PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE - April/May 2022 - Mirvish
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PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE
April/May 2022
ROOM
PROGRAM
Princess of
Wales Theatre
April/May 2022
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PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE
David Mirvish presents the 2021/22 Mirvish Subscription Season
—
DAVID MIRVISH presents
In a co-production with the GR AND THEATRE, LONDON ON,
and COVENT GARDEN PRODUCTIONS, UK
ROOM By
EMMA DONOGHUE
Adapted for the stage by
EMMA DONOGHUE
Songs by
CORA BISSETT and KATHRYN JOSEPH
Directed by
CORA BISSETT
STEWART ARNOTT, BRANDON MICHAEL ARRINGTON, LEVI DOMBOKAH,
LUCIEN DUNCAN-REID, TRACEY FERENCZ, ALEXIS GORDON,
SHANNON TAYLOR, ASHLEY WRIGHT
STARR DOMINGUE, THOM MARRIOTT,
CHRISTOPHER PARKER, ALIX SIDERIS
Set & Costume Design Projection Design
LILY ARNOLD ANDRZEJ GOULDING
Lighting Design Sound Design
BONNIE BEECHER JOHN GZOWSKI
Movement Coach Fight & Intimacy Director
LINDA GARNEAU SIOBHAN RICHARDSON
Original Music composed by Associate Director
GAVIN WHITWORTH MEGAN WATSON
Producer, Covent Garden Productions
SAM JULYAN
Originally produced by Theatre Royal Stratford East,
National Theatre of Scotland, and Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
THE CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Grandpa/Doctor STEWART ARNOTT
SuperJack BRANDON MICHAEL ARRINGTON
Jack LEVI DOMBOKAH
(Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees)
Jack LUCIEN DUNCAN-REID
(Tuesday – Saturday evenings)
Grandma TRACEY FERENCZ
Ma ALEXIS GORDON
Police/Interviewer/Popcorn Server SHANNON TAYLOR
Old Nick ASHLEY WRIGHT
UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for listed performers unless a specific
announcement is made at the time of the performance.
For Ma: STARR DOMINGUE
For Old Nick/Grandpa: THOM MARRIOTT
For SuperJack: CHRISTOPHER PARKER
For Grandma/Interviewer/Police/Popcorn Server: ALIX SIDERIS
c
Room has an approximate running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes,
including one intermission. Due to the nature of live theatre the running time
may vary from performance to performance.
The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs,
either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices
such as cellular phones, beepers and watches.
4 mirvish.com
PLAYWRIGHT'S NOTE
The premise is so inherently
theatrical - in fact, Jack and
Ma’s situation sounds like
a metaphor for theatre: two
people in a room with limited
space and resources, conjuring
up a world of play, intimacy,
and imagination.
Funnily enough, the startling
success of Lenny Abrahamson’s
Irish-Canadian film of Room
Photo of Emma Donoghue by Una Roulston, 2021
(nominated for multiple Oscars,
Golden Globes, and Baftas)
helped me write the stage
version, when the time came.
I felt freed from the need to
be naturalistic in every detail
about the kidnap situation or the
aftermath of escape, because
the film had pushed the story
as far towards naturalism as
it could go. For the theatre
Back in 2009 while production, by contrast, my
director/collaborator Cora
I was writing Room Bissett and I went back to what
(the novel), I had a
readers had responded to so
strongly —Jack’s buoyant,
feeling that it could world-creating voice—and also
let ourselves use more overtly
probably work on theatrical devices such as
puppetry and projection. From
stage too. the first email she sent me, out
of the blue, Cora knew that the
show needed music, primarily as
a release valve for Ma’s secrets,
for everything messy and
irrational that she can’t tell her
little boy. The urgent songs by
Cora and Kathryn Joseph have
6 mirvish.com
turned out to be my favourite childcare room on the pretense
part of the stage production. that I was going for a swim.
(What can I say — every mother
Another great pleasure that needs a break!)
came out of our development
process was the interplay The first stage production of
between Jack and SuperJack Room began in the other London
(the child’s inner voice or alter (UK) before touring to Scotland
ego, played by an adult). Adding and Ireland, so I wrote that
SuperJack was a pragmatic script in British English, but for
device to avoid making our this production, with the help of
very young actors deliver long the actors and creative team, I
monologues, but it also turned made the idiom more Canadian.
out to be a rich way of showing I couldn’t be happier that this
what superpowered, ever- universal story, which began
questioning minds can inhabit right here, has made its way
little bodies. home, and (with the help of such
brilliant collaborators) touched
This production at the Grand so many people along the way.
Theatre and Mirvish’s Princess
The show was cancelled by
of Wales Theatre — all thanks
Covid-19 before the Grand’s
to the unstoppable Dennis
opening night on 13 March,
Garnhum for making it
2020. In the past two years,
happen — is not only the North
haven’t we all come to know
American premiere but, for
more than we ever wanted
me, a wonderful closing of the
to learn about feeling stuck
circle. I got the idea for the
at home - confined by
story of Room while driving
unpredictable forces beyond
from London to Burlington on
our control? Like Ma, most of
Ontario’s Highway 401. Though
us have had to learn to make
the novel and film are set in a
the best of an endless string of
non-specified American city –
monotonous days, and seize
American rather than Canadian,
moments of pleasure and
so they wouldn’t have free
meaning wherever we could find
healthcare – I always saw this
them. The threat of a world of
as a sort of fable which could
‘invisible germs’ has become
play out anywhere. I researched all too familiar, too; the joy of
it at home in London’s Wortley human connection, all the more
Village where I’ve lived since precious. For me, the story
1998, and details of local parks of Room has never felt more
and libraries and malls show up relevant, and I’m proud to be
in the book’s second half. I wrote part of a production that tells it
one big scene in the lobby of so powerfully.
the Central YMCA on Waterloo
Street, having left our kids in the Emma Donoghue
mirvish.com 7
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
When I first read
Emma Donoghue’s
extra-ordinary
novel Room I was
on a flight, and I
finished it in one
go, unable to put it
down for a second.
