Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha

TO Live and Luminato Festival Toronto Present

Scott Joplin's Treemonisha

Photo by Dahlia Katz. Artwork by Lost in the Island.

June 6-17 St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts

An opera co-presented by A Volcano production in association with The Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper, and Moveable Beast

The Land The land we gather on is the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Chippewa, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat Confederacy, and many other Indigenous peoples, both known and unknown. This territory is subject to Treaty 13 and the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, and is now home for many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples from across Turtle Island.

TO Live and Luminato Festival Toronto present:

Scott Joplin's Treemonisha A Musical Reimagining A Volcano production in association with The Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper, and Moveable Beast

Welcome Note from the Treemonisha Team: Welcome to the world premiere of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha – a reimagining of an opera composed by Scott Joplin in the years leading up to 1911. In his work on the original, Joplin faced a difficult path of exclusion and discrimination as a Black composer attempting to cross over from ragtime to opera.

This new production uses all of Joplin’s original songs, adding one melody from outside the opera and a traditional Maroon spiritual from his era. With the exception of the final song (which retains Joplin’s lyrics), all the words are new, as is the entire orchestration. The characters and setting are the same as in the original, with the exception of a name change for Zodzerick, and the invention of the Nana character. Inspired by Joplin’s testament to Black female leadership, the creative team is led by Black women. These extraordinary artists have added more material for the women characters to sing and a story that resonates with the landscape of today, in the same way the original did with the America of 1911.

This production is also a testament to the power of partnerships – among artists, and among arts organizations. Volcano is producing the show with associate producers the Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper, and Moveable Beast. TO Live and Luminato Festival Toronto have joined forces to co-present the work. Commissioners span North America and the UK; the Apollo Theater (Harlem), BAM (Brooklyn), Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Luminato Festival Toronto, Minnesota Opera, National Arts Centre (through the National Creation Fund), Southbank Centre (UK), Stanford Live (through the Hewlett Foundation), TO Live, and Washington Performing Arts.

You, the audience, are encouraged to embrace the music in any way you see fit! Cheer, talk back, applaud – because this is an opera for everyone.

Book & Libretto Adapted by Leah-Simone Bowen / Co-Librettist Cheryl L. Davis / Arranged and Orchestrated by Jessie Montgomery & Jannina Norpoth with Principal Cast

Neema Bickersteth Andrea Baker Cedric Berry Nicholas Davis Ashley Faatoalia Marvin Lowe Ineza Mugisha SATE Charlotte Siegel (Treemonisha standby) Kristin Renee Young and Ensemble Cast

Tafari Anthony Robert Ball Queen Hezumuryango Khay Pulga Muchochoma (Fight Captain) Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone (Dance Captain) Karen Weigold Jim Williams Additional Gospel Chorus

Michelle Adams Grace Gayle Martin Gomes Reverne Hazelwood Kathleen Simpson Orchestra

Tanya Charles Iveniuk (concert master) Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison Valérie Despax Imani Duhe Lena Fankhauser Tunde Jegede Brandyn Lewis Yohali Montero Peter Perez Zuri Wells Creative Team

Composer - Scott Joplin Story and Libretto - Leah-Simone Bowen Co-Librettist - Cheryl L. Davis Co-Arranger/Orchestrator - Jessie Montgomery Co-Arranger/Orchestrator - Jannina Norpoth Stage Director - Weyni Mengesha Conductor - Kalena Bovell Associate Conductor - Rich Coburn Choreographer - Esie Mensah Assistant Stage Director - Michael Mohammed Choreographic Consultant - Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Choreography Rehearsal Director - Rose-Mary Harbans Set Designer - Camellia Koo Additional Set Design - Rachel Forbes Costume Designer - Nadine Grant Associate Costume Designer - Des’ree Gray Costume Assistant - Halle Turner Lighting Designer - Kimberly Purtell Wig Designer - Alicia Faith Burton Co-Dramaturge - Deanna Downes Co-Dramaturge - Ross Manson Preliminary Costume Research & Development - Marci Rogers Copyist (Piano Vocal) - David Atkinson Copyist (Orchestral Parts) - Martin Loomer Fight Director - Casey Hudecki Rehearsal Accompanist - Christina Faye Rehearsal Accompanist Timothy Cheung Stage & Company Management

Stage Manager - Robert Harding Assistant Stage Manager - Laura Baxter Assistant Stage Manager - Tamara Vukovic Apprentice Stage Manager - Keleshaye Christmas-Simpson Company Manager – Michelle Galuszka Technical Production

Production Manager - Shawn Henry Associate Production Manager - Carlos Vareleserra Assistant Production Manager - Aden Altemirano Touring Prep Production Manager – Crystal Lee Artistic Director, Volcano - Ross Manson Producer, Volcano - Sheree Spencer

About the Event

Not Firsts

Originally written by Scott Joplin (c. 1911), Treemonisha is one of the few pieces set soon after the abolition of slavery, written by a survivor of that era.

Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha includes many significant firsts – the first all-Black opera orchestra in Canadian history, the first Black woman opera conductor, etc. These are important precedents.

But when speaking of “firsts” in the 21st century, it’s important to ask: “Why are these firsts? What has actually been going on all these years?”

Fusing European classical music with the sounds of ragtime, folk, and gospel to create a thrilling and distinct sound, and introducing a young woman protagonist chosen by her community to lead, Joplin’s nearly-lost opera was far ahead of its time.

Working from the surviving vocal score and featuring the first all-Black orchestral ensemble in Canadian opera history, the new arrangements and orchestrations by Jessie Montgomery (Sphinx Medal of Excellence and ASCAP Leonard Bernstein award winner) and Jannina Norpoth (two-time Grammy nominee) merge musical vocabularies, reflecting the major themes of the reimagined version: split identity – African and American – and the role of one’s ancestors in coming to terms with the realities of a new land.

Led by a predominantly Black female creative creative team from across North America, Joplin’s ground-breaking opera has been reimagined with a new story and libretto by playwright and broadcaster Leah-Simone Bowen (The Secret Life of Canada), working with Emmy-nominated co-librettist Cheryl L. Davis. Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha is conducted by the first Black woman conductor in Canadian opera history, Panamanian-American Kalena Bovell, and directed by award-winning, internationally acclaimed Canadian stage director Weyni Mengesha.

This reimagined version tells a revolutionary story of a young Black woman who, in discovering the truth of her past, and overcoming enormous personal loss, discovers her power to unify a divided people, and lead her community towards a new future.

Lead Support From

With Assistance From: S.M. Blair Family Foundation Denton Creighton and Kristine Vikmanis Laurence and Judy Siegel

For show access guide: luminatofestival.com/treemonisha

Black Opera and Black Classical music did not, of course, begin with Scott Joplin. However, inclusion of this music in historically White concert halls and opera houses is recent.

Black musicians have been intersecting with European Classical traditions on their own terms for generations. Often the music they have created has resulted from, even thrived on the collision of European Classical music with the many musical worlds that African diasporic people occupy worldwide. This tradition can claim a great many composers over an enormous span of time – from Europeans Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saints-Georges and George Bridgetower in the 1700s, to Samuel Coleridge-Taylor in London in the 1800s, to many composers across North America. These include Joplin, of course, but also: Harry Lawrence Freeman (the first African American to write an opera that managed to make it to the present day intact, The Martyr, from 1893); Harry T. Burleigh in the early 1900s; Canadian-born Nathaniel Dett through the 1920s; Shirley Graham Du Bois (perhaps the first Black woman to have an opera performed, in 1932); Florence Price (the first Black woman composer performed by a major symphony orchestra, in 1933), and on and on – all the way past William Grant Still, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, and Stewart Goodyear to Treemonisha’s own Jessie Montgomery and kora virtuoso, Tunde Jegede.

The names are legion – far too many to write here. Even more have suffered erasure from “official” history. Yet – recorded or not, remembered or not – all have brought their own voices to this music.

Could Black Classical be considered its own genre, with its own set of distinct ingredients? That’s a question with no singular answer. But there is an old and storied tradition here, with many threads and variations. It is music that is often neither entirely European, nor entirely pop, nor folk, nor gospel, nor blues, but has an energy and classicism of its own. Certainly, it is not new. If there are still “firsts” happening, the reasons for this have nothing to do with the folks who have been writing this music for centuries.

SYNOPSIS Freedmen: A group of upwardly mobile farmers and tradespeople that have taken over plantation land that was abandoned. Historically, the Freedman were formerly enslaved people emancipated during and after the Civil War. Maroons: A community that lives in the forests and waters for safety. The Maroons in this piece are inspired by “The Great Dismal Swamp Maroons” a group of both freed and escaped enslaved people who inhabited marshlands in Virginia and North Carolina.

ACT 1 1864. A plantation Near Texarkana, Arkansas. A young enslaved woman named Priscilla flees with her newborn baby. Moments later, Priscilla is shot. As she dies, she places the baby inside a hollow tree, hiding a small bag of luck within the child’s clothing.

Twenty years later, on her wedding day, a young woman named Treemonisha sits beneath the same tree reading, where she encounters Zodzerick, a Maroon medicine man who is feared

by Treemonisha’s community of the Freedmen. Although attracted to Treemonisha, Zodzerick discovers she is betrothed to Remus. Despite not loving him, Treemonisha’s family encourages the practical match. Zodzerick offers her a bag of luck, but Remus, and Treemonisha’s mother and father, Ned and Monisha intervene because of their deep fears about Maroon practices. They view Zodzerick’s Hoodoo beliefs or “juju” as evil. Zodzerick defends himself, but Remus dismisses him, proclaiming Treemonisha as his soon to be wife and the only educated member of the Freedmen.

Treemonisha tries to calm the tenison and defends Zodzerick, even offering to teach him to read.

However, Zodzerick insists she isn’t the only person with knowledge. Remus and Ned force him to leave and Zodzerick departs, wishing her luck.

Later, the Freedmen join to celebrate the upcoming nuptials.Treemonisha becomes uncertain about her impending marriage. She and her sister Lucy attempt to cut wedding wreaths from the old tree, but their mother, Monisha, stops them. Monisha reveals that the tree is sacred as it is the sight of her father’s death and also the hiding place of Treemonisha as a baby. Treemonisha learns that she is not Monisha and Ned’s biological child. Feeling shocked and devastated, she realises she may not be a member of the Freedmen but a Maroon as her birth mother left her a bag of luck.

