Children of God Show Program

Produced in association with the Citadel Theatre (Vancouver) An Urban Ink (Vancouver) production In collaboration with Canada’s National Arts Centre In Association with Raven Theatre and The Cultch (Vancouver)

March 29 to April 7, 2018 • SAGEBRUSH THEATRE 1

THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SUPPORTERS Presenting Partner

Government Support

FoundationS

Season Partners

Spotlight Sponsor

Pre-Show Salon Partners

PWYC Mainstage Matinée Sponsor

Student Club Sponsor

GENERAL NOTES In consideration of your fellow audience members’ comfort and enjoyment of the show, we ask the following: Electronic Devices: We request that all cellular phones and watch alarms be turned off prior to the show.

Late Seating Policy: Patrons who arrive after a performance has begun will not be seated until an appropriate interval in the program.

Scent-free Facilities: Please arrive perfume/cologne-free and do not bring flowers into the lobby or theatre.

Children: WCT Productions, unless they are identified as Family Friendly, are not suitable for children or babes in arms.

Every patron, regardless of age, requires a ticket. For more information, please visit the FAQs on wctlive.ca.

Recording Policy: Due to copyright regulations, the use of cameras and other video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Services for Patrons with Disabilities: Both the Pavilion and Sagebrush theatres are wheelchair accessible and equipped with wheelchair seating locations; please see the House Manager for details.

Western Canada Theatre is a professional non-profit company. It is an active member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) and engages, under the terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, professional artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Program Producer: Western Canada Theatre • wctlive.ca • 250-372-3216 Printer: Wayside Press • www.waysideco.ca • 250-372-3373 Box Office: Kamloops Live! Box Office • kamloopslive.ca • 250-374-5483

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Produced in association with the Citadel Theatre (Edmonton) An Urban Ink (Vancouver) production In collaboration with Canada’s National Arts Centre In association with Raven Theatre and The Cultch (Vancouver)

CHILDREN OF GOD

A musical written and directed by COREY PAYETTE Michelle Bardach Raes Calvert Sarah Carlé Dillan Chiblow David Keeley Sandy Scofield Cheyenne Scott Aaron M. Wells Kaitlyn Yott

Joanna/Secretary Wilson/Movement Director Sister Bernadette Tom/Tommy Father Christopher Rita Julia Vincent/Fight Captain Elizabeth

Steven Greenfield Amy Nicholson Brian Raine Martina Smazal

Musician - Keys Musician - Cello Musician - Guitar Musician - Viola

Corey Payette Marshall McMahen Allen Cole Elliot Vaughan Julie McIsaac Jeff Harrison Helen Oro Kris Boyd & Kyra Soko Mike Kovac & Ryan McNeill Bolton Steven Greenfield Samira Rose Molly Pearson

Book/Music/Lyrics & Director Production Designer Musical Director Orchestrator Associate Director Lighting Designer Jewelry Design Sound Designers Fight Directors Associate Music Director Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager

The run time of this production is approximately 1 hour, 50 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission.

Children of God received the development support of Urban Ink, Raven Theatre, Western Canada Theatre, T’kemlúps le Secwépemc, collaboration through the National Arts Centre English Theatre, Full Circle First Nations Performance and the Talking Stick Festival, The Vancouver Playhouse, Firehall Arts Centre, Arts Club Theatre, Sunset Theatre and Playwrights Theatre Centre.

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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Welcome to the final production of our 2017-18 Sagebrush

season. Our theme this season is Our Stories Live, bringing to our wonderfully supportive audiences a variety of stories, in an array of theatre forms, they can relate to, be entertained by and learn from.

We also sought to welcome newcomers, especially young people, to the theatre experience. It means so much to us as a company that Children of God will perform two school matinees, where over 1,000 students from the Kamloops area will have the opportunity to take in this outstanding production.

Children of God was developed over many years through the support of WCT, leading to a workshop production rehearsed in the Chapel at the Chief Louis Cultural Centre (the former Residential School), alongside the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc, produced by Urban Ink, in partnership with Raven Theatre and in collaboration with the National Arts Centre English Theatre, and presented in the Pavilion Theatre. We were proud to have played a role in its initial development, and we are so pleased to see it return to WCT in this beautiful, fully-realized production, which has played across the country and will continue to tour in future seasons.

There are so many reasons why the production stands out: its theatrical innovation; its important and tragic story, its vibrant representation of the strength of Residential School survivors and their families, and ultimately, its appeal for our collective engagement in the ongoing process of reconciliation. In presenting this production in conjunction with companies across Canada, WCT continues to play a role in contributing to our national theatre.

At the conclusion of this performance, we invite you to stay for a facilitated discussion about our personal roles in the ongoing process of reconciliation. Please also take a look at the lobby display, which has come to us from the National Centre for Truth and Reconcilliation.

Finally, on behalf of all of us at WCT, I’d like to extend our thanks and warmest appreciation to our outgoing Executive Director, Lori Marchand. Lori’s contribution to the success of Western Canada Theatre has been immeasurable. She has been a brilliant leader for our company and in our city for almost two decades. During that time, Lori was the driving force behind developing Western Canada Theatre’s reputation as a home for Indigenous artists and their work, a reputation which has garnered national recognition for WCT and for the city of Kamloops. We will all miss her, but we also recognize that in her role at the newlycreated Indigenous Theatre Section of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, we will have many opportunities to forge new partnerships with that outstanding and important company.

We will be announcing our 2018-19 season shortly, another season of exciting musicals, comedies, and dramas, for adults and families, with titles both brand new and refreshingly familiar! We hope you’ll join us by taking advantage of one of our many flexible subscription options. And, as always, if you have any comments or questions about our company, I can be reached at james@wctlive.ca.