I felt breathless reading it, and finally
shattered, elated, strung out, and joyous
all at once—such is the power of her
storytelling and the vividness of the
characters she has created in Jack
and Ma.
— anyone who has read the book will, I
I was reading it simply for pleasure, and
imagine, not see it as prime material for a
yet almost instantly I started seeing ways
music-based drama! But the instinct was
in which this could be dramatized on
so strong that I sat in my hotel room and
stage. I could see the little boy tucked
bashed out some sketches.
inside a wardrobe, and imagined an entire
set to allow us to view events from his I decided to write to Emma Donoghue’s
perspective. I imagined how we could agent and attach these very rough
evoke this world of Room with beauty, demos. The planets aligned in my favour
love, and imagination, so much so that and Emma Donoghue connected with
as an audience, just as a reader, we the vision of the show I saw. We met
think Jack is living in a perfect home. It in London UK, and a partnership was
is only through carefully placed details forged. I then approached the wonderful
that we peek between the layers of what singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph —
is actually going on to begin with, and whose beguiling music I was a huge fan
the torturous hell from which Ma is so of — to see if she would write songs with
heroically protecting him. me. She couldn’t believe I’d asked. Room
was her favourite novel of all time.
But strangely, I could also hear songs:
aching songs of desperation and hope; I am beyond delighted to finally be
songs of survival. This surprised me bringing Room to its rightful home at
8 mirvish.com
ALEXIS GORDON, LUCIEN DUNCAN-REID AND BRANDON MICHAEL ARRINGTON. PHOTO BY DAHLIA KATZ.
the Grand Theatre, London, and now closest relationships to the max. Many
to Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre of us have shared more time in the same
with an astonishing cast and creative space with our closest people than we
team whom I feel honoured to work ever have in all our lives, and for others,
with. When we had to close this show isolation has been a daily challenge to
on Opening Night on that fateful day two navigate. We are all trying to survive,
years ago, I never could have imagined to reinvent, and to hold onto hope.
what we were all going to collectively Ultimately, I think that this is what Room
experience in every nation of the world. is about: holding onto the tiniest of hope
It is ironic that through experiencing in the darkest of places. It is about finding
lockdown, the isolation of the pandemic, strength in love – even when you feel that
the uncertainty in all of our lives, I feel you have nothing left to give.
the story resonates in a more prescient,
and reachable way than ever before. It is my sincere hope that you too
experience this light through Room and
Room has become a story of Now. I am
allow Ma to inspire you – even through
returning to view it through a whole new
your darkest days.
lens; it’s a story of surviving through
enormous uncertainty. Pushing our Cora Bissett
mirvish.com 9
THE COMPANY
STEWART ARNOTT LEVI DOMBOKAH
Grandpa/Doctor Young Jack
Selected Theatre Credits: Film and TV Credits:
Kiss Me Kate, The Magical Sneakerella (Disney);
Circus of Paddington Bear, Salt-N-Pepa (Lifetime);
The Philadelphia Story Paw Patrol (Spin Master).
(Grand Theatre); Hedda Noir (Theatre Additionally, you may recognize
NorthWest); Hallaj, Waiting for Godot Levi as he features prominently in
(Modern Times). Selected Film and TV a telecommunications commercial
Credits: The Shape of Water, Schitt’s extolling the potential for a bright and
Creek, Murdoch Mysteries Other: accomplished future. Proud member
Directed the late Martha Henry in Marjorie of ACTRA.
Prime at Coal Mine Theatre which
received 4 Dora Awards including Best LUCIEN DUNCAN-REID
Direction and Production. Young Jack
Selected Theatre Credits:
BRANDON MICHAEL A Christmas Carol
ARRINGTON (Soulpepper). Selected
SuperJack Film and TV Credits: Paw
Selected Theatre Credits: Patrol, Blues Clues & You, CBC’s Small
42nd Street (Alhambra Talk. Other: Grade 4 student.
