2012-13
SEASON
January 8 to February 10, 2013 Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
The Penelopiad By Margaret Atwood
SEASON SPONSOR
2012-13
We will guide you through life’s epic adventures
SEASON
The Penelopiad By Margaret Atwood CAST
Maev Beaty Neema Bickersteth Fiona Byrne Audrey Dwyer Sarah Dodd Monica Dottor Megan Follows Kelli Fox Cara Gee Patricia Hamilton Nicole Joy-Fraser Pamela Sinha Sophia Walker
Laertes/Maid Telemachus/Maid Naiad/Maid Icarius/Maid Anticleia/Maid Oracle/Maid Penelope Odysseus/Maid Melantho/Maid Eurycleia/Maid Antinous/Maid Helen/Maid Menelaus/Maid
CREATIVE
Kelly Thornton Denyse Karn Kimberly Purtell Suba Sankaran Monica Dottor Melissa Rood Sarah Yaffe Katherine Smith Jasmine Chen Erin McCleary Ashley Westlake Eric Meadows Monica Sass
Director Set and Costume Designer Lighting Designer Composer, Sound Designer and Musical Director Choreographer Stage Manager Production Manager Technical Director Assistant Director Assistant Designer and Cutter/Seamstress Assistant Stage Manager Sound Consultant Dresser
UNDERSTUDIES Louis Frédéric Schützenberger
Maev Beaty Penelope; Fiona Byrne Anticlea; Sarah Dodd Eurycleia; Monica Dottor Laertes; Cara Gee Naiad & Helen; Pamela Sinha Oracle; Sophia Walker Telemachus
The show runs approximately 2½ hours including one intermission. Kindly turn off your mobile phone and other noisy gadgets.
Proud Season Sponsor of Nightwood Theatre
(Cover L to R): Tara Rosling, Cara Gee, Monica Dottor, Pamela Sinha, Sophia Walker, Christine Brubaker, Raven Dauda, Kelli Fox, Bahia Watson, Megan Follows Photo by Robert Popkin
THEATRE FOR EVERYONE
MADE BY WOMEN
SCENE
A MESSAGE
FROM THE
BREAKDOWN
ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR
ACT ONE
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV
ACT TWO
XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV XXVI XXVII XXVIII XXIX XXX XXXI XXXII
Penelope Begins Her Story A Rope-Jumping Rhyme Penelope’s Childhood Chorus: Kiddie Mourn, A Lament The Land of Asphodel Penelope’s Marriage The Wedding Night Sailing to Ithaca Chorus: Song – If I Was A Princess Welcome to Ithaca Chorus: The Birth of Telemachus, An Idyll Home Life at the Palace Helen Ruins Penelope’s Life Time Passes The Fall of Troy Waiting for Odysseus
Helen Takes a Bath The Suitors Stuff Their Faces Penelope Gets an Idea The Shroud Unweaving by Moonlight The Unpleasant Banquet Chorus: Dreamboats, A Ballad Bad News Telemachus Returns Surprised in the Night Bad Dreams The Dirty Old Beggar The Slaughter in the Hall The Sad Awakening The Invocation of the Furies The Bed of Many Secrets Home Life in Hades
THE POWER OF ATWOOD’S THE PENELOPIAD is that her
Penelope, captured in myth as the archetypical woman of virtue, chastely waiting for a long absent husband, is constructed as a wholly contemporary voice. Now with two thousand years of knowledge, of ongoing misrepresentation, of being made a grotesque example, “a stick used to beat other women” into servitude, comes this outspoken messenger.
Her voice is potent not only because it reframes The Odyssey, arguably the most popular myth of all time but because it calls into question the “heroic actions” of Odysseus. Rather than validating the existing social order, as myth had traditionally served to do, The Penelopiad dissects the ethics of such actions filtering it through such issues as gender and class. Here Atwood steps out from behind the tall shadow of patriarchal myth-making to “spin a thread of her own”. In the rehearsal room we have often referred to the hanging of the twelve maids as an honour killing. These twelve young slaves who served Penelope, distracting her unwieldy suitors, first with their cunning and later with their sex, were their mistress’ front line. They protected her while she in turn sought to protect her husband’s good name. But upon Odysseus’ return he is compelled to cleanse his palace of this filth. In The Odyssey they are disposed of in short order, never given names, their murders unjustified. They are dispensed of without a second thought. The Penelopiad shines a bright light on the voicelessness of women. In history, in myth, in culture, the truth of women’s lives was at best reduced to twodimensional portraits of trustworthy wives and at worst ignored altogether. But Atwood in her contemporary voice calls into question this perpetual devaluation and dehumanization. And in her most provocative of ways she reflects this not only as a question of gender but of class. Penelope grapples with her own culpability for their deaths. And though she defends that she raised them like her daughters, she confronts how little value she attached to them, even as they sacrificed for her. The play also exposes how societal constructs victimize us, and not just the women. As Telemachus’ rites of passage is to string up the young maids upon his father’s orders he assumes a male violence expected of him and perpetuated by his father as warrior. It is how power is defined, gained and passed on. As myth springs from oral tradition so Atwood has constructed a storyteller’s theatre and my ensemble of powerhouse women have relished in the sense of theatricality The Penelopiad provides. As Penelope’s story is punctured by the lowly characters of the Greek chorus, through song, dance, the influence of Satyr plays, comic playlets meant to mock the main action, we have feasted on the sheer audacity of the storytelling. And we have pursued it with an invention to match its wit. It is rare to have been given such a gift as this story, these themes, and the talents of so many women to give voice to the voiceless. We are thrilled to finally share it with you.
