Ovation Volume 29, Number 3 (March/April 2022)

vol 29 • no 3 mar/apr 2022

By Audrey Dwyer

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

JOHN HIRSCH MAINSTAGE

TOM HENDRY WAREHOUSE

By Christopher Morris TOM HENDRY WAREHOUSE SEASON SPONSOR

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

R OYA L M A N I TO B A T H E AT R E C E N T R E A N D T H E M A N I TO B A B A R A S S O C I AT I O N P R E S E N T T H E 2 9 T H L AW Y E R S P L AY

d Goes ‘R l r o ou W e JOHN KANDER FRED EBB nd h T MUSIC BY

LYRICS BY

CONCEIVED BY SCOTT ELLIS, SUSAN STROMAN, DAVID THOMPSON A musical revue featuring songs from Chicago, Cabaret and more.

DIRECTED AND CHOREOGRAPHED BY JILLIAN WILLEMS MUSIC DIRECTION BY DANNY CARROLL

MAY 10–14 | TICKETS $50–$75

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

ROYALMTC.CA/LAWYERSPLAY | 204 942 6537 Event in support of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre PRESENTING SPONSOR

SPONSORS

THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. mtishows.com

MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Welcome back! Certainly, the last two years have made us acutely aware of the value of theatre.

With the great intermission we all realized how irreplaceable that feeling really is, to sit together in the dark and watch a story play out, live in front of our very eyes. That communal conference is inspiring, and the deeper conversations it instigates are always surprising, as theatre awakens new perspectives on the world.

Audrey Dwyer’s Calpurnia is a smart, funny, and provocative play that does just that. It takes us on a Kelly Thornton

journey to unforeseen and sometimes outrageous places. Like the filmmaker protagonist Julie,

Audrey has taken the so-called “beloved classic”, To Kill a Mockingbird and asked us to reconsider its perspective by reframing the narrative to understand the experience of Calpurnia, the Finch family maid. Through this simple construct, she has set her characters on a comic collision course unpacking race, class, gender and more, all inside the contemporary home of the Gordon family. It is lively and oh so pertinent!

With Christopher Morris’ The Runner, the playwright/performer takes us down the rabbit hole and into an existential crisis where the Hippocratic Oath slams up against the ethical question of saving the life of a perceived enemy. The Runner is an arresting piece of theatre, with epic staging employed as metaphor. But its essence is simple, a plea for humanity to heal our wounds and repair the divisions between us.

Both of these plays are salves for the world. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.

The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is proud to call Manitoba home. Royal MTC is located in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 land, the traditional territory of the Ininew, Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation. We are thankful for the benefits sharing this land has afforded us, and we are committed to the responsibilities of the Treaty. Hiy Hiy, Miigwetch, Wopida and Maarsii. march/april 2022

Ovation

3

THEATRE ABBREVIATION LEGEND A.C.T. American Conservatory Theater • San Francisco, CA Arts Club Arts Club Theatre Company • Vancouver, BC ATF Atlantic Theatre Festival • Wolfville, NS ATP Alberta Theatre Projects • Calgary, AB BAM Brooklyn Academy of Music • NYC Bard on the Beach Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival • Vancouver, BC Belfry The Belfry Theatre • Victoria, BC Blyth Blyth Theatre Festival • Blyth, ON Broadway Theatre district • New York, NY CBC Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Centaur Centaur Theatre Company • Montreal, QC Citadel The Citadel Theatre • Edmonton, AB COC Canadian Opera Company • Toronto, ON CS Canadian Stage • Toronto, ON Dora Dora Mavor Moore Award • Toronto, ON Drayton Drayton Entertainment • Ontario Dry Cold Dry Cold Productions • Winnipeg, MB Factory Factory Theatre • Toronto, ON GCTC The Great Canadian Theatre Company • Ottawa, ON Grand The Grand Theatre • London, ON HGJT Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company • Toronto, ON Mirvish Mirvish Productions • Toronto, ON Moving Target Moving Target Theatre Company • Winnipeg, MB MTYP Manitoba Theatre for Young People • Winnipeg, MB NAC National Arts Centre • Ottawa, ON Necessary Angel Necessary Angel Theatre Company • Toronto, ON Neptune Neptune Theatre • Halifax, NS NFB National Film Board of Canada NTS National Theatre School of Canada • Montreal, QC Persephone Persephone Theatre • Saskatoon, SK PTAM Popular Theatre Alliance of Manitoba • Winnipeg, MB PTE Prairie Theatre Exchange • Winnipeg, MB

Rainbow Rainbow Stage • Winnipeg, MB RNT Royal National Theatre • London, England Royal Alex The Royal Alexandra Theatre • Toronto, ON RSC Royal Shakespeare Company • Stratford-upon-Avon, England RWB Royal Winnipeg Ballet • Winnipeg, MB Sarasvàti Sarasvàti Productions • Winnipeg, MB Segal The Segal Centre for Performing Arts • Montreal, QC Shaw Shaw Festival • Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON SIR Shakespeare in the Ruins • Winnipeg, MB Soulpepper Soulpepper Theatre Company • Toronto, ON Stratford Stratford Festival • Stratford, ON SummerWorks SummerWorks Theatre Festival • Toronto, ON TA Theatre Aquarius • Hamilton, ON Tarragon Tarragon Theatre • Toronto, ON TBTR Theatre by the River • Winnipeg, MB TC Theatre Calgary • Calgary, AB TiFT Talk is Free Theatre • Barrie, ON TNB Theatre New Brunswick • Fredericton, NB Toronto Free Toronto Free Theatre • Toronto, ON TPM Theatre Projects Manitoba • Winnipeg, MB TSO Toronto Symphony Orchestra U of M University of Manitoba U of T University of Toronto U of W University of Winnipeg ViC The Village Conservatory for Music Theatre • Winnipeg, MB VP Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company • Vancouver, BC West End Theatre district • London, England WCT Western Canada Theatre • Kamloops, BC WJT Winnipeg Jewish Theatre WSO Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra WST Winnipeg Studio Theatre YPT Young People’s Theatre • Toronto, ON zone41 zone41 theatre • Winnipeg, MB

OVATION VOLUME 29, NUMBER 3 MARCH/APRIL 2022

Ovation is published four times per theatre season and has an approximate yearly circulation of 51,000. printing: Premier Printing Ltd. ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Savannah Lillies telephone: 204 934 0309 email: slillies@royalmtc.ca

Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre 174 Market Avenue Winnipeg, MB r3b 0p8 Canada RoyalMTC.ca box office: 204 942 6537 administration: 204 956 1340 fax: 204 947 3741

Ushers • Royal MTC’s loyal volunteer ushers are avail-

able at every performance to assist patrons.

Latecomers • Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager.

Courtesy to others • Talking, candy wrappers and

coughing are distracting to fellow patrons and actors.

We ask each patron to please keep noise to a minimum during a performance. Thank you for your cooperation.

Scents and Allergies • A number of Royal MTC

patrons have expressed concerns regarding medical reactions caused by scented products, so much so that they can’t enjoy the show. Please consider others before using items such as colognes, perfumes and hairspray.

Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

4

Ovation

Royal MTC 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 the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Scenery, Carpentry and Show Running Crew at the John Hirsch Mainstage and the Tom Hendry Warehouse are members of IATSE Local 63.

Hearing enhancement • Sennheiser Infrared Listening Devices are available free of charge in the lobby at the John Hirsch Mainstage and Tom Hendry Warehouse, supplied by the Royal MTC Volunteer Corps of Ushers Capital Campaign donation. Please see the House Manager for details.

Prohibited • The use of cameras and recording devices is strictly prohibited. Mobile devices must be turned off.

To be contacted in an emergency, leave your name and seat number with the House Manager.

Warnings • On occasion, Royal MTC’s productions may contain script-specific smoking of non-tobacco products, special effects and language/content warnings. For more information on specific productions, please visit royalmtc.ca.

march/april 2022

Taylor McCaffrey proudly supports the Royal MTC and gratefully acknowledges the rich contribution made by Manitoba’s Arts Community to our province.

Good luck to all those invovled in the production of Calpurnia.

2200-201 Portage Ave Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3B 3L3 204.949.1312 | www.tmlawyers.com

subscribe now Subscribe by the April 9 deadline and be automatically entered to win a Luxury Gift Box, valued at $300.

ENJOY ALL THE GREAT BENEFITS OF SUBSCRIBING, INCLUDING: • Early access to additional tickets with a subscriber discount of 15% • Receive a subscriber VIP card and enjoy exclusive dining and retail discounts • Enjoy an easy monthly installment plan at no extra cost

PHONE

MAIL

IN PERSON

204 942 6537

Royal MTC Box Office 174 Market Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0P8

Visit us in the lobby before the show or during intermission.

ONLINE

RoyalMTC.ca

CALPURNIA Calpurnia was originally produced in Toronto in 2018. It was met with anticipation and excitement. Shows were sold out and audiences lined up around the block to attend. Audiences delighted in the power dynamics that made them uncomfortable. They raved about the complicated layers of racial awareness and social location at play. They laughed, they covered their eyes, their jaws dropped. Some returned to watch Calpurnia two or three times.

Playwright’s Notes BY AUDREY DWYER Welcome to Calpurnia.

In 2011, back when I was an actor, I embodied a maid who was silent during a long and extreme verbal attack. When I spoke about her silence, a co-actor expressed that her silence displayed strength. Calpurnia came to be when I took stock of the maids I portrayed throughout my 15-year acting career.

If you attended school in Canada, you most likely read Harper Lee’s classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird.

My piece isn’t aimed as a critique of Ms. Lee’s text. She wrote a novel that is honest. Her iconic characters inspired me. The character of Calpurnia, the southern maid, is ubiquitous in that era. My play explores the mammy stereotype, American history and the Canadian experience.

As I distilled my ideas, I knew that I wanted to go directly into the home of a loving and wealthy Jamaican-Canadian family. The Gordons benefit from high levels of education and social standing and are still judged by a relentless respectability politic and racism.

6

Ovation

We’re all aware of how much the world has transformed since 2018. Privilege, allyship and intersectionality are terms heard in our homes, workplaces and in the news. Over the past few years, I’ve made some changes to the script that reflect how much we’ve learned.

Even if you haven’t read Lee’s novel, you’re in for a treat. The theatre is a fun and fabulous place to laugh, examine ideas and witness dramatic action as it plays out in real time. In these seats, we’re able to ponder deep-rooted issues that are brewing in communities both here and abroad. Here, we create memories together.

Julie Gordon and Lee’s protagonist Scout Finch are similar. Both burst with vigor. Both are innocent, plucky and want things their own way. Like us, they have plenty to learn. In fact, all the characters do. I invite you to see if you recognize anyone through each character’s behaviors and values. There may be someone you recognize on this stage and they might be closer to you than you think.

Thank you for joining us!

march/april 2022

SHOP ONLINE —

or delivery

CALPURNIA

About the Novel To Kill a Mockingbird y Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is set in Alabama during the Great Depression, and is both a coming-of-age story, and a more complex narrative about the roots and consequences of racism and prejudice. y The novel was loosely based on an event that occurred when Lee was 10 years old, when a white woman accused Walter Lett, a Black man, of rape. Lee’s father was an editor, and his newspaper covered the trial and Lett’s eventual conviction. Lett’s death sentence was commuted to life in prison when a series of letters appeared claiming that he had been falsely accused. y The novel was published in 1960 and was a literary and commercial success. It won the Pulitzer Prize, was translated into 40 languages, and has never been out of print. Lee’s novel is cited as a factor in the success of the civil rights movements of the 1960s, but she had no direct involvement in them. y To Kill a Mockingbird has long been a widely read novel in Canadian and American schools. The novel was a source of controversy as a subject of classroom study as early as 1963, due to the racial slurs, profanity and frank discussion of rape. A shift in attitudes on race led to criticism that the overt racism in Maycomb was not condemned harshly enough. Further, that the Black characters were stereotypes, underwritten and marginalized in favour of a narrative that focuses on the white characters’ experience.