She questions her identity and place in the community. Later, people gather in the church before the wedding to hear Parson Alltalk speak about the bonds of marriage. As she stands outside the church with Lucy, Treemonisha doubts her love for Remus and who she is and she decides to run away and seek answers about her birth mother. Lucy tries to stop her but Treemonisha flees and runs through the dense forest where she encounters Zodzerick. She shows him the bag of luck and he offers to guide her to someone who can provide the answers. Meanwhile, Lucy informs the community about Treemonisha’s departure, but they attribute it to Zodzerick’s conjuring. Remus, incensed, sets off to rescue her, and secretly so does Lucy.

ACT 2 The forest. As the sun sets, Zodzerick and Treemonisha reach a clearing with trees adorned with hanging bottles. Maroons emerge from the forest and Nana Buluku, their leader, welcomes Treemonisha, explaining she has been awaiting her arrival to introduce her to her mother. Initially frightened, Treemonisha is reassured by Zodzerick that their practices are not evil but a means to reconnect with the lost ones. The Maroons gather for a ceremony, and Nana takes the juju bag from Treemonisha, who agrees to participate. The ritual intensifies, and the bottles glow, filled with ancestral spirits. Treemonisha encounters the spirit of her birth mother, Priscilla, who assures her constant presence and emphasises her role in healing what is torn. Treemonisha is overwhelmed and the Maroons celebrate with a joyous dance.. Treemonisha and Zodzerick share a moment of connection. Amidst the ongoing celebration, Treemonisha confides in Zodzerick about her struggle to process what she has witnessed. They declare their love for each other, and Zodzerick asks Treemonisha to choose between the Maroons and the Freedmen, but Treemonisha refuses.

Meanwhile, Remus frantically searches for Treemonisha, consumed by despair and vowing vengeance against Zodzerick. Later, in love and planning a new life together, Zodzerick and Treemonisha walk through the trees and encounter Remus running towards them. Treemonisha attempts to explain her love for Zodzerick and her independent decision to leave, but Remus believes she has been conjured. The old tensions between the Freedmen and the Maroons escalate, leading to a merciless fight between Remus and Zodzerick. Lucy arrives, and Treemonisha tries to intervene, but Remus shoots Zodzerick. Treemonisha screams and calls out to the forest which shakes in anguish, while Remus flees. As Zodzerick lies dying, Treemonisha holds him, affirming their love, and he assures her of his eternal presence. The Maroons arrive and prepare Zodzerick’s body for a funeral procession, making it clear that Treemonisha and Lucy are not welcome to follow. At dusk, Lucy and Treemonisha, exhausted and lost after hours of walking, encounter a group of travellers who offer them rest. Treemonisha regrets her choices, feeling responsible for Zodzerick’s death and lamenting the violence and discord between the Maroons and the Freedmen. She decides she cannot return to the Freedmen, but Lucy convinces her to go back home, as there is no escaping what has occurred. The next morning, as a rooster crows in the distance, Treemonisha, Lucy, and the travellers part ways, while the Maroons prepare to confront the Freedmen as they depart the forests.

ACT 3 Treemonisha and Lucy return home, reuniting with Monisha. The Maroons and the Freedmen confront each other near the plantation, centred around the sacred tree. Tensions rise as the Maroons reveal they captured a wounded Remus, seeking revenge for Zodzerick’s death. Ned lectures the Maroons, emphasizing the Freedmen’s efforts to be recognized as citizens, while criticizing the Maroons’ supposed ignorance. Nana challenges Ned, highlighting the Maroons’ pursuit of freedom in the forests, outside of a society that will never fully accept them.

The two communities teeter on the brink of violence until Treemonisha steps in. She calls for an end to the deep-rooted hatred and confronts Remus’s wrongdoing by protecting him from the Maroons. Remus, deeply affected by this act, offers himself for retribution. Treemonisha intervenes again, mourning the bloodshed and losses on both sides. She urges them all to transcend fear and seek understanding as they are all seeking to heal from the same wound.

Treemonisha asks Nana and the Parson to lead the groups together. Recognizing her as a bridge between the old world and the new, the Maroons and Freedmen elect Treemonisha as their leader instead. Treemonisha unifies the community through a celebratory dance.

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Scott Joplin, Composer Scott Joplin’s trajectory as a composer is the stuff of legends. He was born in either 1867 or 1868.

His father had been enslaved, and, though himself musical, discouraged his son from music as a career. But his mother worked extra shifts as a domestic cleaner to afford her son music lessons (while his father abandoned the family). His mother’s faith was well-placed. From these humble beginnings in Texarkana, Arkansas, through St. Louis, Missouri, Chicago, and, finally, New York City, Joplin became the greatest ragtime composer in history – widely known throughout the USA in the late 1800s as “the King of Ragtime”.

Scott Joplin's Treemonisha A Musical Reimagining

But, less well known, is that he also composed classical music.

His first of two operas was written in the late 1800s (A Guest of Honor – a ragtime opera that was lost to history) and in the early 1900s: Treemonisha – Joplin’s only “grand” or serious opera. Joplin wrote Treemonisha in the years leading up to 1911, at a time when ragtime was beginning to fade in popularity. He had no support in this venture. There was no dramaturgical team, no workshop process, no wealthy backers, no opera house commissioning him. Joplin was alone. He selfpublished the piano vocal score of the work, thanks to savings from his ragtime hits. But hundreds of engraved printing plates cost the equivalent of four years’ wages, and that, with the added cost of assembling singers for a backer’s tryout, nearly bankrupted him. And no backer would touch Treemonisha – a serious all-Black opera about an educated Black woman becoming a leader was simply too much for New York City in the early 1900s (and not just the 1900s, it wasn’t until 2021 that the Met finally staged its first opera composed by a Black person – Terrence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones).

Joplin died in penury in 1917, and was buried in an unmarked grave. He was broken by disease and a dream unrealized. His hand-written orchestral parts for Treemonisha were lost – unwittingly thrown into a dumpster years later. A further loss, in fact, is that Joplin worked on revising Treemonisha with Harry Lawrence Freeman after it was published – Joplin finally finding an expert collaborator. Those revisions, too, did not survive. A symphony and a piano concerto he wrote suffered a similar fate. So much of what might have been was snuffed out. Scott Joplin was finally recognized with a Pulitzer prize in 1976. The New York Times published his obituary in 2019, over one hundred years late.

In spite of everything, though, Treemonisha has persisted. Many subsequent composers have created orchestrations to replace the missing Joplin instrumental parts. There are at least three new Treemonishas in circulation right now (Opera Theatre of St. Louis’s, and Isango’s in South Africa being the other two). Each is reimagining the material in different ways – in that centuries-old tradition of classical music composers reinterpreting one another’s work (Bach reworked Vivaldi, Mozart reworked Handel, and so on).

Neema Bickersteth

Andrea Baker

Kristin Renee Young

SATE

Cedric Berry

Ashley Faatoalia

Nicholas Davis

Marvin Lowe

Charlotte Siegel

Ineza Mugisha

Queen Hezumuryango

Tafari Anthony

Robert Ball

Jim Williams

Khay

Pulga Muchochoma

Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone

Karen Wiegold

Joplin is no longer alone in his efforts.

Andrea Baker - Monisha Hailed as a “stupendous and heartrending” talent (Bild Zeitung), Scottish- American mezzo soprano Andrea Baker is internationally renowned for her “enchantingly powerful” performances (Das Orchester). An operatic trailblazer, she was the first African American to take the role of Carmen in Australia, at Sydney Opera House, and the first to perform the roles of Fricka, Erda, and Waltraute in Wagner’s Ring in China. In addition to her celebrated work on the opera stage, Ms Baker has taken on an extraordinary breadth of voices across various media.

Her award-winning one-woman series Sing Sistah Sing! is a joyous, soulful celebration of the voice of the African diaspora. Ms Baker can also be heard across the BBC as a presenter and documentary creator. www.singsistahsing.com Ashley Faatoalia - Remus Ashley Faatoalia is a versatile and accomplished tenor from Los Angeles, California.

Opera News calls his singing “hauntingly beautiful”, crediting him with “a voice of winning purity and variety of expression”. Recent engagements include: Amadou in the Pulitzer-Prize-winning Omar with Los Angeles Opera, Korey Wise in the Pulitzer-Prize-winning The Central Park Five with Long Beach Opera, Simón in The Three Women of Jerusalem with Los Angeles Opera, and his debut as Marco Polo in the Emmy-Award-winning Invisible Cities with The Industry. Visit www.ashleyfaatoalia.com Cedric Berry - Zodzerick Roles include the title role in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Mephistopheles in Gounod’s Faust, Lepporello in Don Giovanni, Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, and Shaunard in Puccini’s La bohème.

Companies include Los Angeles Opera, The Industry Opera, Long Beach Opera, Savonlinna Opera Festival of Finland, Banlieurs Bleues Festival of France, and the Ravinia Music Festival. He has appeared with Pacific Symphony, Arizona Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Pasadena Pops Orchestra, California Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Telemann Chamber Orchestra of Japan. He also won first place in the Metropolitan Opera Western Region Competition.

Charlotte Siegel - Treemonisha Standby Charlotte Siegel is a soprano, singer-songwriter, and co-managing director of the Toronto based non-profit the Marigold Music Program. She is currently a member of the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio and made her debut as Second Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Upcoming roles include Tosca cover (Tosca) and Musetta (La bohème) for the COC and Dido (Dido Reimagined) with Early Music Vancouver.

Ineza Mugisha – Ensemble Soprano & Priscilla Ineza Mugisha is a multi-genre musician and actor from Toronto, Ontario. She is a 2022 graduate from the University of Toronto Voice Performance Program. She was the recipient of the University of Toronto Kingorn and Arnold Walter Memorial Award. Since graduating, she has debuted at Roy Thompson Hall as a soprano soloist at the 2022 Future Stops Festival as well as being the Soprano Soloist in Nathaniel Dett Chorale’s 2022 production of Nathaniel Dett’s oratorio The Ordering of Moses. Recently, she sang the role of Rachel with NDC in the opera Harriet: When I Crossed that Line Into Freedom. She is excited for her upcoming projects this year and looking forward to this exciting production!

Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone - Singer/Dancer Jaz ‘Fairy J’ Simone (formerly known as Jasmyn Fyffe) has been a performing artist and choreographer for 12 years. In 2018, she co-wrote

music for a wine commercial ad (Bodacious 2018). Since 2016 she has been a member of the band “Wannabe” (The Spice Girl’s Tribute Band) where she plays “Mel B.”; and she was featured on CBC’s “HERstory in Black”, honouring 150 Black Canadian women making a significant contribution to Canada” (2017). Thrilled and honoured to be in the cast of Treemonisha bringing ancestor Scott Joplin’s vision to life!