Thank you for your attendance and support. We look forward to seeing you at Armstrong’s War and next season.

James MacDonald Artistic Director, Western Canada Theatre We wish to acknowledge that we are on land located in the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory within the unceded traditional lands of the Secwépemc Nation. We extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live, create, and perform on this beautiful territory.

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Enjoy the Show!

Presenting Partner

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Ron & Rae Fawcett k e l s ong ro up.c om

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S NOTES

When I arrived home in Kamloops in 1999, my children

were young, my youngest not yet in kindergarten. The University College of the Cariboo had not yet transitioned to independent university status. David Ross was entering his 16th season at the helm of Western Canada Theatre. And the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was not even an idea.

The world has changed dramatically in the intervening years. My daughters have grown into beautiful, strong young women, and they and their friends are setting about changing the world. Thompson Rivers University is now the third largest employer in the city, attracting students locally, regionally, and globally. At WCT, I have had the honour and pleasure of working with not only David Ross, but also Jeremy Tow, Daryl Cloran and now James MacDonald – four exceptional, visionary artists, all committed to producing impactful, important, profound and beautiful work for the people of this region and, in fact, the nation. As well as being brilliant, all four have been gracious partners in running this company and have worked with me to create an environment that is renowned for its support and production of Indigenous work.

The findings and recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have had profound impact and changed lives throughout the nation. I am grateful beyond words for the honour of working with the elders, artists, community members, staff members, board members, volunteers and audience members who have created and participated in the Indigenous storytelling that is so vital a part of the Reconciliation process and that has been a defining component of my time here at WCT. If you had told me 19 years ago that there would be an Indigenous Theatre Section at the National Arts Centre, I would not have believed it. I believe that the work we have produced here at WCT, the work you have helped create, has played a significant role in the creation of this profound societal shift.

Thank you for coming to see Children of God. I am so unbelievably proud of this work. Thank you for continuing to support WCT. And most especially, thank you for all of the personal support you have offered to me and my family. Kamloops will always be my home.

Lori Marchand Executive Director, Western Canada Theatre

PHOTO: DAVID COOPER

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ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

Corey Payette is proud of his Oji-Cree heritage from

Northern Ontario and has worked as a playwright, actor, composer, and director across Canada. He is the Artistic Director of Urban Ink Productions (Vancouver, B.C.), past Artist-in-Residence with English Theatre at Canada’s National Arts Centre, and the founder of Raven Theatre (Vancouver, B.C.) focusing on new works by Indigenous artists. Corey has worked as an Artistic Associate with Full Circle: First Nations’ Performance and The Indigenous Cycle at the National Arts Centre, an investigation into the broad spectrum of the Indigenous body of work being created within Canada’s borders. This cycle resulted in the creation of a new department of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre to begin in 2019.

As a playwright, Corey’s work has been developed at the National Arts Centre, Vancouver Playhouse, Firehall Arts Centre, Western Canada Theatre, Arts Club Theatre, Urban Ink Productions, Full Circle: First Nations Performance, Fugue Theatre, Bard on the Beach, and Raven Theatre. His original musical Children of God has been developed in collaboration with English Theatre at the National Arts Centre and had its world premiere in May 2017 at the York Theatre (The Cultch) in Vancouver and in June 2017 on the Mainstage at the National Arts Centre.

Corey’s acting credits include the world premiere of the musical The Road Forward by Marie Clements (PuSh Festival) and docu-feature produced by the National Film Board of Canada; Beyond Eden (Theatre Calgary/Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company); La Cage Aux Folles (Vancouver Playhouse); as well as three summers at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, and touring the Yukon with Gwaandak Theatre as the lead in their world premiere production Justice at the Yukon Arts Centre. He has also presented at the NAC’s Northern Scene Festival.

Corey holds a B.F.A. in music composition from York University, composed the film score to the documentary AMIN AMIR (OMNI TV), and was the past Grand Chief of the Board of Directors of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA) and board member of Vancouver Native Health Society providing mental, physical, and spiritual relief to Aboriginal people on the DTES, Vancouver, B.C. As a musical theatre creator, he’s currently writing a new musical Les Filles du Roi (music and direction, co-book/lyrics with Julie McIsaac) in English, French, and Kanien’kéha (Mohawk), commissioned by Fugue Theatre.

A published script, a CD of the music, and a piano/vocal songbook of Children of God are available for purchase in the lobby and at www.coreypayette.com.

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PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTES

Welcome, Growing up in Northern Ontario, we were never taught the history of residential schools. It wasn’t something people talked about. When I learned of this history I felt I needed to do something about it and make sure that people knew what happened here. Children of God was born out of anger and frustration that this horrible history had happened and yet was hidden from the narrative of our country.

The journey started through years of research, speaking with survivors on the back of their pick-up trucks in rural BC, visiting abandoned school sites, and holding a workshop production at the Chief Louis Cultural Centre, a reclaimed former residential school on the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc in Kamloops, BC. Every step of this journey allowed me to have a deeper understanding of this history, and led me to recognize our collective responsibility in acknowledging the strength and resilience of residential school survivors and their descendants.

Over the past 7 years, I have witnessed the whole country expand their awareness through a similar transition. Through the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Canadians now have a better understanding of this history; what was once hidden is now a publicly recognized shameful chapter of our history, a subject of ongoing public and private conversations. I believe that for true reconciliation it can’t just be Indigenous peoples who bear the burden of this work. It needs to be everyone, in every community, investing in this process and continuing the journey forward together.

