MTYP 2017-18 Season Brochure

This season is going to fly!

artistic director

Pablo Felices-Luna

mtyp•onstage 1 204.942.8898 mtyp.ca

LAST SEASON@MTYP “You might not die if you don’t get your Alligator Pie, but you will be missing out on some TERRIFIC FUN” – CBC RADIO

SEE PAGE 7

“A FORMIDABLE piece of MYTHIC STORYTELLING” – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

“Sharply timed and mines not just the ample LAUGHS in the script, but also finds its BIG HEART” – CBC RADIO

photo credits: ALLIGATOR PIE Hailey Gillis, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Qasim Khan, Jennifer Villaverde & Peter

Fernandes photo by Cylla von Tiedemann; BAOBAB Philip Racine photo by Robert Etcheverr; DIB AND DOB 2 Pridham mtyp onstage Aaron and Gord Tanner photo by Leif Norman; opposite photo by Wayne Glowacki/Winnipeg Free Press

DISCOVER THE JOY IN LITTLE THINGS With shows like A Charlie Brown Double Bill (which is made up of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas), Of Mice and Morro and Jasp or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I would not fault you if you thought the theme of the season was “long titles” or, as someone joked in the office, “a season of ands”.

What is less apparent but much more important is the impetus behind bringing these shows together. We live in… difficult times. We have much to learn from Charlie Brown’s resilience, from his willingness to pick himself up when things go wrong. We also need to remember to reach out to the people in our lives who are struggling, just like Charlie’s friends do. We need to rediscover how to find joy in the little things, like hiding in a wardrobe on a rainy day as the bombs are falling in London. We need to believe we can change a tragic ending, like the one in Steinbeck’s novel, into a joyous moment of hope.

And we need to laugh.

I hope this year brings you and your loved ones many, many laughs.

artistic director

Pablo Felices-Luna

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“Jamie Adkins’ ONE-MAN MARVEL of a show blends clowning and vaudeville in ways that are subtle, clever and moving.” – the guardian

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S CI NICRO GCN U ITUS

Ages

3+

October 20–29 A Jamie Adkins Production (Gatineau, Québec) Whether it’s putting on his pants or walking across a tight rope, Jamie Adkins likes to do things the hard way. His show is definitely not going to go well. He wrangles an animated chair, tussles with a pesky hat, negotiates a precarious slack wire and juggles almost everything. Audiences get to toss lemons for Jamie to catch on a fork…held between his teeth! Cue the laughter.

photos:

Amanda Russell

“The loose-limbed, swivel-hipped Adkins is a Chaplinesque demonstration of physical comedy that charms while it astonishes.” – winnipeg free press

“A CLOWN WITH CRED.” – montréal gazette These performances mark Jamie Adkins’ 3rd MTYP appearance.

A veteran of both Cirque du Soleil and Montreal’s Cirque Éloize, Jamie fuses clowning, juggling, balancing and acrobatics into pure fun and wonder.

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo ARTSTART PROGRAM

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“The Amy Poehler and Tina Fey of Canadian clowning.” – the globe and mail

“Best thing I’ve seen at the Fringe” sssss – edmonton journal 4

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OF MICE AND MORRO AND JASP

Ages

13+

November 10–18 An MTYP Production in association with U.N.I.T. Productions (Toronto, Ontario) performed and created by Heather Marie Annis and Amy Lee direction and dramaturgy by Byron Laviolette Clown sisters Morro and Jasp feel the pinch of the economic downturn and decide to make ends meet by tackling John Steinbeck’s masterpiece, Of Mice and Men. The desperate clowns seek to stick to the story but will they both make it out alive?

Of Mice and Morro and Jasp spins Steinbeck’s classic tale into an interactive play that is equal parts hilarious and moving.

