2020/2021
by Hannah Moscovitch
April 8 – 25 / 2021
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Proud supporters of Post-Democracy PRAIRIE THEATRE EXCHANGE PROUDLY PRESENTS POST-DEMOCRACY By Hannah Moscovitch World Premiere
Director: Thomas Morgan Jones Set, Props & Costume Design: Brian Perchaluk Lighting Design: Scott Henderson Sound Design: jaymez Artistic Associate: Cherissa Richards PTE Directing Mentorship: Julie Lumsden Stage Manager: Karyn Kumhyr Assistant Stage Manager: Ali Fulmyk Film Director: Sam Vint Film Company: Ice River Films Featuring: Alicia Johnston Shannon Kristian Jordan Lee Arne MacPherson Bill Stephanie Sy Justine
Runtime: 60 minutes, no intermission Audience Advisory: This production contains strong language, themes, scenes and descriptions of sexual assault and harassment, racism, classism, alcohol consumption, and mentions of child exploitation and sex with a minor.
Post-Democracy was commissioned for Prairie Theatre Exchange by former Artistic Director, Robert Metcalfe.
We invite you to join us in recognizing that we are on Treaty 1 land, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Dakota and Métis nations. PTE is a committed partner of Winnipeg’s Indigenous Accord, and, as a part of our journey to reconciliation, we are dedicated to bringing Indigenous stories and voices to the PTE stage every season. DIRECTOR’S NOTES
So much is new. With Post-Democracy, we are bringing the words, characters and story of Hannah Moscovitch to life for the very first time. Hannah is a truly astonishing writer. Her understanding of the human condition and her ability to write with extraordinary depth and also astounding economy often leaves me breathless. The question that kept bubbling up for me (and continues to) as we worked on this production was, “What happens to human beings when they have seemingly limitless power and they feel they are accountable to no one?” The answer I see evidenced again and again in this story is, “They destroy themselves.” In so many ways, this play is a warning and also a call to action. So, we have a new play. Now, how do we bring it to life in a pandemic? Creating theatre felt so familiar and at the same time, completely new. The brilliant and courageous artists on this project followed strict protocol. We staged the production for physical distancing while choosing a design that still supported the story…we used the restrictions as artistic invitations to inspire our work. With the decision not to welcome live audiences for this production, we further embraced the idea of creating a theatre production for the screen by considering the language of film in how we use transitions in our production and also how we control what you as the audience will see. There has been so much learning, such an amazing curiosity and playfulness in collaboration, and now we have this digital production ready to share. As a digital production, we are overjoyed to not only share the play with our wonderful audiences here in Winnipeg and Manitoba, but also with audiences nationally and internationally. What an utterly amazing thing. As we began rehearsing, in many ways against all odds, the act of creating theatre felt like an act of resilience. We also knew and felt that it was an act of hope. PTE is so proud to bring you all of this newness: this new play and this new way of sharing stories for us as a theatre company. All of us here at the theatre are deeply grateful that you are engaging with this story, this production, and helping us to bring theatre back to life, again. Thank you.
With love,
Thomas Morgan Jones PTE Artistic Director
2 Post-Democracy MEET THE PLAYWRIGHT
PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE: Post-Democracy is based on my real lived experiences of being around affluent high-level corporate executives. We talk a lot about the 1% who hold and exert power in in our culture but we rarely put them onstage. I hung around with the 1% for a while. I want to show them to you.
“Politics and government are increasingly slipping back into the control of privileged elites in the manner characteristic of pre-democratic times.” – Colin Crouch
Hannah Moscovitch is an acclaimed Canadian playwright and TV writer whose work for the stage has been widely produced in Canada as well as around the world.
Hannah has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Trillium Book Award, both the Herald Angel and a Scotsburn Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival, the Nova Scotia MasterWorks Award, and the prestigious Windham- Campbell Prize administered by Yale. She’s been a finalist for the International Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and twice for the Governor General’s Award.
Hannah’s music-theatre hybrid Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story (co-created with Christian Barry and Ben Caplan) played at both 59E59 Theatres off-Broadway and at the International Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it garnered a landslide of critical praise, including more than fifty four- and five-star reviews, becoming a TimeOut and New York Times Critic’s Pick and receiving six Drama Desk Award nominations. Before the pandemic hit, Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story had been touring internationally for two years.