Thank you for joining us.
KELLY THORNTON DIRECTOR
PLAYWRIGHT’S
NOTES
THE STORY OF ODYSSEUS’ RETURN to his home
kingdom of Ithaca following an absence of twenty years is best known from Homer’s Odyssey. Odysseus is said to have spent half of these years fighting the Trojan War and the other half wandering around the Aegean Sea, trying to get home, enduring hardships, conquering or evading monsters, and sleeping with goddesses. The character of “wily Odysseus” has been much commented on: he’s noted as a persuasive liar and disguise artist – a man who lives by his wits, who devises stratagems and tricks, and who is sometimes too clever for his own good. His divine helper is Pallas Athene, a goddess who admires Odysseus for his ready inventiveness. In The Odyssey, Penelope – daughter of Icarius of Sparta, and cousin of the beautiful Helen of Troy – is portrayed as the quintessential faithful wife, a woman known for her intelligence and constancy. In addition to weeping and praying for the return of Odysseus, she cleverly deceives the many Suitors who are swarming around her palace, eating up Odysseus’ estate in an attempt to force her to marry one of them. Not only does Penelope lead them on with false promises, she weaves a shroud that she unravels at night, delaying her marriage decision until its completion. Part of The Odyssey concerns her problems with her teenaged son, Telemachus, who is bent on asserting himself not only against the troublesome and dangerous Suitors, but against his mother as well. The book draws to an end with the slaughter of the Suitors by Odysseus and Telemachus, the hanging of twelve of the maids who have been sleeping with the Suitors, and the reunion of Odysseus and Penelope. But Homer’s Odyssey is not the only version of the story. Mythic material was originally oral, and also local – a myth would be told one way in one place and quite differently in another. I have drawn on material other than The Odyssey, especially for the details of Penelope’s parentage, her early life and marriage, and the scandalous rumours circulating about her. I’ve chosen to give the telling of the story to Penelope and to the twelve hanged maids. The maids form a chanting and singing Chorus which focuses on two questions that must pose themselves after any close reading of The Odyssey: what led to the hanging of the maids, and what was Penelope really up to? The story as told in The Odyssey doesn’t hold water: there are too many inconsistencies. I’ve always been haunted by the hanged MARGARET ATWOOD maids; and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself. PLAYWRIGHT Excerpted from The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. Copyright © 2005 O.W. Toad. Reprinted by permission of Knopf Canada.
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
MAEV BEATY Laertes/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble), The Happy Woman (Dora Nomination for Outstanding Performance) Most Recently Terminus (Outside the March/ Mirvish Productions) Elsewhere Proud (Proud Collective - Michael Healey); Antigone Dead People (Small Wooden Shoe); Civility (Necessary Angel); Another Africa (Volcano Theatre/Canadian Stage); Montparnasse (Groundwater, Theatre Passe Muraille); The Mill (TheatreFront); Taming of the Shrew (Theatre By the Bay); Wide Awake Hearts (Tarragon); Birnam Wood (Theatre Rusticle); Ritter, Dene, Voss (One Little Goat, La Mama NYC) Upcoming La Ronde (Soulpepper Theatre Company); Passion Play (Sheep No Wool, Convergence, Outside the March) Etcetera Maev is co-artistic director of Sheep No Wool. This is for Dorothy. www.maevbeaty.com NEEMA BICKERSTETH Telemachus/Maid Nightwood Debut Most Recently The Story (Theatre Columbus) Elsewhere Harlem Duet (Black Theatre Workshop); Oil and Water (Artistic Fraud); Caroline, or Change (Acting Up Stage/Obsidian Theatre – Dora Nomination) Etcetera Neema is developing a recital theatre piece called A Moveable Beast. It explores an alternative version of history combining classical singing, musical improvisation, modern dance, and historical photography. FIONA BYRNE Naiad/Maid Nightwood Debut Most Recently The Cosmonaut’s Last Message… (Canadian Stage); Bethune Imagined (Factory Theatre) Elsewhere Three Sisters, Plough and the Stars, Picnic, Peter Pan, Man and Superman, You Never Can Tell, A Month in the Country, Belle Moral, Devil’s Disciple (Shaw Festival – eleven seasons); A Month in the Country, Waiting for the Parade (Soulpepper Theatre Company); The Country (Crow’s Theatre/Theatre Junction); Vinci, Long Day’s Journey into Night (MTC); Doll House (DVxT); Little Women, Death of a Salesman, Oedipus Rex (Stratford Festival). Film and Television credits include: King; Flashpoint; Rookie Blue; Against the Wall; She’s the Mayor; CFC’s Oliver Bump’s Birthday Upcoming Time Stands Still (Theatre Aquarius) Etcetera Fiona is a graduate of the National Theatre School, and won a Dora for Best Actress for Doll House (DVxT). She has two gorgeous daughters, six-year old Molly and new baby Nora. She is thrilled to be joining this brilliant company.
