2005 / 2006 SEASON

The Department of Theatre @ UVic is proud to present another season of innovative, wide-ranging theatre you won't find anywhere else in Victoria. Our productions at the Phoenix Theatre serve the academic requirements of the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts Degrees, showcasing the work of our students and faculty as well as top visiting designers and directors. When you attend the Phoenix Theatre you not only participate in some of the city's most rewarding theatrical entertainment, you are seeing some of Canada's emerging young artists at work and making a valuable contribution to the development of the arts in this country.

Accidental Death of an Anarchist

By Dario Fo

Cameron Anderson

This hilarious farce is based on a true incident that occurred in Italy in 1969 when an anarchist railway worker “accidentally” fell to his death from a police headquarters’ window. The play’s timeless irreverence about political corruption makes it a hit whenever it is performed. Dario Fo has written over 70 plays and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997.

Director: Ned Vukovic, Faculty director
Set and Costume Designer: Carla Orosz, MFA student (Design)
Lighting Designer: Tim Herron, Graduate student (Education)
Stage Manager: Jonathan Chen, BFA Student

Starring: Cam Anderson, Sebastien Archibald, Anne-Marie de la Giroday, James Kot, Eva Markvoort, Pat McCloy, Amitai Marmorstein, Jason Moldowan and Colby Wilson.

October 6 – 22, 2005
Previews: Oct. 4 & 5 at 8 pm ($5 after 5 pm)
Evening performances: Oct. 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 at 8 pm
Matinee: Oct. 22 at 2 pm
Pre-Show lecture: Oct. 7 at 7 pm (Free to public)

Seating Plan: Roger Bishop Theatre

Metamorphoses

Based on the Myths of Ovid,
written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman

John Ellingson, Ingrid Hansen, Kholby Wardell and Victor Dolhai

Love is the central theme of this collection of nine Greek and Roman myths. Originally compiled by the Roman poet Ovid, the tales are transformed magically for the stage using a combination of ancient and modern language. Metamorphoses made a triumphant splash on Broadway in 2002 and this Phoenix production will also use water as a metaphor for transformation. Advisory: Some nudity.

Overview of the myths with photos.

Guest Director: Jennifer H. Capraru
Set Designer: Karyn McCallum, MFA Student (Design)
Guest Costume Designer: Tamara Marie Kucheran
Guest Lighting Designer: Michael Whitfield
Sound Designer: Gord Heal, BFA Student
Musical Director: Victor Dolhai, BFA Student
Stage Manager: Heather Rycraft, BFA Student

Starring: Tonye Aganaba, Jamaine Campbell, Jade Chang, Victor Dolhai, John Ellingson, Ingrid Hanson, Trevor Hinton, Ming Hudson, Kaitlyn Regehr, Kate Richard, Celine Richmond, Devon Taylor and Kholby Wardell.

November 10 – 26, 2005
Previews: Nov. 8 & 9 at 8 pm ($5 after 5 pm)
Evening performances: Nov. 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24 and 25 at 8 pm
Matinee: Nov. 26 at 2 pm
ONE SHOW ADDED on Sat., Nov. 26 at 8 pm

Pre-Show lecture: Nov. 11 at 7 pm (Free to public)

Seating Plan: Chief Dan George Theatre

Spotlight on Alumni

The Spotlight on Alumni shines on the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, a theatre company known for its wildly inventive puppetry. One of the “Old Trouts”, as they are known, is a graduate of the Department of Theatre -- company member and co-founder Peter Balkwill. The company will bring their newest production to the Phoenix, Famous Puppet Death Scenes (PDF), a tongue-in-cheek promise of everlasting life.

