Louise in Marion Bridge. She has worked as an actor, director, and musician with companies such as Neptune Theatre, Ship’s Company, Festival Antigonish, and Company Theatre. Her directing credits include the Atlantic Canadian premiere of Judith Thompson’s Watching Glory Die (currently on its third tour) and the original production of The West Woods (Stages Festival, Nova Scotia tour, National Arts Centre). Emmy executive produced her CD of original songs and is a recipient of the Nova Scotia Established Artist Award.
MEGAN ALFANO Choroegrapher, The Berlin Blues Theatre Credits (Selected): Colours in the Storm, Ring of Fire, High School Projects The Addams Family, Legally Blonde (Grand Theatre); The Wizard of Oz – Children’s Rehearsal Director (North American Touring Company); Cats, Guys and Dolls, Nine, Les Misérables (Do It With Class Children’s Theatre Company); Pride and Prejudice, Candide (Lyric Light Opera); Grease (Summer Stage Productions); Oliver! (Winston Knoll Collegiate); Seussical, High School Musical (Sheldon Williams Collegiate); Carousel, Titanic, School of Rock, Into the Woods (Original Kids Theatre Company). Film and TV: Canadian Country Music Awards – Rehearsal Assistant and Choreographer (CBC); Two of a Kind commercial - assistant choreographer and dancer (Casino Regina and Moose Jaw). Other: Canadian Dance Teachers Association Stage Division Full Membership; 2007 CKRM Saskatchewan Roughrider Cheer Team Coach, Movement Professor - Theatre Arts Program Fanshawe College, Instructor Drayton Youth Musical Theatre Program.
KLAUS ANSELM Actor, Mr. New Year's Eve Over the past two decades, Klaus has enjoyed performing for audiences throughout Canada, Europe, and the USA. Some highlights include playing with Julie Black, Dan Aykroyd in his Elwood Blues – Blues Brothers band, The Garden Brother’s Circus touring Canada, and many more. Klaus has taken a special interest in musical theatre, having performed in many plays over the last decade. He is thrilled to be involved in this season of the Blyth Festival.
DAVID ARCHIBALD Composer, The Berlin Blues For Blyth Festival: Perilous Pirate’s Daughter, Hometown, Dear Johnny Deere, The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom, Kitchen Radio, and St. Anne’s Reel. David is an award-winning musical director having recently filled that role at Theatre Calgary, Persephone Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, and Thousand Islands Playhouse. Meanwhile, David has written and performed on Sesame Street in New York and CBC’s Mr. Dressup. He has recorded with RCA and produced the first recording of pop-star Avril Lavigne. If he is not on stage in the summer, you can find David performing at many of Ontario’s fine Provincial and National Parks. He also works extensively with developmentally handicapped adults. He has many CDs of original songs to his credit. Please visit davidarchibald.com.
REBECCA AUERBACH Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King (August 9 to Sept 3) For Blyth Festival: 7th season: Our Beautiful Sons, If Truth Be Told, Stag and Doe, Kitchen Radio, Dear Johnny Deere, Queen Milli of Galt, Reverend Jonah, Another Season's Harvest, The Ballad of Stompin' Tom. Rebecca has performed extensively across the country for The Citadel, MTC, The Belfry, Caravan Farm, Theatre Aquarius, Factory Theatre, Summerworks, The Arts Club, ATP, Theatre Calgary, Musical Stage Company, Obsidian, Drayton, Charlottetown Festival, WJT, TIP, Vancouver Playhouse, Bard on the Beach, and many more. She has been nominated for three Jessie Awards, a Dora, a Betty, a Calgary Critics Award, and was the recipient of the Jessie Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Rebecca is a graduate of Studio 58. Upcoming: Onegin (NAC). Rebecca would like to thank Gil and the Blyth Festival for another glorious summer in Huron County.
DESIREE BAKER Director, The Downs Desiree is honored to have the privilege of directing the award-winning play The Downs at the Blyth Festival. Desiree has directed several local plays in London Ontario: LOAF 2011 People’s Choice Award winner, Delilah written by Len Cuthbert: Tuesdays With Morrie, 2012, and On Golden Pond, 2013 at the Palace Theatre. Desiree loves local theatre whether she is directing or acting herself. She has been in the director’s chair for 17 years, and loves working along side other creatives who can’t get enough of this amazing gig. "I want to thank Sheryl and my crew, Debra, and Lara for always making me laugh, for always working hard, for letting me lead you, and for loving the story of Millie Johnson so deeply. It’s been an amazing ride girls! To the three men in my life, Ron, David and Paul, it’s because of your continued love, support, and prayers that inspires me to continue to become. Love you to the moon…and back!"
LAURA BAXTER Stage Manager, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash Theatre credits: Black Boys, The 20th of November, Arigato Tokyo, Obaaberima, The Maids, The Silicone Diaries, Breakfast, Neon Nightz (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre); My Night With Reg, You Will Remember Me, NSFW, God of Carnage, Clybourne Park (Studio 180 Theatre); Tails From the City, The Public Servant, The Story, Happy Days, All That Fall, And Up They Flew (Common Boots Theatre); Little Pretty and The Exceptional, Age of Arousal, Toronto the Good, The Real McCoy (Factory Theatre); Elle (Theatre Passe Muraille); Dirt, Jitters (Soulpepper); Venus in Fur (CanadianStage); Soliciting Temptation, More Fine Girls (Tarragon Theatre); Speaking in Tongues, Festen (The Company Theatre); A Sleigh Ride Christmas Carol, Everyone, The Story, Macbeth (Caravan Farm Theatre).
JESSICA CARMICHAEL Playwright and Director, Ipperwash Jessica (Abenaki/Haudenosaunee) is the Artistic Director at Carousel Players. She is a director, dramaturge, actor, playwright and drama educator. She is a past Artistic Associate with Native Earth Performing Arts. Recent Directing credits includes: Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, Spelling 2-5-5 (Carousel Players); Unarchived (Buddies Rhubarb Festival, co-curator); Savage (Native Earth); Treaty No. 9 (Aluna Theatre/Rutas Panamericanas); Good Grief (Native Earth Weesageechak Festival); girls!girls!girls! (SummerWorks, co-Director); The Ghost Sonata (Studio Theatre). Jessica is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s MFA in Directing program, The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and King’s College London’s MA in Text & Performance Studies and The National Theatre School of Canada’s Three Year Acting program.
NYLA CARPENTIER Actor, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash Nyla Carpentier (Tahltan, Kaska, French, Scottish) is a multifaceted performing artist currently residing in Vancouver. She is a poet, a powwow dancer, and workshop facilitator. As an actor, Nyla toured in the theatre for young audience show Raven meets the Monkey King with Axis Theatre and performed with Savage Society's productions of The Boy who was Abandoned and Battle of the Birds. Recently she was in The Flats/Les Flats by Ginny Collins, a co-production with Prairie Theatre Exchange and Theatre Cercle Moliere in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
DEBRA CHANTLER Stage Manager/Sound Designer, The Downs Debra has been with The Downs from the beginning. When Sheryl Scott used the birthing scene as an audition piece, Debra knew (once she could stop laughing) that this story was something very special. She is honoured to be here in Blyth helping to bring The Downs back to the stage. Debra is a London native but has ties to New Brunswick. She has been an active member of the London theatre scene for over 10 years producing, directing, stage managing and costume designing for several local theatre companies. She would like to thank Sheryl, Desiree, and Lara for the laughs. You ladies inspire me. Debra sends kisses to Jim, her husband. His continued support and love allow Debra to explore and create in this wonderful word of the theatre.
JASON CHESWORTH Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Seeds, Fury, Kitchen Radio, Stag and Doe, and Dear Johnny Deere. Other theatre: Spoon River Cabaret (Soulpepper, Global Cabaret Festival); Malcolm Bricklin, The Bricklin (Theatre New Brunswick); Jackson, The Christian Republican Fundraiser In Dayton, Tennessee (Toronto Fringe ‘08); Adam, The Shape of Things (Manitoba Theatre Centre); S.S. Tenacity, You Can’t Take It With You, Lord of the Flies, The Doctor’s Dilemma, Six Characters in Search of an Author, Peter Pan, Passion, Poison and Petrifaction, The Chocolate Soldier, and The Shop at Sly Corner (selected credits, Shaw Festival).
DEANNA H. CHOI Sound Designer and Composer, Ipperwash Deanna is a Toronto-based violinist, composer, and sound designer. She studied neuroscience at Queen’s University, and trained in music at the Royal Conservatory, the Banff Centre, and the National Youth Orchestra. Selected theatre credits include The Boat (TNB), Laurier (TNB/Confederation Centre), Alien Creature (Theatre Passe Muraille), and The Death of Mrs. Gandhi (Next Stage). Her favourite cheese is Banon. www.deannahchoi.com.
