FTA Board of Directors Al Parsons, President Sam Jenkins, Vice President Ed Picard, Secretary Dwight Sarabin, Treasurer Rev. Thomas Brauer Laurie Fumagalli-Ryan Donna Lemieux Hillary McMeekin
MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
FTA Staff Julian Mayne, Executive Director Noree Claerhout, Resource Development Manager
Theatre for young audiences is steeped in the
mythology of Fringe Theatre Adventures. In our 30-year history, family theatre has been at the kernel of what we do and who we are. This year’s Family Adventure Series is no exception, and music is the common, magic thread which ties each of our fantastic presentations together. Whether you bring one kid or 30, a season with us is a great way to travel to worlds beyond our own, as well as deep into our own community. Experience the adventure that is Fringe Theatre. Enjoy!
Mike Ford, Operations Director Vince Gasparri, Development Director Lauren Kinney, Event Services Manager Darcy Lipsey, Box Office Manager Jacqueline MacPherson, Technical Director Chris Kavanagh, House Technician Leanne Millar, Accounting Manager Gerald Osborn, Office Manager Thomas Scott, Program Director
Program Director
Bottom Line Productions, Marketing & Communications
Contact us Fringe Theatre Adventures 10330 84 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 2G9 (780) 409-1910 www.fringetheatre.ca
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Background Fringe Theatre Adventures is dedicated to the creation of theatre that challenges and celebrates the cultural fabric of our communities, and provides a home for developing new and emerging artists, audiences and forums.
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December 3 - 12
Cast & Crew
Administration
Artistic Directors Tour Coordinator
Writing Team
Adapted by Music by
Farren Timoteo and Jeff Unger Leslea Kroll Garner Butler, Farren Timoteo and Jeff Unger Jeff Unger
Production & Design Team
Director Musical Director Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Production Manager Stage Manager
Farren Timoteo Jeff Unger Bryan Pollock Deanna Finnman Daniela Masellis Adam Turnbull Naomi Lagerweij
Cast
Musician Jack Mother/ Various Ensemble The Giant/ Various Ensemble
Jeff Unger Joel Crichton Tatyana Rac Tyler Girard
Board of Directors
President Secretary/Treasurer Directors
Larry Payne Ryan Parker Amanda Neufeld Arlene Woo
Synopsis Jack and his Mother struggle to make ends meet when they are unable to sell their one and only cow at the market. But, after Jack has an unexpected encounter with a mysterious merchant, their fortune is forever changed as Jack is whisked away on an epic journey. He dangles from a monstrous beanstalk miles from the ground, discovers vast riches in an enormous castle above the clouds and befriends a giant! However, when he’s faced with the opportunity to steal the giant’s gold, Jack is forced to make a difficult decision that tests his courage.
A Message from the Artistic Directors Fairy tales have long been a foremost source of vivid and imaginative ideas. From houses made of candy to Fairy Godmothers, the vast canon of colorful and inspired images conjured in these stories leave an indelible impression on the young and old alike. As artists it is always a thrilling journey to jump head first into bringing these stories to life and there may be no greater challenge and thrill than Jack and the Beanstalk. The magnitude of Jack’s quest into the clouds and the fantastical universe he encounters are unparalleled and have been the utmost joy to imagine and create. We hope you enjoy Jack’s adventure and wish you the grandest journey by his side! Farren Timoteo and Jeff Unger Artistic Directors, Alberta Opera
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Farren Timoteo – Artistic Director/Director
Biographies
Having made his directing debut with a Fringe production of Songs for a New World in 2004, Farren became the Artistic Director of Alberta Opera in 2005. He subsequently directed The Frog Prince, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel, the latter two of which he also co-authored. Other directing credits include Be Arthurs: Reunion Tour (Fringe ’08); Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story (Mayfield Dinner Theatre); Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s and, most recently, The Infinite Shiver (Teatro La Quindicina). Last season, Farren, alongside composer extraordinaire Ryan Sigurdson, received a Sterling Award for Outstanding Score of a Play or Musical for Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s, to which he contributed the lyrics. In addition, his direction for Hansel and Gretel was nominated for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences. Farren would like to dedicate his work on this production to another adventurous young boy that he knows: His brand new son, Leonardo.
