Homeward Bound

It's just a normal family dinner in a regular dysfunctional family. There's paterfamilias Glen, a retired lawyer; his slightly scatty wife Bonnie; and their 30-something offspring - angry, approval-seeking daughter Norris (plus her husband Kevin, who's still bemused by her family); and journalist son Nick, the favoured child (plus his partner, Guy). But after dinner, when Glen drops a bombshell on the family, nobody except Bonnie quite knows how to deal with it.

Director Jane Carnwath loves the play's “dark and edgy humour”, and comments, “It touches all our lives because it's about families, about how we love - and wound - each other. It's both a profound meditation and a slapstick comedy about death and dysfunction, in which the outrageous is in constant collision with the (often horribly) familiar.” Jane is especially delighted to work again with Elva Mai Hoover - whom she directed in last season's critically praised Toronto premiere of Dave Carley's After You.

Homeward Bound playwright Elliott Hayes was only 37, and just beginning to reap the rewards of his career, when he was killed by a drunk driver in 1994. He was Literary Manager at the Stratford Festival, where Homeward Bound, his best-known play, premiered in 1991.

Alumnae Theatre Company's production features John Illingworth (A Clockwork Orange) and Elva Mai Hoover (After You.) as the parents, Tabitha Keast (Possession) and Joe Boyd (The River Lady) as the children, Zvi Gilbert (Lion In The Streets) as Norris' husband, and Lee Poulin (The Crucible) as Nick's partner.

Set designer Yulia Shtern (Problem Child and Criminal Genius) creates the mood in a deliberately dated, claustrophobic playpen of a sunken living room. Michael Spence's lighting was inspired by John Munro's work in CanStage's recent production of Edward Albee's The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia. Kevin A. Cameron (Problem Child and Criminal Genius) provides suburban sound design, and costume designer Ruth Maltese (Camelot) uses an autumnal palette to hint at the end of a season.

A cynical but funny portrait of a seemingly perfect family, who put the “fun” in “dysfunctional”.

“A brisk, intricate, and tightly-strung play with lots of laughter.” - Margaret Atwood

Go to: Media Downloads

Cast Biographies

JOE BOYD (Nick)
Joe hails from Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia, and moved to the city a year and a half ago. He studied theatre at Acadia University - past credits include Tyler in David Widdicombe's The River Lady and Dr. Stockman in Ibsen's An Enemy Of The People. He most recently played the role of Mark in an original one-man show, I'd Call Her Cathy, written by himself for his up-and-coming theatre company, Southpaw Theatre. Joe is happy to be working with Jane and the wonderful cast and crew of Homeward Bound.

ZVI GILBERT (Kevin)
Zvi has studied acting in Toronto with Christopher Brauer at the Drama Workshop. Recent productions include Lion In The Streets, Rumours Of Our Death (Vicious Gossip Theatre), and Departures and Arrivals (The Drama Workshop). A technical writer by day, Zvi has also done graphic and web design for a number of theatre companies. He is very happy to be making his Alumnae Theatre debut.

ELVA MAI HOOVER (Bonnie)
After a highly successful outing as the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet at Sudbury Theatre Centre, Elva is thrilled to once again work with Jane Carnwath and play Bonnie in Homeward Bound at the Alumnae. Other recent work includes Izzy in Kitchen Witches at the Victoria Playhouse, Adele in After You at the Alumnae, Esther in Kilt, Grandma in The American Dream at the Toronto Fringe Festival, the amazing Nana in Michel Tremblay's For The Pleasure Of Seeing Her Again at the Georgian Theatre Festival, Goodbye Piccadilly at the Blyth Festival, and the Canadian premiere of Lanford Wilson's Book of Days. She also created the role of Anne Langton in Molly Thom's highly acclaimed The Bush-Ladies. Other work includes continuing roles in television - like Mrs. Lawson in Road to Avonlea and Beth in Riverdale; and her film work in both Anne's Story and The Terry Fox Story merited major award nominations. More recent television include Ted's mom in Queer As Folk, Aunt Bibby in Patti on the Comedy Network, and numerous American movies of the week. As well as her acting career, she is a well-known acting teacher and voice-over coach.

JOHN ILLINGWORTH (Glen)
For Alumnae Theatre: The Textile Revolution, The Enfolding Hamlet, Amy's View, Knuckle, The Right Honourable Gentleman, Secret of the Spyglass, The Alcestiad, and others. Other Credits: Electra (Canopy Theatre); Clockwork Orange (Hart House Theatre); Incident at Vichy, The Aspern Papers, The Madness of King George, Equus, The Dresser, Inherit the Wind (Stage Centre); The Lion in Winter (Ariel Productions). Film & Radio/Television: Sarah Bernhardt, Scales of Justice, (CBC); Toronto - City of Dreams, Divorce Court, (Global TV); Sidekick (Victory Man Productions); Mantis (Neutral Density Films); The Funeral (Riot in the Heart Productions); Lizzie Takes An Axe (Hanmer Productions). Etcetera: Special thanks to Norma - my favourite “Aluminum Lady”.