Top ten plays of 2014 by The Globe and Mail • 2013 Canadian Comedy Award Nominee

photos:

Alex Nirta

“Morro and Jasp are the current rock stars of their field...a brilliant take on the John Steinbeck novel...hilarious and poignant.” – torontoist

“I am so excited to come home to MTYP and perform at the place where I first discovered the power of theatre and started taking classes when I was 6 years old. I can’t imagine a better fit than to bring Of Mice and Morro and Jasp to this magical place, as it is our tribute to the theatre and the hope and love it is capable of providing in the world.” – Amy Lee, one half of the clown sisters

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo PRODUCTION BENEFACTOR RICK LEE AND LAURIE SHAPIRO

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E A CHARLI BROWN DOUBLE BILL

“Of all the holiday shows in the world, (this) is the Charlie Browniest.” – chicago tribune 6

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Ages

3+

December 8–30 An MTYP Production

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You re A Good Man, Charlie Brown “PEANUTS” by Charles M. Schulz Clark Gesner additional dialogue by Michael Mayer additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa based on the comic strip

book, music and lyrics by

original direction for this version of

“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” by Michael Mayer originally produced in new york by Arthur Whitelaw and Gene Persson With charm, wit and heart, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life through the eyes of the entire Peanuts gang. Everyone’s favourite accident-prone boy tries to muster up the courage to talk to the Little Red-Haired Girl.

GOOD GRIEF! A Charlie Brown Christmas by

Charles M. Schulz

Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson Eric Schaeffer by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson based on the television special by

stage adaptation by

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, our loveable loser has had a rough year and just cannot get into Christmas. When Lucy suggests that he direct the school’s Christmas pageant, he is determined to turn things around. In the end, Charlie Brown needs the help of his friends to discover the real meaning of Christmas.

Peter Fernandes will play the character of Charlie Brown.

Peter was most recently on MTYP’s stage during last season’s Alligator Pie. Born in Bahrain and raised in Edmonton, he now appears regularly with Toronto’s Soulpepper and was featured in MTYP’s The Last Tree of Rapa Nui.

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo

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Ages

5+ January 26–February 4 An MTYP Production • by C.S. Lewis

adapted by

le Clanche du Rand

C.S. Lewis’ timeless first story from his Chronicles of Narnia series is one of the most beloved classics of all time. When Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie arrive at the English countryside during the Second World War, they discover an enchanted wardrobe that spirits them away to the land of Narnia. There they find talking animals, mythical creatures, grand adventure, and a great quest awaiting them, leading to one of the greatest battles of Good and Evil in children’s literature. “(Testifies) to the enduring power of this half-century old story of curiosity, imagination and loyalty.” – winnipeg free press DOWNLOAD

MAP

Witch’s castle

lantern Waste

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aslan’s camP

the stone table

cair Paravel

anvard

NARNIA “C.S. Lewis used his imagination to ask What magical world lies beyond the walls of a simple wardrobe and its contents? Now we are stretching our imaginations asking How can we use a simple wardrobe and its contents to create a magical world for Manitoba audiences?”

– Director Andraea Sartison

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“Its greatest achievement is conveying without speech … the inherent confusion and sadness of dealing with a disintegrating mind.” – the west australian 10

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Ages

9+ February 16–24 A Production from The Last Great Hunt (Perth, Australia) created by Tim Watts, Arielle Gray and Chris Isaacs music composed by Rachael Dease As the sun sets, an old man wanders into the night, hunted by a mysterious tracker.

He chases his memories as they escape in an epic western about redemption and dementia. Puppetry, mask, animation and projection are used to tell the beautiful and emotional story of the old man’s journey. It’s Dark Outside is another heartfelt adventure from the Aussie artistic team that brought you the award-winning production The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer.

photos:

Richard Jefferson; inset: Sarah Walker

“A rare triumph of theatrical ingenuity and human compassion.”

– the west australian

It’s Dark Outside features an original music score by Australian composer Rachael Dease (creator of the award-winning production City of Shadows). “A striking performer with a commanding voice.”

– the huffington post. soundcloud.com/rachael-dease/ its-dark-outside-theme-song PRODUCTION BENEFACTOR AMY WALSH AND MARTIN GRANGER

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo

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REAK

SPRING B

FUN!

“Arch 8 makes this as immersive and participatory as possible, showing us about fitting in while staying true to yourself.” – time out hong kong 12

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TETRIS

Ages

5+

March 23–31 An Arch8 Production (Utrecht, The Netherlands) choreographed by Erik Kaiel originally made in collaboration with ‘De Dansers’ Inspired by the video game Tetris, this extremely physical dance quartet from the Netherlands explores how we connect with one another, building a private language to communicate where the audience is invited to play along. For kids who can’t sit still, who like to climb the walls and those who can imagine further than they can see.

“A delightfully engaging, family friendly dance piece currently prancing, contorting and tumbling its way through (New York).” – dc theatre scene

Erik Kaiel has been making dances in subway stations, sculpture gardens and empty swimming pools for many years. In 2003, after a decade of living in New York, he moved to the Netherlands.