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a book for which a great many people harbor reverence and nostalgia. I am not one of those people … Perhaps I am ambivalent because I am Black. I am not the target audience. I don’t need to read about a young white girl understanding the perniciousness of racism to actually understand the perniciousness of racism. I have ample firsthand experience.”

— AMERICAN ESSAYIST & EDITOR ROXANNE GAY, NEW YORK TIMES, 2018

sources: wikipedia.org, britannica.com, time.com, pbs.org, nytimes.com, study guide by hazel venzon

8

Ovation

march/april 2022

CALPURNIA

Who is Calpurnia? y Calpurnia Aesera Coleman is the Finch family’s long-standing Black housekeeper, a mother figure to Scout and Jem. Scout describes: “Our battles were epic and one-sided. Calpurnia always won, mainly because Atticus always took her side.” y Calpurnia is identified in the novel as one of the few Black people in town who is literate, and has taught her own children, and Jem and Scout to read and write.

When Scout and Jem attend the local Black church with Calpurnia and hear her speaking differently in her community, they realize that Calpurnia carefully balances a double life. While Calpurnia’s positive influence is significant, she is an overly simplified character, and largely silent on issues of race.

The Mammy in Popular Culture The mammy figure, according to psychologist Chanequal Walker-Barnes, “was a largely mythical figure with little basis in the lived experiences of Black women.” It is a racial caricature, constructed during slavery, popularized through minstrel shows, and reinforced through novels, films and plays. The stereotype is of a “large, independent woman with pitch-black skin and shining white teeth.” She does domestic work and cares for the children of a white family; she is extremely devoted to them and “lived to serve her master and mistress.” The notion or trope of the “happy slave” is at the core of the mammy caricature and stereotype. source: from mammy to miss america and beyond: cultural images and the shaping of us social policy by k. sue jewell (1992).

RESOURCES We hope you enjoyed the show! Wanting more? Check out Audrey Dwyer’s list of suggested online reading, watching and listening resources by scanning this QR code. royalmtc.ca/pdf/calpurnia-resources.aspx march/april 2022

Ovation

9

Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director • Camilla Holland, Executive Director PRESENTS A CO-PRODUCTION WITH THE NAC

ENGLISH THEATRE AND BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP

Calpurnia

By Audrey Dwyer†

March 24 – April 16, 2022 preview March 23

Director / Dramaturg.............................................Sarah Garton Stanley Set Designer............................................................................Rachel Forbes Costume Designer............................................................ Joseph Abetria† Lighting Designer...............................................................Hugh Conacher Sound Designer..........................................................................Chris Coyne Cultural Consultant..............................................................Hazel Venzon† Assistant Director...........................................................Nikki Shaffeeullah Assistant Set Designer....................................................... Shauna Jones‡ Stage Manager...............................................................Michael Duggan†§ Assistant Stage Manager..................................................... Zahra Larche Apprentice Stage Manager...................................... Ridge Romanishen THE CAST (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Mark Gordon......................................................................Kwaku Adu-Poku Christine Charter..................................................................... Ellie Ellwand Precy Cabigting.....................................................................Rochelle Kives James Thompson........................................................... Arne MacPherson Julie Gordon....................................................................... Emerjade Simms Lawrence Gordon...................................................................Ray Strachan† SETTING: The Gordon family home; Toronto; Present Day; Mother’s Day.

Calpurnia is performed with one intermission.

Calpurnia is produced by permission of the Playwright and Marquis Literary (Colin Rivers) www.mqlit.ca.

The world premiere of Calpurnia was co-produced by Nightwood Theatre and Sulong Theatre at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Toronto, ON) in January 2018.

Audrey Dwyer (the Playwright) is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada.

Calpurnia was developed in Obsidian Theatre’s Playwriting Unit.

Production photography by Dylan Hewlett.

PRODUCTION SPONSORS

*Position funded through the Jean Murray - Moray Sinclair Theatre Apprenticeship Program †Past Jean Murray - Moray Sinclair Scholarship award recipient ‡Position funded through the Kingfisher Foundation §Past Naomi Levin Theatre Scholarship award winner

10

Ovation

march/april 2022

CALPURNIA Kwaku Adu-Poku

Ellie Ellwand

Mark Gordon

Christine Charter

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Here are the Fragments

OTHER THEATRE Edward II (Soulpepper

(Theatre Centre); Les Frères (UC Follies); Canis Familiaris, My Friend’s Best Friend’s Boyfriend (Alumnae Theatre).

FILM/TV Murdoch Mysteries, Ruby and the Well, Meet Me in New York, The Hot Zone: Anthrax, Jump Darling, Mayday! Air Crash Investigation, Rock and Roll Christmas, It’s Nothing, Frankie Drake Mysteries.

ET CETERA Upcoming: Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford). Huge thanks to my family, friends, team, Royal MTC and NAC.

– workshop production); What I Call Her (Crow’s Theatre); King Lear @ the Baseball Diamond (Shakespeare in the Ruff); The Nails (SummerWorks); The Queen’s Eulogy (Toronto Fringe); These Peaceable Kingdoms, Exit the King, King Lear (NTS).

FILM/TV Homeschooled (CBC Gem); Slo Pitch (OUTtv/Prime); First Person, Band Ladies (web series); The Comey Rule (CBS); Busytown Mysteries (CBC); Repo Men (Universal Pictures).

TRAINING Acting at the National Theatre School of Canada.

ET CETERA Many thanks to Royal MTC and NAC for bringing me on to this production. Love to my family and the theatre community. Sarah and Audrey, thank you.

SYNOPSIS – Julie, a Jamaican-Canadian screenwriter is battling writer’s block and an array of distractions as her family prepares for an important dinner. More accurately, Precy, the Gordon’s beloved housekeeper is preparing for this meal.

Julie has seven days to re-write her latest draft of her new screenplay, which is based on Calpurnia, the Finch’s family maid in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Her family tries to help, but mostly ends up getting in the way and arguing about Julie’s movie.

Julie’s brother Mark loves the book and the film version of To Kill a Mockingbird and doesn’t believe she is doing the story justice. He doubts that she can even write it from her place of privilege. Race, class and gender collide in this explosive comedy that’s sure to provoke conversation in all the best ways.

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

march/april 2022

Ovation

11

CALPURNIA Rochelle Kives Precy Cabigting

ROYAL MTC Where.Are.You.From. (Tiny Plays, Big Ideas). 2021/22 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE Most recent: 25 Questions For A Jewish Mother, Precipice (WJT); Ma-Buhay Workshop, Miss Saigon, South Pacific, Little Shop of Horrors (Rainbow); Elizabeth Rex (Bunbury Productions); A Year with Frog and Toad (MTYP); South Pacific (WSO); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Dry Cold); South Pacific (Regina Symphony Orchestra); The Who’s Tommy (Platinum Theatre).

FILM/TV A Kiss Before Christmas (Hallmark); Larry Saves The Canadian Health Care System (Tripwire Media Group); Not Funny (Imaginary Productions).

TRAINING Graduate of Sheridan College’s Musical Theatre Performance Program.

ET CETERA Rochelle spent 12 years performing as the lead singer in the production casts onboard NCL, Azamara and Celebrity Cruises. She is co-founder and producer of the vocal group Unique3.

Huge thank you to Royal MTC and NAC for this opportunity. Rochelle would like to dedicate this performance to her mom and grandma, her inspiration for Precy.

Arne MacPherson James Thompson

ROYAL MTC Selected: A Christmas Carol, Black Coffee, 23.5 Hours, Unnecessary Farce, The Hound of the Baskervilles (tour), Alice Through the Looking-Glass, A Few Good Men (with Citadel), August:

Osage County, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Shakespeare’s Dog (with NAC), The Crucible, King Lear.

OTHER THEATRE Mamma Mia! (Rainbow); Hamlet, Richard III, Othello and others (SIR); I Dream of Diesel (One Trunk Theatre/TPM); Encore (TPM); Tribes, Ivanov, Way to Heaven, Lenin’s Embalmers (WJT). Arne also works as a director, with credits at Royal MTC Tom Hendry Warehouse, TPM, SIR, PTE, MTYP and with many independent producers.

FILM/TV Arne has appeared in over 25 shot-in-Winnipeg film and television productions.

TRAINING Graduate of the BFA (Acting) program at the University of Alberta.

ET CETERA Arne’s family, Deb, Gislina and Solmund, are all artists.

Emerjade Simms Julie Gordon

ROYAL MTC First appearance.

OTHER THEATRE Selected: The

Mountaintop (Persephone); 1851: Spirit & Voice (Soulpepper/Myseum); 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/CBC); Peter Pan (Bad Hats/Soulpepper); School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (2019 Dora Award Winner for Outstanding Production – Obsidian/Nightwood); Wounded Soldiers (4th Line); The Bird Killer (Let Me In).

TV Forbidden, Fear Thy Neighbor, See No Evil, Paranormal 911.

TRAINING Graduated from the University of Windsor – BFA Acting 2016; Factory Theatre Mechanicals graduate – 2016/17.

ET CETERA Emerjade thanks everyone on this fantastic team for their support and guidance. Always take a leap of Faith.

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

12

Ovation

march/april 2022

Proud to be production sponsors for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of Calpurnia.

“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”

- Oscar Wilde -

www.asperfoundation.com

CALPURNIA Ray Strachan Lawrence Gordon

ROYAL MTC The Mountaintop, It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play, Shakespeare in Love (with Citadel), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Romeo and Juliet, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (with TC).

OTHER THEATRE The Tempest (Citadel); Deserter, Remember the Night (Moving Target); Hedda Noir (Theatre NorthWest); The Whipping Man (WJT); Romeo and Juliet (SIR); Dutchman (PlayOn Theatre); Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (Black Hole Theatre Company).

TRAINING Black Hole Theatre Company; Banff Centre for The Arts.

ET CETERA Look for Ray on The Porter, a new CBC series focusing on the lives of

Ready for tomorrow.

Protect what matters most.

When you work with HUB, you’re at the center of a vast network of experts dedicated to helping you prepare for the unexpected, with advice and solutions tailored to protect your family, your home and more.

Keith Jordan, President and CEO 204-988-4791 keith.jordan@hubinternational.com

www.quotewithhub.com

Risk & Insurance | Employee Benefits | Retirement & Private Wealth

14

Black Train Porters in Canada in the 1920s.

Ray is also co-host of the Ray & Benny Talk Sports podcast. You can find it on YouTube and on your preferred podcast platforms. @raybennysports on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Audrey Dwyer Playwright

ROYAL MTC Director: The Mountaintop, Women of the Fur Trade. Intimacy Director: Orlando, Fun Home. Consulting Director: Bang Bang (with Belfry). Actor: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (with Mirvish), Good People, Medea (with Mirvish), The Crucible. Dramaturg: Tiny Plays, Big Ideas.

OTHER THEATRE Director: Blink (U of W); Prairie Nurse (Lighthouse Theatre); Calpurnia (Nightwood Theatre/Sulong Theatre); The Apology (Rabiayshna Productions).

TRAINING National Theatre School of Canada.

ET CETERA Audrey is Royal MTC’s Associate Artistic Director. She has won three Dora Mavor Moore Awards and the Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre. She was nominated for the Pauline McGibbon Award for Direction twice. She wrote the libretto for Backstage at Carnegie Hall (Bradyworks), which will open in Montreal in 2022. She was commissioned to write The Legend of Daddy Hall for the Tarragon Theatre. It was part of their Acoustic Season (2020/2021). She has been commissioned by Nightswimming Theatre to write The Generations. She was a recipient of CBC’s Creative Relief Fund for The Gordons.