SARAH DODD Anticleia/Maid Nightwood The Age of Arousal; The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently This Lime Tree Bower (Cart/Horse Theatre); The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs (Tarragon Theatre) Elsewhere Communion, The Fall, and Humble Boy (Tarragon Theatre); A Whistle in the Dark; Marion Bridge (The Company Theatre); Them and Us (Theatre Passe Muraille); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage); seven seasons at the Stratford Festival Etcetera Sarah is the recipient of two Dora Awards and is a graduate of George Brown Theatre School. MONICA DOTTOR Oracle/Maid, Choreographer Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Nomination for Outstanding Choreography, Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently The Shape of Rex (Factoria Films); Picture Day (Snitch Pictures-TIFF Selection); Petrichor (Kitchenband Productions) Elsewhere Acting: The Overcoat (Dora nomination), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Canadian Stage) The Middle Place (Project Humanity/Canadian Stage); Featuring Loretta, Scratch (Factory Theatre – Dora Nomination); Chekhov’s Shorts, Chekhov’s Heartache (Theatre Smith-Gilmour); The Red Queen Effect (7th Stage). Choreography: The Middle Place, The Russian Play (Factory Theatre – Dora Nomination); CRASH (Passe Muraille); Malaria Lullaby (Company Blonde/Summerworks); The Red Queen Effect Upcoming Choreography: A Craigslist Cantata (Acting Upstage); Sudden Death (Next Stage) Etcetera Monica is the proud new mom of 6 week old Arlo!
AUDREY DWYER Icarius/Maid Nightwood Acting Debut. Assistant Director: The Penelopiad 2012, Director: The Aftermath (The New Groundswell Festival), Director: The Penelopiad 2009 (4x4 Director’s Series), Co-Director of Write from the Hip (2008-10), Associate Artistic Director (2008-9) Most Recently thirsty (National Arts Centre) Elsewhere Breath in Between (Breath Collective with Crows Theatre); Clybourne Park, The Overwhelming (Studio 180); The Tempest (Canadian Stage Theatre); Black Medea (Obsidian Theatre); Medea (The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre/Mirvish Productions); Patty’s Cake (Carousel Players - Dora Award, Outstanding Production for Young People); Danny, King of the Basement (Roseneath Theatre); Blue Planet (Young People’s Theatre); The Babysitter (Theatre Direct/Eldritch Theatre). Film and Television: The Twelve Dates of Christmas (ANC); Da Kink in my Hair (Global); The Ron James Show (CBC); The State Within (BBC/Shaftesbury); Man of the Year (Universal Pictures/Morgan Creek Productions); Really Me (Family Channel/Fresh TV); Where the Truth Lies (Serendipity Point Films) Upcoming Clybourne Park (Studio 180/Mirvish Productions) Etcetera Audrey directed Darrah Teitel’s The Apology (Dora Nomination). She is writing a play called Calpurnia for Obsidian Theatre’s Development Series. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada. MEAGAN FOLLOWS Penelope Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently Longmire (A&E); World Without End by Ken Follett (miniseries); Where are the Dolls (short film) Elsewhere This (Vancouver Playhouse); Cloud 9 (Mirvish); Night Mother, Three Sisters (Dora Nomination), Top Girls (Dora Nominaton), The Real Thing (Soulpepper Theatre Company/ NAC); Fool for Love (Soulpepper Theatre Company); Uncle Vanya (Geffen Playhouse); The Seagull (Old Globe); Dolls House (GuthrieTheater); Romeo and Juliet (Stratford Festival) Upcoming Megan just finished filming the Canadian feature Hard Drive and the short film Bar None (Bravo) and can be heard as the narrator for the Imax film Flight of the Butterflies Etcetera Film and Television credits include: House; Lie to Me; Brothers and Sisters; Heartland; The Booky Trilogy; Shania; Open Heart; CSI; CSI Miami; ER; Law and Order; Plainsong; Anne of Green Gables (1,2,3). She is the recipient of two Gemini awards, six Gemini nominations, a Genie nomination and an ACTRA award nomination. Megan is very excited to be remounting The Penelopiad with such an amazing group of women. KELLI FOX Odysseus/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently Film and Television: Nikita (CW); Murdoch Mysteries (CBC/UKTV); Cracked (CBC). Other: Directed Anthropocene for the Bond Wrecking Ball; Text Coach: The Lawyer Show 2012 (Nightwood Theatre) Elsewhere Major Barbara, Candida, A Room of One’s Own, Rutherford and Son, Age of Arousal (Shaw Festival - twelve seasons); Trojan Women, Three Sisters, The Misanthrope (Stratford Festival - three seasons); Slavs!, Scorched, The Children’s Republic (Tarragon); Oui, Zadie’s Shoes (Factory); Top Girls (Soulpepper); BBVR (MTC); Frozen, August: Osage County (Citadel Theatre); Blithe Spirit (Segal Centre); All’s Well that Ends Well, A Winter’s Tale, Love’s Labours Lost (NAC); Much Ado about Nothing (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); title role in Hamlet (Geva Theatre Centre) Upcoming With Individual Desire (The New Groundswell Festival/Nightwood Theatre) Etcetera Kelli earned a Jessie (Keely and Du), was recognized by the Critics Circles in Ottawa (A Room of One’s Own) and in Toronto (The Penelopiad). CARA GEE Melantho/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently The Real World (Tarragon Theatre); Ally & Kev (SummerWorks) Elsewhere Theatre: The Physical Ramifications of Attempted Global Domination, Dead Wrestlers, Family Story, 36 Little Plays About Hopeless Girls (Birdtown and Swanville); The Rez Sisters (Factory); The Jones Boy (surface/underground); Stitch (SummerWorks); Tout Comme Elle (Necessary Angel); Flowers (Rose City Theatre Festival); Love’s Labour’s Lost (Resurgence). Film & TV: Empire of Dirt (Narrow Path); King (Showcase) Upcoming Arigato, Tokyo by Daniel McIvor (Buddies in Bad Times) Etcetera Cara is an ensemble member of Birdtown and Swanville. She has a BFA in Acting from the University of Windsor.