Jim Williams - Low Baritone Described as “one of the finest emerging artists in the [USA] country”, Jim Williams, is a passionate, classically trained vocalist known for his ability to approach diverse musical genres on stage, and for his collegial spirit while in production rehearsals. In addition to working as a soloist, he’s also been sought out as a music educator, professional chorus singer, background vocalist in studio recordings, and a private vocal coach. He’s excited and honored to be involved in this new musical journey.

Karen ‘KHAY’ Andrew - Singer/Dancer Formally trained as a dancer, singer, and actress, some of KHAY’s most memorable professional credits include, Ragtime (Broadway Original Cast), Fosse, West Side Story (“Anita” Stratford Festival), Hairspray (Charlottetown Festival), feature film “Chicago”, & TV series Copper & Degrassi. She has headlined her original music across Canada and offers intimate live music through her iamKHAY Live music trio. iamkhay.com Karen Weigold - Swing Karen Wiegold is an established and versatile singer from the Greater Toronto Area. After studying at Cambrian College in Sudbury, with a major in Vocal Performance and a minor in Piano Studies, Karen moved back to the GTA to begin her music career. With a background in dramatic arts and dance, Karen has had many opportunities to perform with ensembles and organizations throughout the city, including Soundstreams, Elmer Iseler Singers, Univox Choir of Toronto, and Countermeasure. Karen has shared the stage with artists like Jackie Richardson, Jully Black, Joe Sealy, Molly Johnson, Nikki Yanovsky, and opera star Kathleen Battle; she is a founding member of the a cappella group Catch-Phrase Quartet, and has lent her voice to many EP and LP recordings and live performances for local Toronto artists such as Jeremy Dutcher, Julian Taylor, and Secret Broadcast. Karen is a section lead and a featured soloist at Church of the Redeemer Anglican Church in Toronto, and has been a featured soloist at Grace Church-on-the-Hill.

In addition to her busy performance schedule, Karen gives private vocal lessons and is working on various composition and arranging projects.

Kristine Renee Young - Lucy Kristin Renee Young, soprano, is a versatile vocal artist in the worlds of opera, classical crossover, musical theater, and voiceover work.

She has performed with American Lyric Theater, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Beth Morrison Project, Center for Contemporary Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Encompass New Opera, Gotham Chamber Opera, Harlem Opera Theater, INSeries Opera, Juventas New Music Ensemble, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and SongFest. She is the Programming Director at New Camerata Opera and resides in Brooklyn, NY. Marvin Lowe - Pastor Alltalk A bass-baritone and Philadelphia native, Marvin Lowe has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He has sung with New York City Opera, Washington Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Ebony, Virginia Opera, and Trilogy Opera Company.

His operatic credits include; La Fanciulla del West, Of Mice and Men, and Dead Man Walking. He has sung in Opera Ebony’s productions of Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet, the Woman Called Moses, and the New Federal Theater’s production of Opera of Marie Laveaux. Television and film credits include; Emmy nominated Great Performances: “Live From Lincoln Center: New York City Opera’s production of “Porgy and Bess, Channel Thirteen’s “Great Performances of Aida’s Brothers and Sisters: Black Voices in Opera”, and the film Boomerang.

Neema Bickersteth - Treemonisha Neema Bickersteth specializes in contemporary projects in music, opera, and theatre internationally. Recent highlights include touring the USA and Europe with renowned Spanish conductor Jordi Savall; and co-creation and performance for Century Song for Volcano and Moveable Beast. Century Song has had multiple tours in Canada, Europe, and East Africa to critical acclaim. Neema recently premiered The Ritual of Breath is the Rite to Resist, which is described as an offering, an opera in seven movements, and a call for justice. In addition, Neema has been honoured to perform for the XIVth Dalai Lama, Shirin Ebadi, and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Nicholas Davis - Ned In the 2022-2023 season, Nicholas Davis sang Marcello in La bohème and Leader in Lost in the Stars with Annapolis Opera. His opera credits include; Minnesota Opera for Edward Tulane, Eugene Opera as Marcello in La bohème, Houston Grand Opera in the premiere of Jeremy Beck’s Another City, and Le nozze di Figaro with Knoxville Opera. Recent seasons have seen Mr. Davis at the Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Michigan Opera Theater, Glimmerglass Opera, Minnesota Opera, and Opera Ithaca.

Pulga Muchochoma - Singer/Dancer Pulga Muchochoma was born in Mozambique. His dance career and training began in Quelimane with Montes Namuli Dance Company.

Pulga studied at The School of Toronto Dance Theatre and in 2009 he joinned the company Toronto Dance Theatre under Artistic Director Christopher House. Muchochoma participated in the 2015 Opening ceremony of the Toronto Pan Am Games with Cirque du Soleiland NBS and is the creator and founder of African Dance and Fitness with Pulga.

Queen Hezumuryango - Mezzo Originally from Burundi, Queen Hezumuryango holds both her master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from the University of Montreal, where she earned prizes such as the Ferguson Scholarship, the Gadbois Bursary, and the support of the Jeunesses Musicales Canada foundation. Recent credits include Mercédès in Carmen (COC), Larina in Eugene Onegin (Highlands Opera Studio), Zita in Gianni Schicchi (Canadian Vocal Arts Institute) and Carmen in La tragédie de Carmen (Atelier d’opéra à l’Université de Montréal). She was a semifinalist in the OSM Competition in 2021 and is currently a Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio member.

Robert Ball - High Baritone Stage/Theatre: Chicago Stratford Festival; The Soul of Motown – Stage West; A Little Black Lie – Tarragon Theatre; Songs for a New World – Chestnut Street Playhouse; various review shows – Royal Caribbean Productions; Voodoo – Harlem Opera Theatre; Funkentine Rapture (vocal director) – CUNY College; Dream Girls – Brooklyn Parks Department. Film/TV: Principal, Christmas On 5th Ave; lead, Cuckoo (short); lead, A Little White Lie (short); principal, Fatal Attraction (TVOne).

Concerts: Freedom cabaret, Up Close and Musical – Stratford Festival; Blockorama – Toronto Pride; Friday Night Live – ROM; Soul in the City – Casa Loma; Beaches Jazz Festival; Capital Pride; Brooklyn Pride; Jamaica Pride; 12.12.12 and Reflections (cabarets) – Triad Theatre, NYC. Recordings: Clark Sisters – Lifetime movie; “Running Back to You” and “Encore” – Gfuzion; Need – (Solo EP); “Mon Amour” and “Love’s All” – Terry Jahz Lewis.

SATE - Nana Buluku SATE is an artist whose music and presence embody power, energy, and Divine womanhood.

As the daughter of Canadian blues/jazz singer & theatre pioneer Salome Bey, SATE’s unique sound evolves from the culmination of a lifetime spent fully immersed in music.

She has built an impressive reputation worldwide with her “tornado of a stage presence” and signature dirty, soulful, riff-laden rock and roll sound. Now a certified 2022 Juno Award nominee and Polaris Prize longlisted artist for her sophomore album, The Fool, SATE is continually embarking on the journey of sharing her dynamic powerhouse sound with the world.

Tafari Anthony - Tenor Tafari Anthony (pronounced: tah-far-eye) is a JUNO nominated pop singer-songwriter and producer. He has written and produced for many artists including Tanika Charles, Drag Race winner Priyanka, and Nuela Charles. Tafari has self-released three EPs including The Way You See Me (2020), which was nominated for Adult Contemporary Album of The Year at the 2022 JUNO Awards. A constant in Tafari’s releases is his powerfully expansive range, dynamic vocal texture, and commitment to putting queer relationships at the forefront of his songs.

Tafari’s debut full-length album is due out this fall via 604 Records.

Brandyn Lewis - Bass Montreal native, Brandyn Lewis has become a sought-after double bassist, and has worked with various chamber ensembles and orchestras including regular appearances with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, the Quebec Symphony, and Filmharmonique. Since 2021, Brandyn became co-founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Obiora, Canada’s premiere ensemble that promotes cultural diversity in classical music. Brandyn holds a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University, and was nominated for the prestigious Golden Violin Award in 2015.

Imani Duhe - Trumpet Imani has been performing regularly with orchestras, chamber ensembles, and in small solo settings as a trumpeter for over 12 years. Through her love for the trumpet and music she also discovered a talent for composing her own songs, which she performs with her personal ensembles. Imani has performed on podcasts, in multiple large music venues including the Hollywood Bowl, has had the opportunity to play for live televised events, popular music festivals, and continues to make her name known as a sought after musician. Imani has worked with artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ani Difranco, The Yellowjackets, P. Diddy and more. Imani also teaches for the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles as a trumpet instructor and brass specialist. Duhe received her Bachelors from Manhattan School of Music and is completing her masters at the University of Southern California. Imani is a current Shires Rising Artist

Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison - Percussion, Bala, and Djembe Kobèna is an accomplished Ghanaian-Bermudian performer, producer, composer and storyteller. His prolific artistry has garnered several Dora, Juno, Chalmers Foundation and other awards for his work in music, media, film, television, dance and theatre. Clients include FIFA, CBC, Nissan, Soulpepper, Shaw, Stratford Festival, Montana Steele, arts councils and many institutions. Kobè performs interntionally for presidents to pre-schoolers, on electric and acoustic instruments designed and built by himself.

The eclectic rhythms of his trademark, “afrosonic jollof” is, “The sound when jazz, rock, reggae, hip hop come face to face with their ancestors.” Kobè leads the all-star, Djungle Bouti Orchestra, with members hailing from Trinidad to Tanzania, Algeria to S. Africa. Their “Djazz 2.1.4” album was acclaimed “an audio decoding of African DNA” and nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award. The former AfroFest President/ Artistic Director, Michèzo! festival founder and #1 prime-time radio host, is Cultural Development Director at Abandze Embassy in Toronto’s W. Queen W, arts & entertainment triangle.

Lena Fankhauser - Viola Lena Fankhauser is a violist of Trinidadian-Swiss heritage born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She received both her Bachelor and Master’s degree from the Julliard School of Music in New York City on a full scholarship and completed postgraduate studies at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg and subsequently played with the Camerata Salzburg. She was also a soloist with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra for Danny Elfman’s “Wolfman Suite“at Hollywood in Vienna. Lena Fankhauser founded a Chamber Music Festival in Bad Ischl and (CH)AMBER, an association for new chamber music.