CALPURNIA Sarah Garton Stanley Director / Dramaturg

ROYAL MTC Fun Home, Kill Me Now (With NAC). 2021/22 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE Director: Everybody Just C@lm the F#ck Down (Artistic Fraud); carried away on the crest of a wave (Arts Club); Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Tarragon); The Big House (Toronto Fringe); We Keep Coming Back (WJT, English Theatre Berlin, Factory Theatre); Unsafe (Canadian Stage); Out The Window (Luminato/Theatre Centre); Bunny (Stratford/Tarragon).

ET CETERA Former Associate Artistic Director, English Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre where she created The Cycles. Founder Emeritus SpiderWebShow Performance and FOLDA. PhD Candidate in Cultural Studies at Queen’s University. Sarah Co-Stewards Birchdale – an off grid historic hunting and fishing lodge – with her partner Tracey Erin Smith and their dog, Matzo.

Rachel Forbes Set Designer

ROYAL MTC Costume Designer: The Mountaintop.

OTHER THEATRE Set and Costume Design: Serving Elizabeth (WCT); A Million Billion Pieces, Risky Phil (YPT); Victory, 1837: The Farmers’ Revolt (Shaw); The Bridge (Neptune/2b Theatre); Choir Boy (Centaur); Iterate (Mile Zero Dance).

Costume Design: A Streetcar Named Desire, The Brothers Size (Soulpepper);

Fences (Grand). Set Design: School Girls (Obsidian Theatre); In The Abyss (Political Movement).

FILM Shorts: 21 Black Futures (Obsidian/ CBC); A Revolution of Love (THM/ Awakenings); Body So Fluorescent (Madonnanera/lnside Out).

TEACHING She has designed, mentored and taught at Ryerson University and is currently serving on the board of directors of the Associated Designers of Canada.

ET CETERA Rachel received a Dora Mavor Moore Award for her costume design on The Brothers Size (Soulpepper 2019) and a Merritt Award for her set design on The Bridge (2b/Neptune 2019).

Joseph Abetria Costume Designer

ROYAL MTC Costume Designer: Tiny Plays, Big Ideas, Bang Bang (with Belfry), Last Train to Nibroc (tour). Apprentice Costume Designer: Billy Elliot the Musical. 2020/21 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Costume Designer: Voice (PTE), Plé (Plé Collective presented by MTYP); Spelling 2-5-5 (MTYP); Women of the Fur Trade (Vault Projects); Mary’s Wedding, Iceland (TPM); Concord Floral, Vinegar Tom, The Laramie Project (U of W). Set Designer: Richard III (SIR). Production Designer: The Game, Two Indians, The Seduction Theory (Sarasvàti). Assistant Costume Designer: Othello, The Neverending Story, The Rocky Horror Show, Romeo and Juliet (Stratford).

TRAINING University of Winnipeg.

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

march/april 2022

Ovation

15

CALPURNIA Hugh Conacher

Chris Coyne

Lighting Designer

Sound Designer

ROYAL MTC (select credits) Lighting & Video Designer: The Mountaintop, Vietgone, Venus in Fur. Lighting Designer: Orlando, All is Bright, Women of the Fur Trade, Fun Home, The Color Purple (with Citadel), Kill Me Now (with NAC), Seminar (with Mirvish), Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing and many other productions since the ‘80s.

OTHER THEATRE Hugh has collaborated with choreographers, visual artists and dance and theatre companies worldwide.

ET CETERA Hugh enjoys working beyond the constraints of traditional lighting design using various forms of interactive media, video and photography. His photographic work resides in private collections and has been published worldwide. Hugh is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and L’Association des professionnels des arts de la scène du Québec. www.pellucid.me.

ROYAL MTC The (Post) Mistress, The Mountaintop, Fun Home, Kill Me Now (with NAC), The Hound of the Baskervilles 2016 (Tour).

OTHER THEATRE Chris has had the pleasure of working with many local and international theatre groups. Credits include Routes 2016/17 Tour (MTYP); The Hound of the Baskervilles Mar. 2015, Little Thing Big Thing Sept. 2015 (PTE); EDEN 2013 (Sarasvàti); Bashir Lazhar Mar. 2013 (TPM); Angels in America 2012, Perestroika 2014 (WJT); Three Sisters 2011 (zone41).

TRAINING Chris is a graduate of the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology.

ET CETERA Chris has been involved in the theatre industry in Winnipeg for many years. Currently working as Royal MTC’s Technical Director at the John Hirsch Mainstage.

THEATRE FOR FANS UNDER 30 Looking for a great night out that’s easy on your wallet?

Theatre Under 30 members, aged 18 – 29, have exclusive access to world-class theatre for just $20 a seat!

SIGN UP TODAY AT ROYALMTC.CA/UNDER30 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT KSENIA BRODA-MILIAN AT UNDER30�ROYALMTC.CA IVY CHARLES IN ORLANDO. PHOTO BY DYLAN HEWLETT.

CALPURNIA Hazel Venzon Cultural Consultant

ROYAL MTC Director: Where.Are.You.From.

(Tiny Plays, Big Ideas). Assistant Director: The Mountaintop. 2020/21 National Mentorship Program.

OTHER THEATRE Directing: I Think We Are Alone (U of W); Places We Go, EMBRACE, BELTFEST ’N CHILL (UNIT); Stories Houses Tell (PTE); EMBRACE (Nakai); Haircuts By Children, Children’s Choice Awards, Eat The Street, These Are The People In Your Neighbourhood (Mammalian); On Going: Everything Has Disappeared (UNIT, Mammalian).

Associate Directing: Bad Parent (vAct PTE). Assistant Directing: By Grand Central Station (PTE).

FILM/TV Director: Ma-Buhay a musical journey (Bluewater Buffalo/UNIT). 1st AD: I Knew My Murderer (Frantic Films). 2nd AD: Gone (Buffalo Gal); Perfect Match (Farpoint).

TRAINING Applied Theatre and Philippine Theatre, Directing Digital Theatre (vAct); Director’s Process, Suzuki and Viewpoints (PTE); Improv (Second City); Studio 58 (Langara); Black Hole Theatre Program, School of Fine Arts (U of M).

ET CETERA Hazel is the Artistic Director and Producer of U N I Together (UNIT) Productions.

INGREDIENTS • 2 oz silver tequila • 1/2 oz crème de menthe • 1 oz fresh lime juice

DIRECTIONS

Tequila Mockingbird —

CO C K TA I L R E C I P E

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a slice of lime.

CALPURNIA Nikki Shaffeeullah

Shauna Jones

Assistant Director

Assistant Set Designer

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE (select) Director: The

Design with community in mind.

Engineering | Architecture Environmental Services stantec.com

James Brittain Photographer

Shell (UTSC); Lion Womxn, Almeida (The Glorious) (The AMY Project/SummerWorks); Escape Velocity, un(earthed) (Undercurrent Theatre). Associate Director: Lilies, or, the Revival of a Romantic Drama (lemonTree creations/Buddies in Bad Times Theatre/ Why Not Theatre).

FILM Actor: The Lower Plateau (Depanneaur Films). Director: Fly Away With Me (Maude Matton); Lemons (Undercurrent Creations).

TRAINING/TEACHING Training: University of Alberta, McGill University. Teaching: University of Alberta, University of Toronto Scarborough.

ET CETERA Nikki is a director, writer, performer and facilitator. Her current work includes a residency with Why Not Theatre developing her new play A Poem for Rabia, curating an artistic research project with the National Arts Centre – English Theatre, leading multiple sector change projects through Undercurrent Creations and facilitating communityengaged projects with Confluence Arts Collective. Past roles include serving as Artistic Director for Toronto’s The AMY Project and Editor-in-Chief for alt.theatre magazine. For more: nikkishaffeeullah.com

ROYAL MTC The (Post) Mistress, Women of the Fur Trade, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley.

OTHER THEATRE Frozen River (MTYP); The Winter’s Tale / Le conte d’hiver (SIR/ TCM); Lawrence and Holloman, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Guild Hall – Whitehorse, YT).

TRAINING Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Practicum program (2019) in Scenic Art. ET CETERA Shauna would like to extend a sincere thanks for the additional and thoughtful support of the Kingfisher Foundation, and to Royal MTC for giving her this opportunity.

Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation School | MB

18

CALPURNIA Michael Duggan

Zahra Larche

Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager

ROYAL MTC Stage Manager: Vietgone (with fu-GEN/Hope and Hell), Hand to God. Assistant Stage Manager: The Mountaintop, The Color Purple (with Citadel), A Christmas Carol, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (with Citadel), Chimerica, Clever Little Lies, The Glass Menagerie, Other People’s Money.

Apprentice Stage Manager: Mrs. Warren’s Profession, In the Next Room or the vibrator play, The Shunning, Brief Encounter, The Seafarer, Steel Magnolias. Props: Gone With the Wind.

OTHER THEATRE Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables (Rainbow); The War Being Waged, Ghost Light (PTE); The Winter’s Tale / Le conte d’hiver (SIR/TCM); Hamlet (SIR); MTYP’s Midwinter Mosey, A Year with Frog and Toad (MTYP); Meet Me at Dawn (TBTR).

TRAINING B.A. (Hons) in Theatre Production and Stage Management at the University of Winnipeg.

ET CETERA This is Michael’s first show as the stage manager for the Mainstage and he would like to thank his wife, Katelynn first and foremost. Thank you also to his parents and to the many teachers, mentors, friends, co-workers and theatres who helped along the way.

ROYAL MTC Assistant Stage Manager: Bang Bang (with Belfry). Apprentice Stage Manager: Buying the Farm (tour), Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, Vietgone (with fu-GEN/Hope and Hell), The Humans.

Assistant Production Manager (2017/18, 2020/21, 2021/22 seasons).

OTHER THEATRE Stage Manager: The Drawer Boy (Hudson Village Theatre); Ed & Ed – Trapped!, Outside Mullingar, Neddy Norris Night, Fly Me to the Moon, Newfoundland Vinyl, The Out Vigil (Gros Morne Theatre Festival); Shape of a Girl (Cart Before the Horse). Assistant Stage Manager: Seven Sopranos of Winnipeg (Manitoba Opera). Apprentice Stage Manager: Barber of Seville (Manitoba Opera); The Halloween Tree (Geordie Productions); The Amazing Adventures of Pericles, Prince of Tyre (A Company of Fools).

TRAINING Graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada – Production Program (2017).

ET CETERA A very special thanks to my Royal MTC family, my parents, my family and friends from Gatineau to Tasmania, Ilana Modulevsky, Patrick Michalishyn, my graduating class at NTS, and all the wonderful folks who made this show possible!

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

march/april 2022

Ovation

19

CALPURNIA Ridge Romanishen

Canada Life

Apprentice Stage Manager

Theatre for Young Audiences Sponsor

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE In Time (TPM); Trigger

Warning: Cassandra (Sick + Twisted); Shakespeare’s Will (SIR); Narrow Bridge (WJT); The Golem’s Mighty Swing (WJT/ OTM); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Dry Cold); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Arcadia (U of W).

TEACHING Graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre and Film Program with Honours in Stage Management.

ET CETERA Ridge is thrilled to be working on LIVE, in person, productions again and would like to thank all the fabulous folks at Royal MTC for this amazing opportunity!

The Asper Foundation & Gail Asper Family Foundation Production Sponsors Israel Asper, O.C., O.M., Q.C., L.L.D. (1932–2003) and Babs Asper (1933–2011) believed that philanthropy is a driving force behind positive change in people’s quality of life. For this reason, they formed The Asper Foundation in Winnipeg in 1983 to build upon their and the Asper family’s philanthropic objectives. The Foundation develops major projects and provides general support to the Jewish Community while also supporting the broader community in areas of culture, education, community development, and human rights on a local, national and international scale.