JEFF CHIEF Costume Designer, Ipperwash Jeff Chief is Plains Cree from Onion Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan and currently lives in Saskatoon. Costume designs include: In Care (Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre); Popcorn Elder (Saskatchewan Native Theatre Co./Dancing Sky Theatre); Dreary and Izzy (Theatre North West); Opening and Closing ceremonies (North American Indigenous Games); Othello (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan); Crees in the Caribbean, Réunir, the Kohkum’s Christmas (SNTC); The Cherry Orchard (Live Five); Where the Blood Mixes (Western Canada Theatre/Theatre Aquarius/Theatre Network); Migration (Red Sky/Black Grace); Indigenous Dance Residencies (Banff Centre); A Man A Fish, God of Carnage, The Berlin Blues (Persephone Theatre). Jeff has also built costumes at the Stratford Festival, Citadel Theatre, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Banff Centre's Summer Arts Festival and Globe Theatre.
JONATHAN FISHER Actor, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash Jonathan Fisher is Bear Clan and Anishnabe from the Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. He has been performing as an actor professionally for the past twenty five years. Selected productions include: The Bootlegger Blues (Arbour Theatre); Almighty Voice & His Wife (Native Earth Performing Arts); The Rez Sisters (Magnus Theatre); Dry Lips Oughta Move To Kapuskasing (Red Roots Theatre); fareWel (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Time Stands Still (Native Earth); New France (VideoCabaret); Raven Stole The Sun (Red Sky Performance); Copper Thunderbird (National Arts Centre); Stretching Hide (Theatre Projects Manitoba); Tales of an Urban Indian (Talk Is Free Theatre); 400 Kilometers (Lighthouse Theatre); Night (Human Cargo); The Hours That Remain (Magnus Theatre); Elle (Theatre Passe Muraille); and Reckoning (Article 11). He is pleased to make his debut at the Blyth Festival with old and new friends a like! Chi-Meegwetch.
CATHERINE FITCH Actor, The Berlin Blues For Blyth Festival: Our Beautiful Sons, If Truth Be Told, Falling: A Wake, Beyond The Farm Show, Garrison’s Garage, The Lonely Diner: Al Capone in Euphemia Township, Having Hope At Home, Early August, Pearl Gidley, A Killing Snow, The Nuttalls, The Mail Order Bride, Against The Grain, and Courting Johanna. Thank you Gil and eveyone at Blyth for inviting me to be a part of this remarkable team. Recent theatre credits include Dalton and Company (Cart/Horse), The Ladies Foursome (Grand Theatre), Dead Metaphor (Theatre Aquarius), Taking Shakespeare (New Stages). Selected Film and TV: Designated Survivor (ABC/CTV), Cardinal (Cardinal Pictures), Coming In (CBC Web Series), Murdoch (Shaftesbury Films), Living In Your Car (TMN–CSA Nomination), Slings and Arrows, This Is Wonderland (CBC - Gemini Award Nomination), Butterbox Babies (Gemini Award), South of Wawa. I love it here at Blyth - it is my second home and I love my husband Tony Munch with whom I share this stage.
BRAD FRASER Director, The Berlin Blues Brad Fraser is an award winning writer/director/host who has worked extensively in various media. Credits include plays; Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love, Poor Super Man, True Love Lies, Kill Me Now, and others produced worldwide, film; Love and Human Remains, writer and Leaving Metropolis, writer director, and television; Queer as Folk, writer, story editor and associate producer and Jawbreaker which he hosted for two seasons on Out TV. He has written a number of projects for radio, CBC and BBC, as well as regular columns and stories for Xtra, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star and others. He has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards and has just finished his Masters degree in Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto. Brad’s most recent play Kill Me Now was nominated for a Governor General’s Award in 2016. Check out Bradfraser.net.
GIL GARRATT Artistic Director; Director, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King Gil has been involved with Blyth since 1999, including 17 seasons as an actor, director, playwright, and the director of the Young Company. Notable past shows with Blyth include The Last Donnelly Standing, Death of the Hired Man, The Drawer Boy, The Outdoor Donnellys, Against the Grain, Vimy, The Nuttalls, and Early August (performer); Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning, Mary's Wedding, Spirit of the Narrows, World Without Shadows, and Another Season’s Harvest (director); St. Anne’s Reel (playwright). This is Gil's third season as Artistic Director. In addition to his long tenure with Blyth, Gil has been working steadily across the country and abroad. Most notably playing lead roles at the National Arts Centre, Neptune Theatre, Centaur Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Theatre North West, and Shakespeare in High Park. Gil also spent 2012/13 as a resident emerging director at Canadian Stage. Gil is the recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore award for Outstanding Performance, and was nominated in 2014 for a Robert Merritt award in Nova Scotia.
VERNE GOOD Sound Designer, Mr. New Year’s Eve, The Berlin Blues, and The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Sound Designs for Our Beautiful Sons and The Birds and the Bees. Verne is a sound designer and personal trainer based in Toronto. Recent favourites include Romeo and Juliet, Pericles, and Hirsch (Stratford); Art, The Mountaintop (The Grand); Tick (Carousel Players); Birds of a Feather, Outside, and In This World (Roseneath); The Heidi Chronicles, The 39 Steps (Soulpepper); Was Spring, Communion (Tarragon); Up The Garden Path (Obsidian); The Normal Heart, You Will Remember Me (Studio 180); The Atomic Weight of Happiness (StandUp Dance).
LOUISE GUINAND Lighting Designer, The Berlin Blues For Blyth Festival: 18 productions beginning with the original Quiet in the Land in 1981. Louise has designed lights for over 500 shows in Canada and the U.S. Recent productions include Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night (Statford); Dancing at Lughnasa (Shaw); The Last Wife (Globe). Louise is delighted to return to the Blyth Festival where her lighting design career began.
NATHAN HOWE Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve Nathan was born and raised in Saskatoon, SK. He has his BFA in Acting from The University of Saskatchewan and is a graduate of The Globe Theatre Conservatory in Regina. His past Ontario credits: Salt Baby (MT Space/Woodland Cultural Centre), Matchstick (GCTC – actor/ playwright/composer), Seminar (Mirvish Productions/RMTC), Aiden Flynn Lost His Brother So He Makes Another (Theatre Howl/Fringe Tour – director/playwright/composer).
GEMMA JAMES SMITH Costume Designer, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Costume Designer and Co-creator, The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Design Assistant for Fury. Gemma is an artist with a background in performance and puppet building. Originally from Calgary, her work has taken her across Canada, collaborating with companies such as The National Arts Centre, Theatre Calgary, Soulpepper, SideMart Theatrical Grocery, Alberta Theatre Projects, Centaur Theatre, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes, and more. A graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada, she most recently studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Gemma lives near Blyth with her family: Gil, Gideon, Gulliver, and Goldie.
LARA JENSON Props, Make-up, & Hair Design, The Downs Lara is a kindergarten teacher by day and an avid fan of red wine by night, especially as the school year winds down and the classroom is full of very excitable kids. She shares her home life with four boys and her husband. She especially loves her time working with the women who support this production because we share so much love and laughter together. It is such a joy to come alongside of Sheryl and bring The Downs to the stage again. We are grateful to the Blyth Festival for giving us the opportunity to share this beautiful story with you.
FALEN JOHNSON Playwright, Ipperwash Falen is Mohawk and Tuscarora (Bear Clan) from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is a writer, producer, dramaturge and actor currently living in Toronto. Her first play Salt Baby has been staged with Native Earth Performing Arts, Planet IndigenUS, The Next Stage Festival, Live Five, The Globe Theatre. She is the former playwright in residence at Native Earth Performing Arts and Blyth Festival. She was the 2015 recipient of the OAC Emerging Aboriginal Artist Award. Her second play Two Indians was debuted at The SummerWorks Performance Festival this past summer.
NICOLE JOY-FRASER Actor, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash For Blyth Festival: Kitchen Radio and Stag and Doe. Nicole Joy-Fraser is Bear clan, mixed Métis, Woodland Cree and European. Her storytelling has taken her across North America and beyond and she's delighted to be returning to Blyth, and to work, after the birth of her son. Selected credits: The Hours That Remain (Magnus Theatre), A Man A Fish (Persephone Theatre), Evangeline and Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown Festival), The Penelopiad (Nightwood Theatre), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (UK Tour), Jerry Springer-the Opera (West End), and Mamma Mia! (Original North American Cast).