Hannah’s other writing for the stage includes Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, East of Berlin, InAinity, Bunny, What a Young Wife Ought to Know, The Russian Play, This is War, Little One and a confessional work for the stage, Secret Life of a Mother, co-created by Ann-Marie Kerr and Maev Beaty.
Hannah is playwright-in-residence at Tarragon Theatre in Toronto.
Note: the character of Justine was developed in consultation with Stephanie Sy
Prairie Theatre Exchange is a member of the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres and engages professional Artists who are members of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association under the terms of the jointly negotiated Canadian Theatre Agreement.
Post-Democracy 3 Does PTE have a special place in your heart?
It did for Ellen Hirst. She attended this theatre for years. And she chose to remember PTE in her will. Her final donation, a bequest, was added to our endowment fund. Now every year the interest generated will go towards all the things that make PTE special. It will help: • fund new play commissions like The Third Colour. • bring new, Canadian stories to life like Prairie Nurse. • bring magic to this stage through the amazing work of our artists in shows like How the Heavens Go. Ellen’s gift is a gift to everyone sitting in the theatre right now. We thank her for her generous spirit. We thank her for having a special place in her heart for PTE.
Debbie Patterson as Mary in How the Heavens Go by Joseph Aragon. Photo by Leif Norman Photo by Leif
If you have named PTE in your will or would like to learn how to do so, please contact Carman at 204-925-5263 or [email protected] MEET THE ARTISTS
Alicia Johnston - Shannon Alicia is honoured to have been a contributor to the making of this art, from the belly of this pandemic. A truly unforgettable experience. Previous favourite productions include: Happy Place, The Flats, Butcher (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Outside Mullingar (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Red Earth (One Trunk Theatre/ Theatre Projects Manitoba); Que Faire d’Albert?, Le Dieu Du Carnage, Deux Sur la Blalançoire (Théâtre Cercle Molière); Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, the Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare in the Ruins); The Winter’s Tale (Tom Tom Theatre); Essay, The Russian Play (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre). Alicia is a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada.
Kristian Jordan - Lee Kristian Jordan is a Winnipeg-based actor/playwright/ creator. He has worked for many of the professional stages across the city and has had the opportunity to perform in communities across northern Manitoba and Ontario on five regional tours. He is a member of the Emerging Playwrights Unit at Prairie Theatre Exchange and the Manitoba Association of Playwrights. He recently appeared on screen in Burden of Truth and I Propose We Never See Each Other Again After Tonight.
Arne MacPherson - Bill Arne played the title role in Shakespeare’s Dog at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, and has performed in Winnipeg at Prairie Theatre Exchange, Theatre Projects Manitoba, Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, Shakespeare in the Ruins, and in many independent productions. Contemporary dance performance includes petites danses (Gearshifting), and Much Too Much to Say (Company Link). Arne has directed dozens of plays (including a whole buncha Munsch at PTE). The most recent was Hamlet (RMTC Shakespearefest).
Prairie Theatre Exchange gratefully acknowledges the ongoing and generous support of:
Post-Democracy 5 MEET THE ARTISTS
Stephanie Sy - Justine Stephanie was born and raised on Treaty No.1, Winnipeg. Selected credits include: Prairie Nurse (PTE), Vietgone (RMTC), Beauty and the Beast (Rainbow), Tribes (WJT), Next to Normal (Musical Stage Company/Mirvish/Dora Nominated), A History of Breathing (Persephone), The Little Mermaid (Globe Theatre), Prom Queen (Segal Centre), Queen’s We Will Rock You (first National Tour). Stephanie enjoys Hannah Moscovitch plays, mountain biking, winter, her 2004 RAV4, her loud family, and her roommates Matt, Billie Girl, & Pancake. Check out: imdb.me/stephaniesy/ for enjoyable Christmas movies and other films Stephanie has participated in.
Thomas Morgan Jones - Director Thom’s work has been seen on stages across Canada and internationally.This is his third season as Artistic Director at PTE. He most recently directed Yvette Nolan’s Katharsis on the PTE stage. Other PTE directing credits include: Happy Place by Pamela Mala Sinha, Ghost Light by Shawn Wright, Finding Wolastoq Voice by Natalie Sappier, The Third Colour by Ian Ross and By Grand Central Station (A Heavy Bell production).
