Twenty-five years ago, sitting in my office at the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario, I listened to a cassette of something called Mom’s the Word. The black and white photo on the inset featured six women— each holding their index finger up to their lips. I listened to the tape and laughed out loud. I invited them to the Grand and fell in love. Together with the audiences, I laughed and cried every time I watched the show.
Four years later, Glynis Leyshon invited me to direct a production of The Music Man at the Vancouver Playhouse. I’m auditioning young boys for the role of Winthrop—Marion the Librarian’s little brother. As a sweet red-haired kid named Jeremiah Kennedy is singing, I become aware that the door to the room is slightly open, and two faces are stacked atop each other peering in. I suddenly recognize Deborah Williams…and then I realize that this is Jeremiah…the son she talked about in that first Mom’s show…and I just start crying…I can’t help it…it’s like a movie in my head coming to life.
The Moms have a long history with the Belfry from before my time and during it. I directed Deborah in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike—in which she was brilliant. She starred in her one-person play Taking Off, which she also wrote. And of course, she has brought The Flame and her storytelling workshops to the Belfry and Victoria and, now, the Island.
In 2018, I had the honour and the joy of directing the premier of Forget About Tomorrow—Jill Daum’s play about her amazing husband John Mann and his descent into Alzheimer’s. That production started here at the Belfry, and then transferred to the Arts Club in Vancouver. It is one of my favourite directing experiences ever.
Forget About Tomorrow was designed by the ever-brilliant Pam Johnson—who is blessedly both the designer and the director of this production of Mom’s the Word: Talkin’ Turkey—as she was for that very first incarnation of Mom’s the Word—the one on that cassette with the black and white photo.
Welcome back you five fabulous mothers—and writers and actors and humans—!
And Happy 30th Anniversary—!
I love you to pieces—!
(P.S. Jeremiah got the part in The Music Man—and he was wonderful—!)
p l Ayw RI g HTS ’ nOTES
Thirty-one years ago, we got together as a group of young moms, desperate for our experiences to be shared and our voices to be heard. Since then, our shows include Mom’s the Word, Mom’s the Word 2: Unhinged, Mom’s the Word: Remixed, a combo of 1 and 2, Mom’s the Word: Nest 1⁄2 Empty, and Mom’s the Word: Talkin’ Turkey. The scripts have been translated into 10 languages and played in over 19 countries, including a run in London’s West End: Just for Laughs/Montreal and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Over two million people have experienced MTW. It has united parents through laughter and tears around the globe. We are delighted to be coming home to the Belfry and grateful to our favourite son, Michael Shamata, for his unwavering belief in us and support over the last three decades.
Mom’s the Word: Talkin’ Turkey tackles this wonderfully dangerous time of the year, because no matter what kind of family you’re from, Christmas is a ride. And, if we’re honest, it’s Mom who usually finds the mittens, packs the hot chocolate, and hauls the sled up the hill. No matter how you feel about the season, we invite you to tuck your napkin under your chin, raise a glass, and join us for a merry time at the table!
The Mom’s the Word Collective: Jill Daum, Alison Kelly, Robin Nichol, Barbara Pollard & Deborah Williams.
deb
Williams
Deb Williams is an award-winning actor, playwright, director, and comedian with 40 years of experience. She premiered her one person show Taking Off at the Belfry in 2016 and was also seen as Sonia in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. As co-founder and Artistic Producer of The Flame, Vancouver’s and Victoria’s premier storytelling event, she’s been teaching at the Belfry for 10 years and recently added Pacific Opera and William Head Correctional Institution to the list. She inspires audiences and has coached over 1,000 storytellers, fostering diverse voices and community celebrations.
Collen Winton Standby / Dance Captain Eons ago, Colleen performed and choreographed in The Belfry’s Come Rain or Come Shine. She’s thrilled to be back, this time in her third year as “Surrogate Mom.” In 45+ years as actor/director/ singer/choreographer she’s been from Charlottetown, Shaw and Stratford Festivals to Arts Club, NAC, and Citadel, playing everything from Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy and Dolly in Hello, Dolly! to Levene in Glengarry Glen Ross and received Jessie and Ovation awards for her Mrs. Lovett in the acclaimed site-specific Sweeney Todd. Recent favourites include The Maid in Don Pasquale at the VOA and the COC, and Dotty in Noises Off at the Arts Club. Film/TV includes Family Law, Lost in Space, Van Helsing and a host of Hallmark.