Canada Life is the leading insurance, wealth management and benefits specialist, focused on improving the financial, physical and mental well-being of Canadians. We help Canadians achieve their potential, every day. Together, we serve more than 13 million people across Canada.

NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE

The National Arts Centre is Canada’s bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts. The NAC presents, creates, produces, and co-produces performing arts programming in various streams — the NAC Orchestra, Dance, English Theatre in collaboration with Black Theatre Workshop, French Theatre, Indigenous Theatre, and Popular Music and Variety — and nurtures the next generation of audiences and artists from across Canada. The NAC is located in the National Capital Region on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe.

BLACK THEATRE WORKSHOP

Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) is Canada’s longest running theatre company dedicated to the works of Black and diasporic communities.

BTW’s mission is to promote and produce outstanding theatre that educates, entertains and inspires. The company strives to create greater cross-cultural understanding by challenging its audience and the status quo. Expanding the representation of Black Canadian artists, BTW bridges cultural divides – uniting hearts, minds and communities.

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

20

Ovation

march/april 2022

Join us before the show for great food in a great atmosphere – within walking distance!

Weekly Live Music

141 Bannatyne | kevinsbistro.ca | 204.221.5028

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Ray Strachan and Kevin Klassen in It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play.

PHOTO BY DYLAN HEWLETT

Support the stars of tomorrow, today!

For over 50 years, Royal MTC has been supporting the training of local artists through the Jean Murray-Moray Sinclair Scholarship and Apprenticeship programs. Through these programs, funds are provided to aspiring actors and theatrical craftspeople to further their education. Each season our Scholarship Fund is supported by patrons like you during our annual Pass the Hat initiative, which raises about $20,000 annually to support local artists including former recipient Ray Strachan, who’s starring in Calpurnia!

Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to pass the hat since March 2020, but you can make a difference in the career of an aspiring young artist today! Your gift of any amount to our Scholarship Fund goes directly to supporting the education of Royal MTC’s future stars, both onstage and behind the scenes.

Make a gift today by scanning the QR code below or leaving a cash donation with our ushers on your way out of the theatre! To learn more about the Scholarship Fund please contact Development Manager Chris Turyk at 204 954 6412 or cturyk@royalmtc.ca.

Support our Scholarship Fund!!

Scan here to donate today

22

Ovation

march/april 2022

made for sharing points.

Combine points with up to 8 family members for free.

Accumulate faster, and redeem for rewards sooner.

learn more at aircanada.com/familysharing

Trademark ownership details at aircanada.com/trademarks

THE RUNNER

Playwright’s Notes

BY CHRISTOPHER MORRIS I want to create theatre that explores the extremes of the human condition.

I’m interested in what happens to us when we are pushed to our spiritual, moral and emotional limits because it’s at these times that we see the best, and worst, of what we are.

The Runner focuses on the pushback a ZAKA member experiences when his devotion to serve others – regardless of their race or creed – clashes with the divisive beliefs of the community around him. As we slide further down the path of political and social division, now more than ever, we need to champion those who put human decency above division, while knowing full well the consequences they’ll face.

This play is dedicated to Jakoff Mueller, a ZAKA member in Israel who passed away in February 2018. He first welcomed me into his home in 2010 and over the years we spent many hours talking about the experiences he had working with ZAKA, from the harrowing to the profound. He was my beacon of light as I navigated the murky currents of this play. Jakoff was a beautiful soul, full of compassion and self-deprecating humor.

While passing away from cancer, he was surrounded by his loving family and friends, and in death, was shown the same tenderness and care he offered to so many.

With love, Jakoff, thank you.

SYNOPSIS – Jacob is an Orthodox man in his 40s who lives with his mother in Jerusalem. He is compassionate and principled, not afraid to speak his mind. As a volunteer with ZAKA, a religious organization in Israel, he collects the remains of Jews who are killed to ensure a proper burial as per religious law. Guided by the Hippocratic Oath, he also provides life-saving triage to any who require his help. But when Jacob makes the split-second decision to provide life-saving triage to an Arab teenager, instead of focusing on the Israeli soldier she’s suspected of killing, his world comes crashing down around him. Ostracized by his colleagues and the tight-knit community around him, Jacob is forced on a journey of self-evaluation, questioning the merit of his actions, the nature of humans, and the value of kindness in a divisive world.

24

Ovation

march/april 2022

THE RUNNER in particular skills and for particular situations; for example, the Jeep Unit is responsible for search and rescue missions in remote locations.

What is ZAKA? Founded by Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, ZAKA has operated since 1989 and became an official volunteer organization in 1995.

ZAKA is a non-governmental search, rescue, and recovery group, entirely comprised of volunteers. Working closely with paramedics and other first responders, ZAKA volunteers are on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies such as terrorist attacks, disasters, and accidents – their task in each instance is to assist any living victims by providing first aid, and to ensure that all human remains are collected and identified in order to adhere to Jewish burial laws. In the Jewish tradition, honouring the dead is an act of Chesed Shel Emet, meaning “true virtue,” and it is considered the greatest good deed (or mitzvah) because this act of kindness cannot ever be reciprocated by the dead.

From the group’s original mandate – responding to scenes of terrorist acts in order to recover human remains – ZAKA has since expanded its mission substantially. Now, ZAKA includes several specialist units, such as a Canine Unit, Rapid Rescue Unit, Divers Unit, a Jeep Unit, and others. Each specialization includes volunteers who are trained march/april 2022

Today, ZAKA has approximately 3000 volunteers in Israel, and not all volunteers are Jewish. The organization includes some units comprised of volunteers from other religious and cultural groups such as Muslims, Bedouins and Druze. These units are a partnership between ZAKA and each community’s religious and civic leaders, in order to offer specialized assistance following community-specific laws and customs for handling human remains.

ZAKA has also expanded geographically and now operates internationally, responding to mass casualty incidents such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The group’s participation in recovery work after such world events as Hurricane Katrina and following the Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004 led the United Nations to recognize ZAKA as an international humanitarian volunteer organization. This designation allows ZAKA to offer assistance even if Israel has no diplomatic ties to the country in need of help, or if Israel’s official delegation has not yet arrived, or if the country in need has not yet reached out for help. ZAKA also trains local emergency response teams in various communities around the world, in order to ensure that their emergency response time is as short as possible.

Written by Grand Theatre’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Meghan O’Hara. Reprinted with permission from Grand Theatre’s, The Runner, house program in Nov 2019.

Ovation

25

Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director • Camilla Holland, Executive Director PRESENTS A HUMAN

CARGO PRODUCTION

The Runner

Written and Performed by Christopher Morris March 31 – April 16, 2022 preview March 30

Director......................................................................................Daniel Brooks Associate Director......................................................... Severn Thompson Set & Costume Designer.....................................................Gillian Gallow Lighting Designer...............................................................Bonnie Beecher Composer & Sound Designer............................Alexander MacSween Production Manager, Associate Lighting Designer & Technical Director........................................................................ Jeff Pybus Stage Manager...........................................................................Sarah Miller Assistant Stage Manager....................................................Katie Schmidt The Runner is performed without an intermission.

Cover photo: Gord Rand in the premiere production of The Runner at Theatre Passe Muraille in 2018. Photo by: Graham Isador.

Production photography by Dylan Hewlett.

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

26

Ovation

march/april 2022

THE RUNNER

Playwright / Jacob

ROYAL MTC First appearance/engagement.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Playwriting:

The Runner (premiere: Human Cargo, Theatre Passe Muraille, tour: Socrates Project/Hamilton, Grand Theatre/ London, Tarragon Theatre); Our Beautiful Sons (Blyth Festival – 2014 Playwright in Residence); The Road to Paradise (co-playwright with Jonathan Garfinkel – Human Cargo, Crow’s Theatre, Buddies in Bad Times); Night (commissioned by Human Cargo, premiered at the National Arts Centre, toured nationally and internationally); Return: The Sarajevo Project (co-playwright – Theatrefront). Acting: Measure for Measure, Much Ado about Nothing, Botticelli in the Fire, Hedda Gabler (CS); A Doll’s House, Noises Off, A Winter’s Tale, A Chorus for Disapproval (Soulpepper); Oedipus Rex, Diary of Anne Frank (Stratford); The Importance of Being Earnest, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Stuff Happens (NAC).

FILM/TV (selected) Writing: Adapting The Runner into a TV series with Sienna Films.

Acting: Frankie Drake, The Girlfriend Experience, Orphan Black, Murdoch Mysteries, In Contempt. Upcoming Acting: Coroner (CBC); Painkiller (Netflix).

ET CETERA Christopher is the Artistic

Director of Human Cargo. Awards: 2020 Dora Award for The Runner, 2012 Canada Council John Hirsh Prize for Directing, 2005 KM Hunter Award for Theatre, playwright Dora nomination for Return: The Sarajevo Project. Upcoming scripts in development: Éclatée, Annie Pootoogook: Portrait of an Artist.

Daniel Brooks Director

ROYAL MTC Hardsell, Cul-de-sac, Bigger

than Jesus.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Theory of

Relatives, Sessions, The Designated Mourner, Faust, The Good Life, Half Life (Tarragon); House, Here Lies Henry, Monster, Let’s Run Away etc (all with Daniel MacIvor); Insomnia and The Noam Chomsky Lectures (with Guillermo Verdecchia); Red Tape, 86: An Autopsy etc. (with Don Mckellar and Tracy Wright); Oedipus Rex (Stratford); Endgame, Waiting for Godot, A Doll’s House, The Aleph (Soulpepper); The Full Light of Day (the Electric Company); Bigger Than Jesus, The Drowsy Chaperone.

Upcoming: Other People (CS).

ET CETERA Awards: The Siminovitch Prize for Directing, several Doras, several touring awards, various Fellowships.

T 204-488-6653 | TF 888-550-8998 | E info@bonaventuretravel.ca | bonaventuretravel.ca T TF 888-550-8998 bonaventuretravel.ca T 204-488-6653 204-488-6653 || TF 888-550-8998 || E E info@bonaventuretravel.ca info@bonaventuretravel.ca || bonaventuretravel.ca 428 Academy Road, Winnipeg, MB R3N 0C3 | | 428 Academy Road, Winnipeg, MB R3N 0C3 | || 428 Academy Road, Winnipeg, MB R3N 0C3 |

Professional. Local. Travel Services Exceeding Expectations.

Professional.

Professional. Local.

Local. Travel Travel Services Services Exceeding Exceeding Expectations.

Expectations.

Photo/Unsplash Joshua Stannard

Christopher Morris

THE RUNNER Severn Thompson Associate Director

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Directing:

Measure for Measure (Shakespeare in High Park); Team on the Hill (Blyth); The Pigeon King (Blyth/NAC); Peter Pan (Bad Hats Theatre/MTYP/Soulpepper); Madam Mao (Azure River/SummerWorks). Acting: Elle (Theatre Passe Muraille/Firehall Arts Centre/PTE); Breathing Corpses (Coal Mine Theatre); Seeds (Blyth); More Fine Girls, Rune Arlidge (Tarragon). Upcoming directing: Just to Get Married (Shaw).

FILM/TV (selected) Acting: Becoming Burlesque, Murdoch Mysteries, Helix.

ET CETERA Awards: Dora for Outstanding Direction (Peter Pan). Associate Artistic Director at the Blyth Festival.

Gillian Gallow Set & Costume Designer

ROYAL MTC Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, A Christmas Carol, Hand to God, Million Dollar Quartet, Seminar (with Mirvish), Hirsch, Venus in Fur, God of Carnage (with VP), One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (with TC).

