Ovation Vol. 19 No. 6 by Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

Vol 19 No 6 | apr/may 2012

Music by

book & Lyrics by

Tom Kitt Brian Yorkey

Created by

Rebecca Northan

home is where the

art is

We support the arts for the beneďŹ t of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performers and their audiences and to help inspire, educate and entertain generations to come.

Message fro m the Artistic Director

When I was young,

time and, along with the

I knew it was spring because

smart, poignant story at the

the weather grew warm, my

heart of our play, it expands

baseball glove replaced my

the range of what we think

hockey stick, and my mother

musical theatre can be

would throw open the win-

(which may be why it is only

dows and clean the house

the eighth musical since

from top to bottom. Curtains

1918 to win the Pulitzer Prize

were taken down and washed,

for Drama).

rugs beaten, and drawers

At the Warehouse, Blind Date

emptied and relined with

also stretches our perceptions of this great art form.

colourful paper. Best of all, she would go through the towels and sheets and pil-

The sweet, sexy Mimi waits in vain each night at

low cases, replacing those that had worn out, and

the same café for a blind date who never comes,

refilling the little cloth bags that gave the linen

finally finding a substitute in the audience. The

cupboard its sweet scent.

rest of the evening is pure improv as Mimi guides

In our crazy, time-deprived modern world, does anyone still have the time to clean their home like that each spring? It was a well-loved ritual wholly dependent on the Herculean labour of

the charming young man (and she helps them all seem charming) past the perilous shoals of the one-night stand and out into the uncharted waters of a future full of promise and laughter.

one woman who believed, like generations before

Both plays ask us to set aside all our old, pre-

her, that an inner renewal was needed to reflect

conceived notions of the stage, like my mother’s

the rebirth of the natural world. So, in the spirit

worn linens. They are the new, the now, a

of spring cleaning, MTC is sweeping away all the

hurtling forward that’s as important to us as any

theatrical cobwebs and starting fresh with two

respectful looking back. They set a triumphant

plays so novel they almost defy description.

exclamation mark at the end of one season, even

Next to Normal boldly goes where musicals rarely, if ever, have gone before. It’s set not in a pajama

while they invite us to renew our faith in theatre to come.

factory or a Berlin cabaret or even a florist’s shop, but in a home not unlike yours or mine, except

Yours always,

that the family living here is struggling to cope with mental illness. The music throbs with their grief and fear, as well as their love and hope. This is not the music my mother listened to while cleaning our house. It is the music of our own apr/may 2012

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

Theatre Abbreviation Legend

Arts Club ATF ATP BAM Belfry Blyth Broadway CBC Centaur Citadel COC CS Dora Drayton Dry Cold GCTC Grand Mirvish MTYP NAC Necessary Angel Neptune NFB NTS Persephone PTAM PTE Rainbow RNT Royal Alex RSC RWB Segal Shaw SIR SNAC Soulpepper Stratford TA Tarragon TC TNB Toronto Free TPM TSO U of M U of T Black U of W VP West End WJT WSO YTP

Arts Club Theatre Company, Vancouver BC Atlantic Theatre Festival, Wolfville NS Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary AB Brooklyn Academy of Music, NYC The Belfry Theatre, Victoria BC Blyth Theatre Festival, Blyth ON New York Theatre District Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Centaur Theatre Company, Montreal QC The Citadel Theatre, Edmonton AB Canadian Opera Company, Toronto ON The Canadian Stage Company, Toronto ON Dora Mavor Moore Award, Toronto ON Drayton Entertinment, Ontario Dry Cold Productions, Winnipeg MB The Great Canadian Theatre Company, Ottawa ON The Grand Theatre, London ON Mirvish Productions, Toronto ON Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Winnipeg MB National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON Necessary Angel Theatre Company, Toronto ON Neptune Theatre, Halifax NS National Film Board of Canada National Theatre School of Canada, Montreal QC Persephone Theatre, Saskatoon SK Popular Theatre Alliance of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB Prairie Theatre Exchange, Winnipeg MB Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg MB Royal National Theatre, London, England The Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto ON Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, England Royal Winnipeg Ballet The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, Montreal QC Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake ON Shakespeare in the Ruins, Winnipeg MB St. Norbert Arts Centre, Winnipeg MB Soulpepper Theatre Company, Toronto ON Stratford Festival, Stratford ON Theatre Aquarius, Hamilton ON Tarragon Theatre, Toronto ON Theatre Calgary, Calgary AB Theatre New Brunswick, Fredericton NB Toronto Free Theatre, Toronto ON Theatre Projects Manitoba, Winnipeg MB Toronto Symphony Orchestra University of Manitoba University of Toronto University of Winnipeg Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Vancouver BC Theatre District, London, England Winnipeg Jewish Theatre Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Young People’s Theatre, Toronto ON

CMYK

MTC gratefully acknowledges the support of all corporate and individual donors and foundations, and the assistance of:

Pantone

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts which last year invested $5.9 million in the arts in Manitoba.

With the generous support of the Manitoba Arts Council

With the generous support of the City of Winnipeg through the Winnipeg Arts Council

Nous remercions de son soutien le Conseil des Arts du Canada, qui a investi 5,9 millions de dollars I’an dernier dans les arts au Manitoba.

Vol 19 No 6 | apr/may 2012

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre 174 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P8 Box office: 204-942-6537 Administration: 204-956-1340 www.mtc.mb.ca For advertising inquiries tel: 204-934-0309 e-mail: promo@mtc.mb.ca Printing: Premier Printing Ltd. Ovation is published six times per theatre season and has a total circulation of 115,000. MTC is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. Scenery, Carpentry and Show Running Crew at the John Hirsch Theatre at the MTC Mainstage and the Tom Hendry Theatre at the MTC Warehouse are members of IATSE Local 63.

Ushers | MTC’s loyal volunteer ushers are available at every performance to assist patrons. Latecomers | Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager. Courtesy to others | Talking, candy wrappers and coughing are distracting to fellow patrons and actors. We ask each patron to please keep noise to a minimum during a performance. Thank you for your cooperation. Scents and Allergies | A number of MTC patrons have expressed concerns regarding medical reactions caused by scented products, so much so that they can’t enjoy the show. Please consider others before using items such as colognes, perfumes and hairspray. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated. Hearing enhancement | Sennheiser Infrared Listening Devices are available free of charge in the lobby at the John Hirsch and Tom Hendry Theatres, supplied by the MTC Volunteer Corps of Ushers Capital Campaign donation. Please see the House Manager for details. Prohibited | The use of cameras and recording devices is strictly prohibited. Pagers and cellular phones must be turned off. To be contacted in an emergency, leave your name and seat number with the House Manager. Warnings | On occasion, MTC’s productions may contain scriptspecific smoking of non-tobacco products, special effects and language/content warnings. For more information on specific productions, please visit www.mtc.mb.ca. Subscriber Membership | Any person in whose name season tickets for either the John Hirsch or Tom Hendry Theatres have been purchased shall be a member of the Centre for one year, commencing on the date payment has been received for that season’s tickets.

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By Aaron Sorkin “Brilliant, intelligent, cutting – socks you between the eyes” – The indePendenT A co-production with the Citadel Theatre

MIRaClE on souTH dIVIsIon sTREET By Tom Dudzick

“a rollicking comedy where one revelation builds on another to an unexpected and thoroughly satisfying conclusion” – The Journal news

woRld pREMIERE GonE wITH THE wInd

adaPTed By Niki Landau Based on The noVel By Margaret Mitchell

“some day i’m going to do everything i want to do, and say everything i want to say, and if people don’t like it i don’t care.” – sCarleTT

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REd By John Logan “The most compelling drama I’ve seen all year… sizzling, intellectually thrilling” – ChiCago TriBune

A co-production with the Belfry Theatre

assassIns MusiC and lyriCs By

Stephen Sondheim Book By John Weidman “an absolutely delirious theatrical experience” – The gloBe and Mail A Birdland Productions and Talk is Free Theatre production PART Of SOnDhEImfEST

By Margaret Atwood “Vibrant, moving and darkly, explosively funny” – naTional PosT

RIdE THE CyClonE: a MusICal By Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell

“a work of genius that defies description” – VanCouVer sun An Atomic Vaudeville production

MusiC and lyriCs By Paul Gordon Book By John Caird Based on The ClassiC noVel By Jean Webster

A Rubicon Theatre production

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By Jerry Sterner “Trades in clever wit — much of it raunchy — and looks into the hearts of people passionate about their work.” – new york TiMes

Reserve your seat for a Cast of Ride the cyclone: a musical. photo by Fairen Berchard.

204-942-6537 VIsIT www.mtc.mb.ca Call

see all 10 plays and receive an additional discount on your Warehouse subscription!

THE pEnElopIad

daddy lonG lEGs

“skillful storytelling, enticing songs and superb performances” –The indePendenT

Become an mTc SupeRSuBScRiBeR…

setting the stage

by Teri Stevens

In Next to Normal, Diana has been living with bipolar disorder coupled with hallucinations for 16 years. She’s a suburban mom with a regular life—a story of mental illness that is portrayed less frequently in pop culture, where characters with mood disorders can be stereotypical and clichéd. “Romanticizing the mentally ill as truth tellers and artists everyone is just trying to oppress—we weren’t interested in that,” lyricist Brian Yorkey told the San Francisco Chronicle. What he and composer Tom Kitt were interested in was telling an honest, accurate story about a woman and her family coping with bipolar disorder when conventional treatment isn’t enough. And, because Next to Normal is a musical, they’ve given the characters the opportunity to express their deepest emotions through song. In 1998, Yorkey and Kitt planted the seed that would become Next to Normal when they created a 10-minute sketch called Feeling Electric about a woman being treated with electroconvulsive therapy. After developing the piece into a fulllength musical, followed by a decade of readings, workshops, rewrites and off-Broadway performances, Next to Normal opened on Broadway to rave reviews in April 2009. The New York Times called it “a brave, breathtaking … feel-everything musical.” The production was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, winning three, and in 2010, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, only the eighth musical to receive that distinction. The Pulitzer board commended the show for being “a powerful rock musical that grapples with mental illness in a suburban family and expands the scope of subject matter for musicals.” Next to Normal has resonated deeply with audiences, likely because its themes and issues are 8

apr/MAY 2012

Next to Norm al

socially relevant. Like Diana and her family, many people have dealt with mood disorders. According to the Canadian Institute of Health Research, it is estimated that one in five Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their lives. Even more startling, a 2008 poll undertaken by the Canadian Medical Association found that only 50 per cent of Canadians will tell a friend that a family member has a mental illness, while 72 per cent would disclose a cancer diagnosis. Here in Manitoba, “instances of mental illness have skyrocketed in recent years” according to the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba (mdam), with the number of Manitobans diagnosed increasing 56 per cent in a 15-year period. Of course, some of the good news from that statistic is that it likely reflects the health care system’s increased focus on mental health and that more people are getting the help and treatment they need. Still, awareness continues to be an issue, and the fact that historically it’s been taboo to talk about mental illness lingers. Tara Brousseau, Executive Director of mdam, put it best in the organization’s most recent newsletter: “The bleeding happens on the inside, not on the outside, so awareness of the issue is a constant challenge.” Her organization and others provide valuable education that is key to reducing stigma. Awareness campaigns, like Bell’s Let’s Talk, featuring Winnipegger Clara Hughes, spread the message that mental illness can happen to anybody, and we shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about it. The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week, running from May 7 to 13 this year, “encourages people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health.” Even a Broadway musical like Next to Normal has the opportunity to reach people, to educate and perhaps make someone living with mental illness feel less alone. Sources Getlin, Josh. “The Ballad of Kitt &Yorkey”, Columbia Magazine, Columbia University, Fall 2010, pp. 22–23 Hetrick, Adam. “Next to Normal Wins 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama”. Playbill.com, April 12, 2010

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Curtain Calls

Next to Norm al

Q & A with next to normal

robb paterson

Director

MTC Associate Artistic Director Robb Paterson always brings passion and meticulous attention to detail to every show he directs. We sat down with him to find out why he wanted to tackle this “feel-everything” musical and what he hopes audiences will take away from the theatre.