Arch8 has performed all over the globe, including in Istanbul, Cairo, Senegal, New York and San Francisco.

PRODUCTION BENEFACTOR

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo

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“Features endearing puppets, stunning scenery, and evocative music and stories that have delighted generations.” – la weekly

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GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY BUNNY

Ages

3+

April 21–29 A Mermaid Theatre Production (Windsor, Nova Scotia) stories by Margaret Wise Brown pictures by Clement Hurd • adapted by Jim Morrow With gentle staging and meticulous puppetry, Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar bedtime rituals. In The Runaway Bunny, a baby bunny wants to leave home, but his loving mother says, “If you run away, I will run after you.” These delightful, timeless stories have brought a sense of security to children for generations, and Mermaid’s adaptation will have you appreciating them anew.

photos:

Margo Gesser; opposite: Michael Venn; inset: Consuelo Kanaga

“This is everything family theatre should be, and an exquisite way to bid goodnight to the season….Never mind whether you’ve got a child to take along.”

– winnipeg free press

When author Margaret Wise Brown died at the age of 42 in 1952, she left a legacy of more than 100 children’s books, including the classics Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. What her devoted fans didn’t know was that she left behind a collection of unpublished manuscripts for 73 more books – discovered by her biographer Amy Gary, who was elated at the discovery and set about getting them published.

youtube.com/user/MTYPvideo

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Spend quality time with the ones you love “I CAN’T WAIT...”

My granddaughters and I always look forward to seeing productions at MTYP. More often than not one of the girls ends up sitting on my knee with the occasional whispered comment in my ear about how great the show is. The car ride home is spent discussing the play and reenacting our most loved parts. Our favourite production last year was Alligator Pie. The coming season will feature Goodnight Moon. The last time that show was in town I took my, then, three year old granddaughter and she absolutely fell in love with live theatre. We have since attended RMTC, Rainbow Stage and Stratford shows together. Her cousin will be three when I take her to see the same show in April. I can’t wait to share the experience with her. We greatly appreciate all the special times MTYP gives us. The memories we have collected will last a long time.

– al simmons, grandfather

“The memories we

have collected will last a long time.”

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THIS FAMILY IS HOOKED The idea came to me many years ago, when I was still substitute teaching.

One of the teachers had apologized that I would have to take the children to MTYP that particular day. I was delighted! The play being performed was Peter Pan, starring Fred Penner as Captain Hook.

As I sat there watching, I realized that my husband, Rob, and I could bring our grandchildren to this kind of thing and thus hatched a new way for us to be able to interact with them all, as they became old enough. I got tickets for the two oldest ones. At one point in the play, Captain Hook went up into the gallery and walked right behind us. After he had passed by, the younger of our two granddaughters, with her eyes just sparkling, breathed, “Oh, Grandma, I could have reached out and touched his hand!!!” They were hooked, pardon the pun.

Every year since then we have held season tickets. As each grandchild became three, we added them into the cycle. Our oldest grandchildren have aged out now, but perhaps our granddaughter will continue this legacy three years from now, as her first child is to be born soon. The youngest grandchild just began last year. Her reaction to her first play was, “Oh...that was AWESOME!” All of us have been at times, delighted, moved to tears, provoked to deeper conversations, entertained and so much more. We hope others have been as well. It seems to us that other grandparents have been bringing their grandchildren to MTYP in recent years. We certainly hope that trend continues.

– marg smith, grandmother

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BUY MORE AND SAVE! PACKAGES FLEXI • CREATE YOUR OWN PACKAGE Select as many tickets as you like to each of the shows! You must select a minimum of 2 plays and purchase at least 4 tickets to use this option.

PEANUT AGES 3+ • YOUTH PACK: $52 • ADULT PACK: $61 • Circus Incognitus • A Charlie Brown Double Bill • Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny The MTYP Peanut package is perfect for first time theatre-goers and young theatre veterans. This package invites audiences to experience the magic of theatre through plays that are safe and content friendly.

DISCOVERY AGES 5+ • YOUTH PACK: $82 • ADULT PACK: $97 • Circus Incognitus • A Charlie Brown Double Bill • The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe • Tetris • Goodnight Moon & The Runaway Bunny The Discovery package is designed for all young adventurers! These plays will excite and captivate young audiences with some of the best stories both new and familiar.