Theatre and Dining); High
School Musical (Fireside Theatre); High TRACEY FERENCZ
School Musical 2 (North Shore); You’re A Grandma
Good Man Charlie Brown (Lucille Lortel); Selected Theatre Credits:
Irrationals (American Theatre of Actors); A Christmas Carol (Grand
Captain Louie (York Theatre); Peter Pan Theatre); Hana’s Suitcase
(Big League); The Cherry Orchard, The (Young People’s Theatre);
Author’s Voice, Tartuffe (Drew University); Afterplay (Afterplay Collective); The
Earth Mass, Send Down the Fire, Pietà Overcoat, It’s a Wonderful Life, The
(Omega Dance Company); We Are The Tempest (Canadian Stage); Seeds, Filthy
Song - After The Storm (Joe’s Pub). Rich (Blyth Festival); Becky’s New Car,
Film and TV Credits: Vinyl (HBO), QUADS PlayRites (Alberta Theatre Projects);
(Bible Story), How to Win at Everything Death and the Maiden, Grace (Globe
(Spike!TV), Over There (Marc Parees/ Theatre); A Streetcar Named Desire,
NYU Films), The Barbie™ Diaries (Curious Enchanted April (Theatre Calgary); Real
Pictures/Mattel). Other: Represented Estate, Goodbye Piccadilly (Theatre
by Compass Artist Management. Aquarius); Whispering Pines, The List
www.imdb.me/brandonmichaelarrington (Great Canadian Theatre Company); A
Penny for the Guy, Gone with the Wind
(Royal Manitoba Theatre Company);
Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Perfect Pie
10 mirvish.com(Thousand Islands Playhouse). Shaw SHANNON TAYLOR
Festival Acting Ensemble for ten Police/Interviewer/
seasons. Selected Film and TV Credits: Popcorn Server
The Expanse, Murdoch Mysteries, Selected Theatre Credits:
Sharpay’s Excellent Adventure, Stories Timothy Findley’s The
We Tell. Wars (Grand Theatre); I
Am William, The Crucible, Shakespeare
ALEXIS GORDON in Love, Twelfth Night, School for
Ma Scandal, The Hypochondriac, The Diary
Selected Theatre Credits: of Anne Frank, Oedipus Rex (Stratford
Room, Re:Opening Festival); Mother’s Daughter (Stratford/
Festival: Finding Black Joy, Soulpepper); A Doll’s House (RMTC);
Mary Poppins, A Christmas King Charles III (Mirvish/Studio 180);
Carol (Grand Theatre); Charley’s Aunt, The Road to Mecca (Soulpepper); Pride
Brigadoon, Rope (Shaw Festival); Hook and Prejudice (Theatre Calgary/NAC);
Up (Theatre Passe Muraille/Tapestry The Jones Boy (Surface/Underground);
Opera); Coriolanus, The Tempest, The A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s
Fantasticks, Guys & Dolls, A Little Night Dream, Little Women: The Musical (Citadel
Music, Carousel, Passion, The Sound Theatre). Film and TV Credits: Don’t
of Music (Stratford Festival); Sunday Hang Up, Private Eyes, May Day. Other:
in the Park With George (Talk is Free Mary Savidge Award (Stratford Festival);
Theatre); The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Dora nomination for The Jones Boy
Trimble (Factory Theatre/Obsidian (Outstanding Performance).
Theatre); Obeah Opera (Nightwood
Theatre); Recurring John, Paradises ASHLEY WRIGHT
Lost (Toronto SummerWorks Festival); Old Nick
Starbright Christmas, Canada Sings, Selected Theatre Credits:
Godspell (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Cost of Living and Sweat
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Driftwood (Arts Club/Citadel); Hamlet
Theatre). Selected Film and TV Credits: (Free Will Players); Merry
Motives & Murders, The Worst Thing I Wives of Windsor (Bard on the Beach);
Ever Did (Discovery ID). Other: Graduate Shakespeare in Love (MTC/Citadel); Les
of the BFA Acting program at The Misérables (Mirvish); Slavs, The Black
University of Windsor. Awards: Amy Rider, The Red Priest (Tarragon); True Love
Wallis Memorial Guthrie Award (Stratford Lies (Factory); As You Like It, Omnium
Festival), Syd and Shirley Banks Prize Gatherum, Fernando Krapp, Of Mice and
for Emerging Artists (Musical Stage Co). Men (Canadian Stage); The Trials of Ezra
Twitter: @AlexisLGordon. Instagram: Pound (Stratford Festival). Film and TV
@alexisgords Credits: Copper (BBC America); Murdoch
Mysteries (CBC); Mayday (Cineflix); Flash
of Genius (Spyglass); Princess (ABC);
Degrassi: The Next Generation (CTV);
Missing (Lifetime). Other: BFA Acting
(University of Victoria); MFA Directing
(University of Alberta).
12 mirvish.comHÄAGEN-DAZS TRADEMARKS REPRODUCED UNDER LICENSE BY NESTLÉ CANADA INC., NORTH YORK, ON M2N 6S8, © HDIP 2022. *MADE FROM DOMESTIC AND IMPORTED INGREDIENTS.
STARR DOMINGUE CHRISTOPHER PARKER
Understudy, Ma Understudy, SuperJack
Selected Theatre Credits: Selected Theatre Credits:
Little Shop of Horrors, Choir Boy (Centaur
Billy Elliot the Musical Theatre); The Effeminates
(Stratford Festival); The – Workshop, The Negroes
Magician’s Nephew, Me and My Girl, An are Congregating (Theatre Passe
Octoroon (Shaw Festival); Mary Poppins, Muraille); Dixon Road – Workshop
Binti’s Journey (YPT); Originated Vonzia (Musical Stage Company); Burnt Victory
in Oil and Water (NAC); Dreamgirls (Arts – Workshop, And Shame the Devil –
Club); Hairspray (Mirvish); All Shook Up Workshop (Obsidian Theatre); Backstage
(MSMT); Ain’t Misbehavin’ (CanStage); at Carnegie Hall – Workshop (Black
Cookin’ at the Cookery (Citadel, ASF); The Theatre Workshop/Tapestry Opera);
Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of Pinocchio, La Traviata (Cedar Rapids
God (Mirvish/Harbourfront). Film and TV Opera Theatre); The Flying Dutchman,
Credits: Puppy Master, Odd Squad (TVO); Amahl and the Night Visitors
Pearl, Hairspray (Newline Cinema); 4Tone, (Indianapolis Opera).