PATRICIA HAMILTON Eurycleia/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently Heartbreak House (Shaw Festival 2011) Elsewhere Patricia has been acting for more than 50 years. As well as 13 seasons at the Shaw Festival she has been seen across Canada from Vancouver to Stratford to Halifax. In Toronto she has appeared at Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Necessary Angel and Canadian Stage among others Upcoming True West (Soulpepper Theatre Company) Etcetera Patricia is also a director, teacher and producer, and is one of the founders of Masterclass Theatre. To television viewers she is known as Rachel Lynde in the Road to Avonlea series. NICOLE JOY-FRASER Antinous/Maid Nightwood Debut Most Recently Weezoowaad Anang (Windsor Symphony Orchestra); Raven Stole the Sun (Red Sky/US Tour); The Great Mountain (Red Sky/YPT) Elsewhere Tombs of the Vanishing Indian (Native Earth/Red Diva); Giiwedin-A First Nations Opera (Native Earth/Indien Rights); The Rez Sisters (OKW/Public Energy); Job’s Wife (New Harlem/Summerworks); Beauty and the Beast (UK Tour); Jerry Springer the Opera (West End); Mamma Mia! (Mirvish) Etcetera Nicole is a graduate of The Randolph Academy and received a full scholarship from the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. She is thrilled to be working with this phenomenal company and dedicates this production to her family, friends, teachers, mentors and agent, who have always believed in her - Kininaskomitin! PAMELA SINHA Helen/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble) Most Recently The Little Years (Tarragon Theatre) Elsewhere CRASH (Theatre Passe Muraille – Dora Award for Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role); The Rez Sisters (Factory Theatre); Brothel #9 (Factory Theatre - Dora Nomination); Tout Comme Elle (Necessary Angel/ Luminato); Possible Worlds (Theatre Passe Muraille). U.S. theatre credits include: Mark Taper Forum/ Workshop, L.A. (The House of Bernarda Alba), Actor’s Gang Studio, L.A. (Frankincense). Film and TV: In Canada: series regular on Traders, The Newsroom, Jinnah on Crime, Breakaway. U.S. credits: NBC’s ER (3 seasons, recurring), Huff, Crossing Jordan, Family Law, Live from Baghdad, among others Upcoming A tour of CRASH (Necessary Angel Theatre Company in association with Theatre Passe Muraille) commencing in September 2013. Pamela is currently at work on the second play, Happy Place. SOPHIA WALKER Menelaus/Maid Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in an Ensemble); Ruined (in co-production with Obsidian Theatre Company) Most Recently Boblo (Kitchenband Productions/The Theatre Centre); Henry V, Elektra (Stratford Festival) Elsewhere Much Ado About Nothing (Canadian Stage); Orchids (Marquis Entertainment/Roundhouse Theatre); Rookie Blue (Global/ABC); The Tempest (Melbar Entertainment). For the last five years Sophia has been a company member for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival playing leads in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Comedy of Errors, Romeo and Juliet Upcoming The Merchant of Venice; The Three Musketeers (Stratford Festival) Etcetera Sophia is an award-winning theatre actor and a bouffon and improv performer. She is a graduate of The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training and Ryerson University. Much love to my family and these amazing women.
JASMINE CHEN Assistant Director Nightwood Stockholm (Seventh Stage in association with Nightwood Theatre) Most Recently Actor: Hiding Words (Asian Arts Initiative) Elsewhere Associate Producer: Aneemah’s Spot (Motionlive/Cric Crac Collective at Summerworks); Associate Director: Enter the Shadow (Harbourfront Centre/Break it Down); Actor: Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival XXV (Native Earth Performing Arts); Dim Sum Lose Some (Theatre Local/Nuit Blanche); A Synonym for Love (Volcano Theatre); A Song for Tomorrow (New Harlem Productions/Eventual Ashes); Sex Tape Project (fu-GEN Theatre); The Winter’s Tale (Canadian Stage) Film/TV: Defiance (Syfy); Millions (Jaded Pictures); Warehouse 13 (Syfy); A Fork in The Road (Splice Films) Upcoming Video Producer: 10 Year Anniversary Mini Documentary (fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theatre) Etcetera Jasmine is a multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. She is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School BFA Acting Program. Many thanks to Nightwood for this incredible opportunity! Much love to family and friends for their unwavering support.