Through this work, we honour and acknowledge the strength of survivors and their descendants. We are proud of Indigenous peoples’ resilience in reclaiming our culture, language, and rightful place at the heart of our Canadian identity. Stories are powerful. They connect us, shape our understanding of ourselves and our relationship to one another, so that the true history of this country can be fully understood.

Miigwetch (Thank you) to all the people who have believed in this work over the years, to Daryl Cloran and Lori Marchand who believed in this work from the very beginning, and to this remarkable company of artists for bringing Children of God to life again. And to You, the audience, for being here, and including this work as a step on our journey to reconciliation.

All my relations, Corey Payette Bookwriter, Composer, Lyricist, and Director of Children of God

PHOTO: DAVID COOPER

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ARTISTS’ BIOGRAPHIES Michelle Bardach Joanna/Secretary At WCT: Mamma Mia! and Workshop of Children of God. Elsewhere: Originally from Vancouver, Michelle is of Coast Salish ancestry, a member of the Squamish Nation. She is a graduate of the Musical Theatre Program at Capilano University. Some favourite credits include Éponine in Les Miserables (Chemainus); Hope Cladwell in Urinetown (Firehall); Mamma Mia! (Theatre Aquarius/WCT); and Pure 90s (Stage West). She was awarded the 2012 Ovation Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress and the Aida Broadbent Award. Next up, Michelle will be performing in Mamma Mia! at The Arts Club as Sophie.

Ryan McNeill Bolton Fight Director At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Ryan has recently co-designed (with Mike Kovac) fights for Les Liaisons Dangereux and Cabaret (Exit 22); Men in White, Bakersfield Mist, Baskerville, The Valley, One Man, Two Guvnors, and Peter and the Starcatcher (Artsclub); Crazy For You (Gateway); and Belfast Girls (Peninsula Productions). He also works as a guest artist instructor for a variety of educational institutions around the GVA, including UBC, Capilano University, and Bard on the Beach’s youth education program, Bard in the Classroom.

Kris Boyd Original Sound Designer At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Kris is pleased to return to sound design after many years focused on mixing concert audio. Favourite credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hoarse Raven Theatre); A Wrinkle in Time (Pacific Theatre); and Capo (MovEnt). He enjoyed many years as sound engineer for Randy Bachman and Vancouver New Music and as Head of Audio for The Cultch. Kris holds a music diploma in mandolin performance from Vancouver Community College. He is currently Technical Director for The Cultch and the York Theatre.

Raes Calvert Wilson/Movement Director At WCT: Workshop of Children of God and Where the Wild Things Are. Elsewhere: Raes Calvert is a Métis theatre artist from Vancouver, B.C. He is honoured to have the opportunity to perform in Children of God for the second time after its 2015 workshop production in Kamloops. Raes is a graduate of Studio 58 and recently completed his Bachelor of Performing Arts degree at Douglas College. He is the CoArtistic Director of Hardline Productions and is beyond excited to be bringing his show Redpatch to the Citadel this November. This one is for you, Dad. Miss you.

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Sarah Carlé Sister Bernadette At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Select credits include Drayton Entertainments’s Legends of Rock and Roll, A Christmas Story – the play, Footloose, Elf: The Musical, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Steel Magnolias (Jessie nomination), The Gifts of the Magi, Les Misérables (Chemainus Theatre Festival); Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Bittergirl - the musical (Globe); Les Misérables (Arts Club/CTF); Little Shop of Horrors (Blue Bridge); [title of show], Nevermore (Urban Arts); Sweeney Todd, Songs for a New World, and Falsettos (Gotta Getta Gimmick). Sarah lives in Victoria, B.C., where she is a proud Artistic Associate with Gotta Getta Gimmick. Love to Greg, my soon to be husband, and to my family for all their love and support.

Dillan Chiblow Tom/Tommy At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Dillan is an Ojibway storyteller from Garden River First Nation and is honoured to be a part of telling this story.

He is a graduate of Sheridan’s Music Theatre Performance Program, as well as The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he obtained his Master’s degree in Musical Theatre. Select credits include Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth (Magnus); 9 to 5: The Musical (Edinburgh Fringe Festival); and The Talking Stick (Confederation Centre of the Arts Young Company). Thanks to Corey, Da Costa, my supportive family, and husband Paul!

Allen Cole Musical Director At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Allen Cole has worked variously as composer, musical director, lyricist, and/ or book writer on many musical theatre works and has won numerous awards, including four Doras and a Best Film Score Award from the Atlantic Film Festival. His musical Rockbound won five Merritt Awards, including Best New Play, Best Music and Best Production, and was nominated for the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia’s Masterworks Award. His musical based on Alice in Wonderland (with Peter Hinton) premiered in May 2016 at the Shaw Festival.

Steven Greenfield Associate Music Director At WCT: As Vocal Director: Waiting for the Parade; as Actor: Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Seussical; as Music Director: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Elsewhere: Steven is a stay-at-home dad, music director, pianist, and actor. Born and raised in Calgary, he has recently returned to Alberta after 11 years in Vancouver.

Recent credits include Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet (Arts Club); and Elbow Room Café: The Musical (Zee Zee Theatre).

Upcoming: Forever Plaid (Mayfield Theatre).

A graduate of Grant MacEwan’s Theatre Arts program, he has been an instructor at Studio 58, Capilano University, his alma mater.

Thanks to Corey and Allen. Special thanks to family, friends, Jessie, Edgar, and Gotham for their love and support.

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Jeff Harrison Lighting Designer At WCT: The Foursome.