4Square (Corus). Other: Resident Director
of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (European/Broadway ALIX SIDERIS
tours); Choreographer for Porgy and Bess Understudy, Grandma/
(Szeged Festival); Creator/Producer & Interviewer/Police/
Host of The Blacktor’s Studio, a digital Popcorn Server
talk show that highlights the journey of Selected Theatre Credits:
BIPOC Canadian stage actors. The Cherry Orchard
(Modern Times Theatre); Far Away
THOM MARRIOTT (Pre-show Playlist); Pride and Prejudice
Understudy, Old Nick/ (Theatre Calgary/National Arts Centre);
Grandpa Metamorphoses (National Arts Centre);
Selected Theatre Credits: Like Wolves (GCTC). Selected Film
Orpheus Descending and TV Credits: Assassins Creed: The
(Mirvish/RMTC); Death of Odyssey, Valhalla (Ubi Soft); Matchmaker
a Salesman, Rainmaker, Annie (Drayton Mysteries (Hallmark). Intimacy Director
Entertainment); Born Yesterday, Saint (Selected): Pomegranate (Buddies in Bad
Joan, Wonderful Town (Shaw Festival); Times), The Judas Kiss, (Talk is Free),
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pericles, Hamlet (upcoming, Stratford). Other: Alix
Henry VI (Stratford Festival); Selected TV: was a resident actor in the National Arts
Star Trek (Paramount+); Suits, Locke and Centre’s English Theatre Ensembles in
Key, Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix); The their 2012/13 season. She is debuting her
Lost Symbol (CBS); Murdoch Mysteries, short documentary film, chemography:
Republic of Doyle (CBC). a study in light on CBC Gem. Online:
alixsideris.com
14 mirvish.comSUZANNE McARTHUR Necessary Angel); Dance Marathon (EU
Stage Manager Tour-bluemouth inc); Sleeping Beauty,
Selected Theatre Credits: Peter Pan In Wonderland (Ross Petty
13 seasons with the Productions); Uncovered 2021, Grey
Grand; The Fixer-Upper, It’s Gardens and Elegies (The Musical Stage
Your Funeral, Lunenburg, Company). She is 1/4th of the artistic
Buying the Farm, Birds of a Feather, Storm core of the theatre company bluemouth
Warning, Wrong For Each Other, Knickers! inc and the co-creator and co-host of
A Brief Comedy (Port Stanley Festival Meanwhile’s online talk show Check in
Theatre); The Birds and the Bees, Aladdin: From Away. In addition, Lisa is working on
The Panto, Snow White: The Panto, her first music album due to be released
Weekend Comedy, Perfect Wedding in 2022. @lisahumber https://linktr.ee/
(Drayton Entertainment); Hosanna, The lisahumber
Tempest (Stratford Festival); Forests
(Tarragon Theatre); Beauty and the Beast CODY BURNS
(Silvermist Productions). Other: Proud Apprentice Stage
mother to Michael (8) and Charlie (5). Manager
Selected Theatre Credits:
LISA HUMBER Room, Fully Committed
Assistant Stage (Grand Theatre); Million
Manager Dollar Quartet (Theatre Aquarius); Picture
Selected Theatre Credits: This (Soulpepper); Sleeping Beauty: The
Come From Away, Strictly Panto, Jack & The Beanstalk, Jonas &
Ballroom, The Heart Of Barry in the Home, Cinderella: The Panto,
Robin Hood, Les Misérables, War Horse, Marathon of Hope: The Musical (Drayton
Ghost Stories, The Sound Of Music and Entertainment); Shrek the Musical
Dirty Dancing (Mirvish Productions); (K-W Musical Productions). Graduate
Butcher (Why Not Theatre/Mirvish of University of Waterloo’s Theatre &
Productions); Café Sarajevo (Singapore Performance program. Cody also served
Fringe, bluemouth inc); It Comes In as Production Assistant for The Stratford
Waves (PANAMANIA/bluemouth Inc/ Festival’s 2019 season.
mirvish.com 15THE CREATIVE TEAM
EMMA DONOGHUE The company’s first production was
Playwright Roadkill, co-created with writer Stef
Born in Dublin in 1969, Emma Donoghue is Smith, which was awarded the Edinburgh
an award-winning playwright, screenwriter International Festival 2010, then toured
and novelist who has made her home to London, Paris, New York and Chicago
in London Ontario since 1998. Her before winning a 2012 Olivier Award for
international bestseller Room won the Outstanding Production in London. She
Rogers Writers Trust and Commonwealth then went on to tackle the real-life story
Prizes and was a finalist for the Man of The Glasgow Girls and turned it into a
Booker and Orange; the screenplay of the multi-authored grime/hip hop/folk/rock
2015 film won her Oscar, Golden Globe musical highlighting the heinous events
and Bafta nominations. She adapted known as Dawn Raids in Glasgow. Proving
Room for the stage with songs by Cora it possible to make the complexities of
Bissett and Kathryn Joseph. Donoghue immigration a vital and accessible story,
co-wrote the forthcoming Netflix film The it went on to win the Amnesty Award
Wonder based on her Giller-nominated for Freedom of Expression and the Off
2016 novel. Her other books include West End Award for Best New Musical.