CREATIVE
MELISSA ROOD Stage Manager Nightwood The Penelopiad (Directors’ Lab, 2009); The Danish Play Most Recently The Pirates of Penzance, Christopher Plummer’s A Word or Two (Stratford Festival) Elsewhere Twelve Seasons with the Stratford Festival; Ten Winters with the Canadian Opera Company; La Jolla Playhouse (California); National Arts Centre; Mirvish; Canadian Stage; Buddies in Bad Times Theatre; Globe Theatre; Grand Theatre; Belfry Theatre; Pacific Opera Victoria; Suddenly Dance; David Atkins Enterprises (Opening & Closing Ceremonies of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar); Princess Cruises; and countless benefits, fundraisers, cabarets, workshops, and readings Upcoming Thirteenth Season at the Stratford Festival - The Who’s Tommy Etcetera Melissa is a social work student at the University of Waterloo and holds a degree in Social Development Studies, serves on the Board of Directors for PAL Stratford, plays Derby with the Festival City Rollergirls, and recently competed in the World Club Crew Dragon Boat Championships in Hong Kong.
DENYSE KARN Set and Costume Designer Nightwood Design credits include The Happy Woman, The Penelopiad 2012, The List, The Lawyer Show 2012, 2011, 2010 and Goodnight Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet (Premier Production) Most Recently The Winter’s Tale (Canadian Stage 2011 Dream in High Park); The Oracle Of Gros Morne (Gros Morne Theatre Festival); Top Girls (Manitoba Theatre Centre) Upcoming The Lawyer Show 2013 (Nightwood Theatre) Etcetera Denyse has been working across the country in Canadian theatre for over 25 years as a producer and designer. She is a graduate of the Ryerson Theatre School and has her BFA from NSCAD University. She is a recipient of a Dora Award, five Theatre Nova Scotia Merritt Awards for various Outstanding Designs and was nominated for both Outstanding Set and Outstanding Costume Design for The Penelopiad in 2012.
SUBA SANKARAN Composer, Sound Designer & Musical Director Nightwood The Penelopiad 2012 (Composer, Sound Designer, Musical Director) Most Recently Oy! Just Beat It (Nightswimming/Theatre Ji at The Toronto Fringe Festival and Best of the Fringe!); An Afternoon At Sunnyside -10-minute musical (Synthesis); Trafalgar-24 (Driftwood Theatre) Elsewhere Blue Note (Nightswimming music workshop), Soulpepper Theatre Academy music workshops; Funny Boy – composer (Shyam Selvadurai/Deepa Mehta/CBC); Bombay Black (Nightswimming Theatre/Cahoots Theatre); Mini-musical (Humber River Shakespeare); music and youth workshops (Theatre Direct/National Arts Centre) Upcoming Same Same But Different (Anita Majumdar, Nightswimming Theatre, Theatre Ji); music workshops with Soulpepper Theatre Academy and Blue Note (Nightswimming) Etcetera Suba Sankaran is a Dora award-winning, twice Juno-nominated artist. Suba has been working in theatre for over a decade. She freelances and travels the globe as a world/fusion vocalist, choral director, arranger and educator, and composes for theatre, film, radio and dance. Suba is currently artist-in-residence at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, and co-chair of the Juno world music committee.
BIOGRAPHIES
ERIN MCCLEARY Assistant Designer Nightwood Production Design Assistant: The Happy Woman; Production Design Assistant and Cutter: The Penelopiad 2012; The New Groundswell Festival Production Design Intern (2012) Most Recently Costume Designer for the independent feature film Learning to Ride Elsewhere Costume Design: Love Sam (Winner of Best Canadian Dramatic Short at the Edmonton International Film Festival); Dear Scavengers (Official Selection TIFF 2012) Etcetera Having just recently finished her first feature length film as a costume designer, Erin is very happy to be stepping back into the theatre. She is excited to be working with such a vibrant crew and cast and to have the opportunity to once again, be Production Design Assistant to Denyse Karn. KIMBERLY PURTELL Lighting Designer Nightwood The Happy Woman, The Penelopiad 2012, The List, That Face, Wild Dogs, Age of Arousal, Crave Most Recently This Is What Happens Next (Necessary Angel); The Little Years (Tarragon Theatre); Rigoletto (Opera Hamilton); The Normal Heart (Studio 180); Proud (Proud Collective); Speed The Plow (Soulpepper); You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown (Stratford Festival) Elsewhere Designs for Mirvish Productions, Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage, Manitoba Theatre Centre, World Stage, Luminato, Theatre Calgary, Vancouver Playhouse, Citadel Theatre, Queen of Puddings among others Upcoming Someone Else (Crows Theatre); Svadba (Edmonton Opera); The Power of Harriet T (YPT); Clybourne Park (Mirvish Productions/Studio 180); Iceland (Factory Theatre); Arigato, Tokyo (Buddies in Bad Times); Little One & Other People’s Children (Tarragon Theatre) Etcetera Kimberly has been nominated for 17 Dora Awards, winning three times, and is a recipient of the Pauline McGibbon Award.