Elsewhere: Jeff has over 100 design credits, both in Vancouver and internationally.

He is a graduate of SFU’s School for the Contemporary Arts, attended the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts, and is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada. Past design credits include: The Full Monty, Floyd Collins (Patrick St. Productions); Wizard of Oz, Cat in the Hat, Arthur: Boy King (Carousel Theatre); and Blasted (Pi Theatre).

David Keeley Father Christopher At WCT: Les Misérables Elsewhere: Credits include Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, True Love Lies (Citadel); Light in the Piazza (Theatre Calgary), Billy Elliot, Rock of Ages (Mirvish); as well as 8 seasons with The Stratford Festival. David won a Dora Award for his portrayal of Lockstock in Urinetown (Canadian Stage). He also originated the role of Sam in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia!. Television and film: Designated Survivor, Murdoch Mysteries, Copper, Saving Hope, The Listener, Republic of Doyle, Lost Girl, Rookie Blue, and The Manchurian Candidate.

Julie McIsaac Associate Director At WCT: Workshop of Children of God. Elsewhere: A versatile director, writer and performer, Julie recently completed a yearlong residency at Pacific Opera Victoria, where credits include assisting Atom Egoyan (Jenufa) and Peter Hinton (Missing). Directing highlights include Le Nozze di Figaro (Opera Studio); Pride and Prejudice (Chemainus Theatre Festival); and The Exquisite Hour (Relephant Theatre; Playhouse Fringe award). She is also the playwright, composer, and co-sound designer of The Out Vigil (Firepot Performance; Jessie award with Jay Clift). Upcoming: co-writing book & lyrics of Les Filles du Roi.

Marshall McMahen Production Designer At WCT: Set Designer: The Cure for Death by Lightning; Production Designer: Workshop of Children of God. Elsewhere: Marshall is a set and costume designer for theatre and film based in Vancouver. Originally from Williams Lake, he is happy to be bringing Children of God to the Interior. He designs for Urban Ink, Bard on the Beach, Arts Club, Caravan Farm Theatre, Electric Company, Pacific Opera Victoria, Citadel, and more.

He is the recipient of a Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award, Ottawa Critics’ Circle Award, Jessie Award, and four Ovation Awards.

He is a graduate of UBC, and a member of Associated Designers of Canada.

Helen Oro Jewelry Design At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Helen Oro is owner operator of fashion label Helen Oro Designs Inc. Helen is Plains Cree from Pelican Lake First Nation. She takes her traditional First Nation beadwork and adorns modern day accessories such as heels, sunglasses, clutch purses, etc. Not only does Helen create one-of-a-kind creations, but creates opportunities for Indigenous people aspiring to pursue careers in the fashion/model world. Internationally recognized for her designs and work, Helen aims to create a positive image for Indigenous women everywhere.

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Molly Pearson Assistant Stage Manager At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Molly’s recent credits include Stage Managing Shakespeare’s R&J (Kill Your Television); Bello (Concrete Theatre/l’Unitheatre); The Merchant of Venice (Freewill Shakespeare Festival); Made In Italy (Beyond the Stage series, Citadel Theatre); Bust (Theatre Network); The Passion of Narcisse Mondoux (Northern Light Theatre/l’UniTheatre); assistant stage managing Peter and the Starcatcher and A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, As You Like It and Coriolanus (Freewill Shakespeare Festival).

Samira Rose Stage Manager At WCT: The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. Elsewhere: Originally from Chisholm Township, Samira recently worked on Jillian Keiley’s adaptation of A Christmas Carol at the National Arts Centre.

Other NAC credits include The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God (Centaur); King Lear, Saint Carmen of The Main (Canadian Stage); The Drowsy Chaperone (Citadel/ Vancouver Playhouse); Shakespeare’s Dog (RMTC); GCTC’s Proud, Vimy (NAC); The Syringa Tree, Red Diva’s The Road Forward, and Canada Day on Parliament Hill (NCC/ CBC Television).

Sandy Scofield Rita At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Sandy Scofield is a multi-award winning composer, sound designer and singer/ songwriter who holds an undergrad degree in music. She has received three Juno nominations, a Western Canadian Music Award, a Canadian Folk Music Award, and five Canadian Aboriginal Music awards.

She has toured to festivals on five continents and has composed music and created sound design for dance and theatre, including the 2010 Winter Olympics, Marie Clement’s and City Opera Vancouver’s MISSING (MMIW), and Michelle Thrush’s Inner Elder for Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre (2018 High Performance Rodeo).

Cheyenne Scott Julia At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Cheyenne Scott is Coast Salish of the Saanich Nation. Her work is an exploration and celebration of her Indigenous heritage through impactful personal expression and storytelling. After the Urban Ink and National Arts Centre world premiere, Cheyenne is honoured to be returning to the role of Julia. Upcoming projects include being co-creator of Now You See Her with the award-winning Quote Unquote Collective, who were the powerful team behind Mouthpiece. She is currently an artist-in-residence with Mikw Chiyâm, where she is developing her new piece, Wolf Cull.

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Western Canada Theatre continues a history of delivering VIBRANT, professional theatre to our community.

The City of Kamloops is a proud sponsor and

wishes the company all the best in its 2017-2018 season.

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Kyra Soko Sound Designer At WCT: Debut Elsewhere: Kyra has over 35 years of experience as a sound recording engineer, music producer, sound designer and musician. They approach mixing live sound from both a tech’s perspective and that of a performer or artist. Currently, they are in their third season with the Vancouver East Cultural Centre as Head of Sound. Children of God is a path to healing our present lives by acknowledging and understanding our past and then creating a different future together.