Akin, Frog Music, The Sealed Letter, Cora’s other passions lie in creating
(for younger readers) The Lotterys music-theatre hybrid shows which are not
series, and Haven (coming in August). traditional musicals but explore ways in
www.emmadonoghue.com which live music and theatre can merge
to create exciting ‘gig’ type cross-forms.
CORA BISSETT Her production of Grit: The Martyn Bennett
Director/Music & Lyrics Story, based on Scotland’s maverick
Cora Bissett is a Scottish Director, Actor musician won Outstanding Event of the
and song-writer. She has been Associate Year at the Scottish Trad Awards, and
Director at the National Theatre of Janis Joplin – Full Tilt played multiple
Scotland since 2014 where her work sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe
includes Rites, Interference and the multi before transferring to London, UK. Cora
award-winning Adam, the remarkable worked closely with Emma Donoghue
real-life story of an Egyptian trans man as Director and Composer on this new
who settled in Glasgow; which were all music theatre adaptation of Emma’s
conceived and directed by Cora. Adam best-selling novel Room for Theatre Royal
went on to be adapted for a BBC 4 TV Stratford East London/Abbey Theatre,
film in 2021, which Cora co-directed and Dublin in 2017 and this incarnation in
won a BAFTA award for best scripted London, ON and Toronto, 2022. As a
Drama. She set up her own company writer, Cora penned her first full length
PACHAMAMA in 2010 with a strong auto-biographical play What Girls Are
emphasis on stories exploring societal Made Of in 2019. It charted her time as
injustice and shining a light on unexplored a teen singer in a Fife indie band who
corners of Scottish society. Many of her were signed to Major label Phonogram
shows are inspired by real life events. in the early 90s and explored the cult
16 mirvish.commirvish.com 17
It’s Time to
Believe in
Magic
ARRIVES MAY 31
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TM & © HPTP. HP™ WB.of the ‘next big thing’ and growing up in Theatre, London); Henry V (Tobacco
the music industry in that era. The show Factory); Love Lies Bleeding (The Coronet
toured internationally from the U.S. to Theatre). www.lilyarnolddesign.com
São Paulo to Melbourne. She is currently
adapting it as a TV series with Black Camel BONNIE BEECHER
Productions in Scotland and is working Lighting Design
on Orphans, a bold new musical with the Bonnie is a lighting designer from Toronto,
National Theatre of Scotland which opens Canada. She has designed the lighting
in April 2022. www.corabissett.com for over 350 productions for theatre,
opera and dance. Her work has been seen
KATHRYN JOSEPH in most theatres in Canada including
Music & Lyrics the Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival,
Intimate, fearlessly frank and with a Canadian Opera Company, Opera Atelier,
fathoms-deep emotional resonance, Soulpepper Theatre, National Arts Centre,
Scottish singer-songwriter and musician National Ballet of Canada, Tarragon
Kathryn Joseph’s highly individual Theatre, Segal, Centre, the Citadel and
expression was first heard on 2015’s Bones Ballet British Columbia. International work
You Have Thrown Me and Blood I’ve Spilled includes lighting designs for the Dutch
which bagged her the Scottish Album National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre,
of the Year Award. Her follow up From Glimmerglass Opera, Versailles Royal
When I Wake the Want Is, is of an equally Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Royal
devastating, understated intensity in terms Shakespeare Company, New Zealand
of her heavily rhythmic piano work, striking Opera, Dortmund Ballet, Royal Flanders
vocals and vivid lyrics, but with a newly Ballet, Ballet du Rhin in Mulhouse, the
muscular edge and textured depth. Her State Ballet of Georgia, and Ballett Im
new album For You Who Are the Wronged Reveir in Germany. Bonnie also designed
will be released worldwide on 22 April the lights for 7 world premieres for the
2022 via Rock Action Records. Stuttgart Ballet, and collaborated with the
Kevin O’Day Ballet in Mannheim, Germany
LILY ARNOLD for 14 seasons (2002-2016) where she
Set and Costume Design designed the lighting for more than 25
Selected Theatre Credits: A Doll’s House world premieres for the company. Bonnie
(Lyric, London); Dick Whittington, Sleeping has received 15 Dora Award nominations
Beauty (Theatre Royal Stratford East); and has won the award twice.