KELLY THORNTON Director Nightwood Artistic Director since 2001. Directing credits include The Penelopiad (6 Dora Nominations including Outstanding Direction), The Happy Woman, Between the Sheets; and The List, That Face, Wild Dogs (all in association with Canadian Stage), The Danish Play (Toronto 2002 & 2007, Aveny-Teatret, Copenhagen, Magnetic North Theatre Festival & National Arts Centre), Bear With Me (Toronto, Grand Theatre & Magnetic North Theatre Festival), Mathilde, China Doll and Finding Regina (Globe Theatre/Theatre Passe Muraille) Elsewhere The Comedy of Errors (Canadian Stage’s Dream in High Park); This Hotel (Theatre Passe Muraille/Planet 88 - Dora Nomination for Outstanding Direction); So Many Doors (Magnetic North Theatre Festival, Sour Brides/Yukon Arts Centre); Peep Show (Buddies in Bad Times); The Dumb Waiter (SummerWorks/Sometimes Y) Upcoming Who Killed Snow White (The New Groundswell Festival/Nightwood Theatre) Etcetera As a director Kelly received the Pauline McGibbon Award in 2003, and was recognized as a YWCA Woman of Distinction (Arts & Letters) in 2008 for her commitment to training and mentorship of young women in the performing arts. She is the Associate Director of the National Theatre School of Canada’s Directing Program. ASHLEY WESTLAKE Assistant Stage Manager Nightwood Stage Manager: Between the Sheets, The Lawyer Show 2011, 2012. Apprentice Stage Manager: The Happy Woman, The Penelopiad 2012; The List, That Face (in association with Canadian Stage) Most Recently Stage Manager: The Dutchman (Lemon Tree Creations/ Summerworks), Help Yourself (Theatre Brouhaha/Toronto Fringe) Elsewhere Apprentice Stage Manager: The Middle Place (Project Humanity/Canadian Stage) Stage Manager: The Jones Boy (surface/underground), Little One (Theatre Crisis/SummerWorks) Upcoming Little One (Theatre Crisis/Tarragon Theatre), The Lawyer Show 2013 (Nightwood Theatre) Etcetera “To have a child is to set loose a force in the world.” Ashley would like to thank her fierce, clever & mighty little sister who’s about to have a baby (eta Jan 18) for being a force in her life and the world.
SARAH YAFFE Production Manager Nightwood Debut Most Recently Production Manager: Just for Laughs Festival (2012, 2011, Montreal); Saunders Farm (2012, 2011, Ottawa); Production Manager and Lighting: Haunted Hillbilly (Centaur Theatre); Bliss (Candles are for Burning Productions, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre) Lighting: Scientific Americans (Segal Centre) Elsewhere Sarah is the General Manager and production designer for SideMart Theatrical Grocery, a freelance lighting designer and production manager, and an instructor and coach at the National Theatre School Upcoming Sarah will be the production designer for the Centaur Theatre’s production of SideMart’s Trad in March 2013 Etcetera Sarah has recently returned to her hometown of Toronto with her partner, Jason, and their dog, Reilly, after 13 years in Montreal. She is a graduate of the National Theatre School’s production program. Sarah is thrilled to be working with Nightwood and looks forward to her future Toronto adventures!
THANK
The Penelopiad Costume Designs by Denyse Karn ODYSSEUS’ PARENTS
Anticlea and Laertes
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YOU NIGHTWOOD THEATRE AND THE PENELOPIAD WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Michelle Alexander, Marinda de Beer, Christine Brubaker, Raven Dauda, Heather English, sandra Henderson, Kaileigh Krysztofiak, Allie Marshall, Tara Rosling, Tanisha Taitt, Holly Treddenick, Bahia Watson, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Canadian Stage, Studio 180, Tapestry New Opera, Tarragon Theatre
SEASON SUPPORTERS
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PENELOPE’S PARENTS
Naiad and Icarius
SEASON DONORS FOUNDATION AND PUBLIC SUPPORTERS George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation RBC Foundation The George Lunan Foundation The Howard and Carole Tanenbaum Family Charitable Foundation Toronto Community Foundation CORPORATE SUPPORTERS BMO Financial Group EllisDon Scotiabank Group Steamwhistle Sublime Catering GOVERNMENT Canada Council for the Arts Creative Trust Ontario Arts Council Toronto Arts Council INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS VISIONARY $5000+ Nancy’s Very Own Foundation INNOVATOR $2,500-$4,999 Karon C. Bales and Charles E. Beall Mary Thomson and Jan Ruby McLean Smits Family Foundation Stephen Lewis and Michele Landsberg GROUNDBREAKER $1,000-$2,499 Aqueduct Foundation Yaffe Feld Fund Aqueduct Foundation Sylvia Chrominska Fund Diane Mason Emerald Foundation Janine Szczepanowski Jay Hodgins Jay Nathwani and Katie Wylde