She has played at the Proms, the Salzburg Festival and in the orchestras of the Vienna State Opera, Vienna Volksoper, Klangforum Vienna and the Munich Philharmonic, the Chineke! Orchestra. Lena is a member of the Koehne Quartet, and a regular presence on the stage of the Burgtheater, most recently in “Die Bakchen”. She is a founding member, contractor and manager of the film orchestra, Big Island Orchestra Vienna. She resides in Vienna, Austria.

Peter Perez Rojas - Clarinet A native from Ottawa, Ontario, he started his musical life in 2008 through “OrKidstra”, a not-for-profit ‘El Sistema’ inspired music program in Ottawa.

His credits include; Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, featured soloist with the NAC orchestra. He has worked with many acclaimed artists including Gustavo Dudamel and Alexander Shelley as well as participating in masterclasses by Yehuda Gilad, Stephen Williamson, Boris Allakhverdyan. Peter holds a Bachelor in Music Performance at Memorial University of Newfoundland under Dr. Christine Carter and is currently completing a Master’s in Music Performance at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University under Alain Desgagné.

Tanya Charles Iveniuk - Violin A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, with roots in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, violinist, Tanya Charles Iveniuk, has performed across North and South America, and the Caribbean.

Recipient of the Women’s Art Associate of Canada – Luella McCleary Award, the Gabriella Dory Prize in Music, and the Hamilton Black History Council’s John C Holland Award, Tanya received a Bachelor of Music (Violin Performance) from the University of Toronto, and an Artist Diploma (Orchestral Performance) from the Glenn Gould School.

Currently, she is the concertmaster of the Obiora Ensemble, and violinist with Ensemble du Monde (Guadeloupe), Toronto Mozart Players, and the Odin Quartet. Her former posts include concertmaster and soloist with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra (COMF) and the COMF Virtuosi (SC, USA), Associate Concertmaster of the Gateways Festival Orchestra (2015) and a violinist for 10 years with Sinfonia Toronto. Tanya is on faculty at the University of Toronto, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Community Music Schools of Toronto - Regent Park School of Music.

Tunde Jegede - Kora Tunde Jegede is a composer and musician who has been steeped in the traditions of European and African Classical music for the last 30 years.

His music has been performed all over the world with international orchestras and artists including; National Orchestra of Belgium, Orchestre National de France, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, Brodsky Quartet, the Silk Road Project. He is also a pioneer of African Classical Music and the founder of the African Classical Music Ensemble.

Tunde has performed and recorded with, Toumani Diabaté, Oumou Sangaré, Seun Kuti, Bodé Lawal, Juldeh Camara and the Pan African Orchestra. He attended the Purcell School of Music and studied the music of the Kora (African Harp-Lute) under Master of the Kora, Amadu Bansang Jobarteh. Tunde also founded the Art Ensemble of Lagos and NOK Orchestra. Tunde has recorded four solo albums including his seminal debut album, ‘Lamentation’, ‘Still Moment’, ‘Heritage’ and ‘Testimony’.

Valérie Despax - Cello Valérie Despax (cello) is a member of the Quatuor Despax. Her chamber music career has led her to play in several festivals and concert series in Canada, Europe and South America. From 2011 to 2013, the Quatuor Despax was the quartet in residence at the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Montreal. Since September 2013, the quartet has maintained their residence at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Guadeloupe Church in Gatineau with their own concert series. She is also member of the Sabayon Quartet and the Ensemble Obiora.She works in Outaouais’s artistic scene through several styles and formations, such as orchestral (Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau), pop, and others. Valérie Despax is the co-founder with her sister Cendrine Despax of the festival “L’Art de la Musique | The Art of Music” which takes place in Gatineau during the summer in July.

Yohali Montero - Violin Dominican violinist Yohali Montero is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at The Glenn Gould School, under the tutelage of Paul Kantor and Min-Jeong Koh. 1st prize winner of the YMoCA in 2020, Montero has enjoyed numerous opportunities to perform as a soloist with several major orchestras in her home country, including the Dominican Symphony Orchestra, Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the D.R. She has been concertmaster of the National Youth Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, Juan Pablo Duarte Symphony Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Music, Hispaniola Philharmonic, and the UASD Chamber Orchestra. Recognized as a Young Leader Representative of the Dominican Republic by the Fine Arts Foundation for Human Development, Montero is founder of Interludios de Esperanza, an outreach program aimed at educating and promoting classical music in all provinces of the Dominican Republic.

Zuri Wells - Percussion, Marimba, and Drumkit Born in Chicago, Illinois, Zuri Wells is a recent graduate of The Glenn Gould School in Toronto, Ontario and received her bachelors and masters in percussion performance at Michigan State University. Wells has had the pleasure of performing as an extra/substitute with Lansing Symphony, Midland Symphony, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. She has also been the recipient of several awards, winning the Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition and the Glenn Gould School’s concerto competition. She has performed at PASIC twice with the Michigan State Percussion. Zuri currently teaches percussion and performs with various ensembles and orchestras throughout the Midwest.

Camellia Koo - Set Designer Camellia Koo is a Toronto-based set and costume designer and has designed for operas with Against the Grain, Boston Lyric Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Edmonton Opera, Helikon Opera (Moscow), Minnesota Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, Santa Fe Opera, and Tapestry New Opera. Her theatre collaborations include; The National Arts Centre, The Shaw Festival, Soulpepper Theatre Company, and Why Not Theatre. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, and Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design (U.K.). Camellia has received six Dora Mavor Moor Awards, a 2006 Siminovitch Protégé Prize, the 2016 Virginia and Myrtle Cooper Award for costume design, and was most recently named as a 2018 Siminovitch Prize finalist.

Cheryl L. Davis - Co-Librettist Cheryl received the Kleban Award for her musical Barnstormer, written with award-winning composer Douglas J. Cohen. Her play Maid’s Door, produced at the Billie Holiday Theater, received seven Audelco Awards and was a finalist for the Francesca Primus Prize. Her musical Bridges was commissioned and produced by the Berkeley Playhouse and was a finalist for the Richard Rodgers Award. Don’t Stay Safe, the short film musical based on Bridges, was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and screened and won awards in several film festivals. She has won two WGA Awards for her TV writing (for As the World Turns and Days of Our Lives) Writing credits also include; Law & Order: SVU. She is a practicing attorney in Manhattan and is the General Counsel for the Authors Guild.

Deanna Downes - Co-Dramaturge Deanna Downes, Ph.D, is the visionary creatrix of Green Apu Productions @ Central Mesa, an artist and healing retreat space in the green mountains of Vermont. Her current and future work focuses on reimagining and radicalizing process, production, and performance arts for, by, with and in community Des’ree Gray - Assistant Costume Designer Des’ree Gray is a Toronto based Costume Designer. She is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Production Design Program. Credits include: Costume Designer for The Flight (Factory Theatre); Assistant Costume Designer for Yerma (Coal Mine Theatre); Assistant Costume Designer for Da Kink in My Hair (Canadian Stage); Costume Designer for The First Stone (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre); Assistant Costume Designer for Little Women (Stratford Festival); Assistant Costume Designer for 1851: Spirit & Voice (SoulPepper Theatre); Designer for Designing The Revolution (Theatre Passe Muraille).

Esie Mensah - Choreographer Esie Mensah is an award-winning choreographer, director, dancer, movement director, educator, and TEDx speaker. A member of the Canadian Guild of Stage Directors and Choreographers as well as a two-time Dora nominated artist who has worked with megastars like Rihanna, Drake, Janelle Monae, Nelly Furtado, and Arcade Fire to historic brands like Holt Renfrew, Coca-Cola, TIFF, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Raptors, and more. In theatre, Mensah has worked on The Russian Play, Victory, Farmers’ Revolt (Shaw Festival), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Soulpepper), Dixon Road (Musical Stage/Obsidian), New Monuments (Canadian Stage), and Serving Elizabeth (Theatre Aquarius). Original creations include ZAYO, Dora-nominated Shades, and films A Revolution of Love, and TESSEL. Recently commissioned by Canada’s National Ballet School for Assemblée International, Robert Binet (Ballet) and Mensah (Afrofusion) co-choreographed the world premiere of “The Call” on a cast of local and international students.

Halle Turner - Costume Assistant Halle Turner (she/her) is a costume designer based in Toronto, ON. Born in Montreal, QC and raised in Brampton, ON, Halle brings her unique experiences together through her work. Initially working in Film & TV, she has diversified her portfolio by costume designing in the commercial space, styling for artist appearances and now assisting with theatre performances.

She is focused on textile design, fashion styling and costume design. Credits include: Big Brother Canada, Dymon Storage, Good Witch, Wall of Chefs/Wall of Bakers, I Live Here - CBC GEM. For more of her work, please visit: https://linktr.ee/halleturner, Instagram: @halleturner, Direct Website: www.halleturner.format.com Jannina Norpoth - Co-Arranger/Ochestrator Twice GRAMMY® - nominated violinist Jannina Norpoth made her debut as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at age 14. Her ensemble PUBLIQuartet received the 2019 Visionary Artist Award from Chamber Music America, and the 2015 CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. Norpoth credits includes, appearances on Lincoln Center’s “Great Performers” Series, Kennedy Center “Arts Across America”, Mostly Mozart Festival, Composers Now, Women of the World Festival at The Apollo Theater, The Ecstatic Music Festival, VH1’s Save the Music, SNL, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Quad City Symphony, and has been featured alongside acclaimed musicians James Carter, Hiromi, Regina Carter, Marcus Belgrave, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Pharrell, Stevie Wonder, and Anita Baker. She is the Artistic Director for Fortissma at The Colburn School and a sought-after music creator. Notable projects include an adaptation of Mo Willems book “Because” with composer Jessie Montgomery and collaboration with soprano Julia Bullock and LAPhil featuring new arrangements of works by Margaret Bonds and Florence Price. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband, bassist John-Paul Norpoth and puggle Vegas.

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar - Choreography Consultant Jawole Willa Jo Zollar is from Kansas City, Missouri. After earning her B.A. in dance from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, she received her M.F.A. in dance from Florida State University. In 1984, Jawole founded Urban Bush Women. In addition to 34 works for UBW, she has created works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco, University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University, Compagnie Jant-Bi from Senegal and Nora Chipaumire. In 2006 Jawole received a New York Dance and Performance Award (Bessie) for her work as choreographer/creator of Walking With Pearl…Southern Diaries. Jawole was designated a master of choreography by the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in 2005.