Pah-La (Royal Court Theatre); The Remains
Of The Day, Rules For Living (Royal & ANDRZEJ GOULDING
Derngate); Things Of Dry Hours (Young Video/Projection Design
Vic); Snow In Midsummer, The Jew Of Andrzej works as a Video and Set
Malta, The Rape Of Lucrece, King Lear, The Designer across all forms of live
Taming of The Shrew (Royal Shakespeare performance. Video Designs include:
Company); The Girl On the Train, The Fruit Henry V (Donmar Warehouse, NT Live);
Trilogy (Leeds Playhouse); The Solid Life The Da Vinci Code (UK Tour); The Drifters
of Sugar Water (National Theatre/Theatre Girl, Message In A Bottle, Life of Pi, &Juliet
Royal Plymouth); Gruesome Playground (West End); People, Places and Things
Injuries, The Edge Of Our Bodies (Gate (National Theatre, West End, St Ann’s
mirvish.com 19Warehouse, UK Tour); Groundhog Day fighter/singer/dancer. Her work has
(Broadway, Old Vic); The Remains Of The been seen on some of Canada’s most
Day (UK Tour); The Boy In The Striped well-recognized stages, and her teaching
Pyjamas (Chichester); Le Rossignol (Santa career has spanned Canada, USA and
Fe Opera); Peter Grimes (Grange Park Europe. Along with her continuous
Opera); Pressure (West End, UK Tour); work in universities and in professional
Coriolanus (Donmar Warehouse, NT Live); development programs as an educator
1984 (Northern Ballet, Sadler’s Wells); and fight/intimacy director, Siobhan
The Unreturning (Frantic Assembly); has recently received an Arts Response
The Suicide, From Morning To Midnight, Initiative grant (Ontario Arts Council)
The Tell-Tale Heart (National Theatre); to bring her unique approach to stage
Frost/Nixon (Sheffield Crucible). combat to Ontario and the world, through
www.agoulding.com online lessons for skills development and
maintenance. Selected Theatre Credits:
JOHN GZOWSKI Sex, Getting Married, The Russian Play
Sound Design (Shaw Festival); Phaedra’s Love, Othello
Selected Theatre Credits: The Lion in (Stratford Festival); Betrayal (Soulpepper);
Winter (Grand Theatre); The Front Page Trout Stanley (Tarragon Theatre). Selected
(Stratford); Rope, Dracula, The Hound Film/TV: Intimacy: See Season 3 (Apple+),
of Baskervilles (Shaw Festival); Helen Neljä Pientä Aikuista (Tuffi Films, Finland);
Lawrence (Canstage/Arts Club); It’s a Fights: Battlers (Blue Flame Collective).
Wonderful Life (MTC/Canstage); Hamlet, Awards and Nominations: Best Fights in a
Glengarry Glen Ross, A Delicate Balance, La Martial Arts Short -- nomination (Action on
Bête, Innocence Lost (Soulpepper); Twelfth Film, LA). www.SiobhanRichardson.com
Night (NAC/Theatre Calgary); Bed And @fighteractress
Breakfast (Thousand Island Playhouse/
Belfry/Soulpepper); Orphée+ (Against GAVIN WHITWORTH
the Grain Opera); One Thousand and One Original Music
Nights (Luminato). www.johngzowski.com Selected Theatre Credits: Oor Wullie, The
Snow Queen (Dundee Rep); Hi, My Name
LINDA GARNEAU Is Ben (Goodspeed); But First This, The
Movement Coach Witches of Eastwick (Watermill Theatre,
Selected Theatre Credits: Brigadoon, Newbury); Beauty and the Beast, Hansel
The Light in the Piazza, Trouble in Tahiti and Gretel (Citizens Theatre, Glasgow);
(Shaw Festival); Jesus Christ Superstar Merrily We Roll Along, Brigadoon, London
(Charlottetown Festival); Life After Road (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland);
(Canadian Stage); The Curious Incident of Wasted Love, The Improvised Musical
the Dog in the Night-time (Citadel Theatre). (Edinburgh Fringe); Glasgow Girls (Scottish
Tour); Some Small Love Story (Arts
SIOBHAN RICHARDSON Theatre, London); Neverland (Theatre Deli,
Fight & Intimacy Director Sheffield); White Fang (freeFall Theatre,
Siobhan Richardson is an internationally- Florida); The Hunchback of Notre Dame
recognized Fight Director, an Intimacy (Selby Abbey). Other: BA in Music from the
Director (a Canada-wide pioneer in this University of York, MA in Musical Theatre
specialty), and an award-winning actor/ from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
20 mirvish.comVIEW A DIGITAL VERSION OF IN THE MIRVISH APP Scan QR Code To Download App
DIRECT FROM LONDON'S WEST END THE HIT NEW MUSICAL CREATED BY THE EMMY ® -WINNING WRITER FROM SCHITT’S CREEK WhatsOnStage | The Sun | Daily Express | Manchester Evening News | The Stage NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE PRE-BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT JUNE 22 – AUGUS T 14 PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE 1.800.461.3333
MIKAEL KANGAS Productions, a company founded by
Associate Lighting Designer Mr. Mirvish in 1986, is Canada’s leading
Mikael is an assistant lighting designer commercial theatre producer and has
working for some of Canada’s most produced plays and musicals for these
prominent performing arts companies and other venues throughout Canada,
including the Shaw Festival, Canadian on Broadway and in London’s West End.