Famous Puppet Death Scenes

January 31 – February 4, 2006
Previews: Jan. 28 & 30 at 8 pm ($5 after 5 pm)
Evening performances: Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2, 3 and 4 at 8 pm
Matinee: Feb. 4 at 2 pm
Pre-Show lecture: Feb. 3 at 7 pm (Free to public)

Seating Plan: Roger Bishop Theatre

FIND 2006
Festival of Innovative & New Drama

February 9 – April 1, 2006

FIND is our Springtime celebration of all that is new. Encompassing all of our state-of-the-art theatre spaces, the festival is comprised of two main-stage plays plus a series of new one-act plays written by emerging playwrights from The Department of Writing.

Top Girls

By Caryl Churchill

Kate Richard and Devon Taylor

Climbing the corporate ladder and paying the price of success are at the heart of this intriguing play by one of Britain's greatest living playwrights. Caryl Churchill(PDF) celebrates the extraordinary achievements of women through the ages. Advisory: Strong language.

Director: Yasmine Kandil, MFA Student (MFA Thesis Project)
Set Designer: Carla Orosz (MFA Thesis Project)
Costume Designer: Matt Jackson, BFA Student
Lighting Designers: Tim Herron, Graduate Student (Education)
Sound Designer: Nicole Lamb, BFA Student
Musical Director: Victor Dolhai, BFA Student
Dialect Coach: Ned Vukovic, Faculty advisor
Stage Manager: Meredith Grantier, BFA Student

Starring: Anne-Marie de la Giroday, Ingrid Hansen, Laura Harris, Ming Hudson, Danielle Janess, Kate Richard and Devon Taylor.

February 9 – 18, 2006
Previews: Feb. 7 & 8 at 8 pm ($5 after 5 pm)
Evening performances: Feb. 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 at 8 pm
Matinee: Feb. 18 at 2 pm
Pre-Show lecture: Feb. 10 at 7 pm (Free to public)

Seating Plan: Chief Dan George Theatre

Tyrants

by Paul Ledoux and Jacob Richmond

Éva Markvoort & Carey Wass

The play takes us into the backstage life of “the mad Booths of Maryland”, America’s most famous theatrical family, and their legendary performances in New York's Winter Garden Theatre that preceded the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Director: Brian Richmond, Faculty director (Chair)
Set and Projections Designer: Karyn McCallum (MFA Thesis Project)
Costume Designer: Mary Kerr, Faculty designer
Guest Lighting Designer: Stephan Droege
Guest Sound Designer: John Mills-Cockell
Dialect Coach: Ned Vukovic, Faculty
Stage Fight Director: K. Scott Malcolm, Faculty
Stage Manager: Jordan Meyer, BFA Student

Starring: Jamaine Campbell, Victor Dolhai, Trevor Hinton, John Krich, Éva Markvoort, Sarah Pelzer, Lindsey Vukovic and Carey Wass.

March 16 – April 1, 2006
Previews: Mar. 14 & 15 at 8 pm ($5 after 5 pm)
Evening performances: Mar. 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31 and April 1 at 8 pm
Matinee: Apr. 1 at 2 pm
Pre-Show lecture by playwright Paul Ledoux: Mar. 17 at 7 pm (Free to public)

Seating Plan: Roger Bishop Theatre

Studio Series

Presented in association with the Department of Writing

A series of short one-act plays written by emerging playwrights from the Department of Writing will be performed and directed by Theatre Students. The audience can take in one, two or all of the plays and, in between, enjoy a Phoenix-style coffee house with Torrefazione Coffee! Admission is $2 per show or $10 for the evening (9 shows).

March 2, 3 and 4, 2006

Bildungsroman
Mar. 2 at 7 pm / Mar. 3 at 10:15 pm / Mar. 4 at 9:05 pm
Written by Duncan Paterson and Directed by Chelsea Haberlin
Cast: James Kot, Jason Moldowan, Chris Wilson, Colby Wilson.
A bildungsroman (German: "novel of education" or "novel of formation") is a novel that traces the spiritual, moral, psychological, or social development and growth of the main character. Herb writes his Bildungsroman with the help of his best buddy Cole, the hard-edged cop O'Toole, and Clark Kent.

