Samqwan

Created and choreographed by

Sarah Prosper

May 12 - 15, 2022

Originally commissioned and produced by Highland Arts Theatre PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANA JOY GOULD

SPONSORED BY

FUNDED BY

Box Office 902-429-7070 Toll free across North America 1-800-565-7345 boxoffice@neptunetheatre.com neptunetheatre.com neptuneathome.com To advertise in Neptune Theatre house programs, contact: Leslie MacDonald 902-429-7300 Ext. 249 lmacdonald@neptunetheatre.com

@NeptuneTheatre Please keep your masks on when moving around the building and during the show, except when consuming concessions in designated lobby areas.

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

The use of cameras, cellular phones, paging devices and all other recording devices is strictly prohibited in the theatre. Please ensure all cellular phones and watch alarms are turned off.

Neptune Theatre is a scent-free environment.

Neptune Theatre 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 Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. Neptune Theatre engages professional technicians represented by IATSE Local 680.

Neptune Theatre acknowledges the support of our government partners:

Created and choreographed by Sarah Prosper

The Company About the play Cast & Creative Team ORIGINALLY COMMISSIONED AND PRODUCED BY

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Land Acknowledgements Note: This production invites us to reflect upon our many relations.

With Indigenous peoples. With ourselves. With our environment.

And most importantly with samqwan.

Being a moment of reflection, we also invite you to reflect

on land acknowledgements. What are they and what is their meaning? Why do we do them and how?

While land acknowledgements play an important part in

Canadian society, they can to often become nothing more than platitudes. A formality, rather than an opportunity to

reflect. And we hope to not lose that opportunity to reflect.

To reflect on our relationships not only with Indigenous peoples but the entire world around us.

Moving away from the current formalities, our production

has opted to give our land acknowledgement not through

words on a page but through performance. These opening

songs and dances tell stories of our relationship to this land,

the environment, ourselves, and each other. And we hope that this moment can be an opportunity for us all to explore a deeper understanding of this land, Mi’kma’ki.

So we invite you and ask,

what do land acknowledgment mean to you?

THE COMPANY

CREATED, DIRECTED, & CHOREGRAPHED BY SARAH PROSPER DANCERS

Keely Basque Shae Denny Kaylei Denny Deanna Johnston Hannah MacIntosh Ally Martin Sarah Prosper Neylan Stevens

SPECIAL GUEST SINGER & DRUM Aaron Prosper HUMMING CHORUS Shen Deng Hunter Estwick Shawnee Paul Dane Pedersen MacKenzie Sechi Mea Tonet TRADITIONAL DANCER Jesse Benjamin CREATIVE TEAM

STAGE MANAGER ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER HUMMING CHORUS MUSIC DIRECTOR POETRY BY LIGHTING DESIGN MAKE-UP DESIGN PROPS DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER PRODUCER

SPECIAL THANKS

Kate Munro-Bergfeldt Tessa Poirier MacKenzie Sechi shalan joudry Ken Heaton Lauren Sylliboy Kayla Cormier Jordan Palmer Wesley J. Colford

Jeremy Webb & the Staff of the Neptune Theatre, NADACA, Alison Crosby, Albert Marshall, Spinco, HRM, Prismatic Arts Festival, Eastern Owl Singers - Margorie Muise, Eastern Eagle, Jeremy Dutcher, Fawn D Wood, Riley Dewitt, Jane Meader, Anna Spencer, Cynthia Vokey, Ali MacDougall, Hilary Scott, Thomas Colford 4 SAMQWAN neptunetheatre.com

COREY KATZ

ABOUT THE PLAY

Samqwan is the Mi’kmaq word for water and this new multi-disciplinary show, created and choreographed by Eskasoni artist Sarah Prosper, will inspire and welcome you to experience the value of water from an indigenous perspective; its sacredness, purposes, and to show the gift of walking in two worlds but also the responsibilities.

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SARAH PROSPER

(She/her ni’n/nekem) Role: Director / Creator / Choreographer Sarah Prosper, is a 22 year old L’nu woman, B.Sc Therapeutic Recreation & ADAPT Certified, from Mi’kmaq community Eskasoni (Wekwistoqnik ~ land of the fir trees). An accomplished creator and leader in the arts dance and culture, Sarah has performed, collaborated, co-created, co-produced, consulted, in Indigenous inspired multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and intergenerational productions, most recently: Koqm (shalan joudry), Nutuwiek?