What attracted you to Next to Normal? Why did you want to direct this musical? I’ve been a fan of rock musicals since I first heard the Tommy album by The Who in 1968. The music in Next to Normal is energetic and smart rock ‘n’ roll and the idea of telling a story that deals with mental illness using rock music was very intriguing. How a family deals with the mother being bipolar fascinates me. It’s a funny, gut-wrenching, and in the end, hopeful story. How does Next to Normal differ from standard Broadway musicals? I don’t know any other musical in which the protagonist is bipolar. In Next to Normal, we see a character with a mental illness being treated with psychoanalysis, medication, hypnosis and ECT [electroconvulsive therapy], and we see a family nearly destroyed. Pretty heavy stuff for a musical. How do you approach working with a sensitive subject like mental illness? With respect. I have tried, in my prep, to understand (as much as is possible) how mental illness

affects not only the patient, but also the loved ones. I’ve spoken to several people with bipolar disorder, and a psychiatrist, Eric Vickar, about mania, depression and treatment. Can you tell us a bit about the set and staging? How does the way the show is presented reflect the musical’s themes? The set is basically the skeleton of a suburban or “normal” home, which we fill with the story of a family learning to live with tragedy and the reality of mental illness. It’s a massive struggle. The show’s themes include hope, family, survival, and in the end, acceptance. There’s a terrific, sometimes “manic” energy in the writing. Time passes very quickly (seven weeks in one song), and the set allows us to fly from location to location and time to time, seamlessly. We can actually “rapid cycle” visually, experiencing the emotional highs and lows with the characters. What do you hope the audience will take away from Next to Normal? A feeling of hope—that living is ultimately more than simply surviving. We sometimes need to let the pain in to discover that “we don’t always have to be happy at all, to be happy we’re alive.”

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Steven Schipper, Artistic Director

Camilla Holland, General Manager

Presents

Music by

Book & Lyrics by

Tom Kitt Brian Yorkey Original Broadway Production Produced by David Stone, James L. Nederlander, Barbara Whittman, Patrick Catullo and Second Stage Theatre

April 19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; May 12, 2012

Director Music Director Choreographer Set & Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Music Direction Intern Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Apprentice Stage Manager Stage Management Intern

Robb Paterson Bob Foster Stephanie Graham Douglas Paraschuk Scott Henderson John Bent Jr. Joseph Tritt Karyn Kumhyr Melissa Novecosky Ayden Buss Maria Zarrillo

The Cast (in alphabetical order)

Henry Jonathan Cullen Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine Peter Deiwick Natalie Steffi DiDomenicantonio Diana Jennifer Lyon Diana Understudy Jan Skene Gabe Liam Tobin Dan Shawn Wright

setting

Seattle New York Premiere produced by Second Stage Theatre, New York. February 2008 Carole Rothman, Artistic Director | Ellen Richard, Executive Director Next to Normal was subsequently produced by arena stage in november 2008. Developed at Village Theatre, Issaquah, WA (Robb Hunt, Executive Producer, Steve Tomkins, Artistic Director). An earlier version was presented in the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Support for the development of Next to Normal was provided by the jonathan larson foundation.

Next to Normal is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684 | Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly Prohibited. Thank you: Tara Brousseau, Donna Fletcher, Tina Holland, international hope, Dr. Eric Vickar

apr/MAY 2012

Musical Numbers Act I

Prelude Just Another Day Diana, Natalie, Gabe, Dan Everything Else Natalie Who’s Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I Dan, Dr. Fine, Diana, Ensemble Perfect for You Henry, Natalie I Miss the Mountains Diana It’s Gonna Be Good Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Diana, Dr. Madden He’s Not Here Dan You Don’t Know Diana I Am the One Dan, Gabe, Diana Superboy and the Invisible Girl Natalie, Diana, Gabe I’m Alive Gabe Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I’m Falling Dr. Madden, Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe I Dreamed a Dance Diana, Gabe There’s a World Gabe I’ve Been Dan Didn’t I See This Movie? Diana A Light in the Dark Dan, Diana

Entr’Acte Wish I Were Here Diana, Natalie, Ensemble Song of Forgetting Dan, Diana, Natalie Hey #1 Henry, Natalie Seconds and Years Dr. Madden, Dan, Diana Better Than Before Dr. Madden, Dan, Natalie, Diana Aftershocks Gabe Hey #2 Henry, Natalie You Don’t Know (Reprise) Diana, Dr. Madden How Could I Ever Forget? Diana, Dan It’s Gonna Be Good (Reprise) Dan, Diana Why Stay?/A Promise Diana, Natalie, Dan, Henry I’m Alive (Reprise) Gabe The Break Diana Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I’m Falling (Reprise) Dr. Madden, Diana, Gabe Maybe (Next to Normal) Diana, Natalie Hey #3/Perfect for You (Reprise) Henry, Natalie So Anyway Diana I Am the One (Reprise) Dan, Gabe Light Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Dr. Madden

Act II

Musicians

Conductor/Keyboard I Bob Foster Violin/Keyboard II Louise Pauls Cello Karin Erhardt Bass/Upright Bass Nenad Zdjelar

Drums/Percussion Tony Cyre Electric/Acoustic Guitar Greg Lowe Rehearsal Pianist Andrew St. Hilaire Contractor Dave Lawton

Next to Normal is performed with one intermission. apr/MAY 2012

ARTISTS

Jonathan Cullen Henry

FILM/TV Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town (CBC) with Gordon Pinsent, Lost Girl (Showcase) and four seasons of Moitié Moitié (TFO). In 2006, Steffi placed as the Top 5 finalist on the fourth season of Canadian Idol (CTV), where she worked and performed with Cindy Lauper, Martina McBride and Nelly Furtado, among others. ET CETERA Steffi has written a young playwright

MTC First appearance. OTHER THEATRE Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor

Dreamcoat (Stage West Calgary); Billy Elliot (first national tour); A Christmas Carol (Smile Theatre); West Side Story (Theatre St. John’s); Marathon of Hope (Lyric Canada); Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Charlottetown Festival); Oberon, Anything Goes, Metamorphoses (Theatre Sheridan); High School Musical 2 (Silver Mist Productions).

prize-winning play entitled Un Compte de Fee and has also co-hosted the show Last Call on CFRA radio. She is currently one half of the dynamic folk-pop duo Good Together. Steffi Dee-doh-men-ee-can-toeknee-oh is thrilled to be playing the Invisible Girl!

Jennifer Lyon Diana

TV Bomb Girls (Global). TRAINING Graduate of Sheridan College’s Music

Theatre Program. ET CETERA Thanks to Bruce and the gang at TH, and

Peter Deiwick

MTC White Christmas, Pride and Prejudice, Guys and Dolls (with TC/Citadel), My Fair Lady, A Christmas Carol – The Musical, Steel Magnolias (1993). Assistant Director: The Fighting Days.

Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine

OTHER THEATRE Selected: The Father (WJT); Hersteria

to my mom and brother for teaching me to believe.

MTC First appearance. OTHER THEATRE Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages (Mirvish/

first US tour); The Toxic Avenger (Dancap Productions); We Will Rock You, Sky in Mamma Mia! (Mirvish); Gilbert in Anne & Gilbert (Jubilee Theatre/Victoria By The Sea). ET CETERA Enjoy the show!

Steffi DiDomenicantonio Natalie

MTC First appearance. OTHER THEATRE Steffi D toured the US with the Tony

Award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening, performing the role of Ilse more than 600 times in 44 different cities. Other selected credits: Angel Square (NAC); Angel Vicarious (GCTC); The Miracle Worker (Ottawa Little Theatre); Steffi’s Picnic (Puppets Up! International Festival).

apr/may 2012

(Winnipeg Studio Theatre); My Fair Lady (Arts Club); Skylight (TNB); I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (PTE, Belfry); The Road to Hell, Communicating Doors (Persephone); Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, Godspell (PTE); Hairspray, Singin’ in the Rain (Rainbow); Comet in Moominland (MTYP, Toronto, Montreal, NYC); Camelot, Man of La Mancha, The Miracle Worker (Stratford); The Who’s Tommy (Elgin Theatre, Canadian Tour). TRAINING York University BFA (Hons.) program

(Theatre Performance); vocal coaching for Next to Normal: Margery Koop.

Jan Skene Diana Understudy

MTC White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Good Sisters (Les Belles Soeurs), A Christmas Carol. OTHER THEATRE Includes: Hersteria (Winnipeg

Studio Theatre); A Year with Frog and Toad (MTYP/ Citadel); Honk!, Peter Pan, See Saw (MTYP); Having Hope at Home, Fashion Power Guilt (PTE); Stretching Hide, Albertine in Five Times (TPM); Company, Nine, For a full list of theatre abbreviations, please Refer to legend on page 4

ARTISTS A Little Night Music (Dry Cold); The King and I, Big: The Musical, Footloose (Rainbow); Russell’s World (MTYP/YTP). FILM/TV Includes: Beethoven’s Christmas Adventure;

The Plague; The Many Trials of One Jane Doe; Fred Penner’s Place (CBC); Tipi Tales (YTV/APTN). TRAINING U of W Dept. of Theatre and Film

(Gold Medal).

Liam Tobin Gabe

MTC First appearance. OTHER THEATRE Tony in West Side Story (Neptune);

Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Stage West); Link Larkin in Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival); The Sound of Music (Mirvish); Blood Brothers, High School Musical (Drayton). TV Triple Sensation ii (CBC).

Tom Kitt Composer Tom received 2009 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Orchestrations for Next to Normal, which had successful productions at both Second Stage (Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Score; Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Drama League nominations) and Arena Stage (nominated for five 2009 Helen Hayes Awards including Best Musical). He composed the music for High Fidelity (Broadway) and From Up Here (Manhattan Theatre Club), and his original songs have been featured in film and TV. He recently created new orchestrations for the CTG/DeafWest production of Pippin. As a musical director, conductor and arranger (Broadway and Off-Broadway), shows include 13, Hair, Laugh Whore, Urban Cowboy and Debbie Does Dallas. Tom was the musical supervisor/ arranger/orchestrator for Everyday Rapture at Second Stage, and his string arrangements appeared on the Green Day album 21st Century Breakdown. He is the proud leader of The Tom Kitt Band (www.tomkittband.com). Love to Rita and Michael.

ET CETERA Love to family and friends and thanks to

everyone at The Talent House!