Marietta and the Design of the New Angels
Mar. 2 at 7:35 pm / Mar. 3 at 10:50 pm / Mar. 4 at 9:40 pm
Written by Alejandro Valbuena and Directed by Jen Quinn
Cast: Jade Chang.
This surreal story of angels, lost virginities, dancers and seagulls is set in the middle of the Atacama Desert--the driest place on earth. Thanks to Marietta's culinary abilities, this scorched land will soon be lubricated by divine rain in a carnivalesque quest for pleasure and grace.

In Seed Time Learn
Mar. 2 at 8:20 pm / Mar. 3 at 7 pm / Mar. 4 at 10:10 pm
Written by Katie-Ellen Humphries and Directed by Stacey Gaetz
Cast: Julia Cameron, Amitai Marmorstein, Kassia Warshawski, Chris Wilson.
In a throng of folks looking only to shake it like non-diary creamer, adorably awkward Thel envisions more. As he flounders with pick-up lines and pop culture, Thel can't help but wonder if the chance to connect with someone is really worth forfeiting his imagined ideal.

The Monkey War of Fire
Mar. 2 at 8:45 pm / Mar. 3 at 7:25 pm / Mar. 4 at 10:45 pm
Written by Russell Reilander and Directed by Stacey Gaetz
Cast: Jason Moldowan, Melanie Moore, Graham Newmarch.
This play is dedicated to the real Kai Kai, an actual smoking monkey that lives in a zoo in China; who, after ten years, has recently been forced to quit cold turkey. Follow Art's war with addition as he fights the same plight as this somewhat misunderstood smoking monkey.

Wounds
Mar. 2 at 9:30 pm / Mar. 3 at 8:10 pm / Mar. 4 at 7 pm
Written by Max Forrester and Directed by Stacey Gaetz
Cast: Nicole Fraissinet.
Sandra is a 17-year old girl with dyslexia who believes she can no longer handle the pressures of school and family. When she runs away from home and shows up at the door of Colin, her older sister's ex-boyfriend, she recounts to him her story and looks for understanding.

Calvin
Mar. 2 at 9:30 pm / Mar. 3 at 8:10 pm / Mar. 4 at 7 pm
Written by Leah Esau and Directed by Chelsea Haberlin
Cast: Reid Sparling.
Calvin is a gold and silver medal-winning Olympic swimmer. He lives with his friends and has an attractive girlfriend. He teaches swimming and walks dogs. He also has autism and this is his story.

Small Town Graduation
Mar. 2 at 9:50 pm / Mar. 3 at 8:30 pm / Mar. 4 at 7:20 pm
Written by Jasmine O’Brien and Directed by Jen Quinn
Cast: James Kot, Kaitlyn Regehr, Kassia Warshawski.
Every small town has a Rachel and a Jenny. We meet the girls on an evening before a major life transition, on the cusp of a different phase of life, full of wants and expectations. But a simple act on Jenny's part puts in motion a challenge to their own sexual definitions, and what they have come to expect in their relationship with each other, with men, and with themselves.

Swimming Lesson
Mar. 2 at 10:25 pm / Mar. 3 at 9:10 pm / Mar. 4 at 8 pm
Written by Brie Wittman and Directed by Jen Quinn
Cast: Patrick McCloy, Jesse Collin, Amitai Marmorstein.
Seven year-old Robbie and his father are alone at a bus station with a man who collapses. Robbie wants to help the man but is confronted by his father's prejudices. As Robbie discovers the truth about his father he must choose between their relationship or saving the life of a stranger.

Dinner Party
Mar. 2 at 10:40 pm / Mar. 3 at 9:25 pm / Mar. 4 at 8:15 pm
Written by Cassie Beecham and Directed by Chelsea Haberlin
Cast: Julia Cameron, Jade Chang, Lee Cookson, Sam Mullins, Kaitlyn Regehr.
Having recently found out that her daughter, Zenia, has contracted the HIV virus, Barbara sets up a dinner party with friends to help get Zenia a job. It is a dinner filled with chaos, laughter and the unveiling of some very important truths.