OTHER THEATRE Previous Human Cargo credits include Night and The Road to Paradise. Selected credits: Hadrian and Louis Riel (COC); Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Physicists, Hirsch, The Three Musketeers (Stratford); An Octoroon, Stage Kiss, The Russian Play, The Devil’s Disciple (Shaw); Art, August: Osage County, Idomeneus, Orlando, Testament of

Mary, Incident at Vichy (Soulpepper); King Lear, Stuff Happens (NAC). Upcoming: The Importance of Being Earnest, The Doctor’s Dilemma (Shaw); Beautiful Renegades (Peggy Baker Dance Projects).

ET CETERA Awards: Gillian is the recipient of the 2021 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre, the 2018 Viriginia and Myrtle Cooper Award in Costume Design and she has been awarded four Doras.

Bonnie Beecher Lighting Designer

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Sexual

Misconduct of the Middle Classes, Small Room at The Top of the Stairs, Vigil, Blessings, Frida K, Gravity Calling, The Whirlpool, The Faraway Nearby, One-Eyed Kings, Sideman, Wide Awake Hearts (Tarragon); The Crucible (Stratford); Sex (Shaw); Was Ihr Wollt (Karlsruhe Ballet, Germany); Hadrian (COC); Rigoletto (Edmonton Opera); ROOM (Grand); Paradise Lost (Centaur); Nussknacker (Ballet AM Rhein, Dusseldorf). Upcoming: Light (Tarragon); Jane Eyre (Citadel); Don Giovani (Pacific Opera); Swan Lake (National Ballet of Canada); and Just to Get Married (Shaw).

ET CETERA Bonnie has designed over 350 productions for theatre, opera and dance. bonniebeecher.com

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

28

Ovation

march/april 2022

Proud to be a sponsor of the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre’s production of The Runner at the Tom Hendry Warehouse.

“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”

- Oscar Wilde www.asperfoundation.com

WE TRIED We really did. We tried to photograph a pint of our refreshing, award-winning beer but everytime we turned our heads, it was gone.

It’s just that good.

You might have better luck.

Pick some up in the lobby, your favourite beer store, Liquor Marts and in our very own taproom.

330-830 King Edward Street torquebrewing.beer

THE RUNNER Alexander MacSween Composer & Sound Designer ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE (selected) Bunny (Tarragon); The Darkness, Peepshow, The Invisible, The Fury of my Thoughts, Violence (Marie Brassard); What We Are Saying (Public Recordings); Christina The Girl King, The Last Wife, The Virgin Trial, Oedipus Rex (Stratford); Hamlet (Necessary Angel); Woyzeck (Brigitte Haentjens); Zulu Time (Robert Lepage).

Upcoming: Kisses Deep (Centaur); Violence

by Marie Brassard on tour (NAC/Usine C).

ET CETERA Awards: Shortlist for the 2018 Siminovitch Prize.

Jeff Pybus Production Manager, Associate Lighting Designer & Technical Director ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Herringbone, The Yalta

Game, Hedwig & The Angry Inch, The Judas Kiss (TiFT); Seagulls, The Killing, The Madness of Lady Bright (Shaw Festival Director’s Projects); The Importance of Being Earnest (Capitol Theatre); Flush, Trouble in Mind, Desire Under the Elms, Assassin’s in Concert, Sex, Victory, The Russian Play (Shaw; Assistant Lighting Design); Shout! The Mod Musical (Magnus); Come Down From Upriver (Theatre Orangeville); Sunday in the Park with George (Theatre Sheridan); Between Riverside and Crazy (The Coal Mine; Assoc. Lighting Design); A Huron County Christmas Carol, The Pigeon King (Blyth; Assoc. Lighting Design); Vigilante (Catalyst/Grand; Assistant Lighting Design); Silence (Grand; Assistant

Lighting & Video Design); Theory (Tarragon; Assistant Lighting Design). Jeff will be returning to the Shaw Festival as an assistant lighting designer for the 2022 season.

ET CETERA Awards: Nominee for the 2020 Pauline McGibbon Award. Jeff (he/him) is a Lighting & Video Designer and Technical Director for theatres across Ontario. He is also an avid hobbyist astrophotographer and cat Dad. jeffpybus.ca

Sarah Miller Stage Manager

ROYAL MTC First engagement.

OTHER THEATRE Monday Nights (6th Man

Collective/Theatre Centre); I Send You This Cadmium Red (Art of Time Ensemble); Bang Bang, The Crackwalker, Morro and Jasp: 9 to 5, Twisted (Factory); Of Mice and Morro and Jasp, Where the Wild Things Are (MTYP); Trace (Red Sky Performance); Lil’ Red Robin Hood (Ross Petty Productions); The Women, John Bull’s Other Island (Shaw); Sisters, Innocence Lost, Of Human Bondage, Spoon River, A Christmas Carol, Hosanna, The Heidi Chronicles, Angels in America, The Aleph (Soulpepper); Orestes, Yaga (Tarragon); Miracle on 34th Street, Private Lives, It’s a Wonderful Life (TNB); The De Chardin Project (Theatre Passe Muraille); Freedom Singer, Towards Youth (Project Humanity).

ET CETERA Sarah is a mentor and instructor of Stage Management at Humber College and X University. She is excited to return to live performance with the fine folks at Human Cargo and Royal MTC and wishes The Runner company a wonderful run.

For a complete list of theatre abbreviations, please refer to legend on page 4

30

Ovation

march/april 2022

Great theatre lives here.

At BMO, we take pride in our local communities and the artists that contribute to the cultural diversity and artistic richness of our cities.

We’re proud to support the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

THE RUNNER ET CETERA Katie is excited to be back and

Katie Schmidt

working on another Royal MTC production. Thanks and love to Mom, Dad, Raya and Felix. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Assistant Stage Manager

The Asper Foundation ROYAL MTC Apprentice Stage Manager: The Cottage, A Doll’s House, Sense and Sensibility. Apprentice Costumer: Sarah Ballenden.

OTHER THEATRE Assistant Stage Manager: VOICE (PTE). Apprentice Stage Manager: Ghost Light (PTE). Stage Manager: Frozen River, Tiny Treasures (MTYP). Costumer: Mary’s Wedding (TPM). Props and Set Coordinator: The Winter’s Tale, Hamlet, Timon of Athens, Romeo and Juliet (SIR).

TRAINING University of Winnipeg Theatre and Film.

Production Sponsor Israel Asper, O.C., O.M., Q.C., L.L.D. (1932–2003) and Babs Asper (1933–2011) believed that philanthropy is a driving force behind positive change in people’s quality of life. For this reason, they formed The Asper Foundation in Winnipeg in 1983 to build upon their and the Asper family’s philanthropic objectives. The Foundation develops major projects and provides general support to the Jewish Community while also supporting the broader community in areas of culture, education, community development, and human rights on a local, national and international scale.

HUMAN CARGO

Human Cargo is a Toronto-based theatre company mandated to the creation, production and touring of new theatrical works. Founded in 2007 by artistic director Christopher Morris, Human Cargo creates innovative, theatrical experiences that provide audiences with a safe environment to engage in a thorough and provocative discussion of ideas.

We collaborate with theatre artists and companies in Canada, and around the world, to create our work. We develop our plays over long periods, in the countries and communities the play is set in, and present these productions in Canada and the places they were developed. To date, Human Cargo has worked in Nunavut, Iceland, Greenland, Israel, Palestinian Territories, Republic of Georgia, CFB Petawawa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Central African Republic. We’ve presented our work in English, Inuktitut, Icelandic and Dari. Committed to removing the geographic/financial/cultural barriers between potential audiences and our work, we implement a touring/presentation model that reaches out to a new generation of viewing public. We believe this is the only way to engage 21st Century audiences in Toronto, Canada and the World.

Projects currently in development are The China Project (a collaboration with Beijing playwright Zhuang Yi and Hong Kong born/Canadian playwright Ho Ka Kei [Jeff Ho]), Éclatée (a french-language collaboration with Quebec theatre artists) and Annie Pootoogook: Portrait of an Artist (a collaboration with Inuk performers and Montréal’s Mirari multidisciplinary creative studio). Humancargo.ca Human Cargo Theatre is a Registered Charity: 814510616 RR0001 The Runner is a touring production. To discuss touring possibilities, please contact Human Cargo’s Artistic Director Christopher Morris at christopher@humancargo.ca.

Human Cargo Board: Heather Daley, Shernold Edwards, Phil Hahn, Donna Kimmaliardjuk

“Because the arts forge human connection and ignite unforeseen possibilities within all of us.”

Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

FindyourBeCause.org ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES

ENVIRONMENT AND ANIMAL WELFARE

HEALTH, WELLNESS AND RECREATION

LITERACY, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

COMMUNITY

Give to your favourite Cause at The Foundation and make Winnipeg better by helping local charities.

SUPPORTERS Many thanks to our donors who made a gift between Nov 1, 2020 and Feb 1, 2022.

DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $10,000+ Gail Asper, OC, OM, LLD* & Michael Paterson Estate of David Lawrence Didluck Deborah Gray June & Bob Jackson Memorial Fund for the Performing Arts – The Winnipeg Foundation Kingfisher Foundation Bernie & Rhonda Plett Jim & Leney Richardson Susan Glass & Arni Thorsteinson

$6,500-9,999 David Christianson & Vera Steinberger Elizabeth Marr & Nick Slonosky Leslie John Taylor Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation

$4,000-6,499 Pauline Braun – in memory of Duane Braun‡ David & Lianne Carefoot Sylvia Flam‡ Ms. Sophie Gaska Sara Gray Rita Gunn & Gregory Mason Camilla Holland† & Colin Viebrock‡ Grace Man Leigh Murphy – in memory of Liam Murphy‡ The Jim & Janice Tennant Foundation Dr. Marcel Van Woensel

$2,000-3,999 Dianne J. Beaven Craig McIntosh & Lorraine Beck Fund Todd & Judy Bourcier Sheldon & Penny Bowles Dr. Lorne Bellan & Dr. Bonnie Cham David* & Barb Christie Kerry Dangerfield*‡ Dr. Lawrence & Ms. Brenda Ellerby Tony* & Jennifer Fletcher‡ John* & Nicola Guttormson‡ Linda Hamilton & Grange Morrow‡ Houston Family of Bradwardine Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Derek & Mary Johannson David & Diane Johnston Dr. P. Kmet & Mr. B. Roslycky

Serena Helen Kraayeveld Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Donna & Dave* Lalama Ahava Halpern & Frank Lavitt‡ Jeff Neufeld & Katrina Lee-Kwen Bill & Shirley Loewen Jim* & Penny McLandress‡ Laurie Lam & Larry Desrochers Vivienne Nickerson Scott Penner Mr. & Mrs. Lawrie & Fran Pollard Drs. Bill Pope & Elizabeth Tippett Pope Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Sanford & Deborah Riley Maitland & Pat Sundmark Kelly Thornton† & Josep Seras-Gubert‡ Jeremy Trickett* & Brandon Barnes Trickett Scott & Sonya Wright Fund Dr. Dorothy Y. Young Anonymous – in memory of Shannon Hirsch Anonymous

$1,200-1,999 Edward* & Jaime Acuna‡ D. T. Anderson John Borger Cathie & Brian Bowerman Doneta Brotchie, CM* & Harry Brotchie‡ Brenlee Carrington Trepel & Brent Trepel Chambers Family*‡ Haderra & Mark Chisick Heather Clarke* Jan* & Kevin Coates Hugh Conacher Ben & Shari Diamond Andrew Drinnan†‡ Helene Dyck Katherine Fox*‡ Susan* & Ab Freig‡ Carolyn Garlich & Peter Miller Gift Fund Blair & Amanda Graham Mintie Grienke Sharon Hamilton‡ Vivian Hilder-Skwark & David Skwark – in memory of Mike Skwark‡ Jeff Hirsch & Liz Murray Shawn Hughes* & Bruno Koehn‡ Aileen Hunt & George Lamont Katie Inverarity†‡ Hon. William Johnston Karen Klym & Roger Suss David* & Ellen Kroft‡ Katarina Kupca‡ J. Lamothe