I am so in.

Elliot Vaughan Orchestrator At WCT: Workshop of Children of God. Elsewhere: Elliot is a Vancouverbased musician. He has worked on theatre projects with Leaky Heaven, Touchstone, Urban Ink, and others; dance shows with Dezza Dance, Iris Lau, con8 collective, and others; concert music for international chamber ensembles; and records with The End Tree, Jay Malinowski, and Iffy South. His compositions have been performed in 17 countries. He holds a composition degree from Simon Fraser University. He has toured Europe, the U.K., and Canada, performed with over 30 pop acts, and has appeared on over a dozen records.

CONGRATULATIONS to WCT on another great production!

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MLA Kamloops – North Thompson

Aaron M. Wells Vincent/Fight Captain At WCT: The Cure for Death

by Lightning and workshop of Children of God Elsewhere: Aaron is from the Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Tsimpsian First Nations of B.C. His career has been made up of new Canadian works at the Arts Club, Western Canada Theatre (including the world premiere of Children of God at The Cultch), and the National Arts Centre.

Aaron has also taken part in discussions with the NAC and at Stratford, investigating the Indigenous body of work and space on the national stage with other Indigenous artists from across Canada. He is also a recent graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts.

Kaitlyn Yott Elizabeth At WCT: TH’OWXIYA (Axis Theatre).

Elsewhere: Kaitlyn is honoured to reprise her role in Children of God. Select credits include Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Carousel Theatre); Busted Up: A Yukon Story (Open Pit Theatre); and A Charlie Brown Christmas (Carousel Theatre). Up next, she will be originating the role of Kateri in the premiere of Julie McIsaac and Corey Payette’s new musical, Les Filles Du Roi. For you, Cathy – our eternal drumming heartbeat. I love you.

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Founded in 1965, the Citadel Theatre is is a national centre of excellence in production, creative development, and audience engagement – the artistic and cultural heart of our community. In September 2016, Daryl Cloran (former Artistic Director of Western Canada Theatre) became the Citadel’s new Artistic Director, bringing with him great enthusiasm and vision for the Citadel’s future. Daryl’s vision is for the Citadel to be: Inclusive, Innovative, and International in our programming and practices. We are proud to be part of a city so rich in theatre practice and theatre artists, and continuously feature local artists and their work on our stage. The Citadel is also an important contributor to the national theatre landscape, creating work and training artists seen on stages around the country and internationally.

Artistic Director Daryl Cloran Executive Director Chantell Ghosh

www.citadeltheatre.com FACEBOOK @citadeltheatre INSTAGRAM @citadeltheatreyeg TWITTER @citadeltheatre

Based in Vancouver, Urban Ink Productions creates, produces and disseminates original live performance works by Indigenous and Intercultural artists. Across Canada, Urban Ink is putting the power in the hands of Indigenous and Intercultural artists to tell their own stories in their own unique voice.

Founded in 2001, Urban Ink has always been a company where Canadian stories are told.

Today, under the passionate artistic direction of Corey Payette, our company goes even further, promoting Intercultural understanding, igniting conversations from coast to coast, and celebrating the rich history of its land by bringing communities together in a National conversation that affirms diversity as a shared Canadian value.

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CHILDREN OF GOD IN LOCAL & NATIONAL HISTORICAL CONTEXTS Corey Payette’s powerful Children of God is the latest chapter in the unfolding of the history of Indigenous theatre in Canada. Although performance (traditionally incorporating music, as Payette’s play does) has long been a component of Indigenous culture, theatre itself is a Western European genre, and only in the past several decades have Indigenous plays influenced mainstream Canadian theatre. Their impact has been profound, and Western Canada Theatre has been instrumental in shaping it – not only by staging already popular works by Drew Hayden Taylor (Ojibwa), Tara Beagan (Ntlaka’pamux), and Kenneth T. Williams (Cree), but also by assisting in the creation of new work.

Taylor and Tomson Highway (Cree) are among the founders of Indigenous theatre. Their plays have been lauded across the Western world, influencing audiences in villages, towns, and cities across Canada, the US, and Europe for about three decades. Highway’s 2004 Ernestine Shuswap Gets Her Trout was conceived in Kamloops: a co-commission of Western Canada Theatre and the Secwépemc Cultural Education Society, it is in and about the very land on which we now sit. While working with the first generation of Indigenous theatre artists, Western Canada Theatre has enhanced Kamloopsians’ awareness of local history.

Beagan, Williams, and Kevin Loring (Nlaka’pamux) have built on the works of their predecessors. Loring’s Where the Blood Mixes won the Governor-General’s Award for Drama in 2009, and, while most of Loring’s work has premiered in Lytton, it has also played in multiple venues large and small. Where the Blood Mixes, which lives and breathes the landscape of BC’s interior, was given a staged workshop development tour by WCT and the Vancouver Playhouse in 2008 and performed at the Sagebrush Theatre in 2012. Thus, WCT has been instrumental in the success of the second generation.

Now, with Children of God, comes a representative of a third generation of Indigenous work that is embedded in our city and theatre. After early workshopping at the Chief Louis Cultural Centre, the play, in development, was part of WCT’s 2016 High Wire Festival – fittingly presented in the Interior, as Payette acknowledges the “survivors on the back of their pick-up trucks in rural BC” to whom he spoke while researching, in the notes to the published play script. Payette has already had national impact with this musical about residential schools, intergenerational trauma, resiliency, and the healing power of ceremony – a success propelled when Jillian Keiley, the Artistic Director of the National Arts Centre (NAC) English Theatre, saw it at the High Wire Festival and “knew from the first scene that it was destined for Canada’s stage” (i.e., the NAC).