Shawn Wright Dan

MTC Not Wanted on the Voyage (with Necessary Angel/CS). OTHER THEATRE Jersey Boys (original Canadian cast);

Mamma Mia! (original US cast); The Lord of the Rings (world premiere); Stratford Shakespeare Festival (six seasons/Guthrie Award); National Arts Centre 2011 Acting Ensemble; Shaw Festival (five productions, including the lead in Good News). Upcoming: Shawn and Dan Chameroy will play the title roles in The Arsonists, directed by Morris Panych at Canadian Stage this fall in Toronto. TV Andrew Trevor in Murdoch Mysteries, The Ron

James Show, Due South. TRAINING Shakespeare & Company (Massachusetts). ET CETERA Shawn would like to dedicate this perfor-

Brian Yorkey Playwright & Lyricist Brian received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Score for his work on Next to Normal and was also nominated for the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. Theatre credits include Making Tracks, which has played Off-Broadway and regionally; the musical adaptation of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet; and the new country musical Play It By Heart. Film and TV include the features Time After Time, in development at Universal with Marc Platt; Sluts for Lionsgate and Furst Films; Love Undercover for Pandemonium Films and Overture and Chase for Anonymous Content and Rosenzweig Films. He also co-created Bears, a new series for the Logo network. He has directed Off-Broadway and regionally, and for seven years was associate artistic director at Village Theatre in Washington state, one of the nation’s leading producers of new musicals. He is a graduate of Columbia University, where he was artistic director of the Varsity Show, an alum of the BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and the WG.

mance to the precious memories of the great Goldie Semple and Roland Hewgill, with whom he shared this very stage in 1992. apr/may 2012

ARTISTS TV Much Music Intimate & Interactive; the SOCAN

Robb Paterson Director

Awards; In Conversation with Gzowski (with Jann Arden), Triple Sensation (CBC). ET CETERA Bob has two Dora nominations, one

Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award nomination and two Betty Mitchell Awards. He has spent many years working with Jann Arden, co-writing the songs “Good Mother” (SOCAN Classic Award), “It Looks Like Rain” and “Give Me Back My Heart,” among others.

MTC Directing credits include: The Fighting Days, The Shunning, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Bleeding Hearts, Pride and Prejudice, Our Town, Rope’s End, Guys and Dolls (with TC/Citadel), Trying, My Fair Lady, Steel Magnolias (1993, 2010), An Inspector Calls, The Retreat from Moscow (MTC); Gypsy, Chicago, Cabaret, Grease, Little Shop of Horrors, The Pajama Game (MBA/MTC). Acting credits include: Richard iii, Lady, Be Good!, True West, Little Shop of Horrors, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Billy Bishop Goes to War, A Christmas Carol – The Musical.

MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Directing credits include: The

OTHER THEATRE The Sound of Music (Cornerstone

Immigrant, The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (WJT); Beauty and the Beast (2005, 2009), Peter Pan, The King and I, Big: The Musical, Footloose, Crazy for You, 42nd Street (Rainbow); Rick: The Rick Hansen Story, Seussical the Musical, Pippi Longstocking (MTYP). Acting credits include: Marvin’s Room (PTE); Oliver!, Angels in America (Centaur); Chicago, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, Damn Yankees (Rainbow). ET CETERA Robb has appeared in more than 150

productions in Canada over the past 31 years.

Stephanie Graham Choreographer

University); Back in ‘59 (Showboat Festival Theatre); Canada in Love (Smile Theatre); The Last Resort (Charlottetown Festival); She Loves Me (Theatre Sheridan); Impulse: An Evening of Original Choreography (Stratford); three seasons as the Director/Choreographer of the Confederation Centre of the Arts Young Company. Upcoming: They’re Playing Our Song (Showboat Festival Theatre). FILM/TV Assistant Choreographer on the first two episodes of So You Think You Can Dance Canada; Mulroney: The Opera; The Boy Who Smelled Like Fish. TRAINING Graduate of Sheridan College Musical

Theatre Performance Program.

Bob Foster Music Director

ET CETERA Thank you to Robb, for taking a chance,

and to Rob for knowing I could do it. www.stephaniegraham.ca

Douglas Paraschuk Set & Costume Designer MTC The Boys in the Photograph (with Mirvish), Little

Shop of Horrors, Camelot (with TC/Citadel), Evita (with TC). OTHER THEATRE Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages, Dirty Dancing,

Hairspray (Mirvish); Evangeline, Bittergirl (Mirvish workshops); Cabaret, A Christmas Carol, Fire, Into the Woods, Anne of Green Gables, Piaf (TC); A Year with Frog and Toad (Citadel); Snow White and the Group of Seven (Ross Petty Productions); Twist and Shout (Drayton/Grand); Rock and Roll (Grand); Legends, The World Goes ‘Round, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Drayton); The Sound of Music, The British Invasion, Five Guys Named Mo, My Fair Lady, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Stage West); Nine Months, Side By Side By Sondheim (Lunchbox Theatre).

apr/may 2012

MTC Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Long Day’s Journey into Night, The Diary of Anne Frank, Evita (with TC), The School for Wives (with VP), Camelot (with TC/Citadel), Transit of Venus, Burn This. OTHER THEATRE Twenty-two seasons as Design

Coordinator of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, where he has been involved in more than 60 productions. Doug has designed hundreds of productions for theatres across Canada, the UK and the US over the last 30-plus years.

ARTISTS ET CETERA Director of Design, 2011 Arab Games,

OTHER THEATRE The Shadowy Waters (Eternal Rose

Doha, Qatar. Director of Design for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and headed up the design team for the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Art Director for Loreena McKennitt’s “The Mummers’ Dance” music video and Production Designer for both The Book of Secrets and Ancient Muse world tours.

Theatre); The Diary of Anne Frank (Segal/Neptune); The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Keely and Du, The Heart as It Lived, Grace (ATP); Lion in the Streets (Sage Theatre); Some Assembly Required (Northern Light Theatre).

Scott Henderson

ET CETERA John has received two Betty Mitchell

Awards for Outstanding Soundscape (Grace, Lion in the Streets) and is a member of iatse Local 63. He is also a founding member of Eternal Rose Theatre.

Lighting Designer

Joseph Tritt Music Direction Intern MTC More than 40 productions since 1995, including Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, The 39 Steps, White Christmas, Doubt, A Parable (with TC), Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare’s Dog (with NAC), Humble Boy (Mainstage); Top Girls, The Shape of Things, Closer, Poor Super Man (Warehouse). Associate Lighting Designer: The Boys in the Photograph (with Mirvish). OTHER THEATRE Recent credits: The Cat Came Back

MTC First engagement. OTHER THEATRE Music Director: Altar Boyz (PTE/

Winnipeg Studio Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Winnipeg Studio Theatre/ Winnipeg Fringe). Apprentice Music Director: Company, Nine (Dry Cold); Hair (U of W/Winnipeg Fringe).

(MTYP); Lost: A Memoir (PTE). Scott has designed for opera, dance and theatre companies in Winnipeg and across Canada, including the Stratford and Shaw Festivals.

TRAINING Undergraduate studies in Composition and

TRAINING Scott is a graduate of Ryerson Theatre

ET CETERA Upcoming: Apprentice Music Director

School and a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. ET CETERA Special thanks to Karen, Sean and Alex

for love and support.

John Bent Jr. Sound Designer

MTC More than 30 productions since 1998, including

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, The 39 Steps, Calendar Girls (with Mirvish), White Christmas, Steel Magnolias, Educating Rita, The Drowsy Chaperone (with TC), Strong Poison, The Boys in the Photograph (with Mirvish), The Syringa Tree, Shakespeare’s Dog (with NAC), Fiddler on the Roof, Our Town, Over the Tavern, The Rocky Horror Show (with CS), The Clean House (with VP), Guys and Dolls (with TC/Citadel), A Christmas Carol, Crowns (with CS/NAC), Trying, Tuesdays with Morrie, My Fair Lady, The Diary of Anne Frank, Cookin’ at the Cookery (with CS), Evita (with TC), Camelot (with TC/Citadel), King Lear, Wit.

Voice at Manhattan School of Music and University of Manitoba. for Annie (Rainbow), Music Director for Sondheim’s Follies (WJT/Dry Cold) as part of the 2013 Master Playwright Festival. Thank you to Bob Foster and Steven Schipper for your mentorship and generosity!

Karyn Kumhyr Stage Manager

MTC The Shunning, Steel Magnolias, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play, Bleeding Hearts, Pride and Prejudice, Fiddler on the Roof, Our Town, The Tempest, Driving Miss Daisy, The History of Manitoba from the Beginning of Time to the Present in 45 Minutes. Assistant Stage Manager: A Christmas Carol, The Foreigner, Doc. Crew: The Gin Game, Thimblerig, A Moon for the Misbegotten, The Tempest (1981), Side by Side by Sondheim. OTHER THEATRE Rick: The Rick Hansen Story, Frog and

Toad, Invisible Girl, The Happy Prince (MTYP); Altar Boyz, The Secret Mask, The Fly Fisher’s Companion, Here on the Flight Path, Unity (1918) (PTE); Molière, The Beauty Queen of Leenane (ATP); The Woman in Black, apr/may 2012

ARTISTS The Gin Game (Valley Summer Theatre); Bump, Snow Dance (Ship’s Company Theatre); Urinetown (Dry Cold); The Drawer Boy (ATF).

Maria Zarrillo Stage Management Intern

Melissa Novecosky Assistant Stage Manager MTC First engagement. OTHER THEATRE For Miles Macdonell Collegiate: MTC White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio

Play, Jitters, Our Town, What Lies Before Us, The Real Thing, The Tempest. OTHER THEATRE Stage Manager: 500 Words (Green

Thumb Theatre); (re)birth: e.e. cummings in song (Soulpepper); Lawrence and Holloman (PTE/Persephone); Driving Miss Daisy (Stirling Festival Theatre); A Boy Called Newfoundland (Theatre Smash). Assistant Stage Manager: The Price, White Biting Dog (Soulpepper); Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (National Ballet of Canada); Burnin’ Love (PTE); Assistant Production Stage Manager: Banff Summer Arts Festival 2007. Apprentice Stage Manager: The Entertainer, Play, Orchestra, Play, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, The Little Foxes (Shaw); Otello (Manitoba Opera). TRAINING Melissa is a graduate of the technical

production program at NTS.

Ayden Buss Apprentice Stage Manager

Harvey (actor), The Diary of Anne Frank (Stage Manager), Hollywood Arms (Assistant Stage Manager). Actor: Manitoba Drama Youth Festival (PTE). ET CETERA Maria plans to pursue theatre and film at

the University of Winnipeg.

Music Theatre International Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

Did you know MTC offers

MTC After Miss Julie, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play. OTHER THEATRE Apprentice Stage Manager: Back to

You: The Life and Music of Lucille Starr (PTE); Strike! – The Musical (Danny Schur); The Light in the Piazza (Dry Cold). Stage Manager: Early Man, Merry Tyll and the Three Rogues, Dragon of the Winds (MTYP Theatre School).

scholarships to

theatre students and appreticeships for recent graduates?

TRAINING Ten years of Theatre School at MTYP, four

years in MTYP’s Young Company. ET CETERA Thank you to my parents for everything

they provide, and thank you, Liz, for being my light.

Application and details online at

www.mtc.mb.ca/scholarship deadline May 1, 2012 Audition & Interview Dates

apr/may 2012

May 14 & 15, 2012

Saturday, November 3, 2012 the Fort Garry hotel | Grand Ballroom MusIC By the danny Kramer event Band

For information, ticket reservations and to make donations: PhOne (204) 956-1340 ext. 214

| fax (204) 947-3741

e-MaIl blackandwhite@mtc.mb.ca exClusIve evenT sPOnsOr

www.mtc.mb.ca

Proceeds in support of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s productions and programs.