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

march/april 2022

Ovation

Rick Lee & Laurie Shapiro Andrea Lochhead* Reginald & Judy Low Dr. Douglas MacEwan Mark & Gloria Mancini‡ Virginia Martin & the late Robert Martin Kathy Menzies Grant Mitchell & Cat Lambeth Jeffrey* & Mary Morton Melissa Novecosky†‡ Dr. H. Nyhof & Jo-Anne Lutz Wayne & Linda Paquin K. Heather Power & Harold Klause‡ Lawrence Prout* & Lisa Gardewine‡ Margaret Redmond* & Greg Gillis‡ Nancy & Loren Remillard Mrs. Shirley Richardson Sudhir Sandhu* Marlis Schroeder Jeff Sisler & Cathy Rippin-Sisler Logan Family Fund Ken & Susan* Skinner Kevin Hines & Shelly Smith-Hines‡ Bill & Laurie* Speers Joan Stephens – in memory of Annice Stephens‡ Shelley† & Mark Stroski‡ Sasha & Josh Thiem*‡ Geeta* & Michael Tucker‡ Sindee & Albert Wilhelmer Rick & Claire* Workman Nicole Zajac 2 Anonymous

COMPANY CIRCLE $600-1,199 Robert & Ina Abra Family Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Dr. Liz Adkins Wendy & Ron Anthony Margaret & Jim Astwood Norma & Glenn Baldwin Wayne Billing Ms. Jo-Anne Drewniak Barbara & Patrick Fawcett Paulo Fernandes‡ Barbara Hamilton Gregg & Mary Hanson Thelma Hitchen N. & L. Holliday Gerald Jewers Jurgen & Glenda Kannwischer Laurence Katz & Zoë Kogan Gerard Kennedy & Jane Hilderman Peter Klippenstein Belinda Knopf Donna L. Korban & Family

†Current Royal MTC staff

‡Monthly donors

35

SUPPORTERS The Honourable Guy J. Kroft & Hester Kroft* Josee Lavoie Dr. G. H. Lawler Ian & Nicki LeGrand Kerrie Halprin & Richard Leipsic John & Roberta Lewis Pat & Jim Ludwig Brian & Christie Lysack Mr. G. Markham Gerard Matte & Lydia Surasky Matte Barry§ & Carol McArton Michael McGovern Campbell & Lorraine McIntyre Janet & Alex McKenzie Terri & Jim McKerchar‡ Ron McKinnon & Peggy Barker Marilyn & Robert Menzies Ms. Lisa Neron Tracey Novak D. & G. Nytepchuk Kris Olafson‡ Richard & Bonnie Olfert Ivan & Cathy Oresnik Cameron & Carole Osler Cam Mackie & Doris Mae Oulton Donna Plant Ann Pound-Holl Iris Reimer David & Joan Rew Henriette Ricou & Jure Manfreda Barbara Scheuneman Daniel Shapiro & Susan Shore Albert Skiba Carol & Ron Slater Fund – Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Deborah Spracklin Shayne & Kathryn Taback Georgia Taillieu Dr. Peter Triggs‡ Vicki Verville‡ Murray & Nancy Wiegand Reed & Arla Winstone Margaret Wollner 4 Anonymous

$250-599 Pat & Darrell Adams Pat & Bob Adamson Brian Adolph‡ Dawn Andersen Wayne & Lee Anderson Bob & Joy Antenbring Elizabeth B. Armytage Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Dennis & Elaine Schultz Peter Bagot Sheena Baird†‡ Dr. J Baluta & Ms. O. Kandia Earl & Cheryl Barish Larry Beeston & Anna Sikora

Ms. Kathleen E. Bell Byrnes Benoit Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Bergbusch David Bergmann Ryan Bernier Irene Bilan Victoria Blair Ms. Linda Blair Edward Blandford Laurie Bleeks Dick Bloemheuvel Linda Boaz Marnie Bolland Lilian Bonin & Daniel P Levin Colleen & Stephen Bonner R. & D. Boroditsky John & Marilyn Bourbonnais Dr. Elizabeth Boustcha Derek Boutang The Hon. Patricia Bovey Ron & Joan Boyd Margaret Braid Kris & Ruth Breckman Billy Brodovsky & Libby Yager‡ Sheila & David Brodovsky Mona Brown Ellen & George Bruce Rita Burgess Ms. Maureen Burnham Mr. & Mrs. B. Carruthers Cheryl Chaban Rosemary Chapman Ms. Caroline Charrette Lawrie & Bea Cherniack Nancy Chuback Glen & Lorna Clark Kenneth Clark & Pamela Lockman Aynsley Cockshott The Convery Family Pam & Andrew Cooke Ms. Helen Cooper Diane Coughlin Jim & Gwen Court Robert Coutts Daniel Cowan Drs. Kristen Creek & Josh Manusow A. Worley & P. Czaykowski Werner & Judy Danchura Linda Daniels Chris Darazsi‡ Bob & Alison Darling J. Davidson‡ Doug De Graff Diane Degraves Andrea Hector & Kirk Dellebuur Alan Diduck Diana Dinon Heather Dixon & Tony Harwood Jones Carl & Wilma Doerksen Neil & Carol Duboff Sharron & Joel Dudeck

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

36

†Current Royal MTC staff

Ovation

June Dutka H. Dyck Roberta Dyck Glen* & Joan Dyrda Greg Edmond & Irene Groot-Koerkamp Dr. Michael Eleff & Chana Thau Don & Elfie Elias Sheila Engel Ms. Martha Epstein Dan & Lilianne Erickson Jemara Fay‡ Gordon Flaten & Louise Pelletier Susan Fraser Christine Freeman Anne Friesen Chad & Gina Friesen Curwin & Jill Weber Friesen Felicia & Trevor Frost Paul Daeninck & Monica Furer Colleen & Dan Furlan‡ Daniel Gagnon Basil & Judy Galarnyk Lynne & Lindsay Gauld‡ Gautron Management Services Inc. Alan & Lee-Anne Gellatly Heather Gillander Lorraine & Ian Glassford Serky & Ben Goldberg Elisabeth Gordon Jeremy & Maureen Gordon Karin Gordon Kayla Gordon & Art Maister Barbara Hague Ms. Christine Halma Sylvia & Doug Hannah Barbara Harrison Frank & Sue Hechter Gail Hechter Dr. Kristin Maria Heinrichs Medical Corp.

Rodney Hick & Tracey Jackson Michael & Crystal Hollas‡ Carol Holmes & Brian Duff Ken Houssin Estate of Elsie Hughes Ms. Kathleen Hughes Robert Hykawy Jean Hyrich Dr. James C. & Muriel Jamieson Sylvia Jansen Neil & Herta Janzen Robert & Karen Johnston Lisa Johnston‡ James Tam & Katherine Jordan Marilyn & Sheldon Joyal Joyal Felines Koren Kaminski Lydia Kandia Budilian Kehler & Tina Fehr Kehler Robert Kennedy & Claudette Leclerc

‡Monthly donors

§ Fondly Remembered

march/april 2022

A STAGE TO CELEB ATE A SEASON TO ENJOY Proud sponsors of Royal MTC.

fillmoreriley.com

16344-FR-MTC-Advertisement[4.75x3.75]-October2021-FNL.indd 1

FILLMORE RILEY LLP LAWYERS AND TRADEMARK AGENTS

2021-11-02 1:00 PM

SUPPORTERS Roger & Brenda Kennedy Peter Kingsley Betty Klassen Eileen & George Klassen Shan Dickson & Andrea Kneale Ms. Julie Koehn Denise & David Koss Lorraine Kozub Brenda & Trevor Kriss‡ Howard & Jane Kroeger Kerry & Janet Kruger Randie & Jan Kushnier Richard Lambert Debra Edie Lamont Ms. Brenda Carter Desiree Lavallee†‡ Mrs. Anita Lavoie John & Heather Lea Bob Leggett Tim Preston & Dave Ling Charles & Diane Littman Lois Litz Chris Loepp Gail Loewen Linda & Ray Loewen Peter & Maureen Macdonald MacDonald/Cageorge Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Shawn Madak Judith Manning Marilyn Marshall Ms. Grace Martel Liz Martin Jim & Lynne McClelland Marlene & Ian McKay Greg & Gloria McLaren John & Carolynne McLure Fund – The Winnipeg Foundation Donald G. McNabb Brian Macri & Nancy McQuade Constantina Metaxas Albert & Judith Metcalfe‡ Susie Miclash Janine Milani Dr. Catherine Moltzan & Paul Brault Gloria Moodrey Tom Mooney Vera Moroz Sagan Morrow‡ Cathy Moser & Jeff Itzkow Suzanne & Kenneth Munroe Brad Nance R. Frank Obrigewitsch Marie Ohta Joanne Olchowecki Murray Palay & Ivy Kopstein Terry Panych Jean-Pierre Parenty Judith Parker Dr. Philip Pass Peter & Anita Pelech

Maryam & Izzy Peltz Fund – Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Jo-Anne & Harvey Peltz Fred Goeke & Layna Penner Mrs. Bonnie Penno‡ Rick Pinchin Leonard & Ruth Podheiser & The Podheiser Family Foundation Calvin & Jen Polet Beth Pollard Carolyn Porhownik Jocelyne Prefontaine Maureen Prendiville & Paul Jensen Ms. Judith Putter Tammy Rabkin Vivian E. Rachlis Linda & Michael Radcliffe John & Marilyn Rae Carole Rankin‡ Elizabeth Ready Dr. Martin Reed & Joy Cooper Brad Regehr & Nalini Reddy* Lorraine & Ernest Reinfort Joan Richardson Jean Riggall Tony Robbins Andrea & Michael Robertson‡ Jay & Andria Ross Tamara Rossie Deborah & Neil Rostkowski Pat & Michelle Rowan Olga A. Runnalls‡ Michael T. Ruta Eduard Ryabinov Cathy Sabiston Emile Samuels Cathy & Paul Samyn Ms. Nadine Scholl Harald & Vicki Schulz Faye Scott Darcia & Gary Senft Jewish Foundation of Manitoba – in memory of Sybil Shack for the benefit of MTC Diane Shapiro Louise Shaw Bill Shepherd & Beverley Vane Blake Shiaro Shinewald Family Christina & John Slipec Mrs. Lorraine Smith Mark C. Smith & Sabrina Smith Irene & Jim Snell – in honour of Jim Pappas Al* & Virginia Snyder Peter & Geri Spencer Marlene Stern Nancy Streuber Eleanor Suderman Lorne Sunley Mary Ann Supleve

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

38

Ovation

Ray & Fenella Temmerman Karen Tereck – Welcome to Winnipeg Inc. Leah R. Janzen & Ian R. Thomson Malcolm & Shirley Tinsley Greg Tottle Gord & Lorena Trann B. Baydock & W. Tretiak Elizabeth Turnock Mrs. Heather Tymoschuk Tim Valgardson & Cecily O’Callaghan Irvin & Toby Vinsky Dr. & Mrs. M. B. Vodrey Sheera Waisman – in memory of Mrs. Frances Settler Stirling Walkes Colleen Webb Jesse Wente Norma & Ron Westcott Debra Wiens Lionel & Lorraine Wiens Kathy Gough & Tim Wildman Catherine Wilkie Leslie Wilson Klaus & Elsa Wolf Deborah A. Wolfe Margaret & Paul Wright Klaus & Dorit Wrogemann Ms. Landice Yestrau & Mr. Kyle Reeves A Young Olga & Roman Zubach 16 Anonymous

