A Christmas Story Show Program

By

Jean Shepherd

Josh W. David Cooper Photography

James A Glen Design

Adapted by

Philip Grecian

NOV 18 - DEC 31 2016

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S E A S O N Mark DuMez Artistic Director

Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story, 1983 Turner Entertainment Co. distributed by Warner Bros. Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark; and based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd VA N C O U V E R

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Presented with the generous assistance of

Wendy Oppelt Nov 18 - Dec 31

Plus a great selection of local pottery, glass, textiles, giftware, jewellery and more.

Visit The Gallery Gift Shop during Intermission.

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Pantone 3125 C

By

Jean Shepherd

Adapted by Philip Director Set Designer Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager

CAST

SETTING Hohman, Indiana, 1938 INTERMISSION There will be one 20-minute intermission.

Mother Ralph The Old Man Miss Shields Schwartz Helen Weathers Flick Esther Jane Alberry Ralphie Parker Scut Farkas Randy

Grecian

Ian Farthing

Carolyn Rapanos Laurin Kelsey Ben Burrow Brian Linds Liz King Claire Friedrich Sarah Carlé Brian Linds Stephen Sparks Melissa Young Zebastin Borjeau Isabel McGregor Simon Minkow Olivia Robinson Brin Slydell Ben Williams Joshua Williams

Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story, 1983 Turner Entertainment Co. distributed by Warner Bros. Written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark; and based on the book In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

The Chemainus Theatre Festival engages, under the terms of the Independent Theatre Agreement, professional Artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Chemainus Theatre Festival acknowledges the support of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and its members.

Produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois.

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Holiday Fun Gift giving is easy with our Gift Certificates!

Planning a Staff Party, Family Gathering or Christmas Getaway?

Call now to book your group!

special discounts for groups of 10 or more

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MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR RANDAL HUBER

We’ve now announced our thrilling 25th Anniversary Season line-up, and Artistic Director Mark DuMez has selected a brilliant season to celebrate this special milestone. From Jane Austin’s epic Pride & Prejudice to Rock Legends: The Sequel to Twist & Shout, 2017 will bring a diverse range of incredible theatrical experiences that you won’t want to miss.

Season tickets are now on sale and will ensure that you get first access to the best seats at the very best price. You will also get first chance at seats for any performances added to blockbuster sell-out runs, like we did with last year’s Twist & Shout and Elf: The Musical.

During wintermission, please pop by our Scut Farkas Auction Extravaganza in the upper lobby, featuring a selection of excursions and adventures all jostling and vying to be that perfect Christmas treat for someone special. A portion of funds raised will be used to send Mr. Farkas to manner school.

As the curtain lifts on the Parker household and the final production of this 2016 season, thank you for being an amazing audience this year. May you all receive the Red Ryder BB gun of your dreams for Christmas, or a leg lamp.

“we’ve now announced our thrilling 25th anniversary season”

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MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARK DUMEZ

We’ve had a great 2016 season at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, and are pleased to wrap up the year with this holiday chestnut featuring performances from dedicated youth of Vancouver Island and a bunch of fun loving adults from all over. The story is a wonderful and wry look at the promise of the holidays through the eyes of a child. Beyond the ribbons and bows though, this is a family full of love and care, a story of friendships that form foundations, and a longing which echoes that of the great gifts of Christmas.

“join us for our 25th anniversary season”

I have been thankful this year to celebrate many great stories and moments with engaged and exploring artists and audiences.

Together, we’ve had a great time. I hope you will join us for our 25th Anniversary Season in 2017 - a year where we’ve reached a fantastic milestone together – with many more ahead. A hearty year! Thank you for gathering with us, for celebrating story and for exploring and nourishing the human spirt in this special place!

Open Tuesday - Saturday 3-9739 Willow Street, Chemainus, BC

250-324-0362

Offering a traditional Barbershop experience

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DIRECTOR’S NOTES IAN FARTHING

Christmas is a time for stories.

I suspect everyone has a supply of nostalgic memories and traditions from the holiday season, which become family stories to be passed down from generation to generation.

“family stories to be passed down from generation to generation”

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A Christmas Story is one of America’s best-loved Christmas tales and as with all the best ones, we love to hear it told again and again. I hope that whether you are watching a story that you know well, or whether you are visiting it for the first time, you will come away with a sense of warmth in your heart and a smile on your face.

And of course, Christmas is the time when we revisit one of the greatest stories of them all – that of a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem. The message brought by that baby as He grew up into a man was one of love, acceptance, forgiveness and justice and is as relevant today as it ever was.

Merry Christmas!

