The Alumnae Theatre Company is proud to present, as part of our 88th consecutive season, the world premiere of Daughter of the House, a new work by one of our own members, Lucy Brennan.
Dublin in the 1950's: young people trapped in dead-end jobs, seeking adventure by following their dreams to far-flung places. Here, a young woman must decide whether to follow her love to Canada or stay in Ireland and fulfill her family's expectations to play her role as daughter of the house by caring for her aging mother.
These are the ingredients of a wonderful new play by Lucy Brennan, one that reverberates with the humour, traditions and humanity of the Irish at once nurturing and oppressive.
As director Jane Carnwath says, “You'll fall in love with the MacCarthys - opinionated, articulate, passionate and scrappy - who bully, cajole, console and ultimately push Eileen toward a decision that astounds everybody. The Alumnae Theatre is proud to present this witty and insightful play.”
The cast of Daughter of the House features Adrianna Prosser as Eileen (the daughter of the house), Nonnie Griffin* as Mire (Eileen's mother), Jason Winther as Peter (Eileen's boyfriend), Chris Reid as Andrew (Eileen's other admirer and the token Canadian), Liam Doherty as Fergus (Eileen's brother), Maureen Lukie as Emma (Fergus' wife), Derek Perks as Dermot (Eileen's brother), and Julie Burris as Deirdre (Dermot's wife).
Joining director Jane Carnwath on the creative team is producer Diana Knight and assistant producer/dialect coach/sound operator/ultimate everywoman Catherine Driscoll, stage manager extraordinaire/lighting operator/all-around Goddess Margot Devlin and assistant stage managers Jenny Sager, Vivien Feirson and Razie Brownstone who is also acting as costume designer, set designer Marysia Bucholc, lighting designer Paul Hardy, sound designer Rick Jones, prop designer Brandon Kleiman and master carpenter Dave Huculak.
*Appearing courtesy of the Canadian Actors Equity Association
Performance Dates
Preview Performance: April 17, 2008
Regular Dates: April 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27 & May 1, 2 &, 2008
Performance Times
Thursday to Saturday: 8:00 pm
Sunday Matinee: 2:00 pm
Box Office opens one hour before performance time
Admission Prices
Friday & Saturday: $18
Sunday Matinee: PWYC
Thursdays: 2 FOR 1
Special Preview Price: Apr 17: $10
CASH ONLY! Box Office does not accept credit or debit cards
Reservations
Email: reservations@alumnaetheatre.com
Phone: 416-364-4170 (Box 1)
LUCY BRENNAN,
Playwright
Lucy Brennan, of Whitby, Ontario by way of Dublin, directed La La Noo by Jack B. Yeats, for Toronto Irish Players, at SummerWorks 1994. She delivered a paper at the Queen's University, Belfast, Ireland, on the artist, Jack B.Yeats as playwright. Daughter of the House is her first full-length play and she is thrilled that Jane Carnwath sponsored it and is seeing it through to performance. Lucy is also grateful to Jennifer Parr, the script's first dramaturge, and to New York playwright, Stuart Spencer, who worked on it with her for three years. Lucy's short play, Otherworlds, originally produced in Kansas City, Mo, was discussed at the Mid-America Theatre Conference in Chicago, 2006. Another play, Thresholds, was given a staged reading here at Nuit Blanche, 2007. Lucy is currently working on two more plays: the first act of The Whispering Land will be read at the New Play Development Group's Big Ideas Festival on May 4th. Recently, she thoroughly enjoyed playing Clara in the Durham Shoestring Performers (Oshawa) production of John Mighton's gentle play, Half Life.
JANE CARNWATH,
Director and Dramaturge
After a turn onstage in last season's If We Are Women, Jane returns to her first love, directing. Her last assignment with the Alumnae was Homeward Bound in 2006. Previously she directed two plays by Dave Carley - After You and A View From the Roof. Other productions for the Alum include The Gut Girls, On the Verge, The Madwoman of Chaillot, Eleemosynary, Wild Honey, and The Art of Dining. For the York University Drama Department she directed En Pieces Detachées and Jennie's Story. Among other productions she has directed are Not Wanted on the Voyage, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and You Cant Take it With You. Jane adjudicates all over Canada, and leads workshops on acting and directing for Theatre Ontario. She recently left her teaching post with the Sheridan College Music Theatre Department, to concentrate on directing and adjudicating. She is also a longtime participant in R. Murray Schafer's ongoing wilderness-theatre project, And Wolfe Shall Inherit the Moon.