As it turned out, not only was Children of God destined for the NAC, so, too, were individuals with strong Kamloops connections. In late 2017, Kevin Loring was appointed Artistic Director of the NAC’s new Indigenous Theatre. Not long after came the news that WCT’s stellar and longtime Executive Director Lori Marchand would be joining Loring in Ottawa – as Managing Director. Marchand’s appointment leaves us feeling both bereft (what will we do without Lori?) and proud – of this recognition of her leadership in developing Indigenous dramas right here in Kamloops.

As witnesses to the trajectory of Indigenous dramas in Canada, WCT audiences have been enriched, entertained, and enlightened in numerous ways. While we experience Children of God, which Payette sees as “a step in our journey to reconciliation,” let’s acknowledge Western Canada Theatre and generations of Indigenous playwrights – but Marchand and Payette in particular – for shining light on the path.

Ginny Ratsoy Associate Professor of English Thompson Rivers University 21

RECONCILIATION — “IT INVOLVES ALL OF US” Selections from the remarks by Justice Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at the tabling of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Residential Schools, June 2, 2015 This has been a difficult, inspiring and painful journey. The residential school experience is one of the darkest, most troubling chapters in our collective history. … Since 2008, we have collected documents, visited more than 300 communities from coast to coast to coast and heard testimony from thousands of witnesses.

We heard of the effects of over one hundred years of mistreatment of more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children placed in these schools. Removed from their families and home communities, seven generations of Aboriginal children were denied their identity.

We heard how, separated from their language, culture, spiritual traditions, and their collective history, how children became unable to answer questions as simple as: Where do I come from? Where am I going? Why am I here? And, who am I? These fundamental questions guide us in life, influence our choices, strengthen our ability to take advantage of opportunities and help us find and fulfil our sense of self. Survivors were stripped of the ability to answer these questions. They were stripped of the love of their families. They were stripped of their selfrespect…and of their identity. Their stories, more than 6,750 in number, will now become a part of a permanent historical archive, never to be forgotten or ignored. …

The Survivors have entrusted us, and by extension, all the people in Canada, with two priorities.

First, the Survivors need to know before they leave this earth that people understand what happened and what the schools did to them.

….

Second, the Survivors need to know that, having been heard and understood, that we will act to ensure the repair of damages done.

The Commission’s recommendations outline specific actions to redress the harmful and disgraceful legacy of the residential school system in Canada. … We must endeavour instead to become a society that champions human rights, truth and tolerance, NOT by avoiding a dark history but rather by confronting it.… To become this society, we need to bear witness to the past and join in a vision for the future. This must be the goal of reconciliation. …

To this end, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s recommendations address some of these core challenges. From child welfare to legal and economic concerns, from education to language, culture, health, business and commemoration, our 94 recommendations endeavour to confront the complexities associated with reconciliation.

Central to directing the path to reconciliation will be the Canadian government’s adoption of the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples…. To this end, we call upon the Government of Canada, on behalf of all Canadians, to jointly develop with Aboriginal peoples a Royal Proclamation of Reconciliation to be issued by the Crown. The proclamation would build on the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which stated in no uncertain terms that all lands which had not been purchased or ceded to the Crown, were reserved for the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land. …

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Survivors, their families and their communities are looking to our political leaders to display the conviction and the courage to honour the commitments made to Aboriginal people in Canada – to start a new chapter in the story of Canada…one that we can all be proud of.

Political will, however, can only be sustained by the wishes of the people who demand change.

Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem – it is a Canadian problem. It involves all of us.

Our recommendations should not be seen as an itemization of national penance, but as an opportunity to embrace a second chance at establishing a relationship of equals. …

Again, all the people in Canada must be clear, loud, and united in expressing their heartfelt belief that reconciliation SHOULD happen. …

It matters not only for those who are with us today, but also the generations to come and the spirits of those who are not with us here today whose memories we must honour. We must work together; we must speak the truth. At its heart, reconciliation is about forming respect.

The sacred fire lit at sunrise a few days will be extinguished in the coming days. Now we must light this fire within ourselves and let our conviction, courage, commitment and our love keep this fire burning. Thank you. http://www.macleans.ca/politics/for-the-record-justice-murray-sinclair-on-residential-schools/

PHOTO: DAVID COOPER

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UP

NE

XT!

ARMSTRONG’S

WAR

By Colleen

Murphy

A story of courage, consequences, and compassion. Two very different Armstongs meet in a rehabilitation centre: Michael, a 21-year-old soldier injured on tour in Afghanistan, and Halley, a spirited young girl paralyzed in a car accident. Haunted by their experiences, the two form an unlikely bond in this hard-hitting, uplifting drama about bravery and survival by the two-time Governor General’s Award winning Colleen Murphy.