Opera Company and Mirvish Productions. In addition Mirvish Productions has
Mikael is a member of the Associated presented over 800 touring productions
Designers of Canada. Selected Theatre in the city of Toronto. Co-production and
Credits: Room, (Grand Theatre); Trouble presentation credits include such hits
in Mind, The Glass Menagerie, O’Flaherty as Crazy for You, Les Misérables, The
VC (Shaw Festival); Newsies, Crazy for Lion King, The Sound of Music, the North
You (Sheridan Theatre); Dear Evan Hansen American premieres of Priscilla Queen of
(Assistant Lighting Designer, Canada); the Desert and Mamma Mia!, We Will Rock
Rusalka, Onegin, Hansel & Gretel, Cosi You, the national tour of Wicked, Billy Elliot,
Fan Tutti, Elixir of Love, Abduction from the National Theatre’s War Horse, Kinky
the Sergalio (COC, asst. design); Holiday Boots, Matilda the Musical, Come From
Inn, Brigadoon, Magician’s Nephew, Grand Away, Dear Evan Hansen, Piaf/Dietrich and
Hotel, Dracula, Me & My Girl, Saint Joan, Girl from the North Country. The Mirvish
Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, family is widely credited with making
Woman of No Importance, Twelve Pound Toronto a major centre of theatre. David
Look, Top Girls, Lady from the Sea (Shaw Mirvish and his father, Ed Mirvish, also
Festival, asst. design); Melancholy Play purchased and restored the renowned
(Empty Room Collective); Waiting Room Old Vic Theatre in London, England
(Helix Dance Project). which they operated from 1983 to 1998.
Mr. Mirvish has received many awards
DAVID HEENEY and recognitions for his contributions
Associate Sound Designer to the Canadian arts and culture scene,
Selected Theatre Credits: Cabaret, The including being named to the Order of
House of Martin Guerre, Newsies, The Ontario and appointed to the Order of
Phantom of the Opera, Crazy For You, Canada, the country’s highest honour for
Kiss Me Kate (Theatre Sheridan); Blithe lifetime achievement.
Spirit (Erindale Theatre). Film/TV Credits:
Bad Shorts (Bad Hats Theatre). Other GRAND THEATRE
Credits: Halloween Haunt, Winterfest Producer
(Canada’s Wonderland). The Grand Theatre is located in London,
Ontario. Built in 1901, the Grand is one of
DAVID MIRVISH best preserved theatres in North America
Producer having recently completed a nine million
David Mirvish is a multiple Tony, Olivier dollar renovation to restore the public
and Dora Award-winning Canadian spaces to match the grandeur of its two
theatre producer. Mr. Mirvish owns and stages. Under the distinctive Proscenium
operates four theatres in Toronto: the Arch sits the 830 seat Spriet Stage.
Royal Alexandra, the Princess of Wales, The second theatre, the Auburn Stage,
the CAA Ed Mirvish and the CAA. Mirvish seats 150 people in a flexible setting.
mirvish.com 23THE INTERNATIONAL
SMASH HIT COMEDY RETURNS!
“A DRAMATIC GEM.
FUNNY, CLEVER,
INSIGHTFUL &
TOUCHING!”
THE GLOBE & MAIL
“DELICIOUSLY
ENTERTAINING!”
TORONTO STAR
Created, Performed and Directed by
Ted Dykstra & Richard Greenblatt
June 4 – July 17 | Royal Alexandra Theatre
1.800.461.3333Recent productions have included: COVENT GARDEN PRODUCTIONS
Penelopiad starring Seana Mckenna Producer
and directed by Meghan Follows, The Covent Garden Productions is a theatrical
Fuel/National Theatre of England production and live entertainment company,
production of Barbershop Chronicles, set up to create, manage and invest in
and the world premiere of Silence written commercial property in the West End, on
by Trina Davies which went on to tour National Tour, and internationally with a
to the National Arts Centre. Under the focus on new work and developing new
leadership of Artistic Director Dennis talent. Our intention for the company is that
Garnhum, and Executive Director Deb it shall capitalise and mount productions
Harvey, the company is committed to with larger commercial potential in their
programming which is “World Curious, infancy, before large scale roll out across
London Proud.” Room was developed the commercial theatre landscape. Recent
through their COMPASS program. In productions include: Carmen Jones (Classic
April, Grow a new musical comedy by Stage Company, New York, directed by
Colleen Dauncey, Akiva Romer-Segal and John Doyle, starring Anika Noni Rose);
Matt Murray debuts at the Grand Theatre. Room by Emma Donoghue, directed by Cora
Bissett, (Co-Production with Theatre Royal
Stratford East, Abbey Theatre Dublin and
National Theatre of Scotland); Jackie The
Musical, UK Tour; No Villain, World Premiere
of Arthur Miller’s first play (West End).
www.coventgardenproductions.com
CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOR ROOM For Mirvish Programme and Mirvish Partnership
Associate Lighting Designer MIKAEL KANGAS Opportunities, please contact:
Associate Sound Designer DAVID HEENEY brands amplified
Child Supervisor KARLI FELDMAN
Cover photo of Alexis Gordon and Lucien Duncan-Reid
by Dahlia Katz
The Exclusive Sponsorship Agency of Mirvish Productions
FOR THE GRAND THEATRE
Artistic Director DENNIS GARNHUM brian.himel@brandsamplified.com
Executive Director DEB HARVEY jory.amar@brandsamplified.com
Production Manager, Producer LYNDEE HANSEN
Project & Production Manager PAUL FUJIMOTO-PIHL Backstage and Front of House employees
Technical Director DANIEL BENNETT are represented by the International
Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or
Assistant Technical Director BRAYDEN CRAWFORD
I.A.T.S.E.).