IAN FARTHING Director Ian has previously worked at Chemainus Theatre Festival as a director on Jeeves Intervenes, and as an actor in A Christmas Carol and Jeeves in Bloom. Other work as a director includes: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Ottawa); Frost/Nixon (Ensemble Theatre, Vancouver); Macbeth, Othello, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Maid for a Musket and others (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival). In 2014, Ian was awarded the Capital Critics Circle Award for Excellence for his time at SLSF.

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ZEBASTIN BORJEAU Schwartz With his very first word being guitar, one would assume Zebastin was bound for the stage. Thrilled to be making his debut at Chemanius Theatre, Zebastin was cast in three plays all at the same time and chose A Christmas Story to be part of. As well as acting, Zebastin loves to sing, dance – especially tap – and play the piano. One could say that Zebastin was born into the biz, since his parents met filming a commercial together.

BEN BURROW Lighting Designer Having trained at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Ben is now a resident of Canada and continuing his life work in lighting. He is thrilled to be collaborating with the Chemanius Theatre for the first time. Recent credits include: Lighting Design - A Castle in the Sky (Belfry Theatre), Assistant Lighting Designer - A Christmas Carol and Speed-The-Plow (Belfry Theatre).

SARAH CARLÉ Mother Sarah is elated to return to Chemainus Theatre Festival for Christmas! Chemainus shows: Footloose, Elf, Les Misérables, The Buddy Holly Story, The Gifts of The Magi & Steel Magnolias.

Other credits: Shop Talk (Theatre SKAM); Into The Woods (CCPA); Les Misérables (Arts Club); Little Shop of Horrors (Blue Bridge); Nevermore (Urban Arts); Sweeney Todd, Songs for a New World and Falsettos (GGG). She is a Jessie nominee and a proud Artistic Associate with Gotta Getta Gimmick.

CLAIRE FRIEDRICH Assistant Stage Manager Claire is thrilled to be spending another Christmas in Chemainus!

Claire enjoys splitting her time between opera and theatre and recent credits include: La Bohème (Burnaby Lyric Opera), Billy Elliot (Arts Club), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lucia di Lammermoor (POV), Carmen (EOA), Rigoletto (VOA) and Elf: The Musical, The Mousetrap & Waiting for the Parade (CTF).

Claire holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Victoria.

Thanks to Nathan for his unwavering support.

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LAURIN KELSEY Costume Designer Laurin Kelsey obtained her BFA in Set & Costume Design from the University of Victoria and attended the National Theatre School of Canada. Laurin has worked in Germany, Czech Republic, and Canada on over 50 productions in both theatre and film.

Recent credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest (Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Chemainus Theatre Festival), and The Mousetrap (Chemainus Theatre Festival). www.laurinkelsey.ca

LIZ KING Stage Manager Liz is technically based in Saskatoon but considers Chemainus her theatre home. This is her sixth show with Chemainus Theatre Festival most recently having ASM’d Footloose. Other select credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Globe Theatre), Trout Stanley (Persephone Theatre), and Pericles (Stratford). Outside of the theatre Liz is an avid cross-stitcher and London Fog connoisseur. Upcoming: The Last Wife (Globe Theatre), Hand to God (Arts Club). For Nathan and Riley always.

BRIAN LINDS Sound Designer / Ralph For Chemainus Theatre Festival: Hilda’s Yard, Jeeves Intervenes, Delicious Lies, Harvest, Arsenic and Old Lace, Barefoot In the Park. Others: Waiting for Godot, Brighton Beach Memoir, Of Mice and Men (Blue Bridge), A Christmas Carol ,The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Belfry), August: Osage County, The Patron Saint Of Stanley Park, It’s A Wonderful Life (Arts Club). His original sound-performance Reverberations, will be presented at the 2017 SPARK Festival (Belfry).

ISABEL McGREGOR Helen Weathers Isabel is a grade 7 student at Ladysmith Intermediate School.

She loves participating in the fine arts program, especially the Christmas concerts. She couldn’t be more excited and grateful for this amazing opportunity. Isabel has enjoyed many productions here at the Chemainus Theatre, and got a small taste of being on stage while participating in theatre camp. She enjoys dancing, family & friends and all things social media.

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SIMON MINKOW Flick Simon rekindled his love of theatre this summer during the Chemainus Theatre Summer Camp, playing Willard in Footloose. He is an avid soccer player, photographer, skier, reader, runner and builder of bike jumps in the backyard. He is a grade 7 student at École Mt. Prevost in Duncan, and is excited for his friends to come see him perform.