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C REATI v E T EAM
pam Johnson Director / Set Designer
Pam is thrilled to be back at the Belfry as she has been designing or directing at the Belfry since 1989. As the original designer Pam has been part of the Mom’s gang since its conception. She continues to be in awe of these talented women, and the magic they have created for 30 years. Pam’s career has spanned 44 years, with such companies as Pacific Opera, Shaw Festival, Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera, Vancouver Playhouse, Studio 58, and Arts Club, just to name a few. Bard on the Beach has been Pam’s mainstay for the past 24 years designing such successful shows as last season’s Twelfth Night, Hamlet, and the hit touring show As You Like It. She wishes you all the Joy of the Season, no matter how crazy it may be!
barbara Clayden Costume Designer
Barbara Clayden has been designing costumes for over 45 years, working with both small and large theatre companies in Vancouver, including Western Gold, Theatre Replacement, Arts Club and Bard on the Beach. Selected works in the last few years include Bard on the Beach: Lysistrata 2018, Coriolanus 2019, Hamlet 2024 Arts Club Theatre: Kinky Boots 2021, Jersey Boys 2024 Theatre Replacement: East Van Panto 2018–20. She has been nominated for over 15 Jessie Richardson Awards and won eight for Outstanding Costume Design. Barbara holds a BA in Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia.
Hina nishioka (she/her) Lighting Designer
Hina is a lighting designer for live entertainment and events based in lower mainland of BC (the ancestral and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples). She is thrilled to be back for her second show at the Belfry Theatre after A Wonderhead’s Christmas Carol (2023). Her selected lighting design credits include Comedy of Errors, Measure for Measure (Bard on the Beach), Hurricane Mona (Touchstone Theatre/Ruby Slippers Theatre), Yaga (Touchstone Theatre). As an assistant lighting designer, she has worked at the companies such as Bard on the Beach and Vancouver Opera. She holds a BFA in theatre from University of Victoria. More information about her work is found at her website hinalighting.com.
Candelario andrade Projection / Sound
Cande is a video editor and media designer based in Vancouver. Recent theatre design credits include: Empty Handed (Biting School); Eyes of The Beast (Neworld/UVIC); You used to call me Marie (NAC/Savage Society); Women of the Fur Trade (NAC, Native Earth, GCTC); Little Red and His Lawyer (Savage Society/Belfry/NAC); for the Belfry Theatre, he had the pleasure to design projections for Forget About Tomorrow and Griffin and Sabine, and edited the Belfry’s streaming productions in the 2021–2022 season: BEING HERE: The Refugee Project; Taking Shakespeare; and Same Old, Same Old.
Mishelle Cuttler Musical Director
Mishelle is a composer, musician, and sound designer whose work is centered around the integration of music, sound, and storytelling. Her art spans across theatrical, musical, audio installation, and interdisciplinary practices. Some favourite recent projects include East Van Panto: Robin Hood (Theatre Replacement), Hedda Gabler (Stratford Festival); The Seventh Fire (Delinquent Theatre/Neworld Theatre); and Made in Canada: an agricultural song cycle (rice & beans theatre). Next up: Beauty and the Beast: My Life (Niall McNeil Productions).
Caryn fehr Stage Manager
Always happy to return to the wonderful Belfry Theatre, Caryn has previously stage managed As Above, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Same Old Same Old, Forget About Tomorrow, The Valley, Best Brothers, How To Disappear Completely and Proud. Other recent credits include Ring of Fire, Mom’s the Word: Talkin’ Turkey, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Buffoon, The Shoplifters, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Once and The Waiting Room with the Arts Club Theatre Company and Yellow Fever with the Firehall Arts Centre. During her almost 40-year career, she has toured with productions throughout Canada and to Ireland and has also worked with The Vancouver Playhouse, New Play Centre, Touchstone Theatre, Axis Theatre, Carousel Theatre and the Fringe Festival. Caryn is a recipient of the Mary Phillips Prize, a Jessie award for behindthe-scenes achievement.
becca Jorgensen Assistant Stage Manager
Becca has spent nine seasons with the Belfry, starting with the 2016 Spark Festival where she began her professional theatre career. Since then, she has made theatre here at the Belfry and across Canada including productions with The Shaw Festival, The National Arts Centre Indigenous Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Savage Society, Pacific Opera Victoria, The Arts Club Theatre Company, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People, The Wonderheads, Open Pit Theatre, and many more. Becca is a graduate of the University of Victoria (BFA Theatre Production and Management), a marathoner, cricket player, and an auntie. She is most proud of her dog, Larry.
smartphones, Cameras, and recording d evices
The use of cameras, smartphones or audio/visual recording equipment is prohibited. Please turn off all personal electronic devices prior to the performance. If you need to be contacted in an emergency, please leave your name and seat number with our House Manager.
latecomers and re-admission
The Director of each production designates moments in the show when the seating of latecomers will cause the least distraction for actors and audience members. Should you leave the theatre, our House Manager will not be able to reseat you until one of these breaks and may not be able to return you to your original seat, but you can watch the performance on the monitor in our lobby.
perfume and Cologne
Please refrain from using perfume and cologne when you come to the theatre. Some of our patrons are highly allergic to scents.
food and drinks
Only food or drinks that you purchase at the concession are permitted in the theatre.
lost and found
Please check with our House Manager if you have lost an item in the theatre.
lobby Touchscreen
The TV monitor in our lobby is a touchscreen device. By touching the screen, you can delve deeper into each production, learn about the artists who created the show, and much more.
babes in arms
The Belfry is proud to produce adult contemporary theatre. Most of our productions are not suitable for young children. Sorry, we do not admit babes in arms.
a CC essible perfor M an C es
Hearing assist
For patrons who are hard of hearing, the theatre is equipped with both an infrared hearing assist system and a neck loop system. We have twelve devices of each of the systems available through the Box Office.