(NS Choral Federation), Alan Sylliboy & The Thundermakers (Co presented with Symphony NS), Fluid Forms ~ Utawtiwow Kijinaq (Mocean Dance & Sara Coffin), Ki’kwa’ju Reimagining Prokofiev’s Peter & the Wolf (FSPA, Christina Murray & Shelly MacDonald) & Lost Soul (George Woodhouse & the Public Service). Sarah creates and moves through topics of inter-generational healing, history, health, wellness, and truth, through these elements and stories of our history and the land, uplifting contemporary Indigenous artistry with an approach that is guided by Mi’kmaq spirituality. Sarah hopes to incorporate Indigenous creativeness in movement of all forms and help others find their inherent ability to move freely with Ms~t No’kmaq (All My Relations).

DANCERS KEELY BASQUE

Neptune: debut Other: (She/Her) Role: Dancer Keely Basque is a 14-year-old girl from Coxheath who is in grade 9 at Riverview High school. Keely has been dancing for 13 years with Cape Breton School of the Arts/Northside Dance and has been competing for 10 years. She is beyond excited for the opportunity to be in the second run of Samqwan.

KAYLEI DENNY

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut Other: Kaylei Denny is a 16-year-old from Eskasoni First Nation. She is in grade 10 at Allison Bernard Memorial High School. She has been dancing with a NADACA Learn To Dance Program since she was 2 years old and is now an assistant instructor.

She has danced competitively with Cape Breton School of the Arts, NADACA, and Northside Dance. She performed in “Kluscap and the Giant Frog” in 2016. Kaylei is very excited to perform the show again and is very proud to be apart of the cast of Samqwan!

SHAE DENNY

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut Other: Shae is a Mi’kmaw woman from Eskasoni, First Nation. She is a registered veterinary technician (RVT). She began dancing at NADACA at the age of 5 and later joined CBSA. Shae is passionate about sustainability, animals, especially her doggo Rosie and her culture. Shae is very excited to go back on stage and perform in Samqwan again!

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DANCERS DEANNA JOHNSTONQ

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut! Other Theatre: Compound Effect (Votive Dance); Tap Water, Lights and Sound (Bringing Tap Back) Other: I am thrilled to be a part of this team. Thank you to Sarah for creating this beautiful show!

HANNAH MACINTOSH

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Disco Nights, A Christmas Carol, and Suessical the Musical (HAT), Beauty and the Beast & The Nutcracker (Savoy) Training: 15 years of dance training from Northside Dance Other: I am so happy to be back onstage and I can’t wait to share this show with everyone!

ALLY MARTIN

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut Other Theatre: A Christmas Carol, Samqwan 2021 (HAT), The Nutcracker (The Savoy) Training: Lucy Wintermans School of Dance (2010-2021) and currently with Elle Dance Academy Other: Excited to be back on stage performing Samqwan.

NEYLAN STEVENS

(She/Her) Role: Dancer Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Sinatra: A Celebration, Samqwan (HAT), Savoy Theatre, The Nutcracker (Clara) Boardmore Theatre, Please do not touch the Mi’kmaw (Smoke Dancer) Training: Neylan has been dancing for 17 years and danced at NADACA dance, Cape Breton School of the Arts, & NorthSide Dance. Other: Neylan is so excited and proud to be a part of an amazing production that represents her culture.

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AARON PROSPER

(He/Him) Role: Special Guest Singer & Drum Neptune: debut Other: Aaron is a member of Eskasoni First Nation and now resides in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In 2017-2018, Aaron served as President of the Dalhousie Students’ Union, becoming the first Indigenous person to serve in this role.

A graduate of Dalhousie’s Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience) program, Aaron is currently the Indigenous Health Consultant for Nova Scotia Health and Masters student at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Outside of his academic work, Aaron is local Mi’kmaw artist, performer, and musician. Aaron is currently a member of the Eastern Eagle Singers, a contemporary Mi’kmaw drum group based out of Sipe’knekatik First Nation. And is a vocalist and percussionist with the multimedia band, Alan Syliboy & the Thundermakers. Aaron’s artist work has been presented across Atlantic Canada and many parts of North America. Including performances at numerous festivals and collaborations with artists and music groups such as Symhpony Nova Scotia, Canadian Chamber Choir, Fountain School of Performing Arts, Spirit Song Festival, Nova Multifest Society, OnSound Symposium, Morgan Toney, & Eastern Owl.