CAROLYN RAPANOS Set Designer Carolyn Rapanos is a set designer, based in Vancouver, BC, and is thrilled to be designing at Chemainus for her first time!

Recent designs include: Sunset Limited, An Inspector Calls (Rosebud Theatre), Cabaret (Capilano University), and Common Grace (Pacific Theare). She has received multiple Jessie and Ovation award nominations and a design ensemble Jessie award for TYA for her work in Jack and the Bean (Presentation House). www.carolynrapanos.ca

OLIVIA ROBINSON Esther Jane Alberry Olivia is extremely proud to join the cast of A Christmas Story.

When she’s not performing on stage, Olivia’s passion is Russian Ballet. Olivia was recently cast in The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s The Nutcracker. She enjoys public speaking & placed first in the Hector MacIntosh Speech Competition, 2016 (‘being a tween’). Olivia lives in the Cowichan Valley with her family & cat Mr. Tipps. She would like to thank the producer for this opportunity!

BRIN SLYDELL Ralphie Parker Brin has been enjoying live theatre, from the audience, since the age of 5. Brin’s on stage performances began with Ècole Mt Prevost’s choir during renditions of Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King. Brin was recently Rev. Shaw Moore in the Chemainus Theatre Camp’s performance of Footloose.

Although this is Brin’s debut on a professional stage, it will not be his last! When Brin is not being dramatic he can be found reading or playing soccer.

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STEPHEN SPARKS The Old Man Stephen was last seen on the Chemainus stage as the grumpy but lovable Dad in A Countryside Christmas (he senses a theme here). Stephen has worked across Canada in over 100 productions. He lives in Toronto but while here he’ll be staying with his dear stepmother, a proud Chemainian...Chemainer?

Chemainite?... She lives here. Up next he’ll be playing the great Sherlock Holmes at Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover Ontario.

With love to Shelley.

BEN WILLIAMS Scut Farkas Ben is super pumped to be a part of his third Christmas Production here at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. He is also enjoying his first opportunity to be working with his younger brother, Josh. When not at the theatre Ben likes to eat, play soccer, spend time on the ocean, eat, shoot archery and eat.

Ben would like to thank his family for their support.

JOSHUA WILLIAMS Randy Josh is thrilled to be preforming alongside his big brother in his debut on the Chemainus Theatre stage. Josh is a student at Maple Bay Elementary school and an energetic member of the Cowichan Valley soccer program. Josh has an active imagination which allows him to create many masterpieces using both the artistic mediums of Lego and sticks.

MELISSA YOUNG Miss Shields Melissa is thrilled to be back at Chemainus Theatre Festival where she got her start 13 years ago. As an actor and choreographer Melissa has worked with The Arts Club, Carousel Theatre, Bard on the Beach, Western Canada Theatre, Gateway Theatre, and Pacific Theatre. Melissa holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre from SOU, and recently studied with the SITI Company in NYC. She is the director of the Theatre Program at Royal Bay.

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951 A Canada Avenue Duncan (250) 748-4847

Cowichan Commons (250) 715-1599

Thanks for being part of our “Christmas Story” The final show of the Festival’s Season always stands apart. It’s not that the artistry and entertainment value differ from any other production; our teams are always giving you their greatest. The specialness comes from the holiday spirit and feeling of anticipation we all share.

through his older, perhaps wiser, narration, how hope can lead us in many interesting directions.

The play is an adaptation of the award winning 1983 film – derived from the short stories and semi-fictional anecdotes of author Jean Shepherd (published in his book In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash Looking forward to what’s coming is (1966). Having deep resonance in North an exciting part of coming to the end American culture, the story is considered of a season. At the same time, we are comforted by the nostalgia of looking back. a holiday classic with a message: no matter how crazy the path our personal At the Festival, we have fond memories from nearly 25 years of holiday productions, wishes lead us, in the end we find happiness from the caring of others. all of which start with the same wish – to share a theatrical moment you’ll cherish Our greatest wish is to share inspiring with us. theatre with you, and we thank you for This year, that wishful quality of Christmas being part of this memorable chapter in our own “Christmas Story.” Enjoy is at the heart of our comedic play, A Christmas Story. Turning back the pages to your festivities, and we hope you’ll 1938, we will see young Ralphie’s attempts continue to celebrate with us in 2017 as we mark 25 years of outstanding to convince his parents, his teacher, and Festival performances!

Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect Christmas gift – and hear

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THANK YOU to the following sponsors for supporting the arts in our community.