Company Manager LAUREN REBELO
Head of Wardrobe LISA WRIGHT
Mirvish Productions is a member of the
Head of Props NATALIE KEARNS
Professional Association of Canadian
Head of Electrics WRIGHT STAINES
Theatres (PACT) and engages, under
Head of Sound AARON OULLETTE the terms of the Canadian Theatre
Head Stage Carpenter STEVE WEST Agreement, actors and stage managers
Head of Flys JARED WHITTY who are members of the Canadian Actors’
Wig & Wardrobe Mistress RAZ ZEMITIS Equity Association.
Executive Associate BREANNE RITCHIE
mirvish.com 25MIRVISH PRODUCTIONS STAFF
Producer DAVID MIRVISH Ticketing Software
Executive Producer BRIAN SEWELL Co-ordinators ERNEST CAYEMEN, DAVE PELLEY
Managing Director DAVID MUCCI Ticketing Training Co-ordinator RYAN REEVE
Director of Finance CAMILLO CASCIATO Ticket Administration
Director of Communications Coordinator DANIELLA FRUSTAGLIO
and Programming JOHN KARASTAMATIS Ticket Administration Assistant MUNIRA SARUAT
Director of Sales and Education, Outreach and
Audience Services CHRIS DORSCHT Accessibility Manager DENISE ANDERSON
Director of Production STEPHEN REBBECK Education & Events Co-ordinator NELIA BAIRD
Director of Labour Relations and Associate Manager,
Business Development MARK LAVAWAY Audience Services COREY PALMER
Directors of Development KELLY ROBINSON, Audience Services &
HANNAH MIRVISH Ticketing Co-ordinator KARYN KING
General Manager, Ticketing JAMES ALDRIDGE Mailroom Co-ordinator KAREN LEIGHTON
U.K. Consultant PAUL ELLIOTT Audience Service Representatives TIMOTHY ALLEN,
MARY ASKWITH, WESLEY BERGER,
GENERAL MANAGEMENT RANDOLPH BUCHANAN, MEL DELA VICTORIA,
Associate General Manager/ MARGARET DINSDALE, ZACK GROSH,
Company Manager CHARLES CHU LIVA GULENS-TAUBE, CLARA KIM,
Associate General Manager KENDRA BATOR JESSICA LAGODA, ALEXANDRA LEAN,
Associate Producer LINDA INTASCHI HEATHER MacNEIL, RICHARD McDONALD,
Assistant Producer SARAH SISKO MIKE RICHARDSON, JOANNE RUMSTEIN-ELLIS,
Assistant to David Mirvish LAUREL PURVIS JONA SAGADRACA, SALVATORE SCOZZARI,
Company Manager ANIKA NATER JOY TRACHSELL, SHERYL WALSH, RYAN WHITTAL
Assistant Company Manager JEN COOPER Receptionist ÁINE DAVIS
Assistant Company Manager EMILY KNIGHT
HR Co-ordinator TOM KITUKU
ACCOUNTING
Analyst/Accounting Manager REG DUNCAN
PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT Controller JASON YIP
Production Manager CHRIS PRIDEAUX
Show Accountant RACQUEL FROST
Production Manager NATHAN GILES
Accounting Staff JULIE LOGAN, KIM SITU
Assistant Production Manager BRIANNE GWARTZ
Payroll SHAHRZAD RAZAVI
Production Administrator DESIRÉE PROVEAU
PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE
MARKETING
General Manager RON JACOBSON
Communications Manager SUE TOTH
Front of House Manager JASON POWELL
Press and Public
Front of House Assistant Manager MATT COSTIN
Relations Manager J. RANDY ALLDREAD
Operations Assistant HALEY WATSON
Marketing Manager ANTONIO TAN
Front of House Supervisor THEA CARPIO
Graphic Design Manager OTTO PIERRE
Marketing Co-ordinator FRANCA LONGOBARDI Box Office Manager EWA MUNDY
Web Content and Design JENNIFER JENKINS Box Office Staff SUSAN PARMENTER,
Videographer DANIEL MALAVASI BARBARA BOYLE-MORPHY, STEPHEN McDONNELL,
MARIKA CSOTAR
Usher Captain CHRISTOPHER LEGACY
TICKETING & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Head Electrician RON MONTGOMERY, JR.
Ticket Operations and
Head Carpenter MICHAEL SWITZER
Technology Director JOSIE DI LUZIO
Head of Flies TOM LOCKE
Senior Phone Operations Manager ALAN FORSYTH
Phone Operations Assistant Manager SUSIE MARCON Head of Properties KEVIN DIXON
Phone Operations Supervisor SCOTT RICHARDSON Head of Wardrobe JENNY FRASER
Network Administrator CHARLES BARTHMANN Maintenance Manager KEVIN McCARTHY
Systems Administrator CLAUDIA CUEVAS Parking Supervisor ROBERT ASHLEY
Insights Manager VICTORIA MAGINNIS
Administrative Services Manager MAGGIE BUSKI MIRVISH PROGRAMME
Reporting & Digital Communications Publisher DAVID MIRVISH
Coordinator LIANNE WU Editor J. RANDY ALLDREAD
Ticket Operations and Graphic Designer OTTO PIERRE
Subscription Manager BLAIR LEIGHTON Advertising Sales BRANDS AMPLIFIED INC.
Ticketing Software Administrator SARA RIVARD Printer SUNVIEW PRESS LIMITED
26 mirvish.comThe applause starts
before the performance.
The delight is in the details!
CAA Members get free coat check when they show their card. Plus,
receive up to 25% off select Mirvish shows.
mirvish.com/caa
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