Brian Perchaluk - Sets, Props & Costume Design Brian is pleased to be designing the set and costumes for Post-Democracy. Brian is a Winnipeg designer whose work has been featured on stages across the country. Recent credits include The Wedding Party, New Magic Valley Fun Town, Prairie Nurse, Gracie, The Flats for PTE; The Mountaintop, The Color Purple, The Cottage, John, A Doll’s House, Once, The Humans, Black Coffee for RMTC; La lecon and La Cantatrice Chauve for Théâtre Cercle Molière; Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia, Les Miserables for Rainbow Stage. Brian is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg and the National Theatre School of Canada, and is a member of Associated Designers of Canada. He has received a Gemini, Jessie Richardson, Prix Rideau, and Winnipeg Theatre award for his work.
The filming of Post-Democracy was made with the generous support of
6 Post-Democracy MEET THE ARTISTS
Scott Henderson – Lighting Design Scott is grateful to be back at PTE designing his first show in a year. It is particularly exciting to work with Thom Morgan Jones on this premiere production of Post-Democracy. Since 1996, Scott has designed the lighting for 48 PTE productions including Happy Place, Butcher, Vigil, and Joni Mitchell: River. Most recently, (January/February 2020) Scott designed the lighting for Goodnight Desdemona, Good morning Juliet (SIR) and Awaken (TPM/ Zone41). Based in Winnipeg, Scott has designed theatre, opera and dance for companies across Canada including the Stratford and Shaw Festivals and the NAC. Scott is a member of the Associated Designers of Canada and graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Special thanks to Karen, Sean and Alex for their love and support.
jaymez – Sound Design With a multi-faceted and distinct style, jaymez has worked in the visual art, dance, theatre and music communities. He has been the sound designer on multiple shows at PTE including Prairie Nurse and The Third Colour, and for One Trunk Theatre’s Red Earth. He was also the lighting designer for Ghost Light and By Grand Central Station, and took on the role of Production Designer for Exciting Consequences. His designs have appeared in a number of international festivals, theatrical and dance productions and he has created lighting, video and sound designs for a wide range of companies, choreographers and musicians. His work has garnered him two Winnipeg Theatre Awards for outstanding design. He is also a member and sits on the board of directors of IATSE Local ADC659.
Cherissa Richards – Artistic Associate Cherissa Richards has performed as an actor for the past 20 years across the country. Cherissa has recently been pursuing directing here at home and in directing internships at Bard on the Beach in Vancouver 2018, the Shaw Festival 2019 and the Stratford Festival in Ontario in 2020. This year, Cherissa received the Crow’s Theatre RBC Rising Star Emerging Director Prize and is one of the directors in Whynot Theatre’s This Gen Fellowship.
Post-Democracy 7 Building creative communities and bright futures
Together, we can do more for Canadians, for each other and for the communities we love.
Canada Life and design are trademarks of The Canada Life Assurance Company. Stronger Communities Together is a trademark of The Great-West Life Assurance Company. MEET THE ARTISTS
Julie Lumsden – PTE Directing Mentorship Julie Lumsden holds a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance from the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music. She will be starting her third season at the Shaw Festival this year, and has performed on such stages as: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Rainbow Stage, Théâtre Cercle Molière, Magnus Theatre, and Neptune Theatre.
Karyn Kumhyr – Stage Manager It’s been a year of loss, learning, and love. Having been fortunate to spend the first half of this pandemic year at the Shaw Festival - learning to shift to digital creation through the many resources the Shaw and its amazing collection of theatre artists had to offer - I am now grateful to be a part of this powerful work at Prairie Theatre Exchange. I have had the opportunity to work with PTE on such productions as The Third Colour, Happy Place, and The Secret Mask. I’ve also worked in Winnipeg on shows with the Royal MTC (The Cottage, A Christmas Carol, Chimerica, Next to Normal), and Rainbow Stage (Beauty and the Beast), as well as working at theatres across Canada. This show has been an emotional and heartening experience, working with such an extraordinary collection of artists on this brilliant piece of writing.
Ali Fulmyk – Assistant Stage Manager Ali is honoured and excited to be back working after the devastation the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Arts, and especially glad it is with this wonderful company at PTE. Select credits include: The Third Colour, Happy Place, Prairie Nurse, Mission: Munschpossible (PTE); Roger & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Beauty and The Beast, Mamma Mia!, Little Shop of Horrors, Shrek: The Musical, Sister Act (Rainbow Stage); Danny & The Deep Blue Sea (The Keep); Morning After Grace, Kill Me Now (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); Seminar (RMTC/Mirvish); Fidelio, Of Mice and Men (Manitoba Opera); Tribes, Another Way Home (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre). Much love to Mom and Dad, Paul, and Gus the Theatre Dog!