Doowah Design Inc. Client: MTC Job no: 2669 Insertion: Ovation MTC B&W Ball Ovation 6 ad / BW / 4.75” x 3.75” Problems or questions, call Priscilla at (204) 949-7230

We’re investing in the next generation of performing artists, and banking on some entertaining returns. Through the RBC Emerging Artists Project, we’re committed to helping emerging performing artists develop their skills and bring their visions to life. That’s why we’re proud to be a longtime partner of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and presenting sponsor of the Black & White Gala Ball.

Helping build a better future.

® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.

39786 (10/2011)

Education & Outreach

(Assistant Tour Technical Director). The creative team in Winnipeg included Chris Sigurdson (Director), Janelle Regalbuto (Set & Costume Designer), Laura Lindeblom (Lighting Designer) and Mike Wright (Sound Designer).

Norm Foster

January 24 – february 25, 2012

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre celebrated its 34th consecutive regional tour with Norm Foster’s The Melville Boys. Created in Winnipeg exclusively by local talent, this production was celebrated as MTC’s first tour under our royal designation. The touring company comprised Murray Farnell (Owen), Kevin Klassen (Lee), Alix Sobler (Mary), Elizabeth Stephensen (Loretta), Leslie Sidley (Company Stage Manager), Kathryn Ball (Assistant Stage Manager), Ian Kirk (Tour Technical Director) and Chris Hadley

PRESENTING SPONSOR

TOUR SPONSORS

At MTC, we aspire to reflect and inform the community we serve, and we’re delighted to engage rural audiences with professional live theatre. In only 33 days, we travelled more than 4,600 kilometres, and played to 4,122 patrons in 25 communities across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. We were pleased to return to three communities where we hadn’t performed in many years: Killarney (2006/07), Beausejour (1995/96) and Souris (1983/84). The 2012 regional tour was an exciting adventure: the company shared an evening with the Prairie Theatre Exchange touring company of The Three Munschketeers in Thompson, and our five-ton truck received a complimentary tow by Chuck’s Towing in Atikokan (thank you!).

WITH TOURING ASSISTANCE FROM

Below: Murray Farnell, Kevin Klassen, Alix Sobler and Elizabeth Stephensen. photo by leif norman

SUPPORTING SPONSORS Transport

Cast & Crew

e ducation & outreach

“Comedy with lots of drama — one of the best I’ve seen” — Deloraine audience member In Killarney, the cast arrived at the venue to a lifesized “lobby” display set up by our hosts, the Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain. As patrons entered the school gym, they were treated to a camping scene that immediately set the stage for the heartfelt script about two brothers, Lee and Owen Melville, who travel to a lakeside cabin for a relaxing weekend of fishing and brotherly bonding. Before they open their tackle boxes, their plans are not-so-rudely interrupted by the arrival of two attractive, but very different, sisters. The play showcases a moment in life when four lost individuals help each other find their way. MTC appreciates the continued and big-hearted support of our presenting sponsor, Manitoba Lotteries. “Manitoba Lotteries is extremely proud of its partnership with the regional tour. After

eight seasons as presenting sponsor, we feel like part of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre family,” said President and CEO Winston Hodgins. “We know that is how many communities feel as they look forward to the arrival of the company each year. We thank everyone involved with this year’s tour for sharing their talents with the theatre lovers of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.” We are also grateful for the unwavering touring assistance from the Manitoba Arts Council; and the support of tour sponsors Manitoba Hydro and CIBC, transport sponsor Manitoba Public Insurance and our cast and crew sponsor MacDon Industries. Thank you also to our newest tour sponsor, Procurity. Special thanks to the presenters and volunteers in each community who welcomed us night after night. In 2012, the MTC regional tour visited the following communities: Jan. 24 Steinbach, MB Steinbach Arts Council Jan. 25 Crystal City, MB Parklane Theatre Committee Jan. 26 Killarney, MB Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain Jan. 27 Souris, MB Souris District Arts Council Jan. 28 Virden, MB Virden Community Arts Council Jan. 30 Deloraine, MB Southwest Showcase Inc. Jan. 31 Brandon, MB Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba Feb. 1 Portage la Prairie, MB William Glesby Centre Feb. 2 Gladstone, MB Gladstone District Community Centre Board Feb. 3 Neepawa, MB Kaleidoscope Concerts Series Feb. 4 Strathclair, MB Strathclair and District Theatre Committee, Ltd. Feb. 6 Minnedosa, MB Minnedosa Performing Arts Committee Feb. 7 Binscarth, MB Vagabond Theatre Company Feb. 8 Dauphin, MB Dauphin & District Allied Arts Council/Theatre Amisk Feb. 10 Flin Flon, MB Flin Flon Arts Council Feb. 11 Snow Lake, MB Aurora Borealis Arts Council Feb. 12 Thompson, MB City of Thompson Feb. 15 Eriksdale, MB Eriksdale Museum Feb. 16 Gimli, MB Kiwanis Club of Gimli & District Feb. 17 Carman, MB Golden Prairie Arts Council Feb. 18 Beausejour, MB Brokenhead River Community Hall Inc. Feb. 21 Atikokan, ON Atikokan Entertainment Series Feb. 22 Sioux Lookout, ON Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series Feb. 23 Dryden, ON Dryden Entertainment Series Feb. 24 Kenora, ON Lake of the Woods Concert Group

apr/may 2012

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Restaurant Partners

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Before Curtain

After Encore

TRE VISI

SENSI

Setting the Stage

Blind Date

I confessed to a friend at lunch

recently that I really get the willies when it comes to discussing my “process.” I’ve always felt that it’s private, and for anyone outside the acting profession, probably a bit boring, or worse, self-indulgent! And yet, I’m asked again and again, “How did you develop the character of Mimi?” The short answer is I don’t really know, and the medium answer is I had a red dress I wanted to wear, then I added a clown nose and a French accent. The long answer is ….

by Rebecca Northan

I really didn’t know anything about the clown world before I was asked to create a piece for the Spiegelshow at Harbourfront Centre in 2007—well, I did know that I thought most clowns are sort of creepy!— and yes, much to my horror, I discovered that there is a clown world, second in creepiness only to the world of mimes. The idea of using a clown character came directly from the environment of the Spiegeltent—I thought it looked and felt like a sexy, adult circus, and I thought that I might fit in by providing the element of a sexy, adult clown. I’m an actor and an improviser so I figured, “How hard can it be to just throw on a clown nose and go?!” The original 10-minute piece, where I pulled a man from the audience to go on a date with me to see how far we could take it, was so successful that I wondered if it might have legs as a full-length show where we actually take the time to get to know the man who comes up on stage. Since the inception of the full-length Blind Date I’ve taken some training in clown from John Turner of Mump and Smoot fame. That was very cool and quite helpful in confirming a few of my gut instincts. I still think a lot of clowns are creepy, though if you’ve ever had the chance to see a great clown, you will know that nothing compares to the open-hearted, hilarious, raw humanity of a world class, capital C, Clown.

photo by greg tjepkema

apr/may 2012

As for Mimi, she still wears my favourite red dress and has a French accent because who better to seduce an audience than a saucy French girl? She’s all the best parts of myself, which is to say that Mimi is all innocence and experience, strength and vulnerability, loneliness and courage, hilarity and heartbreak. That little red nose, often referred to as the smallest mask in the world, gives me permission, and gives my date permission to open up and play and have some fun and just be ourselves because in the end, I’m just a f--king clown! And hey, maybe we’ll fall in love. Reprinted courtesy of LiveWithCulture.ca

other sweet treats by available at the mainstage snack bar

rocky fudge A mountAin of temptAtion

buy one pound and get a half-pound free. Offer valid until July 30, 2012 by presenting this ad at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Polo Park, St. Vital Centre and Winnipeg Airport locations. Not valid with any other promotional offer. Limit of one coupon per customer per purchase.

Curtain Calls

Blind Date

Mimi ’s

The further away you are from a dance floor when you ask a woman to dance, the more romantic it is. Ask me to dance in a gravel pit and I will give you my panties.

thoughts on dating…

“You want a dating tip? Don’t be an a--hole. That goes for women too.”

I’ll tell you a secret about ladies – we’re ALL crazy. ALL OF US. Find YOUR kind of crazy and then be happy no one is killing you in your sleep.

by (Rebecca Northan)

I don’t understand men dating younger women in order to feel younger … you want to feel YOUNG – date an 80 year old, you’ll feel amazing getting naked … although, you’ll have to sleep with an 80 year old. Which could be awesome, we just don’t know. The 80 year olds are quiet about that stuff.

I won’t drink out of the milk carton if you clean underneath your fingernails. That’s romance!

If the man you’re dating takes longer to get ready for a date than you do … maybe you’re dating a homosexual. There’s nothing wrong with that. Lots of women date homosexuals … it’s just not going to end in an orgasm … but you might go shopping. Which is fantastic.

apr/may 2012

Women set ‘lady-traps’ for men. It’s what we do. There’s no right answer, and it’s not fair … but then again, men get paid more than we do, so it all evens out. You make more money, we psychologically torture you.

When a woman asks you, ‘what are you thinking about?’ what she really means is, ‘How much do you love me right now?’

Steven Schipper, Artistic Director

Camilla Holland, General Manager

Kevin McCollum Lams Productions

in association with

Presents

created by

rebecca northan April 5 – 21, 2012 Blind Date is performed without an intermission.

YOU MAY BE ROMANCED … The event taking place in this area may involve a ROMANTIC LIAISON between “MIMI THE CLOWN” aka Rebecca Northan, known henceforward as “MIMI,” and a spontaneously selected member of THE AUDIENCE. By entering this area you hereby grant to “MIMI” the right to possibly select you to participate in the performance. Should you be selected to participate, you further grant “MIMI” the right to explore a romantic relationship with you for the duration of the performance. By entering this area, you also acknowledge that you understand the POTENTIAL RISKS involved in participating in this performance which may include, but are not limited to: the jealousy and ire of your current life partner, should you have one, which, though rare, may result in the dissolution of your current relationship. You will not receive any payment for your participation and waive any right to bring any action in law or equity against “MIMI,” “MIMI THE CLOWN,” Rebecca Northan, Blind Date LLC, its parent and related companies, subsidiaries (whether or not wholly-owned), affiliates, divisions, and their past, present and future officers, agents, representatives, employees, successors and assigns for such use. If you do not agree to the above terms and do not wish to be romanced as a part of the performance, please stay out of the area where the performance is taking place. Enjoy the show!

The role of Mimi will be played by Julie Orton during matinee performances on: Saturday, April 7 | Saturday, April 14 | Thursday, April 19 | Saturday, April 21

SPECIAL THANKS to Traffic Control Group, Flora Stamatiades and Karen Master of Actors’ Equity Association, and Miriam Newhouse of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. There are many people along the way that must be acknowledged as well: Marge Northan, Marilynn Hardcastle, Carl Horak, Mary Rose, Christopher Oldfield, Bob Martin, Tina Rassmussen and The Harbourfront Centre, Dennis Cahill and the Loose Moose Theatre, Keith Johnstone, John Turner, Kristian Reimer, AJ Demers, Julie Orton, Steve MacKidd, Kurt Firla, Mark Bellamy, Mike Kennard, Mump and Smoot. without all of you, there would be no Blind Date. And, of course, a very special thanks to all the “Dates.”

apr/MAY 2012

ARTISTS

Rebecca Northan

Jamie Northan

Mimi

MTC The Philadelphia Story (with TC).

MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Rebecca is the creator of Blind Date

OTHER THEATRE Jamie has been performing, direct-

and has appeared in countless theatre productions. She is a recipient of a Montreal Just for Laughs Comedy Award and won a Betty Mitchell Award for Best Female in a Musical or Comedy for Blind Date in 2009. She has also been nominated for several other theatre awards, including two Dora nominations for Blind Date, several Betty Mitchell Awards—including one for Evil Dead: The Musical (Ground Zero Theatre/ Hit & Myth Productions)—and five Canadian Comedy Awards for Best Female Improviser.

ing and instructing the art of narrative improvisation with Calgary’s Loose Moose Theatre Company for more than 20 years. His most recent work includes principal roles in Truth or Dare, Micetro Impro, Super Scene, Gorilla Theatre, as well as special guest roles with Die Nasty and Rapid Fire Theatre’s Chimprov. TRAINING Improvisation with the Loose Moose

Theatre Company since 1991; Theatre Arts, Mount Royal College. Decades of general misbehaviour and unruliness.

TV Rebecca has been a lead in two Canadian televi-

sion series—Alice, I Think (CTV) and The Foundation (Showcase), has been nominated for a Gemini Award and has been a guest host of This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Kristian Reimer

TRAINING Rebecca trained in improv at the Loose

Moose Theatre Company and is a Second City alumna. ET CETERA Rebecca continues to develop her new

play, Kung Fu Panties, which brings the all-girl action movie genre to the stage and played to sold-out audiences and rave reviews in the spring of 2011. Follow @RebeccaNorthan on Twitter.

Julie Orton Mimi Understudy

MTC First appearance. OTHER THEATRE Reimer started off performing in the

back of classrooms, and later refined his talent as an improviser at the Loose Moose Theatre in Calgary. A seasoned performer recently in Montreal, Toronto and Melbourne, Australia and Denver, Kristian will be in the Winnipeg Fringe in 2012. ET CETERA A Toronto-based comic-actor and impro-

MTC First appearance.

viser, Reimer is thrilled to be involved in a side kick to Mullet. Kristian Reimer grew up in Western Canada in Calgary, Alberta—the Texas of the North, and the home of grain-fed Alberta Beef (mmm-beef!).

OTHER THEATRE Julie is a Calgary-based performer

who has appeared onstage at every major theatre in the city. She has been recognized with three Betty Mitchell Award nominations and one win for her work in Shakespeare’s Dog (ATP). She recently made her Toronto debut alongside Rebecca Northan in David Mamet’s Boston Marriage (Le Salon Secret).

Sean Bowie Stage Manager/ Sound Improviser

ET CETERA Julie has never been on a real blind date. MTC First engagement. OTHER THEATRE Sean has been an actor/writer and For a full list of theatre abbreviations, please Refer to legend on page 4

director for 15 years. apr/may 2012

ARTISTS ET CETERA Sean was born in the ‘Peg and grew up

in Souris, MB. Recently, he has experienced three of the greatest things ever: doing this terrific show with Northan and the boys, doing his own one-man show, Drunken F--ker and, stand by for the most terrific-est … the birth of his son, Phoenix. Life is, as they say, grand. Enjoy!

Kevin McCollum Producer Kevin McCollum received Best Musical Tony Awards for In the Heights (2008), Avenue Q (2004) and Rent (1996), which was also awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Other Broadway credits include The Drowsy Chaperone (five 2006 Tony Awards); Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème (two 2002 Tony Awards); High Fidelity (2006); [title of show] (2008); West Side Story (2009); Ragtime (2010); and the debut stage production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Off-Broadway, he produced Lippa’s The Wild Party, the international hit De La Guarda, and the 2011 revival of Rent.

LAMS Productions Associate Producer

Blind Date began as a 10-minute clown turn in the Spiegelshow as part of the World Stage Festival at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario. The fulllength version was developed at the Loose Moose Theatre Company in Calgary, Alberta, in consultation with Artistic Director Dennis Cahill. Clown genius John Turner, one half of “Mump and Smoot,” had some valuable things to say too. There is no such thing as a one-person show. For booking inquiries contact: booking@blinddateonstage.com facebook.com/BlindDateOnStage “Mimi’s” wardrobe provided by Stop Staring www.stopstaringclothing.com

LAMS Productions is a NY-based production company founded by Tony-nominated producers Bradley Reynolds and David Siesko. West Side Story marks their second Broadway endeavor, beginning with [title of show] and followed by the revival of Ragtime. They are investors in Avenue Q and are currently involved with the upcoming Minsky’s and Give Me Up.

STAFF FOR BLIND DATE

John Corker

Allied Live Laura Matalon Marya Peters

General Manager

GENERAL MANAGEMENT John Corker Jeff Klein Kaitlin Fine

GENERAL PRESS REPRESENTATIVE

LEGAL COUNSEL John Corker has had the privilege to be the General Manager of three Tony Award-winning best musicals: In The Heights, Avenue Q and Rent (currently running Off-Broadway). He was the General Manager for the Broadway productions of the revival of Ragtime, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, High Fidelity and Baz Luhrmann’s production of Puccini’s La Bohème. He was also the general manager for the holiday perennial Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, which has had productions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Toronto, St. Paul and Detroit.

apr/may 2012

Levine Plotkin Menin, LLP

TOUR MANAGER Jeff Klein

STAGE MANAGER Sean Bowie

The ROYAL MAniTObA TheATRe CenTRe And The MAniTObA bAR AssOCiATiOn pResenT The 2012 COMMuniTY pLAY

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May 2 – 5, 2012 Tom Hendry WareHouse | 7:30 pm curTain

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individual giving

Love

This winter, I joined our touring company in Carman, MB, for their performance of The Melville Boys at the local high school, presented by Golden Prairie Arts Council. MTC’s regional tour celebrated 34 consecutive years this season and remains a critical outreach activity. For some loyal attendees, our tour (which stretches from Deloraine to Dryden) is the only professional theatre that comes to their community. MTC’s impact in the province is impressive—our annual audience exceeds 300,000—but it’s the diversity within that audience that is even more exciting. In a recent survey, our respondents ranged in age from 17 to 92—and their common bond was a love of theatre. When we welcomed more than 3,000 young audience members to special Romeo and Juliet matinees earlier this season, we were laying the foundation for the next generation of attendees, subscribers and donors. I moved to Winnipeg at a time when a wave of excitement was sweeping the city. It’s been an exhilarating year, coupled with what I’m told is exceptional weather, and there’s a fantastic feeling in town that Winnipeg has its groove back.

MTC General Manager Camilla Holland

by Camilla Holland A short eight months ago, I joined the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre as the new general manager. It’s been a whirlwind but wonderful first season here, and I’ve quickly learned why MTC is so well regarded in the national theatre community, and so loved by Manitobans. I’ve also had the opportunity to meet and chat with many of our patrons, subscribers, donors and friends and what I hear is great passion for this venerable organization, and a personal history and connection to the work we do. As a theatre attendee, you appreciate and enjoy the wide variety of great plays we bring to life. From John Hirsch Mainstage and Tom Hendry Warehouse productions to the developing work at the Winnipeg Fringe, we produce, present, 32

apr/may 2012

The financial support we receive from individual donors helps us sustain the artistic purpose and ambition so necessary to make live theatre flourish, and these gifts will make a critical difference to our current season. MTC’s vision is that our theatre and our province will teem with artists and audiences sharing in the act of imagining. Your support as a subscriber, ticket buyer or donor helps us achieve and exceed this vision, and it’s a balance that’s simply not possible without you. If you’ve already contributed to this year’s Annual Fund, we are truly thankful: your support makes a big difference. If you’d like to contribute to this year’s fund—to invest in what we know you love—we’d be most grateful. Please contact Garth Johnson at 956-1340 ext. 240 to discuss your giving options or visit www.mtc.mb.ca. Pledge forms are also available in the lobby. Thanks for your support!

photo by mark saunders

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Annual givin g

Each year, hundreds of loyal individual and corporate supporters return to MTC with a generous annual gift that helps pay for many of the essentials of great theatre. These donors are part of every story we tell and help us open our doors wide with affordable ticket prices.

Guarantor $6,000 – $12,499 Gail Asper & Michael Patersont

Benefactor $3,000 – $5,999 The late Babs Asper Dave & Barb Christiet Deborah Grayt Hartley & Heather Richardson The Winnipeg Foundation —Triple A Fund

Patron

$2,000 – $2,999

John F. (Jack) Frasert Sylvia Guertin-Riley Investors Group Matching Gift Program Ms. Maureen E. Jay Alan & Tracy Joudrey Serena Kraayeveld In memory of Liam Murphy —Leigh Murphy Cam & Carole Osler Dr. Bill Pope & Dr. Elizabeth Tippett-Pope John Thistlethwaite Sr. Anonymous

Leader

$1,500 – $1,999

Morley & Marjorie Blankstein Fund —Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Gus & Diane Campbellt The Albert D. Cohen Familyt Gerry & Chris Couturet Kerry Dangerfieldt Rita Gunn & Greg Masont Gary Hannaford & Cathy Rushtont Robert B. & the late S. June Jackson Kevin & Els Kavanagh Dr. P. Kmet & Mr. B. Roslycky Guy La Freniere Bill & Shirley Loewen Donna & Bill Parrish Mr. & Mrs. Lawrie & Fran Pollard Derek Riley Sanford & Deborah Rileyt Maitland & Pat Sundmark Susan Glass & Arni Thorsteinson Sonya & Scott Wrightt Darcy & Brenda Zaporzant Anonymous

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$1,000 – $1,499

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apr/may 2012

David & Lianne Carefoott Brenlee Carrington Trepel & Brent Trepelt Robert Chipmant Derrick & Carolyn Couplandt Robert & Florence Eastwoodt Shannon Ernstt Tony & Jennifer Fletchert James R. Gibbs Sandy Gousseaut Shayla Harapiak-Green & Patrick Greent Camilla Holland & Colin Viebrock† Richard Irish Derek & Mary Johannson Gordon Keatcht Terry Klassen The Honourable Guy J. Kroft & Hester Kroftt L. Lam & L. Desrochers† Jeff & Jillian Lamothet Shannon Lawton & Michael Long Rick Lee & Laurie Shapiro Reginald & Judy Low Dr. Douglas MacEwan Virginia & Robert Martin Jim & Penny McLandresst Bob McNamara & Dorothy Hooper Jeffrey & Mary Mortont Dr. & Mrs. Kieran O’Keeffe M. Plett-Lyle K. Heather Power & Harold Klause Margaret Redmond & Greg Gillist Mrs. Shirley Richardson Steven Schipper & Terri Cherniack† Ken & Susan Skinnert Shelley & Mark Stroski† Jim & Jan Tennant Martin & Michelle Weinbergt Rod Woodcock & Alana Tomst Mr. & Mrs. Rick & Claire Workmant Joan Wright Richard L. Yaffe & John A. Stathamt

Guarantor

$5,000 +

Qualico

Benefactor $3,000 – $4,999 Cambrian Credit Union Terracon Development Ltd.