Jeff Unger – Artistic Director/Musical Director/Accompanist This season marks Jeff’s 17th consecutive year as musical director for Alberta Opera. During this time he has watched the company grow into a major force in Alberta touring and one of Edmonton’s important theatrical voices. Past productions include: Cinderella, The Frog Prince, Rapunzel, Puss in Boots, The Red Shoes, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and Hansel and Gretel. Along with collaborators Garner Butler and Farren Timoteo, Jeff has co-authored and composed music for 12 fairy tale “pocket musicals.” Jeff’s work has been recognized by the Elizabeth Sterling Awards on many occasions, acquiring nominations for Outstanding Musical Director for The Frog Prince, Outstanding Artistic Achievement in Theatre for Young Audiences for the Composition of Hansel and Gretel and collected several in Outstanding Production for Young Audiences for his collaborations.
Naomi Lagerweij – Stage Manager Naomi Lagerweij (Nonnie) is a born and bred theatre brat from here in Edmonton. She graduated from the BFA Stage Management program at the University of Alberta this spring. Recent projects include stage managing Concrete Theatre’s Under Cover, which toured local high schools this fall. She also worked as both an assistant stage manager (2010) and apprentice stage manager (2009) for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival. Opera experience includes apprentice stage managing for the Edmonton Opera’s production of Daughter of the Regiment and stage managing Die Fledermaus for Opera Nuova in 2008. Her next excitement will be apprentice stage managing for The Citadel’s production of August: Osage County.
Joel Crichton – Jack Joel is an Edmonton based actor who holds a certificate, diploma, and degree in acting from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Red Deer College, and the University of Alberta, respectively. Past credits include: Death: LIVE!, El Dorado (Surreal SoReal Theatre); Redbird, Stillborn (Downstage Theatre); Old Wicked Songs (Concentration Co-Op); Assassins, Major Barbara (Studio Theatre); and tick, tick...BOOM! (IgnitionTheatre). He is also the voice of Diego in the new animated series Scan2Go. Also a playwright and musician, he recently served as composer for Equus at the University of Alberta. You can listen to some of his work as a singer/songwriter on MySpace and on Twitter, @jachrichton.
Tyler Girard – The Strange Merchant/The Giant Tyler is a recent graduate of MacEwan University’s Theatre Arts Program and is excited to be bursting into the theatre scene with Alberta Opera’s Jack and the Beanstalk. Tyler has played a variety of roles in the past few years, some of which include George Musgrove in Cy Coleman’s Little Me, The American Admiral in Stephen Sondheim’s Pacific Overtures, and the evil stepmother in RibbitREublic’s production of Grimmer than Grimmer than Grim. Tyler has had the great fortune of working with incredible people like Kenneth Brown, Janet Nichol, Cindy Kerr and Bridget Ryan. He is very thankful to have had the opportunity to study under Tim Ryan and would like to thank Tim. Tyler is looking forward to working with such a talented cast and crew.
Tatyana Rac – Mother/Ensemble
Tatyana is a recent graduate of the BFA Acting program from the University of Alberta. Her acting credits include Death: LIVE! (Surreal SoReal); Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), The Good Woman of Setzuan, Spine (U of A Studio Theatre); The Changeling, Measure for Measure, Ring Round the Moon, By the Bog of Cats (University of Alberta). Her collaborative writing credits include Precursor with Governor General Award-winning playwright Kevin Kerr, Successor at the 2010 Kaleido Festival and Roast the Goose done at Edmonton’s NextFest Sololilequies. Tatyana’s very excited to be working with Alberta Opera this theatre season! 10 fringe theatre adventures
Jack & the Beanstalk Deanna Finnman – Costume Designer Last season Deanna’s costumes for Hansel and Gretel were nominated for a Sterling Award. She is thrilled to be back and working with such a creative and inspiring team. Recent costume design credits include The Pearl Fishers, Lakme, Emperor of Atlantis (Sterling Award Winner) and South Pacific (Sterling Award Winner), all for Edmonton Opera. She has also designed locally for several theatres including MacEwan University (A Winter’s Tale); Northern Light Theatre (The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband) and St. Albert Children’s Theatre (Cinderella, Wizard of Oz). Deanna also curated The Opera Coat Project, a wearable art exhibit featuring her own work and 21 contributing artists presented by the Alberta Craft Council.
Daniela Masellis – Lighting Designer Daniela Masellis is thrilled to be returning once again to work with the lovely and talented team at Alberta Opera. Daniela is an Edmonton based theatre designer and graduate of the U of A’s Theatre Design program. Recent credits include lighting design for last year’s production of Alberta Opera’s Hansel and Gretel; set and lighting for Shadow Theatre’s The Dazzle; lighting for Shadow’s The Science of Disconnection; lighting for the Citadel’s Young Company’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and While We’re Young; set and lighting for Teatro LaQuidicina’s Everybody Goes to Mitzi’s; and costume design for Workshop West’s The Seed Savers.