Special thanks to
Post-Democracy 9 “ Because sharing stories changes the way we see the world, ourselves and each other.” Thomas Morgan Jones, Prairie Theatre Exchange
Join together with other caring Winnipeggers. Give to your favourite Cause through The Foundation and make Winnipeg better by helping local charities.
FindyourBeCause.org #FindyourBeCause | 204.944.9474 Post-Democracy had several workshops in its development:
February 5 – 7, 2019 Thomas Morgan Jones (director); Dutchess Cayetano, Kristian Jordan, Ross McMillan, Heather Russell (actors); Hazel Venzon
November 5 – 7, 2019 Thomas Morgan Jones (director); Paul Essiembre, Kristian Jordan, Anna- Laure Koop, Stephanie Sy (actors); Alissa Watson
September 28 - 30, 2020 Thomas Morgan Jones (director); Paul Essiembre, Amy Groening, Kristian Jordan, Stephanie Sy (actors); Scott Henderson; jaymez; Erin McGrath, Brian Perchaluk, Cherissa Richards
December 9-10, 2020 Thomas Morgan Jones (director); Alicia Johnston, Kristian Jordan, Arne MacPherson, Stephanie Sy (actors); jaymez; Julie Lumsden; Erin McGrath; Cherissa Richards
Music used in Post-Democracy, with permission of Universal Music Canada Inc.:
“Dies Irae” performed by Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan, Wiener Singverein “Kyrie eleison” performed by Wiener Singverein, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan “Lacrymosa” performed by Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein, Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Carlo Cossutta, Nicolai Ghiaurov “Rex Tremendae” performed by Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein, Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Carlo Cossutta, Nicolai Ghiaurov “Tuba mirum” performed by Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein, Nicolai Ghiaurov “Requiem” performed by Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein, Mirella Freni, Christa Ludwig, Carlo Cossutta, Nicolai Ghiaurov
Post-Democracy 11 MEET THE PTE TEAM
PTE ADMINISTRATION Kathleen Day Sean Neville Box Office Representative Technical Director Lise Desrochers Cari Simpson * Accountant Head of Lights & Sound Deborah Gay-de Vries Steven Vande Vyvere * Facility Health & Safety Manager Head Carpenter & Volunteer Coordinator Andrew Gehrs-Whyte PRODUCTION CREW Box Office Representative Lighting crew Carman Johnston Patrick Bellemare * Director of Development Ntara Curry * Thomas Morgan Jones Drew Derbowka * Artistic Director Andrew Sanger * Cherry Karpyshin Head Painter General Manager Emeritus Linda Beech * Jenna Khan Scenic Painter Director of Communications Tiff Taylor * Lizabeth Kogan ICE RIVER FILMS CREW Box Office Supervisor Lisa Li Director of Photography Managing Director Sam Karney Tracey Loewen Camera/Editor Andrew Weins General Manager Haanita Seval Camera Rudy Gauer Director of Marketing Audio PRODUCTION STAFF John Hildebrand Wayne Buss! Production Manager * operates under a contract with IATSE Local 63. Elana Honcharuk * Props Master Brenda McLean * Men’s hair by Eve Rice Head of Wardrobe
PTE’S PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT Joseph Aragon, Sharon Bajer, Rick Chafe, Ginny Collins, Tricia Cooper, James Durham, Debbie Patterson, Ellen Peterson, and Ian Ross PTE’S EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS UNIT In association with Manitoba Association of Playwrights Wren Brian, Kristian Jordan, Jo MacDonald, Alissa Watson, and Liam Zarrillo
12 Post-Democracy MEET THE PTE TEAM PTEPTE BOARD BOARD OF OF DIRECTORS DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVEEXECUTIVE MEMBERS MEMBERS FOUNDATIONFOUNDATION TRUST TRUST SandraJane Helbrecht Zinchuk LawrieDave AngusCherniack President President BarbLarry Gamey Frostiak MariaJeff Kitchen Grande Barb Gamey Vice-President Susan Goldie Vice-President Susan Goldie Ryan Palmer Gavin Rich Peter Veselinovich Jane Helbrecht TreasurerTreasurer Ruth Simkin Ruth Simkin DebbieMelissa Grenier McAlister SecretarySecretary The PTE Foundation Trust was The PTE Foundation Trust was GregDwayne Doyle Marling established in 1987 to provide established in 1987 to provide PastPast-President President ongoing financial support to Prairie ongoing financial support to Prairie DwayneRyan Segal Marling Theatre Exchange. The interest from MemberMember-at-large at Large theTheatre endowed Exchange. funds isThe used interest each fromyear tothe support endowed new funds play development, is used each year the DIRECTORS DIRECTORS PTEto supportSchool and new outreach play development, programs. NicoleAinsley Barry Cunningham as well as theatre education and KalynShyamala Bomback Dakshinamurti outreach programs. LuciaSowmya Grande Dakshinamurti TO DONATE AN ENDOWED GIFT JaneRob Helbrecht Ferguson TO THE FOUNDATION TRUST, CharlesPatricia Huband Hardy ANDTo donate SUPPORT an endowedTHE FUTURE gift OF PTE, Theresa Kuzina Charles Huband CALLto the HAANITA foundation AT 204-925-5256. trust, and DouglasSarah Luby Maughan support the future of PTE, BrentGary Phillips Pachal call Carman at 204-925-5263. AnnicaJeff Palamar Ramkissoon Christa Walkden PrairiePrairie Theatre Theatre Exchange Exchange isis a a proud proud member member of of
Post-Democracy 13 Harvest 9 DINNER AND A SHOW?