Jessie Montgomery - Co-Arranger/Orchestator Jessie Montgomery is an acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator. She is the recipient of the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation, the Sphinx Medal of Excellence. Some recent highlights include; Shift, Change, Turn (2019), Coincident Dances (2018), Caught by the Wind (2016) and the American Music Festival, and Banner (2014).

She was a two-time laureate of the annual Sphinx Competition and awarded the Sphinx Medal of Excellence.

Jesse was featured composer for The New York Philharmonic Project 19. Other works include; a nonet inspired by the Great Migration, a cello concerto for Thomas Mesa, a new orchestral work for the National Symphony Orchestra; a viola concerto, L.E.S Characters, for Masumi per Rostad, a new arrangement of a song cycle, Five Freedom Songs, written for Soprano Julia Bullock, a site-specific collaboration with Bard SummerScape Festival and Pam Tanowitz Dance, and I was waiting for the echo of a better day, with Choreography by Pam Tanowitz. She holds degrees from the Juilliard School and New York University and is a Graduate Fellow in Music Composition at Princeton University. Jesse is a professor of violin and composition at The New School and in May 2021, will begin her appointment as the Mead Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Kalena Bovell - Conductor With her distinctive voice as maestra, speaker, and poet, critics praise PanamanianAmerican conductor Kalena Bovell as “one of the brightest stars in classical music.” (Channel 3 News, Connecticut).

Her twin tenets of musical excellence and community access have left an imprint on orchestras across North America, including recognition as a 2022-2024 Awardee of the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship. Bovell’s 2023-2024 season sees her traverse Canada, the U.S. and Switzerland where she will make debut performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Cincinnati Symphony and the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. Bovell has also blazed a formidable trail in just the past few years. She shined as a featured conductor on the Chineke! Orchestra’s 2022 album—Coleridge-Taylor, a celebration of the eponymous African-British composer. Among the critical praise for the album released on Chineke! Records, The Financial Times penned that Bovell’s musical interpretation “overflows with descriptive imagination.” Apart from the album, memorable career moments include leading the Chineke! Orchestra at the BBC Proms and conducting Kevin Thomas’s Firebird with the Collage Dance Collective as a part of the Kennedy Center’s “Reframing the Narrative.

Kimberly Purtell - Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell is a critically acclaimed Toronto-based lighting designer for

theatre, opera, and dance. She has designed for the Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Canadian Stage Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Mirvish Productions, National Arts Centre, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Pacific Opera Victoria, Opera Philadelphia, Arena Stage in Washington D.C., Tapestry Opera, Hamilton Opera, Edmonton Opera, Theatre Calgary, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Citadel Theatre, and Place des Arts, among She has also designed productions for the Pan Am Games and the Vancouver and Beijing Cultural Olympiads. Kimberly has received three Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Pauline McGibbon Award, a Sterling Award, and a Montreal English Theatre Award.

Leah-Simone Bowen - Story and Libretto Leah-Simone Bowen is an award-winning playwright, director, performer, educator and the former Artistic Producer of Obsidian Theatre, Canada’s leading culturally specific theatre company dedicated to the Black voice. As a writer, Leah’s work has been produced and published across Canada and the United States. In addition to her work in Theatre, she is a podcast and audio producer and the creator and co-host of the hit irreverent history series The Secret Life of Canada, which was the first independently created show to be picked up by the CBC. In 2021, CBC Radio One announced her as the new permanent host of Podcast Playlist, a weekly show that also airs across the US on PRX. Leah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre and Film Studies from the University of Alberta and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Theatre and Performance studies from York University. She would like to thank the Stratford Festival for its support in the development of this adaptation as well as her family, friends and artistic colleagues for their steadfastness throughout the creation of this piece. Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha is dedicated to the memory of Priscilla Ann Walkes.

Marci Rodgers - Preliminary Costume Research & Development Her designs can be seen in several films and television series including Spike Lee’s Academy Awardwinning and highly acclaimed period film, BLACKKKLANSMAN, in which Rodgers received a Costume Designers Guild Award nomination for the film’s rich palette and ‘70s wardrobe, as well as Seasons 1 and 2 of Lee’s modern reboot of SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT. Rodgers’ most recent film credits include Chinonye Chukwu’s drama, TILL. From her educational roots at Howard University where she received a B.B.A. in Marketing, Rodgers went on to receive a Corporate M.B.A. from Florida International University.

Furthering her studies, Rodgers received a Certificate in Fashion Design and Marketing from Central Saint Martins - University of the Arts London, and at last graduated from The University of Maryland with an M.F.A. in Costume Design.

Michael Mohammed - Assistant Stage Director Michael Mohammed is a music theatre artist and scholar whose practice lies at the intersection of expression and identity.

He has co-created projects for Amplified Opera, a Toronto-based company that places equity-seeking artists at the center of public discourse. He is the Director of the Musical Theatre Ensemble at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He also teaches at San José State University and American Conservatory Theater. As the Community Engagement Ambassador for Opera Parallèle, he develops resources for sustainable social change through opera. He is on the working teams of the Black Opera Research Network and the Research Riff.

Nadine Grant - Costume Designer Nadine has costumed shows on both sides of the border and partnered with some wonderful artists along the way. She was the proud recipient of USITT Costume Design Award in 2009, and The Stratford Festival’s Guthrie Award in 2022. Nadine received her MFA in Costume Design and Technology from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Rachel Forbes - Additional Set Design Rachel is an award-winning Set and Costume designer creating for theatre, dance, opera and film. Her designs have been seen on stages, sites and screens across Canada. Rachel is particularly interested in the development of new works, interdisciplinary explorations, experimental creation methods and designer-led theatre projects. Selected Credits: Of the Sea (Tapestry Opera/ Obsidian Theatre); Da Kink in My Hair, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Brothers Size (Soulpepper Theatre); Fairview, Choir Boy, New Monuments (Canadian Stage); Death and the King’s Horseman (Stratford Festival); Harlem Duet (Bard on the Beach); The Doctor’s Dilemma, Trouble in Mind, Victory, 1837: The Farmers’ Revolt (Shaw Festival); 21 Black Futures (Obsidian Theatre, CBC); Calpurnia, The Mountaintop (Manitoba Theatre Centre) Rich Coburn - Associate Conductor Rich has worked as a music director, pianist, organist, vocal coach, choral director, composer, digital creator, sound designer, and arranger.

Coburn has performed across Canada, the United States, and China and is the creator and director of BIPOC Voices.

BIPOC Voices helps opera companies and orchestras do the anti-racist work of diversifying their programs. Rich also teaches entrepreneurship for musicians at McGill University.

Rose-Mary “Rosie” Harbans - Choreography Rehearsal Director Rose-Mary “Rosie” Harbans (she/her) is a multifaceted performer, choreographer, and dance educator from Toronto, Ontario who earned her BFA at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she currently teaches Jazz.

Rosie is a Dora Award nominated choreographer for her work on the award-winning musical Dixon Road (Musical Stage Co./Ray Hogg). Choreographic credits include A Seat At The Table and Red, Hot & Cool. Her performance credits include; the Tony Award Winning Musical, After Midnight, New Monuments, A Revolution of Love, Kira, The Path| La Voie and Lickety Split.

Weyni Mengesha - Stage Director Weyni Mengesha is the Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company and an award-winning director. Weyni has directed touring productions across Canada that have been developed into television shows playing on CBC, Global, and Netflix. She has also directed in London, New York, Los Angeles, garnering a NAACP nomination for Best Direction as well as Dora, Drama league, and Drama Critics Circle award nominations and awards for Outstanding Direction. She has been an instructor at the Soulpepper Academy, the National Theatre School of Canada and the Canadian Film Centre.

She was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in Toronto by Toronto Life Magazine.

Principal Cast Treemonisha - Neema Bickersteth Monisha - Andrea Baker Lucy - Kristin Renee YoungMo Nana Buluku - SATE Zodzerick - Cedric Berry Remus - Ashley Faatoalia Ned - Nicholas Davis Pastor Alltalk - Marvin Lowe Treemonisha Standby - Charlotte Siegel Ensemble Cast Soprano (& Priscilla) - Ineza Mugisha Mezzo - Queen Hezumuryango Tenor - Tafari Anthony High Baritone - Robert Ball Low Baritone - Jim Williams Singer/dancer - Khay Singer/dancer - Pulga Muchochoma Singer/dancer - Jaz Fairy J Spencer Swing - Karen Weigold Additional Gospel Chorus Michelle Adams Grace Gayle Martin Gomes Reverne Hazelwood Kathleen Simpson Orchestra Violin 1 - Tanya Charles Iveniuk Violin 2 - Yohali Montero Viola - Lena Fankhauser Cello - Valérie Despax Bass - Brandyn Lewis Trumpet - Imani Duhe Clarinet - Peter Perez Rojas Percussion, Marimba, Drumkit - Zuri Wells Percussion, Bala, Djembe - Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison Kora - Tunde Jegede Creative Team Composer - Scott Joplin Story and Libretto - Leah-Simone Bowen Co-Librettist - Cheryl L Davis Co-Arranger/Orchestrator - Jessie Montgomery Co-Arranger/Orchestrator - Jannina Norpoth Stage Director - Weyni Mengesha Choreographer - Esie Mensah Conductor - Kalena Bovell Associate Conductor - Rich Coburn Assistant Stage Director - Michael Mohammed Choreographic Consultant - Jawole Willa Jo Zollar Choreography Rehearsal Director - Rose-Mary Harbans Set Designer - Camellia Koo Additional Set Design - Rachel Forbes Costume Designer - Nadine Grant Assistant Costume Designer - Des’ree Gray Assistant Costume Designer - Halle Turner Lighting Designer - Kimberly Purtell Wig Designer - Alicia Faith Burton Co-Dramaturge - Deanna Downes Co-Dramaturge - Ross Manson Preliminary Costume Research & Development - Marci Rogers Copyist (Piano Vocal) - David Atkinson Copyist (Orchestral Parts) - Martin Loomer Fight Director - Casey Hudecki Rehearsal Accompanist - Christina Faye Rehearsal Accompanist - Timothy Cheung Stage Management Stage Manager - Robert Harding Company Manager – Michelle Galuszka Assistant Stage Manager - Laura Baxter Assistant Stage Manager - Tamara Vukovic Apprentice Stage Manager - Keleshaye Christmas-Simpson Technical Production Production Manager - Shawn Henry Associate Production Manager - Carlos Vareleserra Assistant Production Manager - Aden Altemirano Tour Production Manager - Crystal Lee Sound Consultant - Michael Laird Sound Design - John Gzowski Head of Props – Chynah Philadelphia Head of Wardrobe - Angela Peres Surtitles - Michael Filler

Photo by Cassandra Popescu

Proud supporter of the arts.