BETH KATES Digital Dramaturg, Set and Projection Designer, Mr. New Year’s Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo; Projection Designer, Ipperwash For Blyth Festival: Seeds, If Truth Be Told (Lighting/Projection Designer) and The Last Donnelly Standing (Co-Creator, Production Designer). Beth is an award-winning Lighting, Projection, Set, and Costume designer who started working in rock and roll at 14. As Playground Studios she co-created several installations including The ToyBox. She created projections for many Ross Petty Pantomimes, as well as Ragtime and Peter Hinton’s Alice in Wonderland at the Shaw Festival. Other highlights: Bigger Than Jesus (Wyrd); Brimful of Asha (Tarragon); Vigilante (Catalyst); Dora the Explorer (Koba); Yichud (Theatre Passe Muraille). In development with collaborator Brendon Allen is an exploration of Huron County’s landscape and people, and an adaptation of Peter Brown’s book My Teacher is a Monster. Visit playgroundstudios.ca or bethkates.com.
RON KENNELL Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo Born is Stratford, Ron is an actor, writer, and director who works in theatre, film, television, and video games. He was a Stratford Company member from 2003-2008 and has performed in the International Theatre Festival in Tehran, Iran, twice. He was last seen in the Theatre New Brunswick/Neptune production of The Boat. He wrote the film Dr. Cabbie and you can watch his short film, Reveille, online.
STEVE LUCAS Set and Lighting Designer, The Pigeon King For the last 30 years Steve has designed award winning sets and lighting for more than 300 productions of theatre, dance, and performance art. His work has toured extensively and has been seen all across Canada, the United States, the UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Australia, and Asia. Steve’s work in theatre has mainly been focused on new and original plays; he has designed the world premieres of hundreds of shows, many of which have gone on to further acclaim. Steve has received several awards including a MECCA award, and four Dora Mavor Awards for his set and lighting designs. He has also been nominated for several of Canada’s most prestigious awards including the Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, the Pauline McGibbon Award, the K.M. Hunter Award, and 31 Dora Mavor Moore Award nominations.
GEORGE MEANWELL Music Director and Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King Other theatre: Measure For Measure, The Winter’s Tale (Groundling), Shakespeare In Love, The Taming of the Shrew, The Pirates of Penzance, The Grapes of Wrath, As You Like It, Jacques Brel… (Stratford Festival), The Notorious Right Robert… (Festival Players). George has written incidental music for theatre (Groundling, Festival Players) and between 1993 and 2002 toured as the founding cellist, guitarist, and mandolinist of Quartetto Gelato. He also is a songwriter. More information at gmeanwell.ca.
STEPHANIE MacDONALD Actor, Watching Glory Die Stephanie MacDonald is grateful to be a part of the Blyth Festival season. She is an award winning actor who makes her home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and has performed nationally as well as internationally. Select Theatre credits: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Liberation Days (Two Planks and a Passion); The Boat (Theatre New Brunswick); The Weekend Healer, Communion (KAZAN CO-OP); MarionBridge (Valley Summer Theatre).
TONY MUNCH Actor, The Berlin Blues For Blyth Festival: Our Beautiful Sons, Falling: A Wake, Beyond The Farm Show, Garrison’s Garage, The Devil You Know, Rope’s End, and Hometown. Tony is very happy to return to Blyth this summer in The Berlin Blues. Most recently he appeared in The Drawer Boy, alongside J.D. (Jack) Nicholsen for ECT in St. Catharines. He has worked at Factory Theatre, Canadian Stage, New Stages, Summerworks, Great Canadian Theatre Company, The Globe, National Arts Centre, WorkshopWest, Theatre Junction, Festival of Classics, Theatre Calgary, and Shaw Festival. Tony has also appeared in over sixty film and television productions. For my beautiful wife, Catherine.
J.D. NICHOLSEN Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Our Beautiful Sons, If Truth Be Told, St. Anne's Reel, Billy Bishop Goes to War, Dear Johnny Deere, Death of the Hired Man, and Barndance Live. Other theatre (selected): Colours in the Storm, Rock & Roll, The Foursome (Grand Theatre); The Drawer Boy (Essential Collective); Dear Johnny Deare (Theatre Calgary - Best Actor in a Musical); Evangeline (Charlottelown Festival/Citadel Theatre); The Ballad of Stompin' Tom (Drayton Entertainment/ Charlottetown Festival); Mending Fences, Mrs. Parliament's Night Out (Neptune Theatre. Film and TV: Fort James, Copper, Falling Skies, Murdoch Mysteries.
SARAH O'BRIEN Stage Manager, Watching Glory Die A native of Ottawa, Sarah studied at Queen’s University (Drama/Art History) and Studio 58 (Production), apprenticing at GCTC and Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre. She stage manages theatre, musical theatre, dance and new creation projects for companies in Toronto and across the country. Of proud Maritime parents, she has the good fortune to have spent her last seventeen summers in Nova Scotia with Festival Antigonish. Sarah is also a member of Harbourfront Centre’s Technical Services department, and has provided production support for local, Canadian and international productions in that capacity for the last ten years. Recent credits include The Hound Of The Baskervilles (Festival Antigonish), Brave New Worlds (Litmus Theatre), Our Town (Theatre Rusticle), As You Like It (George Brown Theatre School), and Assemblée Internationale 2017 for Canada’s National Ballet School. Sarah is honoured to be taking Mulgrave on the road.
SANDY PLUNKETT Stage Manager, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash Sandy is the great-grandson of Morley Plunkett of the almost forgotten World War One Canadian Vaudeville Troupe, The Dumbells. Recent credits: Boys with Cars, The Fish Eyes Trilogy (Nightswimming); The Circle (Tarragon); Flood Thereafter (Canadian Stage); Julius Caesar, The Comedy of Errors, As You Like It, Titus Andronicus, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage Dream and/or Shakespeare in High Park); Public Servant, Tails from the City (Theatre Columbus/Common Boots).
MICHELLE RAMSAY Lighting Designer, Ipperwash Michelle is an award-winning lighting designer who works with dance, theatre and opera companies across Canada. Recent designs include: Our Town (Theatre Rusticle); Medea (Opera Atelier); huff (Native Earth Performing Arts); Acquiesce (Factory Theatre/fu-GEN); Body Politic (LemonTree); Rocking Horse Winner (Tapestry Opera); Scarberia (Young People’s Theatre); Gertrude and Alice (Independent Aunties); dead reckoning (Blue Ceiling Dance). She has received five Dora Awards, a SATAward and the 2008 Pauline McGibbon Award.
AJINEEN SAGAL Actor, The Pigeon King (September 4 to 23) Ajineen is so honoured to be stepping in for the luminous Rebecca Auerbach for the final weeks of The Pigeon King. After spending the entire summer performing at the Caravan Farm Theatre near Armstrong, BC, she is looking forward to being part of another Canadian gem, the Blyth Festival. A graduate of Studio 58, Ajineen has worked with Vancouver Playhouse, The Electric Company, Axis Theatre, Persephone Theatre and more as an actor, musician, composer. Currently, she is working with her writing partner Courtenay Dobbie on their cowgirl western musical The Showdown of the Whisky Girls which will be playing at Caravan Farm Theatre in the 2018 summer season. She currently resides in Toronto playing in several bands, teaching fiddle and being mama to her two hilarious young boys. Thank you to her partner Paul Braunstein for his loving support and kid wrangling this summer. Also a big thank you to Gil for this opportunity!
DAVID SCOTT Playwright, Mr. New Year’s Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo For Blyth Festival: There's Nothing in the Paper and The Ballad of Stompin' Tom. David is a playwright who splits his time between London and his cottage near Goderich with his wife Becky. This is his third play produced at Blyth since 1997. He has worked as an editor in newspaper (Huron Expositor and Lakeshore Advance), in a medical journal (Stroke – American Heart Association), and magazine (Alumni Gazette, Western University). The former Mayor of Seaforth (1998 to 2000), David now teaches writing part-time at Western and Fanshawe College in London.
SHERYL SCOTT Millie Johnson, The Downs Sheryl Scott is a native of Miramichi, New Brunswick. Born and raised, as they say. She spent most of her growing up years organizing backyard theatre, where the neighborhood kids would congregate and "act out." When no one was available, Sheryl would entertain and serenade the trees in her backyard. Imagination was a huge part of her everyday life. She loved to tell, act out, recite, read and write stories to anyone who would listen. Today, Sheryl resides in London, Ontario. She has four boys, who never cease to amaze her and a terrific husband, who faithfully cheers her on! You can find Sheryl still "Storytelling" on any given Sunday at Forest City Community Church, where she has been on the performing arts teams for 23 years! Sheryl is so grateful to her "partners in crime," Desiree, Deb, and Lara for their wisdom, love, and constant encouragement on this crazy trail. A huge thank you to Blyth Festival for asking her to come and share this most precious story with you. She hopes you laugh, cry, and leave rosy-cheeked and satisfied.
JIM SHEA Actor, Mr. New Year's Eve (alternate) Jim is a recent graduate of the jazz program at Humber College in Toronto. He is a member of numerous big bands in Toronto and has played for many theatre productions over the last 20 years in the greater Toronto area.