You can still take in your favourite production and enjoy dinner at the same time. Free city wide delivery on orders of dinner for two or more. Order online from our website or call us today. Limited delivery times. 6945 Roblin Blvd Headingley, MB R4H 1A2 Call (204) 224-2837 www.thegatesonroblin.com SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
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DIGITAL PRESENTATION SPONSOR PTE PLAYWRIGHTS UNITS
COMPANY IN RESIDENCE SPONSOR ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE SPONSOR
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OFFICIAL DESIGNER OFFICIAL PRINTER
WINE TASTING SPONSOR PAYROLL SERVICES PROVIDED BY
Post-Democracy 15 A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS Your support over the past EAT & 13 months has meant everything. To those who donated back their tickets for cancelled shows… DRINK T o thosewhomadeadonationforthefirsttime… To those who have been donating for years… To those who increased their usual gift… LOCAL! To those who couldn’t give their usual gift, but gave what they could… Support our restaurants & purveyors of great tastes. Every year, Prairie Theatre Exchange is supported by the local food and beverage Y o u havehelpedustokeepourheadabovethefloodwaters. community in our annual fundraiser, PTE PAIRINGS. Now, it’s important for all of You have given us hope in a dark time. us to support our local restaurants, shops and producers. Here are some of our favourite places which have contributed to Pairings the last couple of years: THANK YOU! • Aschenti • Fort Gibraltar • Prairie Oils & Vinegars • Baltic Brothers • High Tea Bakery • Princess Street Cheese • Brazen Hall • Kevin’s Bistro • Promenade Café & Wine • Clementine Café • KYU Grill • Shawarma Khan • Cocoabeans Bake • Loaf & Honey • Stella’s Café & Bakery Shop & Café • Melt Chocolate • The Cornerstone • Dead Horse Cider Co. • Patent 5 Distillery • The Gates on Roblin • Decadence Chocolates • Perogy Planet • VG Restaurant & Lounge • Flora & Farmer • Prairie 360 • Wall Street Slice
Kathleen MacLean, Tracey Nepinak in The Third Colour by Ian Ross; Set by Andy Moro; Lighting by Leigh Ann Vardy; Costumes by Brenda McLean. Photo by Leif Norman. EAT & DRINK LOCAL! Support our restaurants & purveyors of great tastes. Every year, Prairie Theatre Exchange is supported by the local food and beverage community in our annual fundraiser, PTE PAIRINGS. Now, it’s important for all of us to support our local restaurants, shops and producers. Here are some of our favourite places which have contributed to Pairings the last couple of years:
• Aschenti • Fort Gibraltar • Prairie Oils & Vinegars • Baltic Brothers • High Tea Bakery • Princess Street Cheese • Brazen Hall • Kevin’s Bistro • Promenade Café & Wine • Clementine Café • KYU Grill • Shawarma Khan • Cocoabeans Bake • Loaf & Honey • Stella’s Café & Bakery Shop & Café • Melt Chocolate • The Cornerstone • Dead Horse Cider Co. • Patent 5 Distillery • The Gates on Roblin • Decadence Chocolates • Perogy Planet • VG Restaurant & Lounge • Flora & Farmer • Prairie 360 • Wall Street Slice