Thank you to the Province of Ontario, for bringing our festival to life.

Photo of Neema Bickersteth as Treemonisha by Dahlia Katz. Artwork by Lost in the Island.

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

We’re proud to be the Lead Supporter of Treemonisha for Luminato 2023.

Founding Government Partner

Thank you To the many artists and arts workers who have helped develop Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha over the past eight years: SINGERS (TORONTO DEVELOPMENT) Andrew Adridge Jahlen Barnes Mikaela Bennett Jewelle Blackman Andrew Broderick Jeremy Carver James Alvin Crawford Arlene Duncan Alexis Gordon Gillian Grant Alana Hibbert Justin Hopkins Marie Jose Lord Michael-Lamont Lytle Cecile Muhire Marcus Nance Justine Owen Sabryn Rock Vanessa Sears Christina Smith Justin Welsh Jorell Williams INSTRUMENTALISTS (TORONTO DEVELOPMENT) Yamoussa Bangoura Nicole Bellamy Samuel Bisson Kate Carver Mark Duggan Daniel Lalonde Kane Mathis Andrea Tyniec Rory McLeod Kaye Royer Michael Shand Suresh Singaratnam Aysel Taghi-Zada

NYC SHOWCASE Justin Austin Julia Biber Neema Bickersteth Aaron Casey Karla Donehew Mark Dover Leslie Dunner Patrice Eaton Brendon Elliot Rebecca Hargrove Anthony Hervey Bernard Holocomb Paul Laraia Kane Mathis Sakura Myers John-Paul Norpoth Marsha Thompson Chrystal Williams Jorell Williams PAST HELPERS OF ALL KINDS! Rick Banville Charlotte Dean Justin Ellington Reza Jacobs Jordan Guetter Carolyn Hollway AJ Laflamme Jeremy Mimnah Erika Morey Meredith Potter Neha Ross Julian Sleath Steven Smits IMPACT TEAM PAST AND PRESENT Bunmi Adeoye Rudayna Bahubeshi Pauline Christian Sharon Cumberbatch Charmain Emerson Kamala Jean Gopie Denise M. Hall Eddie Kawooya Leah Teklamariam Wendy Vincent Cathy Winter

INSTITUTIONS & FUNDERS A Special thanks to the arts councils, our cocommissioning and producing partners, and our many funders (foundations, corporations and individuals) without whose investment and faith this production would be impossible (see funders section). Additionally, we would like to thank: The Nathaniel Dett Chorale – for bringing our attention to this wonderful music York University Department of Drama – for their invaluable help as a development venue partner Tapestry Opera Why Not Theatre COMPANY MANAGEMENT Michelle Galuszka ICE Condos Rosemont Residences Yonge Suites GOSPEL ROBES Karen Burke Kesha Wint DECOR E=mc2

About the Lead Producer: Volcano is a Canadian live-performance creation company based in Toronto. Volcano’s mission is to nurture the emergence of ideas and art-making through collaboration across intersectional identities, varied artistic practices, and borders of all kinds, in service of a future built on justice and well-being.

In practice, we collaborate with artists to make art that transcends conventional limits, boundaries, and orthodoxies. We make shows. We tell meaningful stories. We offer training, mentorships, and various supports to our fellow arts-workers. We have been recognized around the world for our work with over 70 nominations and/or awards at the local, national and international level.

For more information, or to donate to the touring future of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, please visit www.volcano.ca

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Thank you

Thank you Festival Partners

Major Partners

Founding Government Partner

Founding Government Partner

Presenting Partner

Major Partners

Program Partners

Presenting Partner

Program Partners

Government Partners

Partners Partners

Media Partners

Accenture Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Boston Consulting Group The Hospital for Sick Children Bullfrog Power Bureau du Québec à Toronto Medcan DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto MLSEDowntown LaunchPad

Accenture Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Boston Consulting Group Bullfrog Power Bureau du Québec à Toronto DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Toronto Downtown

Toronto FC Strikeman Elliott

Gifts of $50,000+ Mohammad and Najla Al Zaibak Joan and Jerry Lozinski Sandra and Jim Pitblado, C.M. The Azrieli Foundation Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Family Foundation The Rossy Foundation

Gifts of $10,000+ John and Leanna Bayliss David Binet Paul Boniferro Susanne Boyce and Brendan Mullen Linda Chu and John Donald D.H. Gales Family Foundation The George Cedric Metcalf Foundation J.P. Bickell Foundation Anthony and Helen Graham Tony and Lina Gagliano Kevin and Roger Garland, C.M. Tiana Koffler Boyman and Marc Boyman Don Schmitt and Cheryl Atkinson The Bennett Family Foundation The McLean Foundation

Corporate Supporters

Corporate Supporters

Gifts of $100,000+ Anonymous Ian and Kiki Delaney, C.M. Donald K. Johnson OC LLD Justice Fund The Slaight Family Foundation

Gifts of $20,000+ Eva Czigler and Peter Herrndorf, C.C. O.Ont Lucille and Urban Joseph, O.C. Cheryl and Robert McEwen, C.M. Gretchen and Donald Ross, O.C. Nancy Pencer Tim and Frances Price Hal Jackman Foundation Kingfisher Foundation

Government Partners

Media Partners

Thank you Festival Donors

The Hospital for Sick Children Medcan MLSE LaunchPad Toronto FC Strikeman Elliott

Immersive Circle Anonymous Sara Angel maxine bailey The Late Walter M. and Lisa Balfour Bowen Ronald Barry S.M. Blair Family Foundation Helen Burstyn, C.M. and family Cecily and Robert Bradshaw Denton Creighton and Kristine Vikmanis Holly Coll-Black and Rupert Duchesne, C.M. Richard and Donna Ivey Shelley Ambrose and Douglas Knight, C.M. The Lindy Green Family Charitable Foundation Jim Leech and Deb Barrett Peter Mansbridge Helen and Donald McGillivray Laurence and Judy Siegel David Simmonds Celia Smith Nalini Stewart Phil and Eli Taylor Carol Wilding

Luminato Board

Luminaries

Board of Directors

Laureates

Luminaries

Chair Douglas Knight, C.M.

Mohammad Al Zaibak Salah Bachir Charles Baillie Julia Deans Cam di Prata James Fleck, C.C. Robert Foster Michael Foulkes Peter Herrndorf, O.Ont., C.M. † Peter Mansbridge Roberto Martella Chetan Mathur Susan McArthur Robert McEwen C.M. Mark Mulroney Jonas Prince Gretchen Ross Javier San Juan Gary Slaight William Thorsell

Mohammad and Najla Al Zaibak* BMO Financial Group Kate Alexander Daniels and David Daniels* Dancap Productions Inc. Tony and Anne Arrell, C.M. Falls Management Company Salah Bachir, C.M. Ivey Foundation Charles Baillie, O.C. and Marilyn Baillie, C.M.* MacLaren McCann Avie Bennett, C.C., O.Ont.* † Manulife Financial Helen Burstyn, C.M. and David Pecaut, C.M.* † RBC The David and Stacey Cynamon Family Foundation St. Joseph Communications Joan T. Dea and Lionel F. Conacher* TELUS Ian and Kiki Delaney, C.M. Tourism Toronto Cam and Alexandra di Prata John Donald and Linda Chu* Gail Drummond and Bob Dorrance The Duboc Family Foundation* Lonti Ebers and Bruce Flatt Margaret Fleck and Jim Fleck, C.C.* Kevin and Roger Garland, C.M.* The Ira Gluskin and Maxine Granovsky Gluskin Charitable Foundation Anthony and Helen Graham* Jay and Barbara Hennick and Family Ian Ihnatowycz and Marta Witer Lucille and Urban Joseph, O.C.* Patrick and Barbara Keenan, C.M. Michael and Sonja Koerner, C.M.* Tiana Koffler Boyman and Marc Boyman Joan and Jerry Lozinski Chetan and Clara Mathur* Judy and Wil Matthews* Sloan Mauran and Adrian Tauro Rob and Cheryl McEwen, C.M.* Joseph Mimran and Kimberley Newport-Mimran David and Audrey Mirvish, C.M., O.Ont. Pierre L. Morrissette* Gordon and Janet Nixon, C.M., O.Ont. Nancy Pencer Sandra and Jim Pitblado, C.M.* Jonas and Lynda Prince* Richard Rooney and Laura Dinner* Gary and Donna Slaight* Geoff and Megan Smith Howard Sokolowski, O.Ont. and Senator Linda Frum* Marisa and Edward Sorbara* Larry and Judy Tanenbaum, O.C.* Eli and Philip Taylor The Roy Thomson Family Taylor Thomson John and Elizabeth Tory Q.C. The Hon. Hilary M. Weston, C.M., C.V.O, O.Ont and W. Galen Weston, O.C., C.V.O, O.Ont Robin and David Young*

Vice-Chair maxine bailey Anthony Graham Carol Wilding, FCPA, FCA David Simmonds Helen Burstyn, C.M John Bayliss Jonathon Redbird Judy Matthews Ken Tanenbaum Krystal Abotossaway Laurissa Canavan Lucille Joseph Melissa Martin Michaëlle Jean Paul Boniferro Rupert Duchesne, C.M Tony Gagliano Tiana Koffler Boyman

† Deceased * These visionary donors supported Luminato before its inaugural season

Founding Corporate Luminaries

Luminato Staff Executive & Administration

Development

Programming & Production

Celia Smith CEO

Jessica Litwin Chief Development Officer

Naomi Campbell Artistic Director

Marcia McNabb VP Finance & Admin

Anne Rawn (maternity leave) Associate Director, Philanthropy

Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Festival Producer

Dylan Schoenmakers Grant Writer & Government Relations Consultant

Cara Humeniuk Corporate Development Officer

Lani Milstein Senior Producer

Sarah Yellin Project Manager, Executive Office

Jackie Nguyen Membership Manager

Cathy Gordon Festival and Community Engagement Manager

Thomas Millband Finance Manager

Jane Hopgood Senior Director, Major Gifts

Adam Barrett Producer/Programmer

Yoshita Yadav Finance Assistant

Natasha Udovic Senior Director, Corporate Partnerships

Ally Lu Production Coordinator

Loredana LaCaprara Production Accountant

Ruby Sohi Events Specialist

Marketing & Communications Christine Harris Senior Director, Marketing & Communications Bradley Langham Audience Experience & Ticketing Manager Cassandra Popescu Digital Content Manager Harsh Panchal Senior Data Analyst Kelly Estomo Marketing and Communications Coordinator Noor Gatih Social Media Coordinator Paulina Luciani Digital Content Coordinator Priyanka Ganguli Marketing and Communications Manager