Patron

$1,200 – $2,999

Accutech Engineering Inc. Bison Transport, Don Strueber Blüfish Sushi

Canada Safeway Limited Fahr Development Corporation Gendis Inc. & Associated Corporations Maple Leaf Construction Ltd., Blake Fitzpatrick Maxim Truck and Trailer McKim Cringan George Melet Plastics Inc., Edward Shinewald Ruth & Ted Northam Number TEN Architectural Group, Terry Cristall PRA Inc. Research & Consulting Ranger Insurance Brokers Ltd. Royal Canadian Properties Limited Strauss Event & Association Management

SPONSOR ALLMOVE Secure Document & Data Management, Kelly Switzer Amphora Imports Ltd., Clarence Jackson Alstom Grid, David Long The Asper Foundation, Moe Levy AVW-TELAV, Gary Hale B.A. Robinson Co. Ltd., Ross Robinson Cardinal Capital Management Inc., Tim Burt CIBC, Tom Weber Delta Winnipeg, Helen Halliday Doowah Design, Steven Rosenberg, Terry Gallagher Dycom Direct Mail Services, Bob Thiessen Esdale Printing Co. Ltd., Dale Hughesman Floral Elements, Deb Woloshyn grajewski fotograph inc. The Great-West Life Assurance Company, Raymond & Lynne-Anne McFeetors The Fort Garry Hotel, Ida Albo HP Enterprise Services Hu’s Asian Bistro, Bryon Hamilton IBM Canada Inc.,Loren Cisyk Investors Group, Richard Irish Johnson Waste Management, Eric Johnson Kenaston Wine Market, Jim Jaworski Lawton Partners Financial Planning Services Ltd, Mark Mancini

MacDon Industries Ltd., Allan MacDonald Manitoba Hydro, Scott Thomson Manitoba Lotteries Corporation, Winston Hodgins Manitoba Public Insurance, Marilyn McLaren MMM Group, Paul McNeil National Leasing, Nick Logan North/South Consultants Inc., Stuart Davies Online Business Systems, Scott Sanders PwC Procurity, Wayne Rivers RBC Royal Bank, Grant Simons Red River College, Stephanie Forsyth Retail Media Sierra Systems Group Inc. Victor Spigelman Stantec Consulting Ltd. Subway Franchise World Headquarters, Lisa Marie Buccini The Tallman Foundation, Robert N. Tallman Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP, Donald G. Douglas Wawanesa Insurance, Ken McCrea The Winnipeg Foundation, Rick Frost Winnipeg Free Press, Bob Cox

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$750 – $999

Dr. Jerry Baluta & Olga Kandia Dr. Bonnie Cham & Dr. Lorne Bellan Margaret Houston Dave & Diane Johnston Ian Kirk† Enthusiast

$500 – $749

Joan Bender Ron Blicq Cathie & Brian Bowerman Sheldon & Penny Bowles Saul Cherniack & Myra Wolch Gregg & Mary Hanson Michael Kinnear Jim & Pat Ludwig Mr. G. Markham Norah Marr Gail Morberg Drs. Ken & Sharon Mould

t past and current MTC board of trustees/advisory board memberS † current mtc staff

Annual giving Richard & Bonnie Olfert Iris Reimer Debbie Spracklin In memory of Dr. Anna M. Szetle —Danuta Podkomorska Margaret Wikjord 2 Anonymous

Supporter

$250 – $499

Bernice Antoniuk Philip Ashdown Ken Ball & Karen Turner Mark Bernstein Mrs. Maureen Danzinger Sally R. Dowler John & Ada Ducas Helene Dyck Roberta Dyck Marcia Fleisher & Kelly MacDonald Catherine Gordon Jeremy & Maureen Gordon Dr. & Mrs. W. Gordon Gordon Hannon Dr. Ted & Gail Hechter Claire & Gerald Jewers L. Kampeas April & Diamond Kassum Donald & Sheila Keatch Edward & Stella Kennedy Eleanor & Wendell Lind Elaine & Neil Margolis Mr. & Mrs. G.E. Matte Mr.& Mrs. Campbell McIntyre Ken & Suzanne Munroe Dr. & Mrs. J. Richtik Dr. Brent Schacter Melanie Sexton & Ian Walsh† Dr. Paul & Melanie Shuckett Shayna & Merrill Shulman Jennifer Skelly & Family† Phyllis Spigelman Barb & Ken Stevens Shayne & Kathryn Taback Linda M. Tallin Ross & Bette Jayne Taylor Lee Treilhard Fran & Bob Vannevel Florence & Donald Whitmore Winfield Developments Canada Dorothy Y. Young 5 Anonymous Associate

$150 – $249

Dawn Andersen Joyce & Ken Beatty Terry Bruneau Carol Budnick Michael & Trish Buhr Kevin Cadloff & Susan Hunt Martin & Gail Corne Mrs. Miriam Crawford Ms. Linda Daniels Pam Dixon Dr. Sheila Domke & Stephen Ross Anna Dyck Mr. & Mrs. William Easton Dr. Micheal Eleff & Chana Thau

Mr. & Mrs. John & Martha Enns Bob & Margaret Ferguson Douglas Finkbeiner Mr. & Mrs. D.C. Finnbogason Gayle Fischer E. George Kari Hagness† Dr. Linda Hamilton & Cst. Grange Morrow Gregory & Heather Hammond Linda A. Harlos Paul Hesse Jennie Hogan G.C. Irwin-Kilfoyle Dr. & Mrs. Philip Katz Carol Campbell & Andy Krentz Teena Laird Edith Landy Barbara Latocki Dr. G.H. Lawler Mr. Don Lawrence Vi Leaney Carol & Clifford Levi Burton & Mary Lysecki Anne MacKay Donald T. McKinnon Marc Monnin & Donna Miller The late Valinda Morris In memory of Valinda Morris —Joyce Cooper Al Moxam Ken & Jane Nattrass Vivienne Nickerson Myron Pawlowsky & Susan Boulter Angeline Ramkissoon Bill & Pat Reid Laura Richman Ricou-Manfreda Marc & Sherri Rittinger Mrs. Linda Robinson Deborah & Neil Rostkowski John S. Russell Edward H. Schludermann Hans & Gabriele Schneider Ms. Faye Scott Dr. & Mrs. A.M. Shojania Gordon & Cheryl Siemens Mrs. Lorraine Smith Adele Standil Marilyn Thompson Phyllis A.C. Thomson Malcolm & Shirley Tinsley W. Tretiak & B. Baydock Tim Valgardson Dr. & Mrs. I. Vinsky Cynthia & Stirling Walkes Mrs. Deanna Waters Mr. C. Winstone 4 Anonymous Donor Pat & Bob Adamson Ms. J. Aitken Robert & Anna Allan Jacqueline Anderson

$50 – $149

Ms. Leslie E. Anderson & Mr. Ken MacLeod Phyllis Arnold-Luedtke Lyle & Heather Arnould Roger August Mr. & Mrs. J.F. Baron Brenda Batzel Barbara Beaupre George Benias Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Bergbusch Bruce & Shelley Bertrand-Meadows Yvette Boily Mavis Bollman Pat Bolton John Bond Oksana Bondarchuk Dr. Elizabeth Boustcha Frank Bovell Helen F. Bowen Morva Bowman & Alan Pollard Ron & Joan Boyd Garth & Judy Bradley Robert & Phyllis Briercliffe The Broda-Milian Family Sheila & David Brodovsky Miriam Bronstein Dennis Brown Derrick Brown Ms. Margaret Brown Enid & Con Butler Michael & Donna Byrne Allan P. & Gloria Cantor T. & J. Carter Jeanetta Casselman Kelly & Judy Caughlin Merv & Jan Cavers Tom & Edith Checkley Duane Cheskey Ed Choptuik Mrs. Krystyn Clouston Katherine Cobor & Gordon Steindel Agnes & John Collins Graham & Linda Connor Edward & Brenda Cotton Sandra & Michael Cox Mr. & Mrs. J.B. Cranston R. Lynn Craton Holly Cumming Bradley J. Curran J. Dale Georges Damphousse Ms. D. Davidson Diane de Rocquigny Diane Degraves Ms. Chloe Del Bigio DGH Engineering Ltd. M. Jane Dick Doris Dong F.P. Doyle Katherine Drewniak Janice Duynisveld William & Helen Eamer Michael Easton Greg Edmond & Irene Groot-Koerkamp Mrs. Beatrice Einarsson

Mrs. Selma Enns Lilianne Erickson Michael & Brenda Evans F. Fahner Gord Falkenberg Barbara Farough Harrison Heather Ferguson Nelma Fetterman Dr. & Mrs. D.D. & B.M. Fillis Mr. & Mrs. Gary W.E. Firth Janet & Brian Fleishman Denis & Barb Fletcher Dr. Judith & Rev. Peter Flynn Ron Gaffray Daniel Gagnon Mr. & Mrs. R. Gallant Heather Gillander Barbara & David Goldenberg Donald Graham Ms. Mavis E. Gray Ms. Donnalynn Grills Rodger & Marion Guinn Roy Halstead Allan & Evelyn Hardy Glen Harrison Dr. James C. Haworth Teresa A. Hay Valerie Hewlett Mary Hicks Jean Highmoor Bryan Hill Frank & Donna Hruska Mr. & Mrs. F.C. Hubbard Mr. Ian Hughes Rudy & Gail Isaak Heather D. Janik Sylvia Jansen Lars C. Jansson Brenda Jenkyns Lynne Jentsch Bruce Johnston Claudette Journe Phyllis Kalinsky Dr. & Mrs. A. Kati In memory of Max Kettner —Ruth Kettner Peter Kohut Mr. & Mrs. Peter Kostiuk Mykola & Michelle Kowalchuk Mr. & Mrs. Dennis & Lillian Kozak Kim Kozak Ken & Glenys Krotch Ken & Marie Kuhn Elizabeth Lansard Ms. Nancy Latocki Joe & Lauren Laxdal Patricia Leathers Mrs. I. Lee John & Roberta Lewis Patricia Ling Gordon P. Linney Mr. & Mrs. Eric Lister Linda Loewen Audrey Low Maylene Ludwig Tom Lussier

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Annual givin g Robert & Shirley Lynch Mr. & Mrs. E.R. MacDonald Linda MacDonald Hazel MacLeod Shelley Mahoney Mrs. Vera Marchuk Carol Markiewich Mr. & Mrs. R. Marks Ms. Linda Matheson Bob & Betty McCamis Donald McCarthy Lynne McClelland Jean McCloy & Jamie Brown Diane McGifford D. McKay Greg & Gloria McLaren Patricia McLaughlin Marilyn McMullan Donald McNabb Holly McNulty M. Bryan & Audrey McTaggart Anthony & Joyce McWha Faye Parks Micay Susie Miclash Jim & Karren Middagh Mrs. M.V. Mills Annette & Harry Minuk Bill & Nancy Mitchell Jack & Marilyn Mitchell Dr. Catherine Moltzan & Paul Brault Ron & Maureen Monson Vera Moroz Margaret Morse Marlene Mortimer Ms. Velma Motheral Shelley Muir Don Munro Sharon & Mel Myers Leanne Nause Connie Newman Robert Nickel Chris Nielsen Angela Noble Sheila Norrie Patrick O’Connor Terry & Karen Ogden Joanne Olchowecki Truus Oliver R. Ooto Dana Orr Theresa Oye Jack Palmer Harry Panaschuk Mr. James Parker Ruth Paul Lesia Peet Rene Pelletier Carol Penner Barbara Perreault B. Peterson & S. Slonosky Bev Phillips Donald & Connie Price Myrna Protosavage Ms. Joanne Prygrocki Ron & Sylvia Pryhitko Ms. Linda Ratynski