LEAD SPONSORS The Kensington Parkwood Place Parkwood Court

CO–SPONSORS

The Kensington Parkwood Place Parkwood Court

SUPPORTING ROLE

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CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAL STAFF House Technician Executive Sous Chef Production Coordinator Accounting Education Coord/ Artistic Assoc Accountant Wardrobe Lead Hand Assistant Carpenter Artistic Director Marketing Assistant Head of Wardrobe Scenic Painter Executive Chef Managing Director Sponsorship & Advertising Facilities & IT Manager Production Manager Front of House Manager Development Assistant Bookkeeper Head Carpenter Gallery Manager Group Booking Coordinator Facilities Assistant Box Office Manager Head Ticket Agent Technical Director Marketing & Sales Director Head of Props Asst Hospitality Manager

Nick Barrett* Valerie Butler* Victoria Caldwell* Diana Carter Andrea Cross Eric Douglas Mary Downes* Steve Draper Mark DuMez* Leah Flagg Crystal Hanson* Jennifer Hedge Stephen Hewson* Randal Huber* Marlie Kelsey Damion Knight* Nicole Lamb* Johnny Lee* Amanda Lutner* Anita McCallum* James O’Leary* Lorna Rivard* Karen Sharanowski* Don Smyth* Andrea Starr* Cindy Thomson* Nicholas Timmenga* Michelle Vogelgesang* Bibi Wallace Terry Williams*

Front of House Coordinators: Claire Friedrich, Rachel Peppler, Mya Wilson Maintenance: JoHannah Knight, Pat McDonald, Mikaella Payne Ticket Agents: Alison Bendall, Sandra Dawson, Sarah Finch, Carla Harman, Christine Lautsch, Dale Lehmann Gallery Assistants: Amy Ankersmit, Carra Christy, Susan Lumholst-Smith, Louise Squires, Colleen Wike *Denotes full time employee. Others are part time, casual or contract employees.

Playbill Staff: Paul Bernard, Barry Bissonnette, Judith Buckley, Bruce Budd, Ashton Butler, Janie Dyson, Eli Eckert-Johnson, Tristan Griffiths, Madeline Hayton, Heather Irwin, Mikhayla Knott, Jaydan Lafointaine, Jordan Marchtaler, Pat McDonald, Clayton McKelvie, Kelly McPherson, Cassandra Scott*, Kailie Shelton, Jake Slee, Mitchell Stevens-Brochert, Brittany Stubbington, Kathleen Wasbrick, Richard Webb, Kim Williams Playbill Pianists: Bernadette Brown, Dave Lieffertz, Dwight Siemens Volunteer Seamstresses: Louise Adamson, Susan Cole, Norma Dirom Carpenters: Daniel Deener, Colin Mann, Natasha Salway, Mya Wilson, Sue York, Yong Shian Sam Lighting Crew: Jethro Allen-Martin, Liz Kraft, Jason Pouliot, Aislinn Shotton

VOLUNTEER BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHEMAINUS THEATRE FESTIVAL SOCIETY

Chair Pat Moore - Ladysmith, BC Vice Chair Tim Erickson - Honeymoon Bay, BC Treasurer Maria Ridewood - Duncan, BC

CHEMAINUS THEATRE FOUNDATION Chair David Pink - Duncan, BC Vice Chair Mike Skene - Cobble Hill, BC Treasurer Maria Ridewood - Duncan, BC

Directors

Irma Anderson - Duncan, BC Kerry McIntyre - Ladysmith, BC Larry Myhre - Cobble Hill, BC

Founders

LaVerne Erickson - Rosebud, AB Ken Smith - Vancouver, BC

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Gentle Reminders PHOTOGRAPHY - The use of cameras, video equipment and other recording equipment is prohibited in the theatre.

HEARING SERVICES - Audio assistance for the hearing impaired is available from the coat check 15 minutes to curtain.

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PRIDE & PREJUDICE

By Jane Austen Adapted by Janet Munsil

FEB 17 - MAR 25

2 PIANOS 4 HANDS

Written by Ted Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt

APR 6 - MAY 14

ROCK LEGENDS

THE SEQUEL TO TWIST & SHOUT

Conceived and Directed by Alex Mustakas Orchestrations and Vocal Arrangements by Robert Foster

JUN 2 - AUG 26

JEEVES TAKES A BOW

SEASOTNS TICKE LE ON SA !

NOW

Adapted by Margaret Raether From the Stories of P.G. Wodehouse

SEP 8 - 30

SILENT SKY

By Lauren Gunderson

OCT 13 - NOV 4

Cornwalls’ all-inclusive cancun christmas

By Nicolle Nattrass and Mark DuMez

NOV 17 - DEC 31

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