Jane feels privileged to have worked with Lucy Brennan on the development of this wonderful script, and to participate in bringing it to life.
JULIE BURRIS,
Deirdre
Julie is thrilled to be part of this wonderful production. She was last seen at the Alumnae in The New Ideas Festival, Christopher Durang's Baby With The Bathwater, and Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops To Conquer. Previous acting credits include Ned Durango Comes to Big Oak (Village Playhouse) and The Vagina Monologues (Stage West Theatre). She would like to thank her partner, family and friends for their continuing love and support.
LIAM DOHERTY,
Fergus
This is Liam's first production with Alumnae Theatre. He has performed in and around the city for the past 10 years, notably in An Ideal Husband and The Winslow Boy (The Village Players). He has also been in several productions with the Cabbagetown Theatre. Liam is a graduate of Second City Improv and has been in several stand-up comedy appearances throughout the GTA.
NONNIE GRIFFIN,
Maire
In a profession that promises no fame, glory or security, this actress has managed to stay afloat throughout her long career. Nonnie has worked in almost all the major centres across Canada and is a founding member of the Shaw Festival, Red Barn Theatre, Theatre New Brunswick and Bastion Theatre in Victoria. A 3-year stint in the U.K. eventually brought her to the Bristol Old Vic. Returning to Canada, she received great critical acclaim for her performance at the Phoenix Theatre as Louise Rafi in The Sea, and later for her portrayal of Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! at Limelight Theatre. In 2004 and 2006 she appeared in Toronto in her one-woman show named Showbiz and Other Addictions, after her book of the same title. In 2007 she appeared with the orchestra at The Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, along with Colin Fox in a fascinating new work, Hauntings by Gary Michael Dault. Ms. Griffin's passion for acting, both onstage and on radio, has never left her. But she mourns the loss of what is now called “the golden age of radio” where she was often heard on the CBC with radio greats such as John Drainie. Nonnie Griffin, like Maire in this fine play by Lucy Brennan, holds on to her dreams and looks forward to all of lifes possibilities.
MAUREEN LUKIE,
Emma
Maureen Lukie makes her debut with The Alumnae with this production, but she has worked at 70 Berkeley Street before, with the Toronto Irish Players as an actor (The Mai; I Do Not Like Thee, Dr. Fell) and director (James Joyce's The Dead). She is also a founding member of Amicus Productions, nearing its 30th anniversary, where she has credits as director (Jane Eyre, Les Liaisons Dangereuses), actor (The Sisters Rosenzweig, Harvey), and general factotum. Most recently, she directed Enchanted April for the Bloor West Village Players.
DEREK PERKS,
Dermot
Derek was a theatre major at University of Windsor and Humber College, and is currently a member of Equity Theatre Showcase. Derek most recently appeared at the Alumnae as Victor in Private Lives. Derek previously acted in the one man show House; he has played Jacob in Salt-Water Moon, Profiry in Platonov, and Leonard and Michael in 7 Stories. Derek also appeared in the NOW Audience Choice Award winning play, Ulcers before Adolescence. Derek is the recipient of the Bronze medal at the National Improv games of Canada, and a Civic Award of recognition in the Arts from the City of Mississauga. Derek would like to thank family and friends, and friends of Bill W.
ADRIANNA PROSSER,
Eileen
Adrianna is a graduate of the joint Specialist Theatre and Drama Studies program at Sheridan College and the University of Toronto at Mississauga. In 2004 she was recipient of the A.L. Fernie Bursary Award for outstanding performance and production achievement. She also has graduated with an Intermediate FDC Stage Combatant Certification level from the FDC at Rapier Wit. She also has a passion for teaching. Over the past six years she has created and taught her own curriculum to teach the works of William Shakespeare and dramatic arts to youth. Over the years Adrianna has taken up the art of Historical Story Telling. Currently she works with the City of Toronto Museums as a Historical Interpreter, and in spring 2008 she will head a conference about how to build a character based on historical events. Trying her hand at producing, Adrianna is the co-founder and artistic director of Bony Pate Productions.