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Rosa Rawlings Margaret Rayter Arnold & Shirley Reimer Joyce Rich David & Helene Riesen Renee Roseman Lottie Rosenstock Daryl Rosin & Judith Blair Pat & Michelle Rowan Beverly Ryman Arnie Usiskin & Robyn Rypp Sandra Sadler Leonore M. Saunders, O.M. Ms. Velma Schmidt Adolph & Diane Schurek Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Scott Jim & Susan Shaw Louise Shaw Cal Shell Dr. Maurice Shnider & Ms. Sandy Whan Izzy Shore Miss Edna Siemens Alexis Silver Jonelle Simms Cheryl Simpson Jeff Sisler & Cathy Rippin-Sisler Juanita Smith Geri & Peter Spencer Mrs. J. Sprange Mr. David Stacey Mary F. Steinhoff Joan Stewart-Hay & Han Van DenHeuvel Dr. V. Marie Storrie Ronald A. Surcon Mr. & Mrs. Paul Swart Mr. & Mrs. Glenn Swift Martin & Shelly Tadman Karen Tereck Helen Tomlinson Gordon & Mary Toombs Candace Trussler Les Ullyot Jackie Van Winkle† Mr. Charles R. Vandekerkhove M.W. Vint Jesse Vorst Sherry & Bob Ward Phyllis Watson Andrea Wiebe John T. & Justina Wiens Mark Wiese Theresa Wiktorski Catherine Wilkie Ms. Lynda Will Murray & Ivy Wilson Tom & Norma Wilson Dorcas & Kirk Windsor E. Jane Woelk M. & S. Wong Grant & Sheila Woods Mrs. Lorraine Woods-Bavasah Jessie Zacharias Harvey Zimberg 23 Anonymous

TRIBUTE GIFTS

Associate

Elizabeth B. Armytage Fund —The Winnipeg Foundation In memory of Babs Asper —Richard Yaffe & John Statham In memory of Anne-Marie Brownell —Dr. Ted & Margaret Cuddy, Marlene Milne, Myrna Protosavage, Roma Maconachie, Sue & Ken Skinner In memory of Winnifred Burns —Susan Waters In memory of Dora Mae Luckhurst —Sylvia Guertin-Riley In memory of David Lyle —Unitarian Church Theatre Discussion Group In memory of John Palmer —Jack Palmer In appreciation of Steven Schipper & his direction of the cast of Les Miz —Balmoral Hall School In memory of Sybil Shack for the benefit of MTC —Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Shelagh Sinclair Fund —The Winnipeg Foundation Leslie John Taylor Fund —The Winnipeg Foundation

A.D. Rutherford & Co. Ltd. Concord Projects Ltd. Intergroup Consultants Ltd. NAV CANADA Party Stuff/U-Rent-It Premier Printing Ltd.

Contributor

$900 – $1,199

Deloitte & Touche Foundation Canada The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Mitchell Fabrics Ltd. Supporter

$600 – $899

Assiniboine Credit Union Astroid Management Ltd. Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd. Fillmore Riley LLP First Avenue Office Furnishings FWS Construction Ltd. Manitoba’s Credit Unions Pitblado LLP Pollard Banknote Ltd. Red River Co-operative Ltd. TelPay Incorporated

Donor

$300 – $599

$150 – $299

Cunningham Business Interiors Ltd. Edward Carriere HR Adworks Leon A. Brown Ltd. MCW/AGE Consulting Professional Engineers Mid-West Packaging Limited Noble Locksmith Ltd. Patill/St. James Insurance Reitmans (Canada) Limited

Thank you to those who have made a Planned Gift. Your visionary support ensures our founders’ dream will live on for generations.* Gail Aspert Marjorie & Morley Blanksteint Duane & Pauline Braun Kerry Dangerfieldt Gary Hannaford & Cathy Rushtont Maureen E. Jay Dr. Leonard & Hope Kahane Gordon C. Keatch Laurie Lam & Larry Desrochers† Leona J. MacDonald Barb Melnychuk Jeffrey Morton Heather Power & Harold Klause Steven Schipper & Terri Cherniack†

t past and current MTC board of trustees/advisory board memberS † current mtc staff * If you have remembered MTC in your will, Please let us know.

We need YOUR

SUPPORT. dOnate tOdaY! MTC relies on the generosity of donors and friends to help produce great theatre at accessible prices.

gifT today!

donate online at

www.mtc.mb.ca or call 956-1340 today!

L-R Fiona Reid as Chris and Fiona Highet as Annie in Calendar Girls. Photo by Bruce Monk.

Make your

endow ment fund

Many thanks to the generosity of our Endowment Fund donors who gave a gift or fulfilled a pledge payment between February 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012. Amounts are cumulative.

$2,000,000 + Government of Canada/ Gouvernement du Canada Canadian Heritage/ Patrimone canadien

$500,000 – $999,999 Power Corporation of Canada

$250,000 – $499,999 Gail Asper & Michael Patersont

$100,000 – $249,999 BMO Financial Group TD Bank Financial Group

$25,000 – $49,999 The late Anne-Marie Brownell CIBC Donald K. Johnson, C.M. Manitoba Hydro Arni Thorsteinson & Susan Glass

$10,000 – $24,999 Ben Moss Jewellers Bonnie Cham & Lorne Bellan John F. (Jack) Frasert James R. Gibbs J.K. May Investments Ltd. Bryan Klein & Susan Halprin The Honourable Guy J. Kroft & Hester Kroft Cam & Carole Osler George Sigurdson

$5,000 – $9,999 Terracon Development Ltd. Donald Fraser & Judy Little Gail Loewen Tricia & Denis Hlynka Jim & Penny McLandresst Susan Millican Norma Anne Padilla L. Blair Philpott & Tom Kynman $2,500 – $4,999 Margaret Caie Dr. Ted & Gail Hechter Ian Kirk† Garry Markham Margaret & Fred Mooibroek Iris Reimer Timothy Wildman & Kathleen Gough Dorothy Y. Young Anonymous

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$1,000 – $2,499

$500 – $999

Robert & Ina Abra David and Pamela Atkinst George Baldwin Joan & Michael Baragar Cheryl Barker Doris & Burton Bass Dr. Douglas Birt Don & Cheryl Breakey Paul & Doreen Bromley Sharon Burden† Mary Campbell Mark & Haderra Chisick Werner & Judy Danchura Kerry Dangerfieldt Esther & Hy Dashevskyt Dick & Joan Dawson DGH Engineering Ltd. Helene Dyck Shannon Ernstt Michael & Lynn Evans Maurice & Dolores Francen Dr. Jeremy & Maureen Gordon John & Margaret Graham M.E. Gray In memory of Sharon Greening —Margo Foxford & Giles Bugailiskis Kari Hagness† The Hollidays Gary & Maureen Hunter John Kearsey Thomas W. & Mary V. Kirk Myron & Marion Klysh Jack & Yetta Levit Jim MacNair Barbara Main Gerry Matte & Lydia Surasky Terri & Jim McKerchar Claire & Irene Miller William Nanowski Jean & Lisa Neron Myron Pawlowsky & Susan Boulter M. Plett-Lyle Claude & Pat Precourt Judge Charles & Naida Rubin Dr. William & Dr. Renate Schulz Sherrett Appraisals Inc. Ruth Simkin Jennifer Skelly & Family† Frits & Joan Stevens Alan & Lorraine Sweatman Charles R. Vandekerkhove Beverley Vane & Bill Shepherd Dr. & Mrs. F.C. Violago David Walker Wearing Williams Ltd., Don & Sheila Katz Barbara & Ken Webb Heather & Kitch Wilson Harry & Evelyn Wray Margaret & Paul Wright Anonymous

Susan Algie & James Wagner Judy & Jay Anderson Jack Armstrong & Doris Quinn J. Kenneth & Joyce Beatty Arthur & Ken Blankstein-Ure The Bohm Family David & Pamela Bolton Ron & Joan Boyd Margaret E. Clarke John K. & Agnes Collins M. & J. Corneillie Ray & Brenda Crabbe Raymond & Charlene Currie M. Jane Dick Tony Harwood-Jones & Heather Dixon In memory of Diane Dowling —Roy Dowling Christine Fleetwood Chris Freeman Brent & Debbie Gilbert David & Ewhenia Gnutel Teresa A. Hay Helios & Marilyn Hernandez Dr. G.H. Lawler J. Wayne & Helen Le Blanc David & Marie Loewen Dr. & Mrs. Donald McInnes Ramesh & Lynn Mehta Vera Moroz Margaret Morran Lorne Morriss Robert J. Nickel & Barbara E. Nickel J. & B. Nielsen Mr. & Mrs. W. Norrie Karen & Terry Ogden E.M.L. Poulter Joy Cooper & Martin Reed Joyce Rich Marc & Sherri Rittinger Walter & Rozalia Rohalsky Penny Scurfield Melanie Sexton & Ian Walsh† Joyce Shead Miss Debbie Spracklin Percy & Elizabeth Stapley Joyce D. Strang Paul & Terry Swart Elaine Toms Lee Treilhard Grant Tweed Unitarian Church Theatre Group Gwen & Helmut Waedt Faye & Peter Warren Anonymous Up to $499 Edward W. & M. Joan Alexander Leslie Anderson & Ken MacLeod Jo-Anne Arnold Margaret & Charles Avent

Armand & Judy Baccus Donald A. Bailey Peggy Bainard Acheson Peggy Barker Roma Bellhouse Bruce & Shelley Bertrand-Meadows Ms. Jean Bissett Dr. John Bond Ruth & Kris Breckman Jacqueline Brignall Greg & Sylvia Brodsky Dennis Brown Sharon Brown T. & J. Carter Audrey Cassels Betty & Bruce Catchpole Arthur & Donna Chow Glen & Lorna Clark Christine H. Coltart Anna Coulter Ted & Margaret Cuddy Dorothy Davidson Freda L. Deane Greg Edmond & Irene Groot-Koerkamp Ken Eisner Fred & Christine Eldridge Martha & John Enns Ernest Epp Heather Erickson Heather Ferguson Lee Finch Mr. & Mrs. Gary W.E. Firth Helen Fontaine Elizabeth Foster Gitta Fricke Richard & Nancy Frost Susan Garfield Carole Giesbrecht Elisabeth Gordon Sharon Goszer Tritt & Stephen Tritt Joyce Graham L.D. Graham Ron & Connie Gray Libby Greenfield Mr. J.E. Guthrie Dr. Linda Hamilton & Cst. Grange Morrow Bryan & Pam Harmer H. Hesse Mrs. Audrey Hilderman Dorothy Hodgson Dr. Lorne Hurst & Elly Hoogterp-Hurst Candace Houston Lorne & Marguerite How Richard & Karen Howell Joanne Instance Elizabeth E. Jackson Dr. & Mrs. James C. Jamieson Heather Janik Jordan Janisse & Teresa Cooper

t past and current MTC board of trustees/advisory board memberS † current mtc staff