TABITHA KEAST (Norris)
Tabitha is a Toronto-based actor with experience in theatre, film, television and voiceovers. Her experience with Alumnae Theatre includes: Southern Belle (Director), New Ideas '05; Possession (Actor), New Ideas Festival '05; Talking to Mom in Colour, New Ideas '04; An Appearance by Jack & Spider, New Ideas '03; and Talley's Folly. She has also performed in the critically-acclaimed productions of In The Booth and The Anger in Ernest & Ernestine, both at Toronto Fringe Festival. Recent media includes a five-commercial series for Nestlé, three for the slightly rude “Thanks Showcase” series, and a voiceover for a documentary on Pat Mooney by WorldWide Television. Upcoming is her role as Co-Producer of New Ideas 2006 because (if you couldn't tell already) she really really likes the festival.

LEE POULIN (Guy)
Lee is very excited to be performing with Alumnae Theatre for the first time. Lee is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, and although he is trained in Film and Television, he finds that there's just nothing quite like performing on stage in front of a live audience every night. Some favorite past credits include being a dancer for the opening act on the Backstreet Boys Canadian tour, John Proctor in The Crucible, and Conrad Birdie in Bye Bye Birdie. Lee would like to send a huge thank you to the cast and crew of Homeward Bound; to Jane for her confidence and trust; to Darlene Spencer, for always helping him discover new things and for having brought out the actor in him; to his family and friends for their ongoing support, advice, and belief in him; and to Kyle for his everlasting love, commitment and companionship no matter where in the world he is.

Creative Team Biographies

ELLIOTT HAYES (Playwright)
Elliott Hayes began his career as a child actor at the Stratford Festival in 1967. A graduate of the Old Vic Theatre School (Bristol, England), Hayes worked in Hollywood for several years before returning to Canada in 1981. He became Assistant Dramaturge at Stratford in 1983 and was promoted to Literary Manager in 1991. He wrote stage plays including Blake (with music by harpist Loreena McKennitt), based on the life and work of 18th century English poet William Blake; Strip, about a male stripper; Legless and Happily Ever After, two companion one-acts; and his last play, Hard Hearts. Homeward Bound, which premiered at Stratford in 1991, remains his best-known work. It had twelve U.S. productions before its staging by CanStage in Toronto a month before his death at age 37 in 1994, when he was killed by a drunk driver. The LMDA (Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas) named a Prize in Dramaturgy in his honour. It has been awarded to dramaturges since 1999, in recognition of exemplary contributions to the conception, development and production of theatre.

JANE CARNWATH (Director)
Jane has had a long and varied association with Alumnae Theatre as actor, director and administrator. She directed last season's hit Toronto premiere of Dave Carley's After You. Other Alum productions include another Dave Carley play, A View From The Roof, as well as 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 Pièces Détachées and Jennie's Story. Among other productions she has directed are Not Wanted On The Voyage, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and You Can't 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, where she taught acting, to concentrate on directing and adjudicating. She was also a longtime participant in R. Murray Schafer's ongoing wilderness-theatre project, And Wolf Shall Inherit The Moon.

CHIKAKO ARAKAWA (Sound Operator)

RAZIE BROWNSTONE (Co-Producer; Props)
A longtime member of Alumnae Theatre Company, Razie has filled many positions: props, lighting operation, costume designer, producer, actor. Her professional career includes movies, videos and commercials, but she finds her amateur work both more and less rewarding.

KEVIN A. CAMERON (Sound Designer)
This audio engineer and composer aims to create a detailed soundscape to complement and fulfill all aspects of a performance. Past work at the Alumnae Theatre include sound design and operator for Problem Child and Criminal Genius, sound design for Really Great Hats, and sound operator and additional sound design for After You. Other credits include Irene Carl's performance of Moving at the Speed of Life in the Toronto Fringe Festival, and post audio supervisor for Massive Productions' Most Beautiful Thing.

MARGOT DEVLIN (Stage Manager)
Recent highlights include stage managing She Stoops to Conquer (Alumnae Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Fallen Rock Productions), Goodnight Disgrace (Postscript Productions), The Real World? (Alumnae Theatre); assistant stage managing The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in the Rough), Platinum Travel Club (By the Word and Theatre Passe Muraille co-production), After the Fall (Equity Showcase), A Lie of the Mind (Alumnae Theatre) and production assistant on Urinetown (CanStage). It is an honour to work with such a talented cast and crew on this production. Jane has been inspirational! Thank you to Shaun for his love and support and to Parker and Peabody (who ensures, by way of sharp claws to my feet, that I make my 5:30 a.m. call time to feed him).

