Present the World Premiere of

The Best Laid Plans: a Musical

Based on the novel by Terry Fallis Book by Vern Thiessen Music and Lyrics by Benjamin Elliott and Anton Lipovetsky Commissioned, Developed and Produced by Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions Directed by Peter Jorgensen

Playing at The York Theatre (639 Commercial Drive), Vancouver

September 19 to October 3, 2015 Tuesday to Saturday 8pm, Matinees September 20, 27 & October 3 at 2pm $19 Previews September 17 & 18 at 8pm Tickets through The Cultch Box Office: 604-251-1363, http://tickets.thecultch.com

www.touchstonetheatre.com | www.patrickstreetproductions.com

Touchstone Theatre and Patrick Street Productions are bringing Vancouver the World Premiere of The Best Laid Plans: a Musical. Based on Terry Fallis’ award-winning satirical first novel, the story takes place in and around Ottawa during the run-up to a federal election. Daniel Addison, a speechwriter for the leader of the Liberal Opposition, is dropping out of politics for the relatively tame world of academe. Before Daniel can cast off politics once and for all, he's given a Herculean task: find a Liberal candidate to run in an unassailable Conservative riding. Daniel convinces Angus McLintock, a crusty old Scot, to let his name stand in an election he’s sure to lose. But their best laid plans go hilariously awry, as Fallis’ unforgettable characters sing us right off the stage and into Canada’s real federal election. The Best Laid Plans won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and CBC Canada Reads 2011.

Governor General Award-winner and veteran Playwright Vern Thiessen is writing the book of this new musical. Music and lyrics are by the brilliant young team of Benjamin Elliott and Anton Lipovetsky. Patrick Street Production’s Co-Artistic Producer Peter Jorgensen directs.

The project features ten of Vancouver’s finest performers; Patti Allan (The Idiot, Into the Woods) Shannon Chan-Kent (Saint Joan, Avenue Q), Meaghan Chenosky (Stationary: a Recession Era Musical, Killer Joe), Steffanie Davis (Legally Blonde, Titanic), Nick Fontaine (Avenue Q, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story), Zahf Paroo (TV series Edgemont, Bombay Dreams), Gordon Roberts (The Music Man, Oklahoma!), Hal Wesley Rogers (Jesus Christ Superstar, Rent), Andrew Wheeler (Urinetown, Les Miserables), Katey Wright (The Light in the Piazza, Mary Poppins). Dramaturgy for this new work is by Touchstone’s Artistic Director Katrina Dunn, musical direction is by Jonathan Monro, and orchestration and music supervision are by Nico Rhodes. The project boasts a top notch team of designers: Drew Facey on set, Bradley Danyluk on sound, Adrian Muir on lights, Michael Sider on projection, and Jessica Bayntun on costumes.

ABOUT THE CREATORS: Vern Thiessen (Book): Vern Thiessen is one of Canada’s most produced playwrights. His plays Apple, Einstein’s Gift, Lenin’s Embalmers, Shakespeare’s Will and Bird Brain have been produced around the world. Vern is the winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama in 2003 and was a finalist in 2011. His adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s Of Human Bondage, commissioned and premiered by Soulpepper Theatre in Toronto, won the 2014 Dora Award for Outstanding New Play. Vern is currently the Artistic Director of Workshop West Playwrights’ Theatre in Edmonton.

Benjamin Elliott (Music & Lyrics): Benjamin Elliott is a composer, musical director and actor. He co- created the critically acclaimed musical The Park with Anton Lipovetsky and Hannah Johnson. He worked as a musical director in the last four seasons at Bard on the Beach, receiving a Jessie for his work on The Merry Wives of Windsor. Coming up, Ben is co-starring in Are We Cool Now? at The Cultch’s Historic Theatre, a new musical featuring the music of Dan Mangan, then heads to The Belfry in Victoria to embark on a tour of Chelsea Hotel. Ben is a graduate of Studio 58.

Anton Lipovetsky (Music & Lyrics): Anton Lipovetsky’s composition credits include Elbow Room Cafe: The Musical (ZeeZee Theatre), cool beans (Solo Collective), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Studio 58), FLOP! (Delinquent Theatre) and Broken Sex Doll (Virtual Stage), for which he won the 2013 Jessie Award for Outstanding Composition and saw his work featured in the 2014 Magnetic North Theatre Festival. Anton is also an actor, whose credits include three seasons at Bard on the Beach. He can be seen as Bob Cratchit in the upcoming A Christmas Carol at The Belfry Theatre in Victoria. Anton is a graduate of Studio 58.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL: Terry Fallis: Terry Fallis is the author of four national bestsellers, all published by McClelland & Stewart (M&S). His debut novel, The Best Laid Plans, won the 2008 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and was the 2011 winner of CBC Canada Reads as the “essential Canadian novel of the decade.“ In January 2014, CBC aired a six-part television miniseries based on The Best Laid Plans, earning very positive reviews. The High Road was published in September 2010, Up and Down was released in September 2012, and No Relation hit bookstores in May 2014. All three books opened on the Globe and Mail bestsellers list, and were nominated for, or won, the Leacock Medal. M&S will publish Terry’s fifth novel, Poles Apart, in

October 2015.

Touchstone Theatre: For 40 years, Touchstone Theatre has been a mainstay of theatrical innovation on the West Coast. The company’s all-Canadian mandate has helped launch some of the country’s most important playwrights and actors, and its substantial body of work has garnered over 70 local and national awards. Under the Artistic Direction of Katrina Dunn, the company’s reputation for excellence has earned the respect of audiences, critics and colleagues.

Patrick Street Productions: Founded in 2007 by Artistic Producers Peter Jorgensen and Katey Wright, Patrick Street Productions quickly found its place and rose to prominence in the Vancouver theatre scene with sophisticated productions of lesser-known contemporary musicals. In its short history the company’s work has received 48 Jessie Award and Ovation Award nominations spanning all categories, and won 10 Ovations and 6 Jessies including the Jessie Award for Outstanding Production of a Play or Musical for The Light in the Piazza.

FOR MORE INFO, PHOTOS, INTERVIEWS: JODI SMITH, PUBLICIST PHONE: 604-736-4939; CELL: 604-838-9844; EMAIL: [email protected]