Au DIE n CE In FORMATIO n
Photo credit: Michelle Bardach, model.
Photo by Matt Barnes
Belfry Theatre Staff
Hannah Abbey Venue Technician
Bill Allen Box Office Clerk
Castor Angus Box Office Clerk
Alison Bendall FOH Supervisor & Box Office Clerk
Jane Broomfield Administrative Assistant
Helena Descoteau Box Office Supervisor
Mark Dusseault Director of Marketing & Communications
Linda Findlay Head of Wardrobe
Mike Ford Director of Production & Operations
Ian Gibson Audience Services Manager
Keith Houghton Head Technician & Systems Administrator
Valerie Houle Producer
Nora Kidston Front of House Manager
Carole Klemm Head Scenic Artist
Jeff Kulak Graphic Designer
Jeremy MacLeod Technical Director
Peter Pokorny Head of Props & Scenic Carpenter
Dale Pudwell Master Carpenter
Elena Rozenberg Director of Finance
Michael Shamata Artistic Director
Susan Stevenson Director of Development
Isaac Thomas Executive Director
Cian Waldron Box Office Clerk
Deborah Williams Associate Artist & Flame Facilitator
Golnaz Zad Box Office Supervisor
belfry suppor T s T aff
CLEANERS Green Wheel Cleaners
B4Play Hosts Gregor Craigie & Jason D’Souza
B4Play Technician Aidan Dunsmuir
Photographers David Cooper, Emily Cooper, Jo-Ann Richards, Peter Pokorny & Don Craig
Belfry 101 Instructors Dave Morris & Nicole Malcolm
belfry Theatre 1291 Gladstone Avenue Victoria, British Columbia V8T 1G5 250-385-6815 Box Office 250-385-6835 Administration belfry.bc.ca
Charitable registration number 11921 5549 RR0001
The Belfry Theatre is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, and the Professional Arts Alliance of Greater Victoria.
program advertising
Bonnie Light promote@bonnielightadvertising.com or 250-388-5321
program design and production Rhonda Ganz
Belfry legacy Circle Members
gloria & Ian Back+
lynne Bain & Robert Moyes
Dr. perry & the late Annamaria Bamji+
Richard Brownsey & glynis leyshon
Jane Francis & Dave Skilling
Barbara greeniaus & Bill Israel
Bruce & Barbara Housser
Judi James
John & Anne Keay
Robert & Ann Myers
Joan peggs
Cindy petrowski & phil Marsh
Ronald & Juliana polstein+
Ross Richardson
Diane Scott
Michael Shamata
Dianne Soberlak
The lee & Karl Soberlak Foundation
John & Suzanne Stewart
Judy Stewart
Julie & John Richard Swenson
Frances Taylor
Avril & the late Bob Tyrrell
lesley watson & Evert lindquist
plus, a further nine anonymous members + Through the Victoria Foundation
We invite you to join the Belfry Legacy Circle by making a planned gift or bequest. The support of visionary philanthropy ensures that the Belfry will continue to flourish. Consult your professional advisors about the many forms through which you can achieve tax advantages of charitable donations and bequests.
C ONTACT :
susan stevenson, director of development 250-385-6835 ext. 229 or susan.stevenson@belfry.bc.ca
Belfry legacy Circle Sponsor
legacy gifts
The Belfry acknowledges the generous recent and past gifts from the estates of:
violet Armstrong
Helena Balczewska
Roger J. Bishop
Shirley Mae Dawson
Marguerite Kathleen Friesen
David neil lee
Maria luisa Macrae
M. grace Mersereau
Margaret Seens
Edith Stuart
Alan geoffrey white
garfield (gary) Delbert withers
Anonymous
Donations in Memoriam
In Memory of Judy Barteluk
In Memory of william J.C. Bennett
In Memory of nadine Carline
In Memory of Shelley Deglan
In Memory of Bishop Kemp
In Memory of Jean Elizabeth Kõdar
In Memory of Jeremy long
In Memory of Duncan low
In Memory of grace Mersereau
In Memory of Marya nijland
In Memory of Ronald Adam polstein
In Memory of lillian Rabb
In Honour of Dr. warren Stevenson from Ian Chunn & Susan Reaney