DARYL HARDING (Assistant Stage Manager)
Recently arrived from Halifax, Daryl has returned to theatre after many years absence. Her baptism to the Toronto arts scene last November was as ASM for Alumnae Theatre's ambitious double bill of one-acts by Harold Pinter and Daniel MacIvor, Ashes To Ashes and This Is A Play. Outside theatre, Daryl runs her own business and is a visual artist in sculpture and installation.

DIANA KNIGHT (Co-Producer)
As a newly retired English and Drama Coordinator for a local school board, Diana is delighted to be involved in a performance that includes five adult actors rather than a production that includes 700 students all eager to find their way onto the stage. Working with the Alumnae crew has been a delight.

EMILY MacNAUGHTON (Assistant Scenic Designer; Head Scenic Artist)
After helping out with painting for Yulia Shtern's sets at Alumnae in Spring 2005, Emily likes to think of herself of Assistant to Ms. Shtern. If her name is in the credits for Moonlight and Valentino, the idea might not be so ridiculous, after all.

RUTH MALTESE (Costume Designer)
Ruth has been a performer since childhood, when she sang on radio and on stage. Since then, she has acted in such productions as Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (Theatre Etobicoke), Death Of A Salesman (Toronto Truck Theatre) and All My Sons (Village Players). She has also directed, produced and stage managed other productions, in addition to writing plays and conducting acting workshops for seniors. Previous costume design credits include Camelot (North York Music Theatre), Sweeney Todd (Village Players), The Music Man (Theatre Unlimited), and Stepping Out and A View From the Roof for Alumnae Theatre.

JANE McGREGOR (Lighting Operator)

YACHIYO SHIMADA (Sound Operator)
Yachiyo started her carrier as a sound operator for various dramas, musicals, and dance performances in Tokyo. She works as a freelance sound technician since relocating to Toronto in 2000. She is content to create performing arts by Sound. Her Alumnae Theatre debut was as sound operator for She Stoops To Conquer in fall 2005, and she is delighted to be back.

YULIA SHTERN (Scenic Designer)
This is the second production Yulia designed for Alumnae this season. Simultaneously, she also designed the set for the Toronto Irish Players production of I Do Not Like Thee, Dr. Fell, as well as the set, costumes and props for the double bill of Gypsy Princess and Grandma And The Pirates for Solar Stage Theatre. Somehow finding time between these three projects, she created two conceptually new paintings for the JOY and WONDER Christmas exhibition at Galerie Bertossini, while discovering yet again that there aren't enough hours in the day. Yulia is looking forward to working on Moonlight and Valentino at Alumnae Theatre this spring, while hoping that she will have an overlap of no more than two projects at that time.

MICHAEL SPENCE (Lighting Designer)
Michael learned the joys of painting with light from the late Robert Gill at Hart House Theatre. He then went on to light numerous community theatre shows in London, Ontario, prior to relocating to Toronto. Recent Alumnae Theatre credits for lighting design include Talley's Folly, On The Verge, Beautiful City, After You and She Stoops To Conquer. He has enjoyed collaborating with Yulia Shtern and Jane Carnwath on Homeward Bound.

DOROTHY WILSON (Assistant Stage Manager)
Dorothy has been doing Props, Costumes and Set Dressing in the Toronto area for a long time now. At the Alumnae, she has designed costumes for The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, Absurd Person Singular and Criminal Hearts; and Props for Summer and Smoke, The Real World? and She Stoops to Conquer. Her most recent credit was as Costume Designer for Alumnae's Pinter/MacIvor double bill, Ashes To Ashes and This Is A Play.

ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com

Performance Dates	Jan 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 Feb 2, 3, 4, 2006
Performance Times	Thursday - Saturday at 8 pm Sunday matinees at 2 pm
Location	Alumnae Theatre 70 Berkeley Street at Adelaide, Toronto
Ticket Prices	Thursdays: 2 for 1 • Friday & Sat: $18 Sundays: PWYC
Reservations	Box Office: 416-364-4170 or email reservations@alumnaetheatre.com

This family feud is more than a game show.
After dinner, the knives come out.

Cast Biographies

Creative Team Biographies

Tickets and Times

This family feud is more than a game show. After dinner, the knives come out.

Cast Biographies

Creative Team Biographies

Tickets and Times

This family feud is more than a game show.
After dinner, the knives come out.