JAMES DALLAS SMITH Actor, The Berlin Blues and Ipperwash James is thrilled to be performing for the first time at the Blyth festival. Selected credits include: Our Town, The Time of Your Life, King Lear, Three Sisters, The Government Inspector (Soulpepper - Toronto); Proof, The Drawer Boy (Centaur - Montreal); Hard Times for These Times (NAC - Ottawa); Danny, King of the Basement (MTYP - Winnipeg); Hayfever, Anne of Green Gables, Guys & Dolls (Thousand Islands Playhouse - Gananoque); and Having Hope at Home (Theatre Aquarius - Hamilton).
KATERINA SOKYRKO Assistant Stage Manager, Mr. New Year’s Eve and The Pigeon King Assistant Stage Manager: The Magic Flute, Les Feluettes (Pacific Opera Victoria); Alice in Wonderland (Theatre Northwest); Twelfth Night (National Arts Centre), The Ladies Foursome (The Grand Theatre); The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, Tosca, Madame Butterfly (Opera Lyra). Stage Manager: Playwrights Cabaret 2017, Julius Caesar, The Taming of the Shrew (The Grand Theatre); Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Company); The Secret Mask (Theatre Northwest).
BIRGITTE SOLEM Actor, Mr. New Year’s Eve; Actor and Co-creator, The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Filthy Rich, Sometime Never, Anne, and Stolen Lives. Birgitte is happy to be returning to Blyth after 15 seasons away. Recently she was in the hit production of Disgraced (Off-Mirvish/Citadel Theatre) which will be remounted in Toronto next season. On television she is recurring on The Handmaid’s Tale and is featured in the films Hacker, A Family Man, and Suicide Squad. Birgitte is also developing a new play for Blyth.
DREW HAYDEN TAYLOR Playwright, The Berlin Blues Drew Hayden Taylor is an award winning playwright, journalist, novelist and filmmaker. Born and raised on the Curve Lake First Nation, he has done practically everything from performing Stand-up comedy at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C. to being Artistic Director of Canada's premiere Native theatre company, Native Earth Performing Arts. The author of 30 books, his most recent is the play Crees in the Caribbean.
CURTIS te BRINKE Director, Sallows to Selfies (Young Company) Curtis is a playwright, director, producer and occasional performer. Recent credits include: Episode One of Smoothieland Performance Projects (Deviser, Performer, 2017), Tire Swing (Writer, Epigraph Collective and Filament Incubator, 2016) Binge by Joel Edmiston (Director/ Producer, Toronto Fringe 2016), This Is The August by Hillary Rexe (Producer, Summerworks 2016), and Love Me Forever Billy H. Tender by Jesse LaVercombe (Producer, Videofag 2016). Upcoming: Don’t Look Back (Writer, Director, Epigraph Collective 2017), and Imp (Writer, Director, 2018).
JAMES THOMSON Actor, Mr. New Year's Eve James is happy to be working with Gil after many years. He is currently a musician in Toronto where he regularly plays at the Rex Hotel with the Hogtown Syncopators. James also plays with Julian Fauth, another great Canadian Blues artist. Enjoy the show!
HEATHER THOMPSON Production Stage Manager, Mr. New Year’s Eve and The Pigeon King For Blyth Festival: Kitchen Radio, Stag and Doe, Beyond the Farm Show, Garrison’s Garage, Dear Johnny Deere, The Devil We Know, The Nuttalls, Hockey Mom Hockey Dad, The Bootblack Orator. Other Theatre: Half Life, Alice in Wonderland, Fly Me to the Moon, Art (Theatre NorthWest); Still/Falling, Celestial Being (Green Thumb Theatre); The Show that Smells or the Last Temptation of Jimmie Rodgers (Clawhammer Theatre); Gimme Shelter (Why Not Theatre); The Wanderers (Cahoots Theatre); dirty butterfly (Bound to Create Theatre). Other: Heather hails from Clinton, Ontario and is thrilled to be back in Blyth.
JUDITH THOMPSON Playwright, Watching Glory Die Judith Thompson is the author of the plays The Crackwalker, White Biting Dog, I Am Yours, Lion in the Streets, Sled, Perfect Pie, Habitat, Capture Me, Enoch Arden, Such Creatures, and Palace of the End. Her play, The Thrill, premiered at the Stratford Festival in 2013. She has written two feature films, Lost and Delirious and Perfect Pie, as well as multiple television movies and radio dramas. A highly esteemed Canadian playwright, she is the recipient of two Governor General’s Literary Awards and an Officer in the Order of Canada. In 2007, she was awarded the prestigious Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts and in 2008 she was awarded The Susan Smith Blackburn Award and Dora Mavor Moore Outstanding New Play Award for Palace of the End.
SEVERN THOMPSON Associate Artistic Director; Director and Co-creator, The Pigeon King Severn has a long history with the Festival, most recently performing as Playwright in the 2015 production of Seeds. In 2013 she directed and co-created Beyond The Farm Show as well as the previous year’s The Farm:2012 (Young Company). Other directing credits include Peter Pan (Bad Hats Brewery Tour) and Madam Mao (SummerWorks). As an actor, Severn has appeared in plays across the country as well as on various T.V. programs. Last winter Severn toured the play Elle (which she adapted and performed in) to Waterford, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. In 2016, Elle received a Dora nomination for Outstanding New Play. Severn is delighted to be in Blyth this season as both director and associate A.D..
LESLEY WILKINSON Lighting Designer, Mr. New Year’s Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo For Blyth Festival: 28 productions between 1989 and 2007. Lesley's work as a lighting designer has taken her to theatres across Canada and the United States including Young People's Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Crow's Theatre, Shaw Festival, Theatre Calgary, Soulpepper, the Canadian premieres of The Producers and High School Musical, the world premiere of The Bricklin - An Automotive Fantasy (The Fredericton Playhouse), the Canadian Opera Company, and the Pacific Opera Company. Recently, Lesley worked with a team of architectural lighting designers on the lighting design for Ripley's Aquarium of Canada and on the lighting design for the Bloor Viaduct for the Pan Am Games 2015. She has been nominated for six Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Lighting Design. In 2013 Lesley lit Cinderella for YPT for which she was awarded Outstanding Lighting Design in the Musical Theatre/Opera Division.
CLAYTON WINDATT Set Designer, Ipperwash Born in St. Catharines, Clayton has lived in the Northeastern region of Ontario for most of his life and is a MĂŠtis Multi-artist. After working as Director of the White Water Gallery ArtistRun Centre for seven years, he now works as Executive Director of the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective and as an independent curator. Clayton holds a BA in Fine Art from Nipissing University and received his Graphic Design certification from Canadore College. He works actively with arts organizations locally, provincially and nationally including the National Arts Service Organization planning committee, Visual Arts Alliance, CARFAC Ontario, ON THE EDGE fringe festival, the Future In Safe Hands Collective, the Blood Teeth Bones Collective, Business for the Arts as a Mentor in their ArtsVest program. Clayton works as a community artist, an events coordinator, a writer, designer, curator, performer, theatre technician, and consultant, and is an active visual and media artist.
KELLY WOLF Set and Costume Designer, The Berlin Blues For Blyth Festival: The Nuttalls and Courting Johanna. Kelly is interested in exploring ways that design augments the theatrical experience; designing for over 25 years across Canada, her work ranges from small independent companies to major festivals. Recently: El Retorno, costumes (Riser Project Theatre Centre), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Sheridan). Kelly also creates site specific theatre projects with her company Open Heart. Instructor at Brock University. Kelly is a member of ADC. Visit www.kellywolf.ca.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
L - R: David Armstrong, Wendy Hutton, Duncan Jewell, Lisa te Brinke, Alison Lobb, Elli Cohen, Doug Elliott, and
Gary Coursey. Absent: Anthony Hodsman, Nathan Myers, and Quinn Ross.
Blyth Memorial Hall Seat Sale
THE SEATS ARE IN! But there's still time for you to leave a lasting legacy right where you’re sitting: an engraved plaque telling everyone that you believe in the Blyth Festival and stand behind our aim to "give voice to the region and the nation." For a one-time donation of $500, you can make a public commitment to Canadian Theatre - to give a unique gift to a passionate art lover in your life, or to perhaps honour the memory of a beloved theatre devotee who can’t be here tonight. Call our Administration Office at 1.877.862.5984 or speak to someone in our Box Office about how you can take your seat in the house.
Photo by Denny Scott, The Citizen
OUR VOLUNTEERS
Our volunteers are an integral part of our success each year, logging over 3,000 volunteer hours. It is their continued support and commitment that enables us to do what we do each year - provide you, our patrons, with the very best in Live. Original. Canadian. Theatre. It's a pleasure and privilege to work with our volunteers every year.
-CNR-
School on Wheels otography
Bayfield Ph
“Purveyors of all things Canadian”
Museum
Step into our historic
train car and learn how Fred Sloman brought education to children living in isolated areas of Northern Ontario from 1926 to 1965.