$150-249 Sherry Allard-Harber Donna Allary R.E. Allison Elena Anciro Tatiana Arcand Jennifer & Scott Ash Elizabeth Atkinson Peter Attwood Nadine Audet Michel & Danita Aziza Marilyn Badke Zaz Bajon & Patricia Hunter Richard & Nancy Ball Dr. Corinne Barrett DeWiele Richard Bartlinski Karen & John Bate Sheila Beauchemin Mrs. Lorna Beaudry James & Dawn-Lynne Bedford Susan & George Benias Trish Bergal Eric & Maureen Bergen Keevin & Faren Bernstein Trust Beta Edwin M. Bethune Kelly Black & Sheila Curry

†Current Royal MTC staff

‡Monthly donors

march/april 2022

SUPPORTERS Marjorie Blankstein CM, OM, LLD Joan Blight Helga & Gerhard Bock Morva Bowman & Alan Pollard Robert Briercliffe France Adams & Stephen Brodovsky Debby & Bob Brown Brian Brown Ken & Denise Brown Terry Bruneau Carol Budnick Sean & Melanie Bueckert John Burrows Gerald & Carmen Butler Enid Butler L. K. Butler Diane & Gus* Campbell Dr. Lloyd & Marian Campbell Robin Campbell Sandra Campbell Ms. Sherry Cannon Arlene Carr Ken & Elizabeth Carroll Jeff Carter Sylvia Cassie Jody Chalmers & Monique Perro‡ Hilda Cherry Art & Donna Chow A son’s Tribute to Berdie & Irvin Cohen – Flow Through Fund Hy & Pat Cohen Fund Agnes & John K. Collins Donna Collins Diane Connelly Graham & Linda Connor Sarah Corley Larry & Christine Cowan Bob & Lena Cox Greg Cox Roy & Marie Craig Janet Cutler Matthew Cutler & Dr. Avery Miller Susan Cuvelier J. Dale Georges Damphousse Kenneth DeLisle Stan Diachun Margaret & Sylvia Docker Sheila Domke & Stephen Ross Tom Dooley Sheila Down Rob Dryden John & Ada Ducas Marilyn Dudek Heather Goulden & Jay Duncan Michael Duncan Craig & Claudette Dunn Pamela Dykstra David & Barbara Ediger‡ John Edwards & Wendy Stelko John & Marylin Ekins

Charlotte Enns Anthony Esposito Marion Fellinger Nelma Fetterman Jo-Anne Findlay Doug & Pat Finkbeiner Ms. Eleanor Finlay Ms. Judith Marchand Elvira & Harry Finnigan Gayle Fischer Beverley & Ronald John Fitzpatrick Lawrence Foster‡ Jack Fraser Gloria & Rick Gallant Frank Filbert & Linda Garwood-Filbert Jane Park & Blair Geisel Trish Gibson Bill & Sharon Glanville Darlene Golinoski Marcia & John Gordon John & Margaret Graham Moira Graham M. Gray Dr. Darrell Grymonpre Derryl Hall Jackie Halliburton Bonnie Hallman F. Hanlon Linda Harlos & Adrian Wildsmith Bruce & Judy Harris Carol Harvey Teresa A. Hay Ken & Ruth Hayes Evelyn & Larry Hecht Mary Heindle Gail Henderson-Brown David & Mary Hickling Ted & Cathy Hlynsky Rob & Jen Hochkievich‡ John & Lenore Hodge Mary Hodge Ann Hodges Kathryn Hofley Carol & Ian Hughes Catherine Hunter Jeremy Hutsebaut Mrs. Kadri Irwin G. C. Irwin-Kilfoyle Wendy & Jim Jackson Marlis & David Jacobson Elizabeth Janzen Margaret Jeffries Lynne Jentsch Dave & Lesia Johns Tiffany Johnson-Sheldon Tannis & Owen Johnston Sheryl Kapitz & Aaron London Brian & Renee Kaplan S. Kasian April & Diamond Kassum Dr. Arvind & Nancy Kati

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

40

Ovation

John King & Rochelle Yanofsky Melvin & Margaret Klassen Sarah Klassen Paul & Tamara Kochan Marvin Koop William Kops Jennifer & Andrew Kosie Lisa Koss & Alex Vecherya Jacki & Sheldon Koven Lorraine Kraichy‡ Sarah Kredentser & David Lowen Paula Kristjanson Hasiuk Jonathan & Cara Kroft Leonard & Helen La Rue Teena Laird Lisa & Ted Landrum Barbara Latocki Bryen Lebar & Patricia Sauder‡ Helen Leeds Tim & Kate Letkemann‡ Jay Lev Sherrill & David Levene Stephanie Levene Ms. Barbara Lillie Tara Lindgren Stan & Susan Lipnowski Dr. Karen Lischka Judy & Eric Lister Teresa Lopata & Bruce Wagg Sarah Luby Maylene & Israel Ludwig Janis Lumsden Carole Lupkowski Mary Jane MacLennan John Marakovits John & Helen Marakovits Elaine & Neil Margolis Ilse Marotta Agatha Massey Cheryl & Eric Matheson Linda Matheson Shirley Matile Roxana Mazur Bob & Betty McCamis Barbara McCandless Melanie McCannell Marie McCarthy Mr. & Mrs T. Simoes Colleen McKenty Doug McNeil & Julie Frederickson Linda Meckling Catarina Mello Schultz Barb Melnychuk Heather Mian Jim & Karren Middagh Dr. & Mrs. M. Mollot Allison Moore Rodney Moorhead Mr. Ron Morgan Ryan & Ewa Morphy Kelly Murray

†Current Royal MTC staff

‡Monthly donors

march/april 2022

SUPPORTERS B. Nagamori Marika Nerbas Tom Nowicki Irene Onuch Mark O’Rourke Kristen H. Pachet Pak-Wai Chan Marlene & Richard Paterson Sonya & Derek Penner Brian Perchaluk – in memory of Sue Groff Donald & Elaine Peters Linda & Rob Pettit Jocelyn Pitsch Virginia Platt Denise Plett Carla Plummer Dave Plummer & Debra Schweyer David Poggemiller Heather Pullan & Tom Frohlinger Dr. R. & Audrey Ramchandar Jim & Kathy Ranick Mohamed Rashwan Linda Ratynski Cheryl Reid Arnold & Shirley Reimer Brian & Laurel Repski Mr. & Mrs. William Reynolds Ron Richert – in memory of Gail Rechert Estate of Margaret Ritchie Jan Roberts Roslyn Roberts Nicole Robidoux Linda Robinson Gail MacAulay & Kevin Rollason V. Rosolowich Debbie Roy Sandra Sadler Sandy Sager Denyse & Ken Saloranta Jonas & Susan Sammons Cheryl Samson-Siemens & Gordon Siemens Rodrigo Sanches Cunha Terry Sargeant & Margaret Haney Onnolee Scharf Colleen & Bertram Schneider Hans & Gabriele Schneider M. & S. Schumann Ray & Leanna Senez Greg Sexsmith & Joni Lavender Sexsmith Jim & Susan Shaw Lynn Shead Pietra Shirley Margot Sim Dr. Ruth Simkin Linda Simpson Ms. Sandra Slattery Jack & Sabrina Slessor

Michelle Smith Elaine Mordoch Karen Stach Darlene Stepanik Steve Stephanson Kim Stephens Lisa & Daniel Stiver Heidi Struck‡ Tom & Shirley Strutt Paul Sulit‡ Pam Sveinson & Brad Oswald Heather & Donald Talocka Ross & Bette-Jayne Taylor Lois Tessier Sharon Timson‡ Karen Tjaden Alex Todd Jonathan Toews D & L Toews Cindy Tolpa Elaine Tolpa Jen & Kevin Tomanek Marilyn Trepel Eric Turner Chris Turyk† & Bryce Weedmark‡ Arlene Van Ruiten Maria A. Versace C & J Vukelic Helmut & Gwen Waedt Carrie Wai Gordon Walkty Jane & Don Walters‡ Paul & Laura Walton Robert & Sherilyn Ward Peter & Joan Washchyshyn Lois & Henry Wedel Mary Agnes Welch‡ Michael & Lydia West Al & Pat Wherrett‡ Alfred Wiebe Theresa Wiktorski Deanna Wilks Dennis & Gustine Wilton Evelyn Witwicki Grant & Sheila Woods Jason Woywada Martina Wuersch & Craig Wray Raymond & Louise Wyant 32 Anonymous

SPONSOR 300 Main Air Canada The Asper Foundation The Gail Asper Family Foundation Assiniboine Credit Union Bell MTS Birchwood Lexus BMO Financial Group

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

march/april 2022

Ovation

Bonaventure Travel Inc. C&T Rentals Canada Life Culligan Water Dycom Direct Mail Services Esdale Printing Co. Ltd. Fairmont Winnipeg Fillmore Riley LLP Friesens Corporation The Gates on Roblin HUB International IG Wealth Management Jones & Co Wine Merchants Lawton Partners Manitoba Bar Association Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries McDiarmid Flowers McNally Robinson Booksellers RBC Foundation RE/MAX Red River Co-operative Ltd. Relish New Brand Experience Stantec Consulting Ltd. Taylor McCaffrey LLP TD Bank Group Torque Brewing Wawanesa Insurance The Winnipeg Foundation The Winnipeg Free Press

CORPORATE DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE $25,000+ Johnston Group Inc. Richardson Foundation

$5,000-9,999 Cambrian Credit Union The Albert D. Cohen Family Fund PwC

$3,000-4,999 Terracon Development Ltd.

$1,200-2,999 Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd., Kate M. Everett, President Maple Leaf Construction Ltd., Blake Fitzpatrick Maxim Truck & Trailer Pollard Banknote Limited PRA Inc. Qualico

†Current Royal MTC staff

‡Monthly donors

41

SUPPORTERS CORPORATE COMPANY CIRCLE $600-1,199 Astroid Management Ltd. Mid West Packaging Limited Premier Printing Ltd. Winnipeg Building & Decorating Ltd.