Sarah Barrable-Tishauer Partnerships and Events Manager Sophie Brzozowski Development Assistant Emily Weaver Development Intern

Producers Caren Campbell Caroline Hollway Dev Ramsawakh Pete Lawlor Associate Producers Alicia Doane Asha Deboran-Hotrum Julián Carvajal Kafi Pierre Rogue Benjamin Production Managers Duncan Macmillan Pip Bradford

Alex Bordokas Music Curator Clayton Lee Curatorial Associate Ali Hand Accessibility & Programs Associate Natasha “Courage” Bacchus ASL Programs Associate Emily Maxwell Accessibility & Programs Coordinator Amanda Low Volunteer Manager Elizabeth Zeppa Volunteer Coordinator Mallary Davenport Company Manager Nithin Subramanian Logistics Coordinator

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TO Live Board and Staff BOARD Board of directors Lori DeGraw Chair Councillor Gary Crawford Vice Chair Councillor Lily Cheng Councillor Chris Moise Paul Bernards Myriam Gafarou Kevin Garland Mustafa Humayun Owais Lightwala Gave Lindo Dawn Maracle Kathleen Sharpe Gillian Smith

STAFF Executive management Clyde Wagner President & CEO Isabel Vicente Menanno Director of the Office of the CEO & Board Relations Special projects Leslie Lester Vice President of STLC Redevelopment Development Sandra Bellisario Vice President of Philanthropy & Sponsorship Madeleine Skoggard Director of Philanthropy & Sponsorship Ashley D’Andrea Senior Manager, Leadership Giving Nikita Patel Senior Manager, Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships Lawrence Tan Assistant Manager of Partnerships & Events

Finance and administration William Milne Vice President of Finance & Administration Thomas Grady Director of Finance Hayde Boccia Director of Finance Michael Johnson Controller Sabrina Li Senior Financial Manager Paul Gagnon Client Settlement Services Manager Dorian Barton Client Settlement Services Assistant Gladys Torres Payroll Specialist Nooshin Ashraf-Zadeh Accounting Assistant Nelum Dissanayake Accounting Assistant Fiona Liu Accounting Assistant Fiona Wan Accounting Assistant Charles Mayne Office Clerk Information technology David McCracken Director of Information Technology Michael Cadiz IT Support Technician Chahat Khandhar Systems Administrator Scott Spence IT Coordinator Human resources Michelle Carter Vice President of Human Resources & Organizational Culture Mohamed Othman Director of Human Resources Mini Chhabaria Human Resources Generalist Melissa Creighton Human Resources Generalist

Marketing and communications Jeff Rohrer Vice President of Marketing & Communications Stephanie Canarte Director of Marketing Grant Ramsay Media Relations Officer Stephen Crooks Senior Digital Marketing Manager Vanessa Grant Senior Content Marketing Manager Lauren Finateri Marketing Manager, Promotions & Partnerships Emma Forhan Digital Content Creator Shaun Lee Graphic Designer Jaya Arora Social Media & Web Content Coordinator Joshua DeFreitas Marketing Specialist Jimena Perez Marketing Coordinator Box office Tom Kerr Director of Ticketing Services Sandie Chui Manager of Ticket Services Fran Holywell Box Office Manager Liz Bragg Box Office Manager Thomas Quinlan Box Office Assistant Manager Holly Merkur-Dance Box Office Assistant Manager Alexander Jackson Box Office Assistant Manager Clayton Batson Box Office Duty Manager Jennifer Norman Box Office Duty Manager Brittney Channer Box Office Duty Manager Michelle Cruz Box Office Duty Manager

Operations Matthew Farrell Vice President of Operations Edward Delavari Director of Capital Projects Luke Belfontaine Senior Project Manager BahramAghakhan Project Manager Michael Gutowski Project Manager Zane Elliott Project Manager Patron and event services Sean Tasson Director of Patron and Event Services Lynn Frenette Patron Services Manager Tara Hitchman Patron Services Manager Natalie Ireland Events Manager Lina Welch Patron Services Manager Kelsey McGuigan Assistant Patron Services Manager Robin Gaunt Assistant Patron Services Manager Peter Harabaras Patron Services Duty Manager Andrew Muirhead Patron Services Duty Manager Bruna Pisani Patron Services Duty Manager Kizzie St Clair Patron Services Duty Manager Maria Waslenko Patron Services Duty Manager Andrew Fong Executive Chef Juliana Fay Catering Manager

Facilities Abiodun Ojekunle Director of Facilities Jarryd Fish Facilities Manager Evan Ramdin Chief Building Operator Robert MacLean Building Operator Ryan Nerona Junior Building Operator Omar Nurse Stage Door Security Supervisor Colin Dyble Stage Door Security Henry Fernandes Stage Door Security Margreta Kristiansen Stage Door Security Mohammed Shaikh Stage Door Security Tushar Somani Stage Door Security Mohuddin Memon Stage Door Security Reza Moradi Stage Door Security Sangay Lhamo Stage Door Security Mohamed Zuhair Maintenance Supervisor Roger Alves Maintenance Robert Bischoff Maintenance Mizrah Mohemed Maintenance Pema Lakshey Maintenance Catherine Patrick Maintenance Rosalina Silva Maintenance Rosa Victoria Maintenance Christine Vivlan Maintenance

Vivian Hije Maintenance (housekeeping) Roderick Padasdao Building Operator Marciano Ramos Jr. Building Operator Ehsan Rahman Jr. Building Operator John Vickery Housekeeping Supervisor Ahmed Akinpelu Housekeeping Rhowen Jane Bunda Housekeeping Michael Kim Housekeeping Elliott Lewis Housekeeping Mabel Liwag Housekeeping Ian Romero Housekeeping Adam Sikora Housekeeping Lauren Smith Housekeeping Ailton Simao Housekeeping Karrie Smith Housekeeping Alicia Surujbally Housekeeping Matthew Pannell Handyperson Eduardo Costales Handyperson

Programming Josephine Ridge Vice President of Programming Max Rubino Director of Programming Ariana Shaw Senior Producer Sascha Cole Senior Producer Zac Mansfield Producer Shannon Murtagh Producer John Kiggins Programming Manager Nathan Sartore Programming & Accessibility Coordinator Courtney Voyce Bookings Manager Alex Whitehead Bookings Coordinator Scott North Director Corporate & Private Events Michaela Aguirre Social Media Specialist Communities and outreach Tasneem Vahanvaty Director of Communities and Outreach Dani De Angelis Communities and Outreach Coordinator Production Kristopher Dell Director of Production Zoe Carpenter Senior Production Manager Anthony (TJ) Shamata Senior Production Manager Bruce Bennett Senior Manager, Theatre Systems and Special Projects Chris Carlton Production Manager Paul McKenna Production Manager Armand Baksh-Zarate Production Manager Susanne Lankin Production Manager Kristopher Weber Production Manager Emma Pressello Production Coordinator JB Beaulieu Production Coordinator

Meridian Hall stage crew IATSE Local 58 Richard Karwat Head Electrician Steve McLean Head Carpenter Marcus Sirman Head of Properties Ross Tuskey Head Sound Operator David Baer Assistant Carpenter Zsolt Kota Assistant Sound Operator Michael Farkas Assistant Electrician – AV Jason Urbanowicz Assistant Electrician St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts stage crew IATSE Local 58 Wes Allen Head of Properties, Bluma Appel Theatre Jay Blencowe Head Carpenter, Bluma Appel Theatre Keijo Makela Head Sound Technician, Bluma Appel Theatre Giulia D’Amanzo Head Electrician, Bluma Appel Theatre Benn Hough Head Technician, Jane Mallett Theatre IATSE Local 822 Susan Batchelor Wardrobe Head, Bluma Appel Theatre Meridian Arts Centre stage crew IATSE Local 58 Aaron Dell Head Technician, Lyric Theatre Russell Hawley Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall Patrick Hales Assistant Head Technician, George Weston Recital Hall Grant Primeau Head Technician, Greenwin Theatre Duncan Morgan Head Technician, Studio Theatre

TO Live Donors

Volcano Board and Staff

We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our Friends of TO Live Community through donations to TO Live and the TO Live Foundation.

BOARD

STAFF

Connie Wansbrough, Chair Andrew Adridge Sidhartha Goyal Matthew Lella Isabelle Ly Yanna McIntosh Melissa Williams

Artistic Director - Ross Manson General Manager - Ray Bramble Associate General Manager - Kelly Read Producer - Sheree Spencer Assistant Producer - Marissa Trott

1R32 Foundation 2608701 Ontario Inc. Jocelyne Achat & Kenneth Maclean Patricia Alps Shirley Arnold Arts Capital John & Claudine Bailey Bashirat Balogun Barbara Basta Eva Bednar Sandra Bellisario Bruce Bennett Shira Bernholtz Eleanor Bothwell Elspeth Bowler Stephanie Canarte Doris Chan Dr. Donette Chin-Loy Chang Wendy Chong Lesley Clark Diana Cockburn Judith C. Cole Bob Collins Leona Cotoia Cheryl Cottle Jacqueline Cushnie Ashley D’Andrea Lori DeGraw Suzanne Denis Anne Dumais Maame Adjoa Duncan Karen Ebanks Penelope Evans Alicia Excell Leah Faieta Shirley Farr Mary Ann Farrell Matt Farrell Shiming Fei Alan Feller David Fiske Nina Flowers Darrell Flynn Clarence Ford Robert & Julia Foster Linda Galen Janet Gates