Vendor Cooperative New Vendors Welcome
mapleandmoose.com
Unique works of art. Gift baskets. Gourmet foods. We ship! 398 Queen Street Blyth, Ontario Phone: 519.523.4276
Tues - Fri 10-5:30 pm, Sat. 10-5 pm Theatre Nights ‘til 8 pm
The museum is an excellent destination for familes, with hands-on activites available. Hours
May 20 - Sept. 30 Thurs.-Sun. & Holidays 11am - 4pm 76 Victoria Terrace, Clinton 519-565-2723 centralhuron.com Facebook.com/schoolcar
226.523.FOOD )3663)
BILL CULP PRODUCTIONS 2017 - 2018 MUSIC SERIES
SuRFIN’ SAFARI
ThE WORLD’S #1 TRIBUTE TO JOhN FOgERTY aND CCR FRIDaY OCTOBER 13, 2017
THE ULTIMATE BEACH PARTY TRIBUTE !
JOE PAssION As JIMMY BUFFETT
SaTURDaY DECEMBER 2, 2017
TAkE IT EAsY
THE uLTImATE EAgLES TRIbuTE
SUNDaY JaNUaRY 14, 2018 SUNDaY FEBRUaRY 11, 2018 buDDY HOLLY ONLY YESTERDAY ROCkIN’ dANCE PARTY starring THE AMAZiNg
jEFF gilEs with
"Put on your dancin' shoes!"
“THE SEXIEST BUDDY HOLLY EVER!” - HamILTOn SpEcTaTOR
THE CARPENTERS’ STORY
“Rainy Days and Mondays” “We’ve Only just Begun” “Top of the World” “Close To You” and more !
bRuCE TOuRNAY HEATHER CHRISTINE AS AS RICHARD CARPENTER KAREN CARPENTER
GET YOUR TICkETs TOdAY !
SaTURDaY MaRCh 24, 2018 SaTURDaY aPRIL 21, 2018 BLYTh MEMORIaL haLL www.BlythFestival.com
ADMINISTRATION STAFF
L - R: Rachael King (General Manager),
Gil Garratt (Artistic Director), Heather Davies* (Artistic Intern), Frankie Horvath (Box Office), Marlayna Kolkman (Box Office), Nathanya Barnett (House Manager), John McHenry (Director of Marketing), Jen Lamb (Dircetor of Development), Judith Hess (Box Office), Lisa Harper (Audience Services Manager), and Kim Oster (Facilities Supervisor). Absent: Megan Pennington (Hospitality Manager) and Severn Thompson (Associate Artistic Director). *The services of Heather Davies is made possible by Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program. PTTP offers financial support for unique and flexible training with a chosen mentor in any theatrical discipline (except performance).
“Boy with a Banana,” 1899, by Reuben R. Sallows. The Reuben R. Sallows Digital Library.
YOUNG COMPANY
Sallows to Selfies August 24, 25, 26 @ 7pm Phillips Studio
For the 2017 season, the Blyth Festival Young Company is creating Sallows to Selfies. A hundred years ago, Reuben R. Sallows, a Huron County photographer, shot hundreds of now iconic photographs of life as it was lived in his era in this part of the world. Sallows shot everything from images of Goderich harbour, to sweeping landscapes, to farmers working their fields, to portraits of everyday local people living their everyday local lives. With a clear preference for what would come to be known as fieldphotography, Sallows also shot several selfportraits, often standing among friends. Today’s generation of young people have come of age in an era where not only is photography a ubiquitous part of daily life, but nearly every single phone they have ever interacted with has a mega-pixelated iris for a digital camera and images of themselves are conveyed across the globe with a swipe of their finger. For young people living in Huron County today, posting images of themselves on platforms like Snapchat, Foursquare, Facebook, and Twitter have become a central part of how they define and express who they are to the world around them, and how the world around them comes to understand who they are. Sallows to Selfies is an exploration, by our own local young people, of the power, the playfulness, and the preciousness of self-portraits in the age of Instagram.
The Blyth Festival Young Company offers an unparalleled summer experience for young people local to the area. Each year the Festival hires a professional director who works with the group in a five week intensive, free of charge; this year the creativity begins July 25 and runs to August 26 with performances August 24 to 26 at 7pm. The company members learn not only valuable actor training and performance technique, but are also responsible for writing and developing their own original show for our Phillips Studio; encouraging self-expression, confidence, teamwork, and leadership. While many of our Young Company alumni have gone on to have professional careers in the theatre, all of our graduates have gone on to distinguish themselves within their communities. For more information visit blythfestival.com 2015 - 2017 Season Sponsors
Parkland FUEL CORPORATION
Young Company Sponsor
boutique, browse our hops or have our staff help you find that perfect outfit. Owners/Operators BILL & JENNIFER McGRATH 1 Colour
BLYTH Corner of Hwy 4 and Blyth Road 25 519.523.9990 C=22 M=100 Y=89 K=15
WINGHAM Corner of Hwy 4 and Hwy 86 519.357.9990
SALES, RENTALS, SERVICES SOUND, LIGHTING, VIDEO, STAGING PHONE: 519-495-0926
SALES, RENTALS, SERVICES, SOUND, LIGHTING, VIDEO, STAGING
info@piercesound.com | Unit 7 2351 Huron St, London, Ont N5V 0A8
PHONE: 519-495-0926
Fashion is our passion… Leather and wool is our roots.
info@piercesound.com
Unit 7 2351 Huron St., London ON N5V 0A8
family owned since 1960
Fashion is our passion… Leather and wool is our roots. 1 Colour
Visit our famous dress boutique, Visit our browsefamous our dress shops or boutique, have browse our our staffshops help or have our staff help you find that you find that perfect outfit. perfect outfit. family owned since 1960
C=22 M=100 Y=89 K=15
Huron County’s 1st Winery Our new building is complete! Come and enjoy Huron County grown, and internationally awarded wines at our new building. You may choose to stroll through the nine acres of vineyard, do a tasting at the tasting bar, enjoy a glass of wine on the new patio, or picnic at your leisure.
Hwy. #4, 1 mile sout Open 7 days a week - 5 Open holida www.theoldm
Hwy. #4, 1 mile south of Blyth Open 7 days a week - 519-523-4595 Hwy. #4, 1Open mileholidays south of Blyth www.theoldmill.ca
Open 7 days a week - 519-523-4595 Open holidays www.theoldmill.ca
78925 Sanctuary Line, Clinton Open Daily 11-6 519-233-9463 maelstromwinery.ca
PRODUCTION STAFF
Back Row, L-R: Andrew Cull (Production Manager), Jake Webber (Carpentry PA), Shawn Bisson (Technical Director),
Victoria Harrop (Scenic Artist), Mary Hartley (Props PA). Front Row, L-R: Lindsay Jenkins (Assistant House Tech.), Jeff Pybus (House Technician), Chantelle Laliberte (Head of Wardrobe), Eva Kuo (Head of Props), Eric Daniliunas (Head Carpenter), Cameron Kirk (Assistant Carpenter), Michelle Connolly (Assistant Wardrobe). Absent: Julia Howman (Studio PA).
July 19 to August 23
Robert Harris Lecture Series July 27 & 29 Stéphane Tétreault July 28 & 29 Jan Lisiecki August 25 Jane Bunnett & Molly Johnson, Jazz Cabaret
July 17 to August 27
stratfordsummermusic.ca 519.271.2101 / 1.866.288.4313
SEASON SPONSOR
BLYTH CENTRE FOR THE ARTS Blyth Festival Art Gallery 2017 Exhibitions
2017 Exhibition Sponsors
Student Show 2017 | May 25 to June 8
Maarten Bokhout & Helena McShane Goderich Print Shop Duncan & Lynda McGregor Jerry & Carol McDonnell Ron & Bev Walker David & Joan Perrie
This annual exhibition features works by aspiring young artists from the Avon Maitland District and Huron Perth Catholic School Boards.
Community Show 2017 | June 10 to June 23
This annual open (non-juried) exhibition of artworks is by professional artists and hobbyists from the Huron region. This is an excellent opportunity for both established and aspiring artists in any media to show their talent in a public art gallery.
Michelle Zarytshansky | June 30 to July 31
A graduate student at the University of Waterloo, Michelle is presently working on her Master of Arts degree. Her exhibition features a number of large abstract paintings, using sharp black and white geometrics with subtle textural components to create her startling images.
Technical and Display Sponsor Bruce Stainton Culinary Sponsors Andrew Blakey & Joanne Stryker Con van Vliet Gallery Sponsors Mary & Paul Carroll Dr. Veronica Lee Dr. Peter G. Salsbury James Roy & Lynda Hill Janis & Brock Vodden
Darren Woluschuk | August 4 to 28
Working from his third-floor home studio in Seaforth, Darren produces vivid life-like images interwoven into a surreal landscape. He is exhibiting works drawn from his daydreams and abstract thoughts, and showing how the images that we surround ourselves with, inevitably spill out into our daily lives.