Julie White Kelly Thornton Margot Franssen Maria Zakos Pam Shime and Kirsten Cherian Susan Lawson and Christine Young Sussannah Kelly Valerie Hussey and Elizabeth Etue Zanana Akande CREATOR $500-$999 Anna Abbott Anonymous Anusha Aruliah Ashley Waye Bales Beall Barbara Gordon Barbara Moses Brent Vickar Bronwyn Martin Carol Hibbert-Swegle and Robert Swegle Catherine Wiley Clare Barclay Denyse Karn Diana Kolpak Doug Watters Eve Schwarz Fredrick Schumann Gavin Magrath George and Martha Butterfield Geri Sanson Haynes-Connell Foundation Heather Paterson Jennifer Hefler Joyce Tam Judith Huddart Judy Mathews Llana Nakonechny Luiz Arthur (Tuca) Bihari Margaret Cowtan Michael Kleinman Nathan Higgins Pamela Taylor and Frank Perrin Paul Bryant Peter Hamiwka Randall Telford Richard Lebkowski Ryan Campbell
Sabrina Bandali Saroja Kuruganty Satinder Besrai Sheetal Rawal Shelley Hobbs and Joan Jamieson Wendy Carmichael Bauld PATRON $250-$499 Alexandra Rambusch Anonymous x2 Beverley Harris BJ Danylchuk Deanna Rosenswig Donald W. Wilson Kendra Court Linda Silver Dranoff Margaret Cockshutt Shelley Scott The Buckingham Charitable Foundation SUPPORTER $100-$249 Andrew Spiro Anne Spinks Anonymous x4 Armand De Kemp Astrid Janson Barbara Fingerote Barbara Linds Benjamen Kerr Brigid O’Reilly Carita Pereira Caroline Ursulak Catherine Riggall Courtney Raphael Danny Kastner Debra Back Don DeBoer Donna Gallant Dr David Janet Greyson Eleanor O’Connor Elizabeth Cunliffe Ellyn and Doug Peirson Gail Parker George Saltzberg H. Ian Macdonald Henry and Marcia Blumberg In Honour of Barbara Henders In Honour of Emma, Maggie and Clare Roe In Honour of Judith Parker In Honour of Michelle Alexander
In Honour of Prof. Cynthia Zimmerman Jag Bhatahal Jan Goddard and Gordon Howe Jeff Carolin Jessica Burnstein John DeVellis John Kociszewski Jon Kaplan Joyce Henry Kelly D. Murumets Kelly MacIntosh Keri Bennett Larry Lubin Leslie Hetherington Liam Hughes Linda and Alan Slavin Longley Vickar LLP Luisa Ritacca Lynn Vandervalk Mariam Al-Shikarchy Marta Ecsedi Mary Miller Mary Nasello Michael O’Sullivan Michelle Thompson Nathalie Bonjour Paul Butler Ruth Snowden Sarah Jones Sarah Neville Sheila Martin Sue Moellers Tatyana Rimanich FRIEND $50+ Aileen Daley Amy McKie Andres DePablo Annalise Zala Anne Hardcastle Annik Forristal Anonymous x3 Anusha Aruliah Arti Kashyap
Ashley Palmer Asmin Dookie Bernadette Dietrich Beverley Biggar Beverly Pringle Bill Doherty Brendan Brammall Brian Simpson Cameron Murkar Cathy Lace Christine Mainville Christine McGoey Colleen Didur Darcy Ammerman Darlene Madott David Cooper David Nichols Deena Baltma Elizaville Beekeepers Association Ellen Schoenberger Eva Iacobelli Folasade Apanisile Frank Willshire Gary Folka Geraldine Sadoway Gord Reynolds Gordon Lemon Greenest City Harry Borlase Hersh Zeifman In Honour of Sadie and Maude Kopyto Primack Isis Caulder Janet MacDonald Jay Hingwala Jenette Markle Jenivieve Devries Jennifer Heath Jill St Clair Joan Harvey Joanne Williams John Andreyko Jordana Commisso Karen Thomson Kelsey Orth
Keltie White Laurel Mitchell Leanna Karremans Linda Miller and Jay Silverberg Mallory Gilbert Mara Tramontin Marion Abel Mary Dinner Mary Fantauzzi Mary Long Mary Ruccella Megan Marrie Megan Meaney Melissa Jones Nadira Singh Naomi Campbell Nika Rylski Olena Brusentsova Paul Saguil Peter Adamson Rami Shoucri Robert Hester Robert McLaren Rose Janson Rosie Fantilli Rumina Ratansi Ruth and Harold Margles Shannon Seitz Sidonia Loiacono Stephanie Weilinger Stephen Dorrell Stephen Genttener Terry Burrell William Stevens William Weissglass
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DONATING and other ways to deepen your relationship
to Nightwood Theatre, please contact Laura Pomeroy at 416.944.1740 ext. 5 or laura@nightwoodtheatre.net Donors as of December 17, 2012. However, if your name has been accidentally omitted or misspelled, please let us know by emailing laura@nightwoodtheatre.net We apologise for any inconvenience.