PRIME AGES 9+ • YOUTH PACK: $80 • ADULT PACK: $95 • Circus Incognitus • A Charlie Brown Double Bill • The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe • It’s Dark Outside • Tetris The Prime package offers young audiences performances that are entertaining, while introducing some challenges into their theatrical experience.

TEEN AGES 13+ • YOUTH PACK: $28 • ADULT PACK: $34 • Of Mice and Morro and Jasp • It’s Dark Outside The Teen Package includes the most thought-provoking and emotionally powerful work at MTYP, including plays that deal with issues related to teens and global concerns.

You can also upgrade to premium seating for A Charlie Brown Double Bill in all packages, add an extra $5 per ticket.

SINGLE TICKETS • Single tickets for all MTYP performances are on sale now.

• Groups of 10 or more receive a 20% discount. Email info@mtyp.ca to book.

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SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE MTYP offers a variety of season ticket packages for theatre goers of all ages.

We’ve got Flexi packages, Peanut, Discover, Prime and Teen packages that are perfect to introduce your children to the magic of live theatre.

The perks of season tickets are:

BEST SEATS – Guarantee yourself the best seats for every performance you attend.

SAVE MONEY – By purchasing more than one show, you are SAVING UP TO 15%. With many packages, that’s like getting one show for FREE. COMPLIMENTARY EXCHANGES – Subscribers can switch their tickets from one show to another in the same package.

photo:

Anastasia Kowalchuk courtesy of Kowalchuk Consulting Engineers

DISCOUNTS from participating Forks merchants and McNally Robinson.

THREE WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE 1. BY PHONE OR IN-PERSON. Either come down or call 204.942.8898 and let us guide your through the subscription process.

2. ONLINE. Subscribe at mtyp.ca 3. BY MAIL. Download the order form online (mtyp.ca) and mail it in.

BOX OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Friday • 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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Thank you...

PARTNER OF CHOICE

SPECIAL PROJECTS

SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS

TOUR SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR

TOUR SUPPORTING SPONSORS

SEASON SPONSOR

EDUCATION SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSOR

ARTSTART SPONSOR

in memory of

Peter D Curry

THEATRE SCHOOL SPONSORS YUDE HENTELEFF BURSARY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

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NATIVE YOUTH THEATRE SPONSORS

SC H O O L TH AT R E

AND WE’VE GOT A SCHOOL! Ages

3-19

Adventures in Acting

Acting training is an adventure in selfdiscovery, including stories, games, improvisation, and learning to perform.

Every session includes an open class or an end-of-year showcase where guests can share in class successes.

Variety and Discounts

Courses at MTYP cover a broad range of professional skills: acting for the stage, acting for camera, singing, dancing, improv and more! Students taking classes also can access the Mainstage Connection – only MTYP students receive the amazing TWO TICKETS FOR TWENTY DOLLARS.

Native Youth Theatre (NYT) specializes in exciting, supportive and FREE acting courses geared especially for young indigenous actors (10–19).

These classes are designed to foster imagination, creativity and self-esteem.

You can rent MTYP for your event

We rent out our theatre, our studios and our halls. Our space is perfect for recitals, grads, fashion shows, dance presentations/performances, and of course, live theatre! Our 315 seat theatre can be reconfigured so that your performance is seen in the perfect light. Our studios can accommodate conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops, rehearsals, birthday parties, yoga classes, bar/bat mitzvahs and any other event you can imagine. Book your next event by calling 204.947.0394.

CELEBRATE your BIRTHDAY HERE too!

Choose your own theme (such as fairies, pirates or dinosaurs) and we’ll design a one-hour session of theatrical games and role-playing just for you. We can even create a workshop to complement one of our mainstage plays. Give your child the star treatment! Call 204.947.0394 and make this birthday an unforgettable one!

BECOME A FRIEND OF MTYP! The Friends of MTYP Patron Program recognizes individuals whose generosity allows young people to experience world-class theatre, and participate in quality theatrical classes. Our programs are available to as many people as possible, regardless of who they are or where they live! Donate online at mtyp.ca or contact the Development Department at 204.954.1708.

Charitable Registration #10004 4452 RR0001

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DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

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Toll-Free in Manitoba: 1.877.871.MTYP (6897)

mtyp.ca

2017-18 Season 2 Forks Market Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4X1

photo:

Box Office: 204.942.8898

Amanda Russell

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