Julian Mulock | September 1 to 23
A nationally renowned Toronto artist, Julian presents a series of paintings of “Silent Spaces,” each executed with achitectural precision, yet inviting and warm. Imagine you’ve just walked into a room, empty now, but bathed in light and shadow. What or who had been here?
A Voluminous Harvest by Darren Woluschuk watercolour, acrylic, oils
All shows are mounted in the Bainton Gallery, located in the Blyth Memorial Hall and have free admission. The Blyth Festival Art Gallery committee is made up of a group of enthusiastic volunteers who are always looking for new art talent. For further information please email Robert Tetu at beechwood@cyg.net or phone 519.345.2184.
Blyth Festival Orchestra Formed in 1995, the Blyth Festival Orchestra performs frequently throughout the year and shines during special performances on the lawn during the theatre season. Its members are drawn from Huron County and the surrounding areas.
Blyth Festival Singers The Blyth Festival Singers is a mixed community choir under professional direction, and it is part of the larger Blyth Centre for the Arts organization.
They are a non-auditioned choir who meet on Wednesdays starting in September. It is not necessary to read music to be a member of the choir.
The concept of the choir began with several members of the Board of Directors for the Blyth Festival. In the spring of 1980, a director was hired, and in the fall of that year, there were many eager voices ready to join together in song.
The Blyth Festival Singers' season consists of a Christmas concert held on the first Sunday in December, an April concert, and their fundraising Cabaret concert held the last Saturday of May.
Choir members come from all areas of Huron County, and although the membership has seen many faces come and go, the choir has thrived since its inception.
Follow them on Facebook or visit blythfestival.com for more information.
Over the years, the Blyth Festival Singers have worked to develop a high standard of performance and establish a loyal audience and have performed throughout Huron County and neighbouring areas and as far afield as Stratford, Centennial Hall in London, and Port Nelson United Church in Burlington.
The Little Inn Of Bayfield
26 Main Street North Bayfield, Ontario Located in the picturesque, heritage village Of Bayfield, Ontario, on Lake Huron’s Sandy shores, the Little Inn Provides elegant accommodations And an exceptional culinary experience 1.519.565.2611 Toll Free: 1.800.565.1832
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT Blyth Festival is proud of its unique and extraordinary success in developing and producing new Canadian plays. This season, our 43rd, we will be adding three new plays to that list. Since 1975, the Blyth Festival’s mission has been “to give voice to the region and the country.” We have accomplished this by passionately pursuing the best in local stories, legendary stories, important, problematic, and inspiring stories.
A selection of celebrated works first conceived at the Blyth Festival includes:
The work we do is of national importance, and we continue to be a beacon of best practice in play development coast to coast. We support new and experienced playwrights by offering not only financial support, but workshop space, staff, time and expertise to help get stories that should be told, onto our stages, and to stages across the country.
The Birds and the Bees by Mark Crawford (2016)
We continue to tell the stories of this very place, to put this very region, and its very real lives on stage.
The Last Donnelly Standing by Paul Thompson, Gil Garratt & Beth Kates (2016) If Truth Be Told by Beverley Cooper (2016) Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning by Christopher Morris (2016) The Wilberforce Hotel by Sean Dixon (2015) Fury Book & Lyrics by Peter Smith; Music by Samuel Sholdice (2015) Kitchen Radio Book by Marion de Vries; Music & Lyrics by Marion de Vries & David Archibald (2014) St. Anne’s Reel by Gil Garratt (2014)
To remain a dynamic force that contributes to the cultural fabric of this country we need your help.
Stag and Doe by Mark Crawford (2014)
The Blyth Festival is a not-for-profit charitable organization. We wouldn’t be here without you and all the artists who have tirelessly worked to bring some of Canada’s most intriguing characters and history to life.
Pearl Gidley by Gary Kirkham (2010)
To learn more visit blythfestival.com or call 1.877.862.5984
New Play Development Sponsors
Dear Johnny Deere by Ken Cameron, based on the music of Fred Eaglesmith (2012, 2013) Innocence Lost - A play about Steven Truscott by Beverley Cooper (2008, 2009) Reverend Jonah by Paul Ciufo (2007) Another Season’s Promise by Anne Chislett & Keith Roulston (1986) The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey (2000) The Outdoor Donnellys by Paul Thompson (2001) Test Drive by Dave Carley (2004) Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig (2003) Bordertown Café by Kelly Rebar (1987) Cake-Walk by Colleen Curran (1984) Quiet in the Land by Anne Chislett (1981) I’ll Be Back Before Midnight by Peter Colley (1979)
OUR 2017 SUPPORTERS BLYTH FESTIVAL GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT OF an Ontario government agency un organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario
2015 - 2017 SEASON SPONSORS
SEASON MEDIA SPONSOR
OFFICIAL VEHICLE
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
YOUNG COMPANY
NEW PLAY DEVELOPMENT
DISTRIBUTION
SPECIAL EVENTS & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
PRODUCTION MEDIA SPONSORS
VEHICLE MAINTAINANCE
PRODUCTION SET SPONSOR
POSTER SPONSOR
CONCESSIONS & HOSPITALITY o
catering
o
PERFORMANCE HOSTS - SILVER chartered professional accountants
PERFORMANCE HOSTS - OPENING NIGHT Mr. New Year's Eve
Marg Fleming
The Berlin Blues
The Pigeon King
Ipperwash
PERFORMANCE HOSTS
goderich
SUPPORT US
Your donation makes you part of the bigger picture! Membership programs are key to the Blyth Festival’s ability to fulfill our mandate to produce and present new Canadian work. But it isn’t just about the money, as important as that is! It is also about creating a community for like-minded people to come together, to share in a single experience at the same time in the same place; that magical experience that live theatre gives.
Membership starts at $50 Become a Member of the Blyth Festival and receive these benefits: •Priority ticket purchasing. Box office opens on February 1, 2018
•Free ticket exchange privileges •Advance notice of the season •Curtain Call – Our Members-only newsletter •Name recognition on-line •One (1) vote at the Annual General Meeting •Charitable tax receipt
New benefits at $100+ There are new benefits for Associate to Director's Circle levels including:
•New Priority Booking periods (as early as January 15, 2018) •Access to Reserved Seating •Invitations to behind-the-scenes events with Artistic Director Gil Garratt.
Visit blythfestival.com for the complete list of benefits. Memberships are valid for one year. Charitable tax # 11881 2056 RR0001. Unless otherwise stated all donations are directed towards our Operating fund. If you are interested in directing your donation to New Play Development or the Young Company please let us know at the time you make your donation.
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! To become a Member or for more information, please call 1.877.862.5984 or email development@blythfestival.com.