2012-13
SEASON
Kelly Thornton..............................................................................Artistic Director Denyse Karn.............................................................................Managing Director Rebecca Peirson.....................................Director of Marketing & Communications Laura Pomeroy........................................................................Associate Producer Michelle Alexander......................................................Associate Artistic Producer Erica Kopyto..............................................................Literary Manager/Dramaturg Heather Young & Sam Zimmerman...................................................Bookkeepers Shaina Silver-Baird......................................................................Marketing Intern Eva Barrie.................................................................................Fundraising Intern Alix Markman.........................................................................Videographer Intern Erin Shields, Judith Thompson*........................................Playwrights in Residence Cynthia Grant, Kim Renders, Mary Vingoe, Maureen White......Founding Members *Made possible through the Ontario Arts Council AS CANADA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S THEATRE SINCE 1979, Nightwood has launched the careers of
many of the leading theatre artists in the country. We have won Canada’s highest literary and performing arts awards and more than ever our success proves the need for theatre that gives voice to women and celebrates the diversity of Canadian society. We remain actively engaged in mentoring young women and promoting women’s place on the local, national and international stage.
......................................................................... NIGHTWOOD THEATRE is a member of the
Professional Association of Canadian Theatre and engages under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of the Canadian Actor’s Equity Association, and is a member of the Toronto Alliance for Performing Arts (TAPA) and Theatre Ontario. Registered Charitable number: 123709339 RR0001
......................................................................... Photography by Tania-Tiziana, doublecrossed.ca and Robert Popkin Graphic Design by kinnonelliott.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Karon Bales Justin Conley Kendra Court Renee Bazille Jones Sussannah Kelly Vice Chair Pamela Shime Janine Szczepanowski Karen Thomson Carolyn Ursulak Brent Vickar ADVISORY BOARD Susan Clark Noella Milne The Hon. Nancy Ruth Sonja Smits Pamela Taylor Julie White Lisa Zangari Michele Landsberg
CONTACT NIGHTWOOD THEATRE ...................................
416.944.1740
nightwoodtheatre.net
INVEST IN
EQUITY
+
EXCELLENCE We would like to thank all of our supporters who make Nightwood possible.
NIGHTWOOD IS GRATEFUL for our continuously growing network
of support. In our 33-year-history, individuals and businesses have stepped up and directly supported our exceptional artistic record. In addition to investments in top notch theatrical productions, many of our supporters choose to directly support our first-rate play development programs that don’t just ‘talk the talk’—we get excellent theatre from the page to the stage. And others, who share our commitment to seeding a new generation of female artists, prefer to directly invest in our youth and training programs. Operating with artistic and fiscal integrity, our records prove that private investments in Nightwood spur direct and substantial gains in earned revenues—such as a 290% increase in box office revenues between 2005 and 2008, along with a 31% increase in operations and programming since 2006. To our current supporters: we thank and celebrate you. To our audience members who are considering joining this distinguished company of support: we welcome you and look forward to speaking with you soon. For more information on donating and other ways to deepen your relationship to Nightwood Theatre, please contact Laura Pomeroy at 416.944.1740 ext. 5 or laura@nightwoodtheatre.net
Coming up at FemCab 2013 March 20, 2013 at 8pm Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs INFO & TICKETS
nightwoodtheatre.net
NIGHTWOOD THEATRE has spent over 33 years celebrating women’s
voices. By donating to the 10,000 WOMEN campaign you will be part of a powerful group of people who support women in the arts. For every $10 you donate, we invite you to honour a woman of your choice. When we hit our goal of 10,000 names, we will recognize these remarkable women with a groundbreaking art exhibit.
Nightwood Theatre’s International Women’s Day Celebration! This sell-out event is now in its 31st year. The only cabaret in town where performers of every discipline come together in an irreverent and boisterous celebration of women! This year it will be hosted by Shoshana Sperling with Keynote Min Sook Lee.
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Nightwood representatives will be pleased to take your donation outside the theatre during intermission and after the show.
Help us reach our goal! FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO DONATE ONLINE
please go to nightwoodtheatre.net or contact Laura Pomeroy at 416.944.1740 x 5 or at laura@nightwoodtheatre.net
June 6 to 8, 2013 at 8pm Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs INFO & TICKETS
nightwoodtheatre.net
Our popular fundraiser, now in its fourth year! Under the guidance of professional directors, coaches and technical personnel, members of the legal community will take the stage again this June, while raising funds for one of Canada’s most vital performing arts organizations: the award-winning Nightwood Theatre. This year’s show is Twelfth Night. Mark the date!
Next up from
THEATRE FOR EVERYONE
MADE BY WOMEN
The New Groundswell Festival
A National Festival of Contemporary Women’s Theatre Over 10 days, The New Groundswell Festival features 3 new plays by women, as well as an industry series consisting of master classes, readings, provocative audience engagement panels and open forums. Join us for this exciting Festival!
Who Killed Snow White? by Judith Thompson
NIGHTWOOD THEATRE, TORONTO, ON
La Mémoire Du Corps | Body Memory
March 15 - 24, 2013 Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs
nightwoodtheatre.net
by Arianna Bardesono & Christine Khalifah ODELAH CREATIONS, MONTREAL, QC
God’s Middle Name
by Jennifer Overton
IN GOOD COMPANY, HALIFAX, NS