Bryan Pollock – Set Designer Bryan started life as an artist, and he continues in this pursuit in spite of his financial advisors. He studied art and life drawing in Winnipeg, California and (when his student visa ran out) Vancouver. He does love working in theatre because he gets to design really big things with other people’s money. Bryan’s hobbies include staying out of trouble while at sea and sneaking pictures of his friends while they’re not looking. He is excited to be working with Alberta Opera Musical Theatre for Young People.
Adam Tsuyoshi Turnbull – Production Manager Adam is a freelance theatre technician + designer, a multimedia + graphic designer, and is currently studying the cello. He likes bicycles, experimenting with user-interface design, and eating sushi. He grew up on a farm.
adventures in family theatre 11
Join us
as Edmonton Opera and Fringe Theatre Adventures take family fun to the Alberta Klondike!
February 17 - 26, 2011 Tickets on sale now
at the Fringe Theatre Box Office: www.fringetheatre.ca (780) 409-1910 | 10330 84 Avenue
12 fringe theatre adventures
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April 8 - 17, 2011
14 fringe theatre adventures
Cast & Crew Biographies Sylvain Dubois – acrobat/clarinet
Sylvain Dubois has been a traveling circus artist and bicycle acrobat for 15 years with a variety of companies, such as the Cirque Éloize. He has performed around the world, from Montreal to Sydney, Paris to Bogotá.
Eric Boudreault – drums
Eric Boudreault is a drummer from Alma who completed his studies in drumming at the Collège d’Alma and Concordia University. Eric has had the honour of working on the major production Cavalia and playing in front of an audience of more than 1.5 million people. He has also worked with many great musicians, the likes of Michel Cusson, John Patitucci, Alex Acuna, Ron Di lauro, Muhammed Adbul al-kabyyr, John Beasley, François d’Amour, and many others.
Andy Giroux – acrobat/equilibrist/Cyr wheel performer
Andy Giroux studied circus arts at the Moscow Circus School and Sweden’s University College of Dance. His specialties are balancing, acrobatics, and the Cyr wheel. A Quebecker through and through, Andy takes great pleasure in spoofing himself through his circus persona. He’s a genuine, down-to-earth guy with nice “colourful” language! Andy has been working for several years with companies in both Canada and Europe, including the troupe Huurjaruut in Helsinki, Finland (2005-2006). An accomplished street performer, he has also travelled extensively with his one-man show. In his free time, Andy works as a circus coach in Geneva, Switzerland.
Émile Carey – juggler/bass
For 13 years, Émile Carey has been presenting some of the finest juggling shows around. A graduate from the Montreal National Circus School, 2001, Émile combines a unique theatrical style with complex juggling techniques. His rhythmical juggling and his theatrical presence make him a charming, funny and captivating artist.
Patrick Mainville – guitars
A guitarist with more than 20 years’ experience, Patrick studied at the Avatra School of Music and also took private lessons from Léonardo DeLuca, Christian Malette and François Larouche.
Simon Nadeau – acrobat/ladder/Chinese pole
Simon Nadeau studied circus arts at Montreal’s National Circus School (École nationale de cirque) from 2005 to 2009. He developed his art in the same way one learns to walk: with a lot of falling down and one step at a time. Or maybe it would be more fitting to say “one rung at a time,” since his specialty is the ladder: a cold-hearted metallic apparatus that won’t let just anybody climb it.
adventures in family theatre 15
upcoming events Adventures in Fringe Theatre: Mozart: Ze Komplete Hystery
January 20 – 30, 2011 Comedian and musician Rainer Hersch brings an hilarious Wolfgang Amadeus back from the dead.
An Evening with Uncle Val
March 3 – 13, 2011 Legendary comic actor Andy Jones plays the riotously sarcastic Uncle Val, a retired fisherman searching for the meaning of life in the ‘big city’ of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Adventures in Family Theatre: The Barber of Barrhead
February 17 – 26, 2011 Edmonton Opera & Fringe Theatre Adventures A family-friendly adaptation of The Barber of Seville, set in the Alberta Klondike.
Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival
August 11 – 21, 2011 | The 30th Anniversary Edition!
tickets on sale now $20 Adults • $18 Children 46 Circus Acts in 45 Minutes Saturday, January 29 2 pm & 7 pm Leo Lionni’s swimmy, Frederick & inch by inch Sunday, February 20 2 pm King Arthur’s Kitchen Sunday, March 27 2 pm Arden Theatre Box Office 780.459.1542
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