2017 MEMBERS DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $1000+ Laurel & David C. Armstrong Helene Bick & Michael Wolfish Maarten Bokhout & Helena McShane Doug & Val Brenneman Susan Carlyle & Dave Southen Larry Cerson & Marie Gear Jane & Ted Grubb Wendy & Heinz Hoernig Howson Mills Bill & Susan Howson, Howson & Howson Mills Bruce & Candice Howson Doug & Barb Howson Ducan & Linda Jewell Anne Juhasz Tim & Alexandra MacDonald James I. & Brenda McIntosh Wendy G. Nicholls Playground Studios Inc. Ross Procter Andrew Stephens E. Ross Stuart Service Canada - Kitchener Steven & Laurie Sparling Bruce & Margaret Whitmore
ONSTAGE CIRCLE $500 - $999 Pat Barnes Jane Davidson-McKee E.V.P. Program Coordinator John & Susan Goddard Mike Grey Richard & Jean Haalboom Jeff Hearn & Elizabeth Thorpe-Hearn Maureen Kenny & Jim McDonald Martin Kuhn Jane Laird Ian & Edith Macmillan Tom & Sylvia Mayberry Helen McArthur Neil & Marie McGavin Heather Percival Richard & Donalda Robarts Keith & Jill Roulston Jack & Marilyn Shaw Joyce & Bill Stankiewicz
Memberships received between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 Cherilyn A. Trick Ann Webster Mark Wilton
Lance & Linda Becker Louis & Mary Bender Jean & Art Bennett Peter & Janis Bisback Michelle & Bruce Blake BACKSTAGE CIRCLE Jean Brett $250 - $499 Veronica Brett Anonymous Stewart & Patricia Brown Lewis Abbott Linda Campbell Barn Dance Historical Society Maureen Campbell Ross M. Barnett & Roseanne Field Donna Lee Cassel & Henry Cassel Paul & Carol Batty Gary Clark & Kathy Douglas Clare Booker Les Cook Char Breitmaier Melanie Craig Pat & Wayne Callan Gordon & Sally Crawford Joseph Dunlop-Addley & Mark Crawford Terry Boyd Catherine Ann Creech Marian L. Doucette Joan M. Crowe Doug & Cathy Elliott Richard Dahl Doris Giddings Doug & Sharon Davie Wilk Gillin Marsha Defore Averil Jany Ron & Cheryl Earnshaw Jim & Rebecca Kalbfleisch Kathy Eigenheer Tracy Mann & David Dolson Graham & Sheila Ewart Neil & Judy Matheson Mike & Karen Fleming Vern & Nora McDonald Donald I. Galbraith Charles & Caroline Moss Marion Gamble Catherine Peckitt-Landsborough Brenda Lee & Lawrence Garratt Don & Florence Pullen Joe & Mim Gibbons Lois Reoch Martin & Brenda Gibson Sandra & Bob Schreinert Jane Gilmour Patricia Senn Frank & Jane A. Golding Malcolm & Anne Shantz Jason & Connie Goodall Paul Smithson George & Margaret Goodlet Sonnenrain Farms Lorraine Gordon Pamela H. Strachan Doug Gough & Elaine Scrimgeour Glen & Sylvia Tarlin Sandra & Al Graff Raul & Frances Urtasun Mary Guy Ann Wachner Lea-Anne Haldenby Don & Joyce Watts Andrea Hanington Bev & Bob Harris ASSOCIATE MEMBER Shirley Harris $100 - $249 Patricia Harrison John Hastings Anonymous Kathy Henderson Mary Adachi Floyd & Liz Herman Chander Aggarwal Bruce A. Hilton Ester Aggarwal Anthony Hodsman Beth Annett Murray Hoover Martha Archbold Eileen Howay & Herb Ballantyne Herman Sahrmann Cass Bayley Frances Howey Mimi Beck & David Lampert
Carol Anne Hunt Wendy & Barry Hutton Paul & Dee Dee Ingram JoAnne James David Jewett John Rutledge Architect Glenn & Joan Johnson Dorothy A. Jolliffe Joan & Peter Karstens Rolly & Shirley Kaufman Marion Kerslake Ruth Kiessling Marilyn & Doug King Rachael King Susan & Paul Kirkey Don Kobe Helen Koop Brenda & John Kranenburg Robert Lakey Joyce M. Lavender Burnie & Susan Laws Margaret Levendel-Zbar & Morris Zbar Steven & Frances Liggett Robert & Patricia Lightfoot Linda Linfield Alison Lobb Adriana Maathuis Jim & June Macdonald Dan & Colette MacDonald John W. MacDougall Joe & Margaret MacIsaac John MacKinnon Kathy MacPherson Paul & MaryLynn Mansell Bruce & Brenda Marshall Sherry Marshall Laurie Mazurik Christiane & Vivian McAlister Ian & Shirley McAllister Janice McKean & Arthur Wiebe Glenn & Marg McClure Joan McCordic Jacqueline McGillivray Margaret McGreevy & William Miller Carson McIntosh Bernie McKillican Dianne McKnight Marie McLennan Donald S. McNiven Tony & Fran McQuail Marilyn & Bill Meaden Anne Melady Tom & Joanne Melady William Menzel
Ruth Mercer-Ross & Paul Ross Elizabeth E. Mignotte Gladys E. Miller Ben & Jayne Miltenburg Cecilia Miltenburg Hulene Montgomery & Michael Graham William & Alberta Moore Byron and Jean Morris David and Jean Morrison Joy Munn Rae & Audrey Ney Julie Ann Nicholson Julia O'Connor Jim & Janet Papple Ann Patterson John Peebles Dave & Sue Perkins Nicholas Poppenk Sue & Gregor Read Revera Inc. Yolanda Ritsema Teeninga Rick Robertson Dean & Judy Robinson Marg Rogerson Mildred A. Roth Pat Rowe James Roy & Lynda Hill Jane Ryan & Murray Black Robin Sanders & Rachel McQuail Bernice & Don Santor Roberta & Greg Sarachman The Schaffelburgs Glenn Scheels & Marureen Nummelin Nelson & Joy Scheifele John & Colleen Schenk Connie & Rick Schumacher Alan & Margaret Scott Allan & Helaine Shiff Peter Smith Ralph & Eleanor Smith Robert & Isobel Smith Apollonia Steele Gordon & Shirley Steepe Marilyn Stephenson Karen M. Stewart Carol Stirling Alan & Mary Stuart Ken & Joan Sumnall Peter Teeninga Robin Teeuwen & Stephanie Lentz Gerald & Truce Ten Hag Bonnie Thompson
Michael & Kathy Thompson Phyllis Thompson Rachel Thompson Sharon L. Thompson Thelma Trask Patricia Tripp Beth & Jim Tubb Judy Tuck Bette Tusz Ted & Nancy Vanstone Elisabeth Wagner Kate Wagner & Lynn Kozlowski Judith Walker David & Sally Walker Robert & Mary Walker Ron & Bev Walker Allan & Joan Ward Norman & Margaret Warren Bill Webb Larry & Susan Wheatley Lauretta Wheatley James White Rod & Faye Willis Ian Winterborn Douglas & Dian Wise Inge Wraith
ANNUAL MEMBER $40 - $99 Anonymous Marion Agla Barbara Anderson Doug & Nancy Aitchison Marlene & Richard Allan Doug & Barb Allemang Pearl Alles Susan Anthony Andy & Johanna E. Antrassian Dixie Lee Arbuckle Jim & Leona Armstrong David & Evelyn Arthur Caroline Azar Doug Bach Shirley Baker Murray & Jennet Bancroft Patty Banks Christy J. Barber David Barnes Claudia L Baskerville Margaret Baulch Don Bell Stephen & Grace Benedict Doris Berg Joanne & Jerry Berlette Catherine Blokker Mike & Jill Bocock
Beverlee J. Bodnar Malcolm & Ann Bolton Derek Brazier Fred & Eva Breeze Heather Boa Ronald G. Bodkin & Brenda J. Hayward Sylvia Brightwell & Pam Hill George Brophy James Brown Roger Brown Greg & Sandra Buchanan Roland Buehrle Douglas & Millie Bundy Currie Burchill Esther Butson David & Virginia Caesar Lee & Judy Cairncross Wayne & Deborah Caldwell Dorothy Carter Marilyn Cassels Kay Cathers Chuck & Susan Chan Brian & Nicole Chessell George Chisa Jerry & Alaine Chobrda David Christner Ken Christner Paul Ciufo Lavern & Joan Clark Bill & Sandra Clark Donna Coffey Elli Cohen Gerald Conyard Nancy Copeland Lee Cork Joel & Rose Cote Gary Coursey Richard & Charlotte Cudney David M. Cullen Susan Currie Frances Daley-Wanat Glen & Nancy Davison Alice Deichert David & Elisabeth Dent Mary Dickieson Roy Dill Andrew Dinsmore Marybelle Dittmer Don & Maaike Dodds George and Audrey Dow Muriel Duncan Jayne Dunlop Helen Dykstra Laurie Dykstra Joyce Edge
Jean Edmunds Jean Eickmeier Ken & Pat Eidt Ruby Elder Kae Elgie & Phil Elsworthy Bev & John Elliott Bob Evans Dorothea Faulhafer Wayne & Linda Faulhafer Cindy Fisher Ruth Fisher Donald Frayer Stephen Frazee Mr. & Mrs. Mark Freibruger Ken & Sue Frid Tom Friesen Matthew & Christine Gagnon Jane Gardner D. Garrow Karen George Michel George Gerryts Bob & Louise Gibson Jim & Annette Gillies Don R. Gingerich Laurie Glazier Marcia & Bernie Glick Judith Glover Noreen Gnay Laurie Hoffman Goetz David Conter Ann Gordon Tafila Gordon-Smith Kathryn Graham Trudy & Bob Gratto Paul & Nancy Greenwood Judy Gunter Josephine Guth Don & Harriet Haddy Carol Hamilton Rhea Hamilton-Seeger Matt & Elaine Haney Donna Harcourt R. Glydon & Doris Harrison-Willis Darlene Hartung Mark W. C. Hatton Richard Wayne Hawley Glenda Hayward Dave & Pat Hemingway Deb Hemstock Joyce Hetherington & Tom Hennessy Mary Hickling Janet Hodgson Ed Hoekstra Michael & Leni Hoffman