THE HUMMING CHORUS MACKENZIE SECHI

(She/Her) Role: Music Director/Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other Theatre: See Jane Run, Heart of Steel, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (HAT), Borderless (Opera Laurier), Etiquette (Opera Laurier), The Rocky Horror Show (Savoy Theatre) Training: 3rd Year (Voice Performance) in Hons. Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University Other: I’m so excited to be back at the HAT for this beautiful production and with these wonderfully talented artists!

SHEN DENG

(He/him) Role: The Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Tell Your Story, All Together Now, A Christmas Carol (HAT)

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THE HUMMING CHORUS HUNTER ESTWICK

(She/Her) Role: The Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Tell Your Story (HAT) The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Annie, and Matilda (The Savoy) Other: I enjoy writing music, while teaching myself to play piano, guitar and ukulele. My hope is to go to New York to watch some Broadway shows.

SHAWNEE PAUL

Role: The Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other: Shawnee Paul is a multi-instrumentalist from Eskasoni, Nova Scotia. Her love for music led her to study music at Acadia University. Shawnee graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2019 and Bachelor of Education this May of 2021. She is looking forward to singing in Samqwan for the second time around and to be a part of sharing Indigenous culture on the HAT stage.

DANE PEDERSEN

(He/Him) Role: The Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other Theatre: She Loves Me, Kitchen Party, The Drowsy Chaperone, As You Like It, The Sea Shanty Show, Comedy of Errors (HAT) Matilda the Musical (HAT/Savoy Theatre), Legends: Remembrance (Savoy Theatre) Training: Bachelor of Music at St. Francis Xavier University (in progress)

MEA TONET

(She/Her) Role: The Humming Chorus Neptune: debut Other Theatre: See Jane Run, As You Like It, Comedy of Errors, Cabaret (HAT) Matilda the Musical (HAT/Savoy), Grease (Riverview High School), Dracula (Boardmore Theatre) Other: I’m so excited to bring back this show and let a wider audience see it, but I’m even more excited to be surrounded by this stellar crew again!

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CREATIVE TEAM KATE MUNRO-BERGFELDT

(She/Her) Role: Stage Manager Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Billy Bishop Goes to War, Tell Your Story, The Sea Shanty Show, A Christmas Carol 2021; Frozen Jr., Alice in Wonderland Jr., All Together Now (HAT) Other: I am honoured and so excited to be joining the team for the remount of this moving show!

TESS POIRIER

Role: Assistant Stage Manager Neptune: debut Other Theatre: Frozen Jr., Alice In Wonderland (HAT) Other: I’m so pleased and excited to be bringing Samqwan back to the stage!

WESLEY J. COLFORD

(they/them) Role: Producer Neptune: debut Other: Wesley J. Colford is a Dora and Merritt Nominated playwright and theatre artist from Cape Breton who currently resides in Sydney, NS where they operate as the inaugural Artistic & Executive Director of the Highland Arts Theatre (or HAT). They have produced more than 80 productions over the past eight years and were recently honoured as one of the Globe & Mail’s “Canadian Arts Heroes of 2020” for their work developing the HAT’s bold new funding model, Radical Access. They are so proud of the work done by all of our artists in Samqwan and so pleased to share it with the Neptune community!

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CREATIVE TEAM KAYLA CORMIER

(She/Her) Role: Props Designer Neptune: debut Other Theatre: She Loves Me (Set), Mary’s Wedding (Costume and Set), West Moon (Costume and Set), Little Shop of Horrors (Set and Props)(HAT), The Pillowman (Scenic Design, The Boardmore Theatre), Matilda the Musical (Costume design, Savoy Theatre)

KEN HEATON

(He/Him) Role: Lighting Designer Neptune: debut Other Theatre: My recent lighting designs include almost everything produced at the HAT since 2014. (HAT), Both Grease and Matilda (Savoy Theatre) Other: It is great to be back at the HAT!

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