Endowment fund Rhea & Dave Jenkinson Penny Kelly Susan Ketchen M.J. King Dawn Kirbyson Mr. & Mrs. Fred Kisil Wayne & Donalda Johnson Ken & Marie Kuhn L. Lam & L. Desrochers† Deanne Lander In memory of David Landy —Edith Landy Barbara Latocki Marilyn Lindquist Allison MacHutchon Dr. Shelley Mahoney Sylvia L. Main Janie Marshall Nick Martin & Dr. Evelyn Ferguson Patrick & Clarice Matthewst Carol & Barry McArton Gerry & Corinne McCallum Dr. Liz McKenzie Pat McLaughlin Holly McNulty Marcel & Louise Mollot Mary Jean Moniuk Marc Monnin & Donna Miller Linda Moore Marlene A. Mortimer Mr. & Mrs. V. & M. Nelson

Marika Nerbas John & Debbie Neufeld† Glenn & Neva Nicholls Vivienne Nickerson Sheila Norrie Valerie Nuytten Pat & Sherry O’Connor James E. Parker Robb Paterson† Mr. & Mrs. Robert Patrick Liz Patzer Lesia Peet Donna Plant Carolyn Porhownik M. Lois Powne† Myrna Protosavage Valerie Prouse Joanne Prygrocki Diana & Bryan Purdy William & Heather Quinn Jake & Patricia Reimer Bill & Norma Rennie Evan & Audra Roitenberg Michael T. Ruta F.E. Sanderson Grant & Janet Saunders Ivor & Lorna Schledewitz Faye Scott Jim & Susan Shaw Shirley E. Sherwood Izzy Shore

Norman & Heather Silver Roslyn Silver Diane Silverthorne Bryce & Jenna Simes Vern & Ann Simonsen Howard & Sue Simpson Paul & Suzanne Simpson Leslie Slaney Emily Sleeman J. Smyth David Stacey A. Edward Stanton Karen Stewart-Paley Marilyn Stothers Tom & Shirley Strutt Eleanor Suderman Mr. Ronald Surcon Peter & Sharon Taylor Mary & Gordon Toombs Gabor Vamos & Brenda Silver Josephine Van Ginkel Jackie Van Winkle† Richard Walker Walter & Shirley Watts Linda L. Wiebe Audrey Wilford Robert Wood S.M. Woods 23 Anonymous

TRIBUTES In memory of Albert Cohen —Hy & Ester Dashevsky In honour of Laurie Lam & Ben Wiebe for their presentations to the Unitarian Church Theatre Discussion Group —Marina Plett-Lyle & the late David Lyle In memory of Myrna-Lou McGregor —Marina Plett-Lyle & the late David Lyle, Unitarian Church Theatre Discussion Group

F inal bow

With this issue of Ovation, we launch a new annual feature to honour the passing of those dear to our theatre, people who’ve made a lasting contribution to this ephemeral art form.

Ruth “Babs” Asper

Albert Cohen O.C.

Bryan McInnes

Babs was a gift – an angel, really – to MTC, and her roots at the theatre ran very deep. Before her time as the matriarch of one of Winnipeg’s most prominent families, she worked in our publicity department during MTC’s first season in 1958/59, helping to bring A Hatful of Rain, The Diary of Anne Frank and Cinderella to life. She went on to become a member of our Board of Trustees, a very generous Endowment and Annual Fund donor, a play sponsor and remained, of course, a theatre enthusiast.

Albert Cohen was a remarkable businessman, entrepreneur, author and friend whose legacy is carved into MTC’s John Hirsch Mainstage building. Albert was instrumental in organizing the first operating fundraising drive at MTC and oversaw the site selection of our home at 174 Market Avenue. He was a member of our Board for many years and served as president from 1966 to 1968 and again in 1970/71.

Bryan McInnes had a natural talent and a sense of perfection with a creative spirit that enabled him to excel in any undertaking. In his earlier years he pursued a career in graphic design with The Graphic Group. His love of working with his hands led him to a career as a set carpenter working in film and theatre. He was a loyal and hardworking member of the IATSE union for 30 years, and worked in the MTC carpentry shop for 20 of those years.

Babs was an active philanthropist most of her life, co-founding the charitable Asper Foundation with her husband in 1983. After his death, she pursued the founding of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a legacy project in his honour. Babs truly made a difference here at MTC and in the lives of the countless arts and cultural organizations she supported. She will be truly missed.

apr/may 2012

Albert met his wife Irena Kankova at MTC, where she starred in two early hits: The Diary of Anne Frank and Anastasia. Albert truly loved theatre and would often return from a trip to New York or London with an enthusiastic opinion about what he had seen on Broadway or in the West End. He remained a steadfast and generous donor, subscriber and friend over the years, contributing to MTC’s Capital Campaign, our Endowment Fund and the Annual Fund, something his family continues in his name.

He served here first as Carpenter on Nicholas Nickleby in 1982, then as Master Carpenter in 1985, beginning with Barnum. He retired in 2002 after building more than 100 sets (including Hamlet starring Keanu Reeves). His final show as Master Carpenter was Proof, although he came back to help with Richard III in the spring of 2003. He handled wood and steel and canvas with expertise and creativity, but his colleagues remember him best for the way he handled people – with warmth, good humour and respect.

Supporting Partners

MTC expresses sincere thanks to our major corporate and government sponsors. Black

SEASON PARTNERS |

CMYK

John Hirsch Mainstage |

Tom Hendry Warehouse |

Production co-Sponsors production sponsors

Gail Asper Deborah Gray

& the late

Babs Asper

Deborah Gray

Pantone

John Hirsch Mainstage | Performance SPONSORS

Richard L. Yaffe

theatre for young | audiences

| BACKSTAGEâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;PASS: THEATRE | wordplay | perspectives for STUDENTS

in memory of

S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S T O G E T H E R TM

regional tour |

Peter D. Curry

black & white |

Community play |

Talkbacks |

Design Sponsor |

Gala Ball

2011

winnipeg fringe theatre festival |

Exchange The

DISTRI CT

ShawFest 2012 |

media sponsors |

S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T I E S T O G E T H E R TM

apr/may 2012

Behind the scenes Honorary Members

Accounting/Finance

Patron Services Office

His Honour, Lt. Governor Philip S. Lee The Honourable Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba His Worship, Mayor Sam Katz

Sharon Burden, Accounting Yvonne O’Connor, Accounting Shelley Stroski, Controller

Executive Officers

Administration

Gary Hannaford, FCA, Chair Kerry Dangerfield, chair-elect/

Brian Adolph, IT Manager Zaz Bajon, General Manager Emeritus Natascha Hainsworth, outreach coordinator Camilla Holland, General Manager Daphne MacMillan, Administrative Secretary Debbie Neufeld, Reception/Marketing Assistant Alan Waite, Assistant General Manager

Laurie Fletcher, Patron Services Office Manager Melanie Sexton, Ticketing Services Director Jennifer Skelly, Tessitura Application Coordinator Patron Services Representatives: Katie Adamson, Sheena Baird, Natercia Doucet, Anna-Laure Koop, Michaela Porter, Jessica Ross

chair, community relations

Patrick Green, Treasurer/ Chair, Organizational Performance David Carefoot, Assistant Treasurer Anthony C. Fletcher, Secretary Robert Eastwood, chair, resource development Jim McLandress, Chair, Governance & Strategic Planning

Trustees David Atkins Brenlee Carrington Trepel David Christie Derrick Coupland Sandy Gousseau Jeff Lamothe Bruce Leslie Michelle Weinberg Rick Workman Richard L. Yaffe Brenda Zaporzan

Advisory Council Gerry Couture, Chair Gail Asper Morley Blankstein Doneta Brotchie Angus Campbell Hy Dashevsky Glen Dyrda, FCA John F. Fraser Jean Giguere Charron Hamilton Yude Henteleff Ken Houssin Gordon Keatch Colin R. MacArthur, QC Patrick J. Matthews Claire W. Miller Jeffrey Morton, FCA Hon. Jack Murta Lillian Neaman Shelley Nimchonok Andrew Ogaranko, QC James Pappas John Petersmeyer Lawrence Prout Jeff Quinton Patricia Rabson Margaret Redmond Susan Skinner Al Snyder Maureen Watchorn

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Artistic Jeff Kennedy, Wordplay Coordinator Laurie Lam, Producer Robb Paterson, Associate Artistic Director Steven Schipper, Artistic Director Melinda Tallin, Artistic Coordinator

Carpentry Louis Gagné, Layout Carpenter Les Moore, Carpenter Brent Letain, Master Carpenter Chris Seida, Scenic Carpenter

Communications Sue Caughlin, Marketing & Communications Manager Doowah Design, Design Bruce Monk, Photographer Brent Phillips, Director of Marketing & Communications Mark Saunders, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Teri Stevens, Publicist & online media coordinator

Development

Production Laura Enns, Bookkeeper/Assistant Ian Kirk, Assistant Technical Director Laura Lindeblom, Assistant Production Manager Rick MacPherson, Technical Director, Tom Hendry Theatre Russell Martin, Production Manager Benjamin Ross, Technical Director, John Hirsch Theatre

Properties Peter Baureiss, Properties Builder/Buyer Larry Demedash, Senior Properties Builder Kari Hagness, Head of Properties James Sutherland, Properties Builder

Stage Crew John Bent Jr., Head of sound Beverly Covert, Wigs & Makeup Supervisor Hart Greenberg, Head Carpenter Joan Lees-Miller, Head of Wardrobe Claude Robert, Head Electrician John Tomiuk, House Stage Hand Michael Wright, deck sound

Tele-Sales Representative Sandra Rubin

Tom Hendry Theatre

Kristine Betker, Director of Fund Development Garth Johnson, Major, individual & planned Giving Officer Michael Joyal, Development Assistant Stephanie Lambert, Special & Donor Events Coordinator

Randy Harder, Head Electrician Rick MacPherson, Technical Director Alison Nutt, Head Carpenter Greg Wood, Head of Sound Michael Wright, Head of Sound

John Hirsch Theatre Front-of-House

Tom Hendry Theatre Front-of-House

Deborah Gay-de Vries, Front-of-House Manager Sheena Baird, Assistant House Manager Kim Cossette, Assistant House Manager Jamie Chapman, Curtis Hainsworth, Jonny Hall, Elfie Harvey, Kelsey Johnson, Sherri Kostecki, Tia Levine, Robyn Milligan, Rachael Neal, Jessica Olson, Kayla Parke-Wilson, Amariah Peterson, Angela Rajfur, Caroline Shields, Cristin Sinclair, Kevin Stroski, Phyllis Van Drunen, Rita Vande Vyvere, Chelsea Zacharias, Derek Zorniak

Kim Cossette, Front-of-House Manager Scott Tweedy, Assistant House Manager Phyllis Hildebrand, Tia Levine, Pam Neal, Cristin Sinclair, Chelsea Zacharias

Maintenance Andrew Drinnan, Building Superintendent Chris Fletcher, Assistant Building Superintendent

Paint Susan Groff, Head Scenic Artist Lawrence Van Went, Scenic Artist

Wardrobe Thora Lamont, Cutter Lorraine O’Leary, Head of Wardrobe Lois Powne, First Hand Jackie Van Winkle, Buyer/Accessories

Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival & Master Playwright Festival Samantha Harrison, Festival Assistant Chuck McEwen, Executive Producer Rob Ring, Interim Festival Director

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