Heidi Holdsworth Eric & Barbara Holmes Brian Holstein Richard & Marilyn Holyer Ruth Howard Dave & Lynn Hoy Francis & Carol Hunt Bonnie Ideson David & Wendy Imrie Thomas Inglis Carrie & William Irwin Rick & Vicki L. Jacklin Terrie & Alan Jarvis Elizabeth A Jeffery Ross & Wilma Jeffray Len & Brenda Jewitt The Potzel Family Ted Johnston R. C. (Bud) Jolley Louise Jutzi Susan Kalles Wendy Kalmer David Kavelman Lee & Marlene Keddie Lynda Kelly Linda Kieffer William & Jean Knowles Theron Kramer Dennis & Kathy Krysak Larissa Kugler Norman Kurck Shirley Lahn Patty & Phil Laporte Jane Lensink Brenda Linton Allan Livingstone Vicki Lobb Ted Lucas & Peggy Heipel Dennis & Sharon Lunau Kathryn Lynch Patricia Mack Alan MacLeod Luc & Rosine Mailloux Paul Majury John & Margaret H. Mann Iris Marshall Mary Marshall Don Martin Don & Yvonne Martin Arnold & Ila Mathers Frank & Phyllis Mathieson Marcia Matsui & Roger Cotton Mildred McAdam Douglas & Jackie McBurney Don McCaffrey A. Bruce McCallum
James W. McClellan Mary Ellen McDermott Rod McDonagh Wayne & Karen McGee Duncan & Lynda McGregor Carolyn A. McIver Dietrich Vicki McKague Joy McLaughlin Katrina McQuail Dennis Metzger Audrey Middleton Sarah Middleton Bob Mitchell J. & J. Mitchell Mary Moffatt Ian & Jean Montgomery Albert & Alice Moore Ted & Nancy Moritsugu Claudette Mousseau Joan Mowbray George Mudge Robert & Faith Mundy A. & D. Murray Peter & Jean Neeb Mabel Nesbitt Frank & Leona Nigh John & Sheila Nixon Melanie Noviss Mary Lou O'Keefe Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies, Dist. 8 Diane Marie Osborn Diane Palm Colleen Keegan Pardo Ricki Pasternak Kaushik Patel Hugh & Pat Patterson Mark Paul Robert & Nadine Peel Jim & Lynne Peters Violet Peters Mary Peterson Rose Philip Poplar Hill Lions Club Mary Pratt Holly Pritchard Ash K. Puri Mr. & Mrs. K. K. Puri Queens Bakery Marylysbeth & Alan Quigley John & Brenda Radford Barbara Railton Petronella Read David Richards Ron Richardson Andrew & Barbara Roberts
Beverley Joyce Robinson Lucille Roch Agnes Ronald Madeleine Roske Bob Rowe Mercedes C. Ruano Emmeline Runstedler Sandra Rutherford Peggy Scotchmer Bob Scott John Muldrew Scott Brenda Wilkinson Richard & Carol Seewald Margaret Sharp J. Howard & Bonna Simpson Roland Skinner Warren & Betty Small Mary Grace Smith Edward Sopko Gayle Speiran Tony Stauttener Joe William Steffler Don & Irla Stewart Alison Stirling Faye St. Louis Judy Stuart Bernard & Elaine Sturgeon Donna & Daniel Taylor Jayne Taylor Marion Taylor Lisa & Martin te Brinke Robert Tetu & Cora de Vries Ish Theilheimer Heather Thompson Lisa Thompson Mary Lou Thomson Melanie J. Thomson Elizabeth Tolchard
James A. Traquair Lisa Trimbee Carrie Rose Van Osch Carol Ward Mary A. Ward Beth Wark Don & Donna Watson The Standard Way Peter B. Weale Barbara Weatherhead Stanley Werden Bill & Reggi Whyte Nick & Joan Whyte Henry Wiersema Elizabeth Anne Wightman Patricia Williams Winston Williams Randy & Maureen Wilson Alex & Katie Wise Lois Wise-King Brenda Wright David A. Yates Maryann Yost Bill & Kathryn Yungblut Marian & Warren Zinn Doug & Bev Zoethout Marc Zwelling
GIFTS IN MEMORIAM Bob Cadman, In Memory of Pat Cadman Marian L. Doucette, In Memory of Jerry Franken, Nan Gore, Joan Chalmers, & Mary Procter Duncan & Lynda McGregor, In Memory of Pat Sparling Jack & Jean Watson, In Memory of Bruce Barrie
519.524.7195 www.lakehuronchrysler.com www.lakehuronch
HUGE SELECTION
NEW & CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES
Visit us today for Fantastic Deals, Mopar Quality Parts & Service
268 Bayfield Road, {Hwy 21} Goderich Ont. N7A 3G6
BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL SEAT SALE Lewis & Urve Abbott Beth Annett Andy & Johanna E. Antrassian and Julia & Mike O'Connor Martha & John Archbold Laurel & David C. Armstrong (4) Allan Avis Architects Inc. (2) Don & Monique Baan Laura Barber Pat Barnes Dennis & Pamela Beker Belgrave Women's Insitute Louis & Mary Bender Peter & Janis Bisback Blyth Festival Art Gallery (10) Blyth Festival Singers B. M. Ross & Associates Beverlee J. Bodnar Clare Booker Diety Bos (2) Doug & Val Brenneman (2) Douglas Bundy, Rob Bundy, Kevin Bundy & Elizabeth Cooper B. J. Campbell, Karen MacMillan, Ian & Edith Macmillan, Mary Ellen McDermott, Frances Theilade Susan Carlyle & Dave Southen Mary Chessell Anne Christensen (3) Paul Ciufo Lavern & Joan Clark Pat Robertson-Corner & Byron Corner John & Betty Lou Cull Jane Davidson-McKee Pat Dunker Joseph Dunlop-Addley & Terry Boyd (2) Helen Dykstra Jean Edmunds Jo-Anne Elg & Pat Tiller Doug & Cathy Elliott Dawne Erb Cindy Fisher Brenda Lee Garratt Gil Garratt Doris Giddings John & Susan Goddard Mike Grey Jane & Ted Grubb (2)
Peter & Sarah Gusso Hugh Halliday John & Kathleen Hamilton Bonita Helen Hart Lois J. Hayward Greg & Beth Hazlitt Jim & Janice Henry (2) Linda & Jim Hess Ron Hikel & Tricia O'Malley Robert Hodder Anthony Hodsman (2) Wendy & Heinz Hoernig (2) David & Robin Hoff Warren Holmes (2) Barry & Nancy Holt Don & Lois Horne Eileen Howay & Herman Sahrmann Averil J. Jany Duncan & Linda Jewell (4) June Johns Nora Jones Anne Juhasz Joan & Peter Karstens Beth Kates Doug Kennedy Maureen Kenny & Jim McDonald (2) Shawn Kerwin Ruth Kiessling Rachael King Mary Ellen Kowaltschuk Friends, In Honour of Theron Kramer Martin Kuhn Treasa Lamb Alison Lobb Jim & June Macdonald John & Colleen MacDonald Tim & Alexandra MacDonald Bev MacDonald John MacKinnon Ian & Edith Macmillan Don & Yvonne Martin Arnold & Ila Mathers Christiane & Vivian McAlister David McClure Donald S. McNiven Tony & Fran McQuail Elizabeth E. Mignotte Huelen Montgomery & Michael Graham (2)
Eric & Janet G. Moore Charles & Caroline Moss Jane & Len Muegge Annamarie & David Murray (2) Dan Nagle (2) Wendy Nicholls Sheila & John Nixon Orr Insurance & Investment Catherine J. Park John Peebles Linda Rafuse Linda & Howard Rafuse (2) Sara Rafuse Doug & Jane Richards Robert & Helen Richards Bob & Rene Richmond The Riehl Family (2) Shannon Robinson Erin & Quinn Ross Pat Rowe James Roy & Lynda Hill Sandra Schreinert Cornelia Schuh Klaus Seeger & Rhea Hamilton-Seeger (2) Malcolm & Anne Shantz Stephanie Shore & Doug Roth Bonnie Sitter Erwin Smith Paul Smithson Cecil Southward Grant & Mildred Sparling (2) Steven & Laurie Sparling (2) Joan Stadelmann Joyce & Bill Stankiewicz Andrew & Margaret Stephens (2) Pamela H. Strachan SKC Construction Stone River Production Inc E. Ross Stuart (2) Lisa Thompson Susan Traill Cherilyn A. Trick Brock & Janis Vodden Don & Joyce Watts Bill Webb Kelly Wharton, Spa Essentials James White Bruce & Margaret Whitmore Marian & Warren Zinn
PortStanley FestivalTheatre
2017 SEASON
MADE IN CANADA
*Ask our box office how you can SAVE 10% with our ‘PORT to PORT’ Discount
BOX OFFICE: 519.782.4353 www.portstanleytheatre.ca Sponsored by
Countryside and Coastline
Along the shores of Lake Huron.
ontarioswestcoast.ca
2017/18 season
subscribe today!
once
a christmas carol
silence
blind date
a thousand splendid suns
chariots of fire ronnie burkett’s
the daisy theatre what a young wife ought to know
the glass menagerie beethoven lives upstairs
evita
jeans ’n classics grandtheatre.com 519.672.8800