Derek Genova Charles Gibbs Deborah Gourgy Peter Grav Wayne Hawes Elaine Iannuzziello IATSE Local 58 Charitable Fund Lev Ioussoufovitch Rob Italiano Janice Johnson Sherry Kaufman Christine Kelsey Andrew Kempa Megan Kotze & Michael Longfield Laura Lee Kozody Young Wook Kwon Maggie Lam Alan Levine Kathryn Liedeman Karen Liedeman Jodi Lindsay Edith Lo Jennifer MacLachlan Hailee Mah Ruth & Harold Margles Imaginus Canada Mark Laurie Markus Giacomina Mastromarco Steve McAdam Randy McCall David McCracken Cayla McCullough Linda McGuire William Milne Leslie Milthorpe Susan Moellers Peter Neuschild Sorina Oprea Jennifer Parkin Frances Patterson Brenda Polzler John Quirke Grant Ramsay Brandon Rattan Josephine Ridge Christian Roderos Phillip Roh

Jeffrey Rohrer Carol Rowntree Carole Sisto Stephanie Slobodnik David Smith Debbie Smith Natalia Sorokov Karyn in Toronto Richard Spooner St. Lawrence Market BIA Evelyn Steinberg Katie Sultan Josie Tait Erinn Todd Peter Tsatsanis Alicja Turner Asha Varadharajan Isabel Vicente Menanno Vida Peene Fund Taylor Vince Peeranut Visetsuth Vital Link Ice Cream Clyde Wagner & Steven Tetz Patricia Wheelan Denise Wise Edwin Zukowski Anonymous (5)

Volcano Co-commissioning Partners Volcano wishes to acknowledge and thank our co-commissioning partners:

Volcano wishes to acknowledge and thank our funders and foundation supporters:

Butterfield Family FoundationConnie Wansbrough Rogan Foundation Scott Griffin Foundation

Volcano’s New Work Development Partner is:

Volcano’s Emerging Black Artist Initiative

Volcano’s Orchestra Partner for Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha

Volcano Donors Diana Betz Diane M. Martin Dianne Weinrib Dmitry Chepovetsky Dominic d’Angelo Don Kendal Donna Brownlee Dorothy Engelman Doug Manuel Doug Watters drehleierguy drewdog Edmund DelSol Elaine Fitz Gibbon Eleanor Nichol Eleanor O’Connor Elida Schogt Elisabeth Lella Eliza-Jane Scott Elizabeth Asselstine Elizabeth Butterworth Elizabeth Player Ellen Denny Emily Atkinson Emily Hodder Emlyn Johnson Erin Mackie Etienne Etienne Baqué Eve Egoyan Everette Taylor Farrella Bickersteth Fina MacDonell Finola Jennings Clark Fran Cherry Frank Judnich Gail Gail Packwood Geoffrey Whynot George Lennon George Masswohl gesina Glen Johnson Glen Livesay Gloria Schmed Gordon Cooper Gregg Morris Gregory Oh Guillaume Houët Hal Jackman Foundation Hannah Kirby Harbinger Foundation Harveen Sandhu Heather Moore Heather Nicol Heidi Strauss Hersh Zeifman Iain Grandage Ian Hawkins In memory of Sallie Lyons Inspirit Foundation Iris Simpson Isabel Bassett Isabelle Ly JT Jacquie Cushnie Jane Conlon Jane Hirst Jane Miller Jane Touchie Janice Lewis Jasmine Jasmine Chen Jeanne LeSage Jeanne Marmoreo and Bob Ramsay Jeffrey Honey Jen Stein Jennifer Stein Jess Search Jessica Derventzis Jessica Lloyd Jessica Severin Jill Andersons joanna k kubica Joanna Rifkin Joanne OHea Jocelyn Shih John Bradford John J Riemer John Koensgen John McNeish John Thompson Jon Callas Joseph Baldwin Joseph Carens Josephine Ridge Joy Noonan Jude Kelly Judi Pearl Judith Michael Judy L Dillon Julia and Robert Foster

Juniper Locilento K. M. Hunter Foundation kamala Jean Gopie Karen Krah Karen Low Karen Robinson Karl Kate Alton Kate Einarson Kate Hennig Kate Lushington Katherine Duncanson Katherine Gauthier Kathleen Treat Kathryn Hankinson Kathy Killinger Kathy Siminovich Katie Saunoris Katy Massingill Manck Keith Hoilett Kelly McMahon Kevin C Kevin Gojermac Kingfisher Foundation Kishwar Iqbal Krista Grant Laura Paetz Laura Taler Laurel Paetz Leah Leah Teklemariam & Kwame Younge Lee Clapp Leslie Devlin Libby Wildman Lilia Leon Lilita Tannis Linda Barnett Lindy Green Family Foundation Lisa Humber Liza Balkan Luc Magnan Lucinda Lucy May Lynda Hill Lyndie M Christensen Mac Brock Mackenzie Maev Beaty Marie-José Chartier Marina Fournier Marla and David Lehberg Marlene Stirrett-Matson Marta Braun Martha Henry Martin Julien Mary Heinmaa Matt Harkins Matthew Jocelyn Matthew Lella Maura Donlan Maxine Heppner McLean Smits Foundation Meena Rajulu Megan Johnson Meighan Szigeti Melissa Melissa Williams Meredith Potter Mia Karen Sherman Michael Barnstijn Michael Christ Michael Citrak Michael Drever Michael Healey Michael Rubenfeld Michael Trent Michele Charlton Michelle Boutin Michelle McIver Mike McCormick Milisa Burke Mitchell Cohen and Mitchell Marcus Miya Harris Monica Parrish Musagetes Fund Naeel Batalov Name Nancy Webster Natasha Chisdes Nate Merchant Nathalie Hanrahan Nathaniel Adams Neyla Niall and Katherine Haggart Nicholas Croft Nicholas Woolridge Nicolas Billon Nicole Bellamy Nicole Day Niki Kemeny

Nora Olivia Shortt Ontario Arts Council Ordena Stephens-Thompson Owais Lightwala Pam Thomson Pat and Tony Adams Freedom Fund for the Arts Patrick Bickersteth Patrick Lavender Patrick Wightman Patrik Spånning Westerlund Patty Jarvis Paul DeCoursey Paul Rudmik Paul Wells Paula Grgurich Shewchuk Paula Wing Peggy Baker peter jockel Peter Pasyk Peter Roberts Peter steele Phil Huffsmith Pia Kleber Pierre Simpson Priya Sanghvi Rachel Ransom Wilson Ray Forrester RBC Foundation Rebecca Schechter Rhet Topham Richard Greenblatt Richard Sacks Rick Banville Rick Miller Riley Johnson Rimah Jabr Rita Robert Evans Robert Guenther Robert MacAulay Robin Mednick Rogan Foundation Ron Hay Ronald Lea Rosalind Cavaghan Rosemary Dunsmore Ross Manson Rudayna Bahubeshi Ryan West Sallie Lyons Sally Brodsky Sally Han Sandy/Alysara Mayers-Green Sarah Andree John Sarah Garton Stanley sblh Scott Griffin Foundation SDSkobel Sharon Matthias Shawn Aebi Shawn Doyle Sheryl Kennedy Sidney Sproule Snezana Pesic Sonja Richardson Sparkle O’b Stephanie Belding Stephanie Spong Stephen Haynes Steve Cumyn Steven Bush Steven Smits Stewart Arnott Sue Edworthy Sunny Drake Susan L Humphreys Susan Macpherson Susan R Grossman Susan Worthington Susannah Wilson Tanisha Taitt Tanith Korravai Tanja Jacobs TD Bank Tenny Nigoghossian Teresa Przybylski Theresa Smith Tina Fance Tom Barnett Toronto Arts Council Tracy Michailidis Valentina Karacic Vanessa Sears Veronica Tennant, C.C. Victoria Lee Wayne Owen Wendy Kennan William Holt Yanna McIntosh Yvette Hernandez

Dream.

Connect.

Create.

The National Creation Fund, at Canada’s National Arts Centre, invests in risk, innovation, and great ideas.

By supporting productions like Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha, the Fund revels in the dynamism of Canadian creators.

The National Creation Fund is fuelled by funds raised from generous donors to the National Arts Centre Foundation’s Creation Campaign, who believe in investing in Canadian creators.

nac-cna.ca/creationfund

Aaron Copeland Foundation Adrianne Yiu Alan Dilworth Alan Grant Alex Fallis Alexander Preston Alexander Thomas Alexis Diamond Alice Teichert Alicia Jeffery Alisdair Gadowsky Alison Scott Allie Fenwick Allie Marshall Amanda Lee Amira Emma Routledge Amy Winkle Andra Keay Andrea Koziol Andrea Nann Andrea Tyniec Andrea Scott Andrew Andriana Angie Jones Anisha Anja Zeljkovic Ann Elliott-Goldschmid Ann Snuggs Anne Charlton Anne Ritchings Annie Clarke Anthony Murray Aria Umezawa Aviva Armour-Ostroff Ayelet Rose Gottlieb Azrieli Foundation BackerKit Bank of Montreal Barbara Barbara Fingerote Barbara Fulton Barbara Gordon Barbara Scott Barbara Young Beatrice Campbell Beau Dixon Ben Sanders Bill Upham Brad Lennon Brad Lepp Brandon Kaufer Brandy Williams Branka Branka Bakaric Brendan Healy Bruce McKay Bruce Munro Wright Bruce R. Lindsey Butterfield Family Foundation Caitlin Archer-Helke Cameron Bossert Camilla Holland Camille Stubel Canada Council for the Arts Catherine Gordon Catherine Thompson Cathy Chan Vay Ly Cheryl Atkinson and Don Schmitt Chingyuan Chris Lorway Christina Zeidler Cindy Claire Hopkinson Claire Jenkins Claire Jullien CODAN in honour of Devon Elke Colleen Burke Connie Wansbrough Constance Wansbrough Cory Silverberg Courtney LancasterCraeg Strong Craig Walker Creative Fund by BackerKit Cy Cynthia Ashperger D.D. DuPree Dana Lafarga Darwin Lyons Darwin Lyons Fisher Dauna Jones-Simmonds David Abel David Gale David Horiuchi David Vella David Baile Davide Cavadini Deborah Ratelle Deborah Wafer Denise Meeds Hollenbeck Devon Elke

June 7 - 18

Words, Music and Black Experience

June 15, 5:00-6:00pm Harbourfront Centre Theatre

Photo by Elana Emer

Moderated by Donna Bailey Nurse

Join Donna Bailey Nurse in conversation with leaders in the realm of music, theatre and history, as she explores words, music and the power of Black experience in Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha and Loss. Donna will be joined on stage by D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor, Founder, Artistic Director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale; and ahdri zhina mandiela, Founder and past Artistic Director of b current Performing Arts.