$300-599 Acuity HR Solutions Diamond Gallery

$150-299 Diva Lingerie and Swim Wear Funseekers Ladies Travel FWS Group of Companies Gautron Management Services Inc Intergroup Consultants Ltd. Patill/St. James Insurance

FOUNDERS’ CIRCLE Wayne & Lee Anderson Gail Asper, OC, OM, LLD* Zdzislaw (Zaz) Bajon & Patricia Hunter Marjorie & Morley§ Blankstein Duane§ & Pauline Braun Doneta Brotchie, CM* & Harry Brotchie Ken & Denise Brown David & Lianne Carefoot Len & Heather Cariou Terri Cherniack & Steven Schipper, CM, OM Jennifer Cheslock & George Buri David Christianson & Vera Steinberger David* & Barb Christie Gerry & Chris Couture Hugh B. Cowan Kerry Dangerfield* Laurie Lam & Larry Desrochers Glen* & Joan Dyrda Robert & Florence Eastwood Don & Elfie Elias Bill§ & Gayle Fischer Anthony* & Jennifer Fletcher Jack Fraser James Gibbs§ Sandy* & Rheal Gousseau Rita Gunn & Greg Mason John* & Nicola Guttormson Ahava Halpern & Frank Lavitt Linda Hamilton & Grange Morrow Gary Hannaford* & Cathy Rushton Ted§ & Gail Hechter Elaine Heinicke§

June§

& Bob Jackson Fund for the Performing Arts Maureen E. Jay Andrew & Wendy Jensen David & Diane Johnston Dr. Leonard & Hope§ Kahane Janis Kaminsky Jason Kasper John Kearsey Gordon & Anne Keatch§ Rob Kennedy & Claudette Leclerc Serena Helen Kraayeveld Leona J. MacDonald Cheryl Johannson§ & Michael Mainman Mark & Gloria Mancini Virginia Martin Peggy Barker & Ron McKinnon Jim* & Penny McLandress Barb Melnychuk Bob & Pat Migliore Jeffrey Morton* Ken & Sharon Mould Dr. Liam Murphy§ Robb & Heather Paterson Chris Pearce Scott Penner Gina & John* C. Petersmeyer Drs. Bill Pope & Elizabeth Tippett-Pope K. Heather Power & Harold Klause Margaret Redmond* & Greg Gillis Edward Fisher & Lyse Rémillard Joan D. Richardson Michelle Rowan Sharon Ryman Susan Skinner* Kevin Hines & Shelly Smith-Hines Bill & Laurie* Speers Deborah Spracklin Joan Stephens Joanne Tait Suzanne Ullyot Lionel & Lorraine Wiens Margaret§ & Alfred Wikjord Richard L. Yaffe* & John A. Statham§ Brenda Zaporzan§ 2 Anonymous

TRIBUTE GIFTS In memory of Jackson Armstrong Doris Quinn In honour of Kathleen & Alan Christensen Tannis & Owen Johnston In memory of Irena Cohen Brenlee, Brent, Skyler & Sierra Trepel

*Current Royal MTC Board of Trustees/Advisory Board members

A Son’s Tribute to Berdie & Irvin Cohen Jewish Foundation of Manitoba In memory of Jim Gibbs Tessa Pearen In memory of Shannon Hirsch Anonymous In memory of Bruce Hunt Sharon Love In honour of Michael Joyal Sheldon & Penny Bowles Serena Helen Kraayeveld Fund The Winnipeg Foundation In memory of Bev Muzyk Kevin, Kirsten, Ian & Finlay McCorrister In memory of Jim Pappas Lillian Neaman & Doug Skoor Irene & Jim Snell Susan & Ken Skinner Gail Asper, O.C., O.M., LL.D & Michael Paterson In memory of Gail Rechert Ron Richert In honour of Frank Sylvester Gaetanne Sylvester

ENDOWMENT – STEVEN SCHIPPER FUND Many thanks to the generosity of our Endowment Fund donors who gave a gift or fulfilled a pledge payment between Jun 1, 2020 and Oct 15, 2021. Amounts listed are cumulative. $5,000,000+ Government of Canada/ Gouvernement du Canada Canadian Heritage/Patrimoine canadien

$250,000-499,999 Gail Asper, OC, OM, LLD* & Michael Paterson

$100,000-249,999 Marjorie Blankstein CM, OM, LLD & Morley§ Blankstein Manitoba Theatre Centre Volunteer Corps of Ushers

$25,000-49,999 Susan Glass & Arni Thorsteinson Cam & Carole Osler Terracon Development Ltd.

†Current Royal MTC staff ‡Monthly donors If you have remembered Royal MTC in your will, please let us know.

42

Ovation

§ Fondly Remembered

march/april 2022

SUPPORTERS $10,000-24,999

$1,000-2,499

The Bowles Family Susan & Keith Knox Norma Anne Padilla Dr. Bill Pope & Dr. Elizabeth Tippett-Pope George Sigurdson Margaret§ & Alfred Wikjord

Joan & Edward Alexander David & Pamela Bolton Carol Budnick Art & Donna Chow DGH Engineering Ltd. Brenda & Michael Evans Christine Fleetwood Christine Freeman Dr. Jeremy & Maureen Gordon Teresa A. Hay Marilyn & Helios Hernandez Jordan Janisse & Teresa Cooper Carol Campbell & Andy Krentz Donna & Dave* Lalama Barbara Main Peggy Barker & Ron McKinnon Marlene Milne Jean & Lisa Neron Myron Pawlowsky & Susan Boulter Edna Poulter W. & N. Rennie Howie & Sue Simpson Deborah Spracklin 2 Anonymous

$5,000-9,999 Margaret Caie Pam & Andrew Cooke Gail Hechter Gina O’Connor & John C. Petersmeyer* Barbara Scheuneman Faye Warren Terry & Les Wiens Dr. Dorothy Y. Young

$2,500-4,999

$500-999 Marge & Ted Avent Ron & Joan Boyd Nan Carson Katherine Cobor & Gordon Steindel

UP TO $499 Helen M. Arkos John Burrows Mr. & Mrs. Gary W. E. Firth Abigail Grieder Allan & Evelyn Hardy Nancy Latocki Dr. Shelley Mahoney Barry§ & Carol McArton Bob & Pat Migliore Charlotte Murrell Theresa Oye Henry & Sheila Riendeau Linda L. Wiebe 4 Anonymous

MANY THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS!

gi

vin

g

Rita & Don Campbell Ron & Carol Chapman Michael & Lynn Evans David & Ewhenia Gnutel Irene Miller & the late Claire Miller Iris Reimer Anonymous

Evelyn Hecht Shawn Hughes* & Bruno Koehn Lynne Jentsch Mr. & Mrs. Fred Kisil Barbara Latocki Anthony & Joyce McWha Sandra Sadler Ivor & Lorna Schledewitz Bryce & Jenna Simes Peter & Sharon Taylor Gabor Vamos & Brenda Silver Anonymous

Lega

cy

Your seat awaits.

Will you consider a gift to Royal MTC in your will?

Is Royal MTC already named in your will?

We’d love to honour you as a member of the Royal MTC Founders’ Circle. scan for more info

For more information on Legacy Giving, contact: Chris Turyk 204 954 6412 or cturyk@royalmtc.ca

SUPPORTING PARTNERS CORE FUNDERS

SEASON PARTNERS

TOM HENDRY WAREHOUSE SEASON SPONSOR

EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTION SUPPORTER

Return to the Stage Sponsor

JOHN HIRSCH MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION SPONSORS

TOM HENDRY WAREHOUSE PRODUCTION SPONSOR

OPENING NIGHT SPONSOR

JOHN HIRSCH MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCE SPONSORS

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

DESIGN & DIRECTOR ASSISTANT PROGRAM

KINGFISHER FOUNDATION

NATIONAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

PIMOOTAYOWIN CREATORS CIRCLE

THE BRIDGE: A FESTIVAL OF IDEAS

REGIONAL TOUR

44

Ovation

march/april 2022

SUPPORTING PARTNERS BLACK & WHITE BALL VACATION PRIZE SPONSOR

SPONSORS

LAWYERS PLAY

TRAVEL PARTNERS

DESIGN SPONSOR

CAPITAL ASSISTANCE

SEASON MEDIA SPONSOR

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

WINNIPEG FRINGE THEATRE FESTIVAL

march/april 2022

Ovation

45

BEHIND THE SCENES Maintenance

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Andrew Drinnan, Building Superintendent Chris Fletcher, Assistant Building Superintendent

Honorary Members

Her Honour, Lt. Governor Janice C. Filmon The Honourable Heather Stefanson, Premier of Manitoba His Worship, Mayor Brian Bowman

Marketing & Communications

Executive Officers

John Guttormson, Chair Laurie Speers, Chair-Elect Heather Clarke, Treasurer / Organizational Performance Chair Katherine Fox, Secretary Jeremy Trickett, Governance & Strategic Planning Chair Trustees

Ed Acuna Markus Chambers Jan Coates Susan Freig Shawn Hughes Advisory Council

David Christie, Chair Gail Asper Doneta Brotchie, CM Angus Campbell Gerry Couture Kerry Dangerfield Hy Dashevsky Glen Dyrda, FCA Anthony C. Fletcher John F. Fraser Jean Giguere

Ksenia Broda-Milian, Education Enrichment Manager Sue Caughlin, Marketing & Communications Manager Katie Inverarity, Director of Marketing & Communications Desiree La Vallee, Ticketing Application Specialist Savannah Lillies, Marketing & Communications Coordinator Paint

Carla Schroeder, Head Scenic Artist Melissa Smigelski, Assistant Scenic Artist

David Kroft David Lalama Andrea Lochhead Linda McGarva Cohen Nalini Reddy

Loren Remillard Sudhir Sandhu Josh Thiem Geeta Tucker Claire Workman

Production

Charron Hamilton Gary Hannaford, FCA Yude Henteleff Ken Houssin Colin R. MacArthur, QC Patrick J. Matthews Jim McLandress Jeffrey Morton, FCA Hon. Jack Murta Lillian Neaman

Shelley Nimchonok John Petersmeyer Lawrence Prout Jeff Quinton Patricia Rabson Margaret Redmond Susan Skinner Al Snyder Maureen Watchorn

Zoë Leclerc-Kennedy, Props Builder/Buyer Jamie Plummer, Head of Props Lawrence Van Went, Master Builder (on leave)

Christine Corthey, Assistant Production Manager Chris Coyne, Technical Director, John Hirsch Mainstage Russell Martin, Director of Production Jacqueline Robertson, Assistant Technical Director Properties

Stage Crew

Joan Lees-Miller, Head of Wardrobe Gary Plouffe, Head of Sound Claude Robert, Head Electrician Chris Thomson, Head Carpenter Tom Hendry Warehouse

Chris Brett, Head of Sound Evan Wohlgemut, Head Electrician Wardrobe

STAFF

Thora Lamont, Head of Wardrobe Jackie Van Winkle, Head Buyer & Accessories Coordinator

Accounting/Finance

Sharon Burden, Payroll Administrator Yvonne O’Connor, Accounts Payable Administrator Shelley Stroski, Controller

WIGS

Beverley Covert, Head of Wigs/Make-Up Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival

Administration

Chuck McEwen, Executive Producer Tori Popp, Festival Manager

Natalie Bell, Director of Human Resources Camilla Holland, Executive Director Kathrin Moncaster, IT Manager

Honorary Staff

Zaz Bajon, General Manager Emeritus Steven Schipper, CM, OM, Artistic Director Emeritus

Artistic

Audrey Dwyer, Associate Artistic Director Melissa Langdon, Apprentice Artistic Director Isabelle Ly, Producer Ian Ross, Program Director, Pimootayowin Creators Circle Kelly Thornton, Artistic Director Leslie Watson, Company Manager Kim Wheeler, Curator, The Bridge

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION STAFF Calpurnia

Jacko Garcia, Props Builder Crew provided by Local IATSE 63 The Runner

Crew provided by Local IATSE 63

Box Office

Sheena Baird, Director of Patron Services Meaghan Fletcher, Box Office Manager​ Box Office Representatives: Sharon Bunn, Jorgia Doucet, Chelsea Howgate, Melissa Langdon, Namjoo Park, Robyn Pooley, Julia Ross, Katie Schmidt, Danielle Sinclair, Jordan Skelly, Katie Spring, Lilian Talabis Carpentry (John Hirsch Mainstage)

Louis Gagné, Layout Carpenter Brent Letain, Master Carpenter Chris Seida, Scenic Carpenter Development

Michael Joyal, Development Data Manager Melissa Novecosky, Director of Development Stephanie Porrior, Event Coordinator Chris Turyk, Development Manager Front of House

Samantha Harrison, Front of House Manager Front of House Staff: Jennifer Brisson, Kim Cossette, Shay Cote, Bisan Dasuki, Jenn Davis, Rylen de Vries, Nick Fletcher, Melanie Fowler, Joanna Houston, Kimmy Martin, Graeme Olson, Cobi Winston

46

Ovation

march/april 2022

Empowering creative young minds

Proudly supporting Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre

Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company.

LET’S GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD

GFL Environmental is proud to support the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Arts. Our diverse service offerings include solid waste management, recycling services, and hazardous waste collection.

Green Today. Green For Life.

|

gflenv.com