CHRIS REID,
Andrew
Chris' recent theatre credits include Welcome to My Death, Lifeboat (Toronto Fringe Festival), The Noble Pursuit (Burloak Theatre), Enchanted April, The Winslow Boy (Oakville Players), Tea on New Year's Eve (New Ideas Festival '07), Key for Two (Century Church Theatre) and Vinci, for which he received a THEA award. Upcoming productions include A Number, next month in Oakville and this summer's Who's On First? in Hillsburgh. He would like to thank the cast and crew of Daughter of the House for making his first show at Alumnae so much fun to be a part of.
JASON WINTHER,
Peter
Jason is extremely proud to be a part of the world premiere of Daughter of the House, especially in a theatre with such a rich history as Alumnae's. The production marks his first time originating a role in the theatre. Other theatre highlights include the role of Jeep in Action by Sam Shepard (NYC), N. Richard Nash's classic, The Rainmaker (NYC) and most recently as Sebastian in Shakespeare's The Tempest (Toronto).
RAZIE BROWNSTONE,
Costume Designer
A long time member of the Alumnae Theatre Company, Razie has filled a wide variety of production roles: actor, producer, assistant stage manager, costume designer, props manager, and front of house manager extraordinaire. Professionally, she has appeared in film, commercials, and music videos. Currently, her video with Canadian Idol, Kalia Porter, has reached first place with over 400,000 hits!
MARYSIA BUCHOLC,
Set Designer
Marysia is happy to be designing her second set for Alumnae Theatre. She recently designed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Randolph Academy) and For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again (Alumnae). She received a Dora nomination in 2006 for her design for Kafka and Son (Theaturtle). She divides her time away from the theatre among her husband and 3 wonderful teenagers, the recording of books for the CNIB library, and the design and creation of stained glass windows.
PAUL HARDY,
Lighting Designer
Paul Hardy has directed Judith Thompson's Perfect Pie, Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind and The Evil that Men Do for the Alumnae Theatre. He has also directed independent productions of Burn This by Lanford Wilson and Geography of a Horse Dreamer by Sam Shepard. As an actor he has played leading roles in Step Up (Stagekids,) For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again, She Stoops to Conquer, Criminal Hearts (Alumnae Theatre), Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project), Showdown/How Can You Tell (Mixed Co.), A Midsummer's Night Dream (Allegoria Productions), Marvin's Room and 1949 (Amicus Productions).
Paul has also designed lighting for Lovesick Production's Hank Williams: the show he never gave, Toronto Masque Theatre's Masques for a Reaney Day, Praxis Theatre's Steel, Master and Margarita, and Eugene, Gizmette for Theatreworks, Portrait for Allegoria Productions, and Moonlight and Valentino, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, A Lie of the Mind, The Real World, Amy's View (Alumnae Theatre). Paul also acted as Technical Director of the Alumnae Theatres New Ideas Festival from 2002 - 2006.
DAVID HUCULAK,
Master Carpenter
David is happy to be working with the Alumnae Theatre Company. He has been constructing sets for more than 15 years. David most recently worked as master carpenter for Scarborough Music Theatre's production of Gigi. Hewould like to thank the wonderful and supportive friends he has made through his involvement in community theatre.
RICK JONES,
Sound Designer
This is Rick's second sound design for the Alumnae, having previously designed for Lady Windermere's Fan. Other involvement at the Alum include working as arranger and music director of Alumnae's own version of The Clif Clefs for The Sisters Rosenzweig, and composing the soundscape for his own short play The Meeting at New Ideas Festival 2004. Writing/songwriting credits include the musical's Millennium Madness Sale, Wild Moose Chase, The Girls Weekend, Chatroom, and Everlasting Summer. He has also provided music for several short films. Look for Rick onstage this July at the Toronto Fringe as he reprises his role in - and as - Insane Uncle Leroy.
BRANDON KLEIMAN,
Props Manager
Brandon has been part of the production team for Memory of Water, Private Lives, and He She and It (Alumnae Theatre Company). Other set and costume design credits include: Rhinoceros, Seven Stories, and Spare Change. His next productions are Terrorism and Rapunzel. Brandon is in his final semester at York University where he studies theatre design and production. Upon graduation he will be living the dream here in Toronto. He would like to thank Jane and the Alumnae for this opportunity.
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
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