April 12 to 21 • SAGEBRUSH THEATRE

Pay-What-You-Can Saturday Matinees: April 14 & 21, 2:00pm

TICKETS: Kamloops Live! Box Office • 250-374-5483 • wctlive.ca

PRESENTING PARTNER

PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

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Printing | Signs + Displays | Responsive Marketing

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WCT STAFF FRONT OF HOUSE Kristi Williams, Client & Facilities Manager Jean Choi, Volunteer Coordinator Guest Services Directors (GSD): Carlin Bolt, Allison Clow, Krystine Lucas, Celine Majcher, Christina Poirier, Carling Ryan

James MacDonald, Artistic Director Lori Marchand, Executive Director

ADMINISTRATION Ron Thompson, Financial Manager Catrina Crowe, Marketing & Comm. Director Suzan Goguen, Growth & Engagement Director Lucy Gearey, Special Events Manager Terri Runnalls, Education Coordinator Randy Chow, Accounting Assistant Spencer Paul, Marketing Assistant Bryce Herman, Fund Development Consultant PRODUCTION Dawn Bergstrom, Producer Ross Nichol, Production Manager Bill Chabassol, Production Technical Director Brian St-Amand, Sagebrush Technical Director Paul Cuthbert, Sagebrush Assist. Technical Director Cindy Wiebe, Head of Wardrobe Rory Lynch, Head of Carpentry Angela Frye, Head of Properties Joel Feenstra, Production Assistant Liam Befurt, Technician

SPECIAL THANKS Doug Perry • Smorgasbord • Hilltop Barber Shop • Actors Workshop Theatre, Thompson Rivers University • Our Volunteers!

KAMLOOPS LIVE! BOX OFFICE Geraldine Penny, Box Office Manager Dawn Brauer, Incoming Box Office Manager Michelle Chabassol, Box Office Staff Judy Day, Box Office Staff Linda McLean, Box Office Staff

WCT BOARD David Ross † Tom Kerr ‡ Judge T.W. Shupe § D. Michael Dobbin * Peggy Gilmour * Mike Latta * Anne Manson * Maureen Marshall * Lanni Shupe *

Tim Rodgers - President Grant Chu - Past President Gordon Miller - Vice President Francis Barnett * Richard Block Lori Bregoliss Marilyn Crossen Beverley DeSantis Wesley Eccleston Sharon Frissell † ‡

Honorary Life Artistic Producer Founding Artistic Director

Honorary Life Chairman * Honorary Life Member §

UPCOMING

A FAIR TRADE STORE

Local Homemade Frozen Meals-to-Go

• Shepherd’s Pie • Butter Chicken • Meatballs • Lasagna • Cabbage Rolls

• Soups, Salads, Sandwiches • Specialty Coffee & Tea • Local, Organic, Specialty Groceries • Grass-fed Beef & Exotic Meats

Fair Trade • Pottery • Candles

HOURS: 7:30am-5:30pm, Mon-Fri • 7:30am-5:00pm, Sat• Closed Sun

225 7th Avenue • 250-377-0055 • thesmorgasborddeli@gmail.com • lookkamloops.ca/the_smorgasbord.htm

Kamloops Has Talent: DOCTORS vs LAWYERS May 8 • You know they have talent in the surgery & in the court, but on stage & against each other?! This is your chance to cheer on your favourite doctor or lawyer, & at the same time support Western Canada Theatre & The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation

Details: wctlive.ca 27

BRAVO! Western Canada Theatre gratefully acknowledges the following government agencies, corporations, foundations, and individuals for their generous financial contributions through sponsorship and/or charitable donations. We are very thankful to everyone who plays an important part in helping us to bring the highest quality of work to the broadest possible audience. (Listings based on annual contributions, January 1, 2017 to March 15, 2018.)

Operating Grants The City of Kamloops Canada Council for the Arts Department of Canadian Heritage Canada Cultural Spaces Fund Government of Canada The Province of BC British Columbia Arts Council Foundations BC Interior Community Foundation The Hamber Foundation Presenting Partner Kelson Group, Ron & Rae Fawcett Season Sponsors CFJC TV Home Hardware Kamloops This Week New Gold Stone Hazell & Company Wayside Show Sponsors 98.3 CIFM Alastair Murdoch Accounting Group Ltd.

B-100 British Columbia Lottery Corporation CFBX 92.5 FM Country 103.1 Schoening & First Memorial Funeral Services ideaLEVER Kamloops Airport Overland Press Paul & Company Radio NL Ramada Kamloops Hotel The River 97.5 The Riverland Inn & Suites Simply Computing TNRD Watson Engineering Ltd.

Edward Jones - Brant Hasanen Kamloops Insurance Services KPMG Westland Insurance

Pre-Show Salon Sponsors Celista Winery Terra Restaurant

Copper Patrons ($750-1,999) Anonymous Laura and Mike De Jonge Hugh Fallis & Marilyn Crossen Mirella and Bob Holden Edith Pletzer Russ & Jane Reid Bud & Daphne Smith David & Rosemarie Stoltze

Mainstage PWYC MatinĂŠe Sponsor BEST WESTERN PLUS Kamloops Hotel Spotlight Sponsors Canadian Mortgage Experts Canadian Tire

Diamond Companions ($10,000 and above) Michael E. Black & the late Denise Fortier Platinum Patrons ($5,000-9,999) Rae Nixon Gold Patrons ($3,500-4,999) Put your name here!

Silver Patrons ($2,000-3,499) Peter Baron Roland & Anne Neave

Locally Owned & Operated

Proudly Supporting

Western Canada Theatre homehardware.ca

Rick Kurzac Home Store Owner Kamloops, British Columbia

1325 Josep Way Kamloops BC, V2H 1N6

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Phone: 250-377-7234 Fax: 250-377-7256

Home Owners

helping homeowners Hours: Monday - Saturday 7am-6pm Sundays 9am-5pm

BRAVO! continued Tony Erlank James & Barb Wentworth

Trisha Watkinson Dave & Maryanne Whiting

Patrons ($500-$749) Ben & Lorene Anders Dr. Jill Calder Grant & Nancy Chu Sheila Collier Lois Crown Tom & Paulette Eccleston Glen & Sara Farrow Jessie & James Fedorak Jaylene & David Hanna Michael & Debbie Kowbel James MacDonald Len & Laurie Marchand June McClure Charles Izowsky & Judy Moser Thomas & Sharon Moore Shirley & Kelly Rowland Murphy & Katharine Shewchuk Dr. Robert Walter

Benefactors ($100-$199) Anonymous Anonymous Dianne Almond Michael Baker Beta Sigma Phi Barry & Judy Brown Margaret Brown Maureen Brown Kathy & Randall Chan Margaret Chrumka Frank & Anne Churchley Bill & Evey Chursky Sally Cornies & Hap Ryan Joan Cummings Fredrick Cunningham Donald Dalgleish (In memory of Melanie McIntosh) Roxanne Dauncey Pat Decker Rhonda Diaper Ross & Judy Dickson John Dittrich & Sharon Carrell Larry & Edie Dixon Dan & Denise Douglas Vivian Edwards Robert & Patricia Esdale Shirlee Ezowski Reno & Marie Fabbro Ronald Fairhurst Ruth & Michael Fane Faye Fike Marvyn Fitzpatrick Blake & Linda Fox Louella Garner Adah Gruver Susan Hammond Coleen Hansen Marianne Hardy Helena Hasler Ron Heslip Rosemary Hibbard Dave & Dorothy Hilton Rob & Lila Jennejohn Cora Jones Darrel Jones Sharon Kika Bob & Pat King Ted & Maryann Kowalsky Maryann Kowalsky Robert McDiarmid Heather K. Murdoch Maria Paccagnella Wilma Pagan Carl & Penny Pentilchuk Robert & Lorraine Pick Tracy Quewezance Ginny Ratsoy Niki Remesz Terry Rogers Family Lynn Rutherford Rosemary Saint-Michaels Tricia L. Sellmer Peggy Swanson

Investors ($200-$499) Peter & Debra Allik-Petersenn Francis & Helen Barnett Dr. Anise Barton and Dr. Tom Wallace R.C. Bidnell Richard & Fearon Blair Jack & Pauline Braaksma Ed & Patti Bruzzese Jean Burris Ann Byard Kathy & Randall Chan John Corbishley David & Laura Farrow Allen & Sharon Frissell Lois Hollstedt Dylan Houlihan Bob & Jo-Mary Hunter Joseph & Joyce Kalfics Fred & Nancy Leake Ray LePage Sandy & Ellen McCurrach Kirsten McDougall Doris McNutt Terry & Joan McQuillan Donna Marchand Nathan & Marie Matthew Tanya Mihura Vic & Sally Mowbray Jim & Beverley Mundle Jake & Marg Ootes Colene Palmer Guy & Jeanine Parker Sheila Pierson Dennis & Sue Reedman Sulwen (Cookie) Reimer Shirley Rowland Peter Ryan Ray & Susan Sewell Craig & Sharlene Sharpe Terry Shupe Colleen Stainton Kent Stasich Val Takahashi Florence Thomson

Lynne Totten Judith Treherne Bob & Jennifer Trudeau Pat Wallace * Denis Walsh Shirley Wiklund Lois & David Williams Friends ($10-$99) Anonymous Karen Albiston Denise Lynn Anderson Ashlin Armstrong Shirley Buchanan Patrick Callahan Michael & Gerrianne Clare John & Jean Crowe Donna Demarni Elizabeth Dye Dave & Irene Edamura Susan Endersby * Jean Gagne Jeanne Gagne Yanni Giftakis Peter & Judy Gray Cathy Hall-Patch Ken & Marylyne House Lance & Sue Jang Bill & Sally Jennejohn Valerie Kemp Avalen Loerke Bob & Robbie McLaren Dean & Wendy McLean Stan & Louise Oakes Mavis Paravantes Valentina Putoto Jay Rilkoff Kathy Sinclair Bea Smith Rev. Dawne Taylor Nicole Tougas Edward Walsh Diane Webb *In Memory of Evelyn Goller

In Memoriam of Sheila Collier Dianne Almond Francis & Helen Barnett Olga & Donald Baron Peter Baron Anita Barton Rita Beiks Patricia Chamberlain Dr. Todd Collier Ronald & Doreen Fairhurst Majid Faridi C. Gonnet Ken & Marylyne House Dwight Koss Kathleen Otterstrom Sagewood Community Terry Simpson Wes & Phyliss Stephens L.D. Taylor

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SONG LIST GOD ONLY KNOWS – Full Company YOUR FATHER – Rita PATER NOSTER – All Students and Teachers THE CLOSEST THING TO HOME – Tommy and Julia WHAT DO THEY TAKE US FOR? – Wilson, Vincent, and Tommy WHO I WAS – Tommy and Students RUNAWAY – Julia GIMIKWENDEN INA (Do you remember?) – Tommy, Rita, and Students THIS IS WHAT YOU GET – Full Company INTERMISSION AWAY WE RIDE – Wilson, Tommy, Vincent, and Father Christopher GOD ONLY KNOWS (reprise) – Sister Bernadette, Wilson, and all students THE CLOSEST THING TO HOME (reprise) – Tommy HOMEWARD BOUND – Julia PATER NOSTER (reprise) – Students and Father Christopher THEIR SPIRITS ARE BROKEN – Sister Bernadette WONDERLAND – Tommy AND WE WAIT – Tom and Rita BAAMAAPII KA WAB MIGO (until we see you again) – Rita and Full Company DILLAN CHIBLOW PHOTO: DAVID COOPER

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A CD of the music, a piano/vocal songbook and a published script of Children of God are available for purchase in the lobby and at www.